Health officials in Chonburi on Saturday reported 119 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of cases in the province to 1,786.
Of the new cases, most were found in Bang Lamung (58), Muang Chonburi (22), Sriracha (14) and Sattahip (9).
Cases were discovered after people visited the following locations:
1.1 808 Club Pattaya 2 people 1.2 Bone Pattaya 1 person 1.3 Replay Bangsaen 1 people. 2. infected with COVID-19 from traveling to the province from Krabi 3. Contact with the patients from Nakhon Sawan 4. 1 medical personnel 5. 75 after contact with confirmed patients. 6. 33 cases under investigation
The remainder of the cases were discovered by a combination of contact and proactive tracing.
Health officials say they are still discovering cases linked to the cluster from entertainment venues in Bangkok.
Residents in Chonburi are urged to maintain social distancing, avoid gatherings and parties, wear masks and follow the policy of D-H-M-T-T.
D - Distancing- Avoid close contact with others. M - Mask wearing - Always wear a mask. H - Hand washing - Wash your hands frequently, use hand sanitizer service . T - Testing - Body temperature check T - Thaichana - Install and use the Thai Chana mobile app
(The following is a press release from the Thai National News Bureau. Their statements are their own.)
Thailand's Prime Minister has addressed the nation on the latest COVID-19 situation, following the recent surge in the number of new infections in the Kingdom.
General Prayut Chan-o-cha expressed his gratitude to the monarchy, for providing assistance to the government in their various operations to contain several COVID-19 outbreaks.
The premier said the latest outbreak, before the Songkran holiday, caused ripples that can still be felt, resulting in the increase in the number of daily new patients. He urged people to adhere to prevention measures strictly.
The Prime Minister noted that the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) and the administration are keeping a close eye on the situation and will impose additional measures if necessary.
Additionally, General Prayut instructed officials to be ready to expedite the vaccination operation and to plan for rehabilitation and compensation in the future.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister said that half of the vaccines that had already been administered were given to medics and frontline workers while giving his assurance that the administration is looking for ways to obtain additional doses. The government aims to accumulate at least 100 million doses, to vaccinate 70% of the entire Thai population within this year.
Additionally, General Prayut said Thailand has enough Favipiravir tablets, used to treat COVID patients, with 300,000 in reserve and another 2 million already ordered.
The Premier said Thailand has more than 28,000 beds in state, field, and private hospitals, and facilities under the "hospitels" program. Although the number of available beds has decreased rapidly over the past couple of days, he said the government is working around the clock to find more beds.
General Prayut also talked about the administration's budget of 380 billion baht, to stimulate the ailing economy, which will fund various economic measures in the near future.
A man is injected with a Covid-19 vaccine at a city centre. A slow vaccination rate dampens the kingdom's inoculation drive as it is hit with a third wave. Bangkok Post photo
A delay in the Covid-19 vaccine purchase plan has unforgivably crippled Thailand's efforts in handling the third wave of coronavirus outbreak that hit the country early this month.
It remains unclear if the Prayut Chan-o-cha government, particularly the Public Health Ministry, will be able to beat the virus as it did in the two previous outbreaks or when it can get the current outbreak under control. Currently, only 1.3% of the population have been vaccinated, too few to create herd immunity.
The country has seen a surge in infections, surpassing 1,000 for about a week, while virus transmission has covered every province.
The outbreak may void the government's plan to reopen the country in the next two months and, as chances of the country making a turn-around are dim, the damage to the economy and the health sector are unfathomable.
It's a tough situation indeed.
The new outbreak is attributed to the fact that we are coping with the British variant that is known to spread up to 1.7 times quicker than the original coronavirus strain.
The new outbreak is associated with the Thong Lor cluster which involved several entertainment venues whose operators had breached anti-virus measures.
As the government pledges to accelerate the vaccine process, with 26 million Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines being delivered in one or two months, there emerges a great challenge: how to inoculate the population in time as the vaccination drive goes on at a snail's pace.
Thailand started inoculating people, with a focus on priority groups, on Feb 28. Currently, we have two vaccine brands, China's Sinovac and AZ, with a total of 2,117,300 doses.
Almost two months have passed and just 864,840 people have received jabs (746,617 people received their first shot and 118,223 are fully vaccinated).
It means only 13,000 vaccine doses are being administered each day. At this rate, it will take several years before we can achieve herd immunity.
We have to blame miscalculation on the part of the government for the delay. Or shall we say complacency?
We have to admit that we had an impressive performance in battling the virus, with the infection number curbed quickly in the the first few months.
Efficient disease control measures, in principle, should allow a steady delivery of vaccines.
About 23 million AZ doses are to be imported in June, while six million locally-made vaccines will become available in the same month, followed by 10 million doses per month until the end of the year.
The country had been expected to achieve herd immunity by then but the unexpected Thong Lor cluster has ruined all that.
In fact, we had plenty of time to handle the crisis and should have done better by keeping our guards up.
More importantly, Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has underestimated the new virus from the beginning.
Even now, he still refuses to admit that the vaccination plan is too slow and instead says everything is proceeding "as planned".
He bragged about the ministry's strong mechanism in distributing the vaccines. Recently, he highlighted nearly 2,000 state hospitals and nearly 10,000 smaller, tambon-level hospitals across the country under the ministry.
He wanted to highlight that vaccines can reach every tambon but it remains to be seen if they can handle distributing 65 million doses scheduled to be delivered in June.
The ongoing vaccination rate -- 13,000 doses a day -- means there can be issues when all the vaccines arrive.
The number of vaccines is not helpful if the vaccination speed cannot be accelerated. But we cannot be daunted.
In fact, the private sector has expressed enthusiasm to give a hand in vaccine distribution. Some even advised that the government to diversify its vaccine sources instead of relying on AZ but the government staunchly turned down the advice.
There are concerns that the government does not want to share the achievement of inoculating the country.
It's welcome news that the private sector wants to help to speed up the vaccination in every step. But there can be problems ahead, particularly regarding trust, as a large number of people are concerned about vaccine safety and may refuse to get vaccinated.
It is the duty of the government to boost public trust in vaccines -- that it is a major tool to keep us safe, the best available option and side effects are only minimal.
However, the government has to admit that its own flaws in law enforcement have dented public trust. Until today, the government has not probed into allegations that a cabinet minister had a part to play in the Thong Lor cluster. Without a probe, the government has effectively protected those in the wrong.
Operators of those entertainment venues had breached anti-virus measures, i.e. lack of social distancing. Already operating without a proper licence, those venues were found to have also violated beyond permitted hours. This happened under the noses of the police.
Now the police are seemingly hesitant in taking action against those operators, saying that it's the job of City Hall to regulate those places.
Should the government continue to protect those who had a hand in the third wave instead of correcting the problem, we can hardly expect to cope with outbreaks that may occur again and again.
Chairith Yonpiam is assistant news editor, Bangkok Post.
SHOCKING new images show Thailand at a STANDSTILL
Shocking images show Thailand as you've NEVER seen it before with abandoned beaches and empty markets – and even the famous Khao San Road on lockdown
Startling images have emerged of Thailand's once bustling tourism island Phuket resembling a ghost town as beaches lay deserted, markets sit empty and restaurants are without customers amid a surge in coronavirus cases.
Pictures captured on Wednesday show the island's famed Patong Beach, normally heaving with local and international tourists, almost devoid of human life with streets abandoned and bars and pubs shut to comply with the latest restrictions designed to curb record infection rates across Thailand.
Along Bangla Walking Street, a renowned night entertainment district which has already been hit hard by year-long border restrictions that have stifled tourism, pigeons and cats outnumber humans.
Thailand won praise for its swift containment of Covid-19 in the early stages of the pandemic but the southeast Asian nation is now dealing with a third wave of infections that has reached all 77 of its provinces and seen a record number of cases.
The country on Wednesday reported 1,458 new cases and four additional deaths, bringing total infections to 46,643 with 110 fatalities.
A third of Thailand's cases have come this month, with a record number of infections on Sunday at 1,767.
The nation's coronavirus taskforce has implemented a number of measures to control the spread, telling citizens to avoid travel and gatherings. Activities involving more than 50 people are prohibited.
Eighteen provinces including Bangkok had been labelled as red zones where restaurants and convenience stores close early and Khao San Road is eerily quiet, with the rest of the country categorised as orange zones.
Empty beach chairs and umbrella are seen on Patong Beach, one of the most popular beaches for visitors of Phuket, Thailand, on Wednesday
Pictured is a closed down restaurant inside a community mall at Patong Beach, Phuket, Thailand as the country struggles through the pandemic
Bangla Walking Street, a renowned night entertainment district in Phuket, Thailand is pictured devoid of visitors on Wednesday
Cats lay on the footpath in front of a closed down bar at Bangla Walking Street of Patong Beach, Phuket, Thailand
A lone beachgoer is seen walking on the sand through an empty swing at Patong Beach on Wednesday
A flock of pigeons are seen walking around on an relatively empty road at Patong Beach, Phuket, Thailand
A deserted road in Patong Beach, Phuket, Thailand, as the southeast Asian nation grapples with a surge in coronavirus cases
A lone street vendor is pictured resting while waiting for customers inside an empty massage tent at Patong Beach
A flock of pigeons fly pass a roadside clothing shop that is left unattended by the side of empty beach road at Patong Beach
A street food vendor is seen waiting for customers from across the empty road with pigeons walking around at Patong Beach
Schools, bars and massage parlours have been closed until next month and alcohol sales banned in restaurants.
The new outbreak comes as many have travelled during the country's Songkran new year holidays last week and as vaccination rates are still low.
The current wave includes the highly transmissible B.1.1.7 variant, which is blamed for big jumps in infections in many countries, including nearby in the Philippines, where hospitals are struggling.
Authorities in Thailand this week sought to assure the public there were sufficient hospital beds for the rising number of coronavirus patients across the country.
Thailand's policy of hospitalising all who test positive for Covid-19, even without symptoms, has prompted concern about its capacity should the number of patients with severe symptoms surge.
'We can guarantee you a bed within 24-48 hours,' Somsak Akksilp, Director-General of the Department of Medical Services, told reporters on Tuesday.
A view of an empty Khao San Road in Bangkok last week amid a record surge in coronavirus cases in Thailand
The normally bustling Khao San Road is pictured devoid of tourists last week after a coronavirus outbreak in Bangkok
Pictured, a tuk tuk driver waits for passengers on the deserted tourist hotspot Khao San Road in Bangkok last week
An empty road at Rawai Beach in Phuket, Thailand, on Wednesday as the country reported 1,458 new cases and four additional deaths
A woman wearing a mask is pictured walking past a closed down seafood stall at the walking street of Rawai Beach
A seafood vendor is pictured waiting for customers in front of his stall at the empty walking street of Rawai Beach
A tour boat operator waits for customers, while a group of teenagers fish from the beach in Phuket, Thailand
He said asymptomatic patients and some with mild symptoms would be moved to field hospitals, or 'hospitels' – hotels converted into care facilities.
Authorities have also drawn up an alternative plan to allow patients with less serious symptoms to self-isolate at home if new daily infections surpass 10,000 and hospitals cannot cope.
There are currently more than 9,000 Thai hospital beds available, up from 7,000 last week, officials said.
The government has asked hospitals to double or increase by 50 per cent their intensive care capacity.
Thailand is seeking between five and 10 million doses of Pfizer and BioNTech's coronavirus vaccine, its prime minister said on Tuesday, as the government seeks to shore-up supplies.
Pictured is an empty seating area as seen from across an empty road at Rawai Beach in Phuket, Thailand
A sculpture with welcome sign is seen at an empty restaurant at Rawai Beach, Phuket, Thailand
A tattered life jacket is pictured hanging from the tree, while longtail boats are seen berthed at Rawai Beach
Pictured are stools are stacked up at a closed down bar along the Bangla Walking Street night entertainment district of Patong Beach
People take photos on Patong Beach, Phuket, Thailand, which is normally bustling with tourists
The country has yet to start mass Covid-19 vaccinations, with just under 572,000 people inoculated with first doses so far.
'We're still waiting for quotations and terms and conditions,' Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha told reporters, adding the targeted delivery period for the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccines was July to year-end.
His government has been criticised for its slow procurement of vaccines and over-reliance on that of AstraZeneca, which Thailand expects to be available from June.
20,000 baht fine if you don't wear a face mask in these provinces
Due to the third wave spreading fast during April, it is highly advisable for people to wear face masks whenever they leave their place of residence. It's already compulsory on public transportation, in government buildings and in malls and convenience stores like 7-11. But did you know that some governors have made it compulsory at all times once you have left your house? If anyone violates this order, which is an offence under Section 51 of the Communicable Diseases Act 2015, they shall be liable to a fine not exceeding 20,000 baht.
These are the provinces so far where that law is being enforced.
CENTRAL THAILAND:
Kanchanaburi
Lopburi
Nonthaburi
Suphanburi
Ayutthaya
EASTERN THAILAND:
Chonburi *
Prachinburi
NORTHERN THAILAND:
Lamphun
Tak
NORTHEASTERN THAILAND:
Chaiyaphum
Buriram
Udon Thani
SOUTHERN THAILAND:
Surat Thani (Samui, Koh Tao, Koh Phangnan etc)
Songkhla
Satun
Trang
Yala
Pattani
Narathiwat
Phuket *
Prachuap Khiri Khan (Hua Hin) *
* These provinces were added after we were contacted by people living there
There may be other provinces and so the best advice is to always wear your mask and stay away from crowds. Stay safe!
Sophon Cable TV reported that Pattaya's mayor Sontaya Kunplome had conducted a monthly Covid crisis meeting with eight representatives from the tourism industry.
Top of the agenda at a restaurant discussion was the vaccine rollout that was supposed to be prioritized for tourism cities like Pattaya.
The media said that Sontaya hoped to get his hands on 1.5 million doses of vaccine for the Pattaya and surrounding areas.
But they reported that vaccination was not likely to begin until the last quarter of the year.
That would be October 1st at the earliest.
Sophon Cable TV
Sontaya said that all 11 districts of Chonburi would be vaccinated then with 100,000 jabs done per day.
The meeting discussed how facilities, including a sports stadium, were being prepared to facilitate this.
Thailand's DPM and health minister Anutin Charnvirakul was in the holiday resort of Hua Hin yesterday as the province edged towards 1,000 cases of Covid-19 in the latest outbreak.
There have now been 897 cases in Prachuap Khirikhan province since the start of April, reported New TV.
They said that Hua Hin hospital was completely full with 475 beds allocated to Covid-19. These included 7 in ICU and a further 8 in semi-ICU.
The Hua Hin Commercial College next door has now got 141 beds for Covid patients.
Picture: New TV
In addition there are five field hospitals up and running in the area with 450 additional beds for asymptomatic people who have tested positive for the virus.
Anutin expressed his gratitude to the staff and authorities in Hua Hin for their work and following procedures.
He brought with him 5,000 tubes of sanitizer gel, 1,500 items of PPE and 5,000 boxes of masks and other equipment for the effort in Hua Hin.
Out of the 262 ICU beds in #Bangkok, there are only 69 left. Health officials estimate that they will run out in 6-8 days if the rate of infection continues as it is. Nationwide, there are only 1,000 beds. Enough for only another 19 days #COVID19 #โควิด19 #โควิดวันนี้ #Thailand
