Thailand reports 1,583 new coronavirus cases, 15 new deaths

[webfact]

People line up to receive their vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok, Thailand April 28, 2021. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

 

BANGKOK, April 30 (Reuters) - Thailand on Friday reported 1,583 new coronavirus cases, bringing the country's total number of confirmed infections to 65,153 since the pandemic began last year.

 

Fifteen new deaths were reported, taking total fatalities to 203.

 

(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Chayut Setboonsarng Editing by Ed Davies)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-04-30

 

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[TallGuyJohninBKK]

 

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Reported new COVID cases in Thailand declined Friday for a third consecutive day, even as the latest day's death toll rebounded to 15 and Thai health officials warned of a growing shortage of specialized hospital beds to treat spiraling numbers of critically ill COVID patients.

 

The 1,583 new COVID cases reported Friday marked a 15% decline from the prior day's tally of 1,871, and was almost half of the country's daily peak of 2,839 cases reached on April 24. But the 15 new deaths marked the third time in the past four days COVID deaths had reached that number, after falling to 10 on Thursday. Total COVID deaths now have hit 203.

 

At the same time, Ministry of Public Health officials warned that the still rapidly growing numbers of seriously ill COVID patients in the country, those in critical condition and on respirators in ICU type hospital beds and rooms with special air isolation facilities, have pushed the current occupancy of those beds to 80 percent in the Bangkok region.

 

As of Friday, Thailand had 871 COVID patients in critical condition (an increase of 85 over the prior day), with 250 of those on respirators because they're unable to breathe on their own. That number had more than doubled in the past week from 418 such patients as of April 24.

 

The latest update on Thailand's COVID cases came as the government lengthened its mandatory quarantine on incoming travelers to 14 days, made face mask wear mandatory nationwide in public places, and starting Saturday will ban sit-down restaurant dining in Bangkok and five other provinces.

 

A government spokesman said the new measures were aimed at trying to strike a balance between controlling the virus outbreak while not unduly harming the economy and public. "This is a challenge we've always been facing. Rest assured that we take all the hardships of all groups, all sectors in society into consideration.... We understand that businesses are affected...so please bear with us," the spokesman said.

 

 

[Surelynot]

If this is true and it continues I would happily, as a dyed in the wool atheist, declare it a miracle.  

[AndyFoxy]

Thank you General Prayut. As soon as you became the Covid Czar, the numbers started dropping. Even the virus shows you respect.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Thailand faces 'tight situation' for hospital beds, those with many COVID-19 symptoms to get priority

 

"BANGKOK: A shortage of hospital beds in Thailand has put a strain on its public health system as a new wave of COVID-19 infected more than 34,000 patients this month.

 

On Thursday (Apr 29), the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) reported 1,871 new cases and 10 more deaths. Although the daily case number went below 2,000 for the first time in six days, hospitals are increasingly filled with patients with severe conditions.

...

“Airborne infection isolation rooms (AIIR) are most equipped for patients with severe conditions who require intubation. Modified AIIRs, which are secondary, can also accommodate those with severe conditions. These two types of rooms are already 70 per cent to 80 per cent (occupied),” deputy director of the Medical Services Department Nattapong Wongwiwat said at a press conference on Tuesday."

 

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/covid-19-thailand-faces-tight-situation-hospital-beds-14714012

 

[Susco]

The number of new infections they can manipulate by doing selective testing, unfortunately that doesn't work well for the number of new deaths

[kynikoi]

The numbers are simply lower they are not neccessarily dropping. A few days does not make any sort of trend. In fact, those needing respirators has doubled.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

 

 

 

 

 

[MikeyIdea]

19 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

“Airborne infection isolation rooms (AIIR) are most equipped for patients with severe conditions who require intubation. Modified AIIRs, which are secondary, can also accommodate those with severe conditions. These two types of rooms are already 70 per cent to 80 per cent (occupied),” deputy director of the Medical Services Department Nattapong Wongwiwat said at a press conference on Tuesday."

 

Hmmm, those 2 types of rooms are 100% full at Rajavithi hospital in Bangkok

Edited April 30, 2021 by MikeyIdea

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Most of the restrictions below had already been in effect since mid April, but the government announced Thursday it was expanding those to include the ban on sit-down restaurant dining in six provinces and the nationwide expansion of the requirement to wear face masks in all indoor and outdoors public places. Bars, pubs and other entertainment venues nationwide are supposed to remain closed.

 

 

Edited April 30, 2021 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[Guderian]

The devil is in the detail of the number of tests being carried out. For example, Chonburi today reported its second-highest number of new cases with 151, but says that the rise was driven by increased community  testing.

 

 

https://thepattayanews.com/2021/04/30/covid19-cases-in-chonburi-home-of-pattaya-rise-to-151-new-and-confirmed-positive-cases-this-morning-driven-by-higher-testing/

 

And now they've found a new cluster in the Klong Toey area of Bangkok, it'll be interesting to see if that develops any further.

[Patong2021]

I feel very sorry for the health care workers. Most are not vaccinated and they are exposed to the  infected.

The ones who will  take the heavy workload will be the young doctors and nurses because the older doctors will  avoid these  patients. 

In EU and USA, it took a few weeks, but the  health workers started to fall ill with hundreds around the world who died. I don't think we will see the death toll because they  can manage much better with the anti inflammatory drugs, but there will be a deterioration in health care if Thailand losses hundreds of workers who become infected and must isolate.

[Surelynot]

Just now, Patong2021 said:

I feel very sorry for the health care workers. Most are not vaccinated and they are exposed to the  infected.

Yes....but at least the Thai football team have been vaccinated.

[Yorkshire Tea]

1 minute ago, Surelynot said:

Yes....but at least the Thai football team have been vaccinated.

 

What about the soap stars?

[Surelynot]

Just now, Yorkshire Tea said:

 

What about the soap stars?

Good point........won't sleep tonight now.......thanks for nothing!!!

[Dmaxdan]

The numbers drop - They are not doing enough testing!!1

 

The numbers increase - Its out of control!!!

 

The government just can't win.  

[Bkk Brian]

9 minutes ago, Dmaxdan said:

The numbers drop - They are not doing enough testing!!1

 

The numbers increase - Its out of control!!!

 

The government just can't win.  

Well they created this mess, until its over you're correct, they just can't win

[2 is 1]

52 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

Thailand faces 'tight situation' for hospital beds, those with many COVID-19 symptoms to get priority

One reason they can't make more covid test even they can! If they test more , they have to chance policy to put everybody in hospital whitout symptoms! Test 10 time's more and hospital/ bed place's run out in half day!

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Top 10 provinces for new COVID cases reported Friday, with a significant reduction for Bangkok, along with each province's total for the month of April.

 

 

Bangkok daily new COVID case counts declining April 24-30, as shown below:

 

 

 

 

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Vaccine update for Friday:

 

The first section below reflects the total number of doses administered in the most recent day, along with first and second shot subtotals.

 

The second section below reflects Thailand's cumulative vaccine administration totals, with the same first and second shot subtotals.

 

Thailand thus far has given first shot vaccinations to about 1.4% of its 70 million population.

 

[aussiexpat]

So quarantine for all foreigners now back to 14 days (which is really 15 days). Reduced quarantine to 7 days for vaccinated now history ????

 

Does this mean they are blaming this outbreak on reduced quarantine period?

 

Ridiculous when everyone knows it's a local problem along with border issues with Myanmar and Cambodia...

 

The newly empowered Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan ocha has moved to reinstate the mandatory 14 day quarantine period for all foreigners entering Thailand after May 6th

 

https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2021/04/30/wave-scuppers-thailands-tourism-reopening/

 

Edited April 30, 2021 by aussiexpat

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Thailand continues to rank 104th among world countries based on its total number of COVID cases since the emergence of the pandemic in early 2020, with the country's total case count now at 65,153.

 

 

 

 

 

[WaveHunter]

Daily drops in the number of new cases doesn't really paint an accurate picture but if it continues into a weekly downward trend that would be a promising sign.  A lot of the new restrictions announced at yesterday's government meeting should have a profound effect at improving the numbers, but obviously the incubation period of Covid infection won't allow the effects of these new restrictions to be seen until later next week at earliest.

 

Personally I feel optimistic since historically, Thailand has handled the pandemic better than most other countries (except for the vaccine rollout) in spite of short-term glitches. 

 

Hopefully they will resolve the issues with the vaccine rollout sooner, rather than later, and it sounds like a lot of headway is being made in allowing private hospitals to soon be able to procure and distribute vaccines.

 

It should be interesting to hear what additional restrictions and measure will be announced today by regional and local officials, since they were waiting for the results of yesterday's meeting before deciding.  I'm guessing these will be discussed in this afternoon's daily CSSA briefing (in English) which usually happens between 1pm and 2pm daily on their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/thailandprd/

Edited April 30, 2021 by WaveHunter

[Surelynot]

3 minutes ago, WaveHunter said:

Personally I feel optimistic since historically, Thailand has handled the pandemic better than most other countries (except for the vaccine rollout) in spite of short-term glitches. 

Hope you are correct....the only fly in the ointment is this UK variant being more transmissible.

[LosLobo]

31 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

I feel very sorry for the health care workers. Most are not vaccinated and they are exposed to the  infected.

How do you know most health care workers aren't vaccinated?

 

I was quite surprised this week, I was chatting to the ex and all the staff at the local "anaamai" have been vaccinated and are now canvassing the moobaan for vaccinations for May.

[WaveHunter]

7 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

Hope you are correct....the only fly in the ointment is this UK variant being more transmissible.

I wonder just how much more transmissible and virulent the UK strain really is?  I mean, I've no doubt it is more so, but I think the Press and certain public officials like to hype it up beyond what Science really supports, ya know? 

 

As for the Press, getting people into an emotional frenzy sells more airtime; it's as simple as that IMO.  And as far as certain public officials go, it's a lot easier to control the public when they are in a state of emotional hysteria than it is when they are thinking rationally.  Just my personal take on things of course ????

 

Edited April 30, 2021 by WaveHunter

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Trend in daily new COVID cases reported by Thailand during the past week. Friday marked the third consecutive day of declines.

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/thaimoph/posts/298621925081051

 

[Surelynot]

2 minutes ago, WaveHunter said:

I wonder just how much more transmissible and virulent the UK strain really is?  I mean, I've no doubt it is more so, but I think the Press and certain officials like to hype it up beyond what Science really supports, ya know? 

 

As for the Press, getting people into an emotional frenzy sells more airtime; it's as simple as that IMO.  And as far as certain public officials go, it's a lot more easy to control the public when they are in a state of emotional hysteria than it is when they are thinking rationally.  Just my personal take on things of course ????

 

If the original is graded as 1 then the UK variant is graded as 1.7.......(I read somewhere)....what that means and, more importantly, what implications this has for 'us' I am not too sure.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Reflected in the light blue shaded boxes, 28,696 COVID positive patients in some kind of hospital facility, with 871 in critical condition, and 250 of those on respirators. 203 total deaths, including 109 now in just the current month.

 

The first chart below reflects Thailand's total COVID case numbers since the beginning of the pandemic in early 2020. The second chart reflects Thailand's case numbers for its third wave outbreak that began at the beginning of April 2021.