Under the Public Health Ministry's roadmap for transition to an endemic, the death rate must drop below 0.1 per cent of cases, while over 60 per cent of the population – including the elderly – must have had three shots, and 80 per cent of the elderly must have received their first jab.
The death rate currently stands at 0.35 per cent of an average 36,512 cases per day, said commission vice-chairman Chalermchai Boonyaleephan.
However, that rate would be lower if testing was increased to get a more accurate picture of the true daily infection rate, he added.
Hence, he urged the government to increase testing by 3.5 times, especially via ATKs.
Accelerating Covid-19 screening was a crucial way to reduce the death rate, he emphasised.
He said 84.1 per cent of the elderly have already received their first vaccine dose.
Chalermchai said it would be a challenge to meet the testing and vaccination targets for the transition to endemic Covid-19, adding success would depend on cooperation between all stakeholders in society.
Published : April 24, 2022
By : THE NATION