A healthcare worker takes a nasal swab sample from a person for a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) test, at a temple near Klong Toey slum community in Bangkok, Thailand, May 3, 2021. REUTERS/Juarawee Kittisilpa

The number of daily COVID-19 deaths in Thailand fell below 100 for the second successive day and with the country reporting fewest deaths since July 26, the Ministry of Public Health reported on Sunday (Oct 3). 

Thailand reported 77 new fatalities over the last 24 hours, while a total of 10,828 new cases were also reported on Sunday.

In total, Thailand has reported 1,637,432 Covid-19 cases and 17,014 since the start of the pandemic.

The news comes as Thailand announced it was updating its quarantine free travel scheme in Phuket. 

The 'Phuket Sandbox' is now available to tourists from any country, providing they are fully vaccinated. 

Previously only fully vaccinated tourists from low risk countries were able to enter the Phuket Sandbox scheme.

Fully vaccinated tourists are able to roam free on Phuket without the need to quarantine for a period of one week (cut from the 14 days previously) before they are then allowed to visit other provinces.

Thailand hopes to rollout similar quarantine free policies for other tourist destinations, including as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Hua Hin, from November 1. 

As of Friday, Thailand has administered over 54.5 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, with nearly 30 percent of its 69 million population having been fully vaccinated.

 

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https://twitter.com/ThaiNewsReports/status/1444463539939262466

 

PCR test positive cases, total of 10,828 official new infections, with just 104 of those from prison and 10,724 from the community. 77 official covid deaths recorded. The second day of a welcome double digit number.

 

Rapid tests positive cases, highest for previous 14 days, 2,839 bringing the unofficial total to 13,667

https://ddc.moph.go.th/covid19-dashboard/

 

Last 7 days Ventilator Capacity:

27/09/21 = 728

28/09/21 = 738

29/09/21 = 729

30/09/21 = 717

01/10/21 = 709

02/10/21 = 725

03/10/21 = 712

 

Rolling 7 day average (up to 1st Oct) which includes prison cases and bar chart of community cases from daily official announcements.

https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus/country/thailand

 

https://twitter.com/ThaiNewsReports/status/1444455928519016449

 

 

https://twitter.com/ThaiNewsReports/status/1444455727209218050

 

UPDATE: 10,828 confirmed cases, 2,839 probable cases, and 77 deaths (1.04%). Out of 112,251 patients , 38,664 are in hospital, 60,312 in ‘hospitel’ and 10,129 in home/community isolation. 3,074 in a serious condition (-50) with 712 on ventilators (-13) #Thailand #COVID19

 

https://twitter.com/ThaiNewsReports/status/1444469682216390665

Death numbers continue to fall with 11 deaths/million of population recorded over the past 7 days, down 11%, according to the worldometer ranking. 
 

This places Thailand 70 th in the world below both Vietnam and Philippines. 
 

Cases also fell 10% over the same period. 
 

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/weekly-trends/#weekly_table

 

Southeast Asia saw a decrease in new Covid-19 cases and related deaths on Saturday, collated data showed.

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40006958

For what's it's worth the possibility that the vaccinations that have been given over the past 3 months is definitely a reason, well in my view at least, that the deaths have been dropping as well as the number of patients who are in need of critical care services.  However, this does not mean we can become complacent and let our guards down completely and just go out and not take the needed precautions.  My daughter in the US who is a Surgical Nurse Practitioner has said it best in a call to the family last night when she stated "We are seeing more cases now because folks believe they can just do what they want without taking precautions", She went on to say that she and her fellow medical personnel are tired and worn down and especially tired of seeing more of the un-vaccinated people who are crying for help as they wished they had listened and become vaccinated.  She said that one patient told her he believed his natural immunity would take care of him as it had in the past, but then he admitted to going to the bars, entertainment areas, sports arenas and not taking any precautions because he believed in the anti-vaxxer rhetoric.  

 

The reality is that we are also seeing a reduction in other viruses which we normally see in large numbers because folks are taking the proper precautions.  If the world does not wake up from being hit squarely in the face with this pandemic, then we as a society are doomed to put ourselves in constant repeat performances.

 

Another View I have is that with the Covid Variants changing, and they will continue to do so, just like other viruses do, we need to stop the continued case counting from the beginning of Covid time and just return to yearly stats, the keeping a running total is starting to wear thin on many people and another reason that people are fighting so hard against the restrictions and such, as they continue to compare this month with last month and so on.  The metric that we need to live with is the 7 day average for cases, hospitalizations and deaths.  ATK tests that are positive are counted as a daily case in most locations, and should be included in the daily total. Again my view.

 

56 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Thailand reported 77 new fatalities over the last 24 hours

deaths in hospitals were they are properly diagnosed and reported - not so sure in the rest of the country were recording of deaths is a grey area 

23 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Another View I have is that with the Covid Variants changing, and they will continue to do so, just like other viruses do, we need to stop the continued case counting from the beginning of Covid time and just return to yearly stats, the keeping a running total is starting to wear thin on many people and another reason that people are fighting so hard against the restrictions and such, as they continue to compare this month with last month

That is true of countries who have a high vaccination rate where absolute numbers of infections are becoming less relevant as a measure - Thailand isn't there yet 

29 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

For what's it's worth the possibility that the vaccinations that have been given over the past 3 months is definitely a reason, well in my view at least, that the deaths have been dropping as well as the number of patients who are in need of critical care services.  However, this does not mean we can become complacent and let our guards down completely and just go out and not take the needed precautions.  My daughter in the US who is a Surgical Nurse Practitioner has said it best in a call to the family last night when she stated "We are seeing more cases now because folks believe they can just do what they want without taking precautions", She went on to say that she and her fellow medical personnel are tired and worn down and especially tired of seeing more of the un-vaccinated people who are crying for help as they wished they had listened and become vaccinated.  She said that one patient told her he believed his natural immunity would take care of him as it had in the past, but then he admitted to going to the bars, entertainment areas, sports arenas and not taking any precautions because he believed in the anti-vaxxer rhetoric.  

 

The reality is that we are also seeing a reduction in other viruses which we normally see in large numbers because folks are taking the proper precautions.  If the world does not wake up from being hit squarely in the face with this pandemic, then we as a society are doomed to put ourselves in constant repeat performances.

 

Another View I have is that with the Covid Variants changing, and they will continue to do so, just like other viruses do, we need to stop the continued case counting from the beginning of Covid time and just return to yearly stats, the keeping a running total is starting to wear thin on many people and another reason that people are fighting so hard against the restrictions and such, as they continue to compare this month with last month and so on.  The metric that we need to live with is the 7 day average for cases, hospitalizations and deaths.  ATK tests that are positive are counted as a daily case in most locations, and should be included in the daily total. Again my view.

 

Good post.  The endless stats are pretty meaningless for the vast majority of people who just want to get on with life.  It's hardly surprising that the restrictions are largely being ignored, where they can be.  Unfortunately, closed schools is one that can't be ignored ????

How testing reveals the true impact of covid deaths in SE Asia

 

Thailand and the Philippines have huge spikes in Excess deaths compared to Singapore and Malaysia. Compare covid testing they do in the Charts below and that can be a major reason why.

 

https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus-testing

https://ourworldindata.org/excess-mortality-covid

11 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Good post.  The endless stats are pretty meaningless for the vast majority of people who just want to get on with life.  It's hardly surprising that the restrictions are largely being ignored, where they can be.  Unfortunately, closed schools is one that can't be ignored ????

Received a message from a friend in Phuket that starting Monday, tomorrow, classes are in session with weekly ATK testing being done. Hopefully that moves up here to BKK.

Luring Foreign Tourists Back to Thailand Will Be Very Slow

 

Thailand took a major step in trying to revive its devastated tourism industry on Friday as it reduced quarantine time for fully vaccinated travelers arriving to Thailand from 15 days to 7. No one should expect a quick surge in tourism anytime soon and should be cautious in treading the path to tourism recovery, however. 

 

The number of new infections nationwide is still precariously high at 10,000 plus and death toll around a hundred per day is still high by international standards and will be factored in by some potential foreign tourists currently mulling a visit to Thailand.

 

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/opinion/2021/10/02/luring-foreign-tourists-back-to-thailand-will-be-very-slow/

Pattaya launches major vaccination drive ahead of November opening

 

Chonburi’s tourist magnet, Pattaya City, is accelerating its Covid-19 vaccination drive in a bid to boost herd immunity before the city reopens in November.

 

The authorities are placing a special focus on elderly, bed-ridden patients as well those with chronic diseases and those vulnerable to infections.

 

Pattaya’s mayor Sonthaya Kunplome on Saturday oversaw the vaccination drive at Pattaya City Hospital and also led teams to the homes of bed-ridden patients.

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40006973

Thailand's battered tourism sector big blow to economy, pushes suicide rates

https://www.sify.com/finance/thailands-battered-tourism-sector-big-blow-to-economy-pushes-suicide-rates-news-international-vj2hywifceaad.html

 

While the official unemployment rate has remained at 2 per cent in the first quarter of 2021, up from 1 per cent in the first quarter of 2020, it does not present the real picture, an analyst told India Narrative.

"A very large part of the workforce is in the unorganised sector, the data of which is not captured in the official employment figure, the unemployment scenario is alarming to say the least," he said.

Joblessness has also pushed suicide rates in Thailand. 

 

But Covid blues have made things worse.

 

Quoting statistics provided by the country's Ministry of Health, the newspaper said that the rate of suicide had already been increasing year-on-year in Thailand pre-pandemic, but during Covid-19, the figure leapt by 11 per cent from 2019 to the end of 2020.

With the PM's target of 70% fully vaccinated by year end, I would say that's now an impossible task.

 

National Vaccination Rollout:

 

DAY 112: 175,926 <— Sun

DAY 113: 734,597

DAY 114: 726,805

DAY 115: 628,586

DAY 116: 2,288,728

DAY 117: 796,583

DAY 118: 288,016 <— Sat

 

TOTAL: 54,869,411 doses since 28 February

 

28.5% of people now fully vaccinated

 

https://twitter.com/ThaiNewsReports/status/1444553922350252034

A baiting post of a stalking nature toward another member has been removed.

Top Thai virologist claims herd immunity does not work with COVID-19

“Forget about herd immunity because it will not work with COVID-19.” So says Dr. Yong Poovorawan, chief of the Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology at the Faculty of Medicine of Chulalongkorn University, in his Facebook post on Sunday.

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/top-thai-virologist-claims-herd-immunity-does-not-work-with-covid-19/

Strangely enough in the provincial cases several provinces have the exact the same as yesterday. Phetchaburi 99, Prachuap kiri Kan 201 and also Kanchanaburi....

35 minutes ago, anchadian said:

Top Thai virologist claims herd immunity does not work with COVID-19

“Forget about herd immunity because it will not work with COVID-19.” So says Dr. Yong Poovorawan, chief of the Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology at the Faculty of Medicine of Chulalongkorn University, in his Facebook post on Sunday.

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/top-thai-virologist-claims-herd-immunity-does-not-work-with-covid-19/

He's only stating the obvious with experience from other countries but nothing wrong with that, being endemic and learning to live with it is a given now. As .long as its controlled at or below acceptable levels.

 

Of course vaccinations need to be upped a long way yet. Thailand's not there yet. 

 

Endemic does not mean harmless so constant monitoring will be required for the foreseeable future.

54 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

Strangely enough in the provincial cases several provinces have the exact the same as yesterday. Phetchaburi 99, Prachuap kiri Kan 201 and also Kanchanaburi....

Health officials on Saturday (Oct 2) reported 78 new COVID-19 cases, 19 were found in Hua Hin.

Elsewhere in the province, 46 cases were found in Pranburi, 4 cases in Sam Roi Yot, 4 cases in Kuiburi, No- case found in Thap Sakae, No-case in Bang Saphan, 3 cases found in Bang Saphan Noi, and 2 cases in Mueang Prachuap Khiri Khan.

 

Health officials on Sunday (Oct 3) reported 105 new COVID-19 cases, 22 were found in Hua Hin.

Elsewhere in the province, 32 cases were found in Pranburi, 1 case in Sam Roi Yot, 7 cases in Kuiburi, 1 case found in Thap Sakae, 17 cases in Bang Saphan, zero cases found in Bang Saphan Noi, and 14 cases in Mueang Prachuap Khiri Khan.

 

Oct 3: Prachuap reports 105 new COVID-19 cases, 22 cases in Hua Hin - Hua Hin Today English Newspaper Info, Reports, Events and News Social Life

51 minutes ago, worrab said:

Health officials on Saturday (Oct 2) reported 78 new COVID-19 cases, 19 were found in Hua Hin.

Elsewhere in the province, 46 cases were found in Pranburi, 4 cases in Sam Roi Yot, 4 cases in Kuiburi, No- case found in Thap Sakae, No-case in Bang Saphan, 3 cases found in Bang Saphan Noi, and 2 cases in Mueang Prachuap Khiri Khan.

 

Health officials on Sunday (Oct 3) reported 105 new COVID-19 cases, 22 were found in Hua Hin.

Elsewhere in the province, 32 cases were found in Pranburi, 1 case in Sam Roi Yot, 7 cases in Kuiburi, 1 case found in Thap Sakae, 17 cases in Bang Saphan, zero cases found in Bang Saphan Noi, and 14 cases in Mueang Prachuap Khiri Khan.

 

Oct 3: Prachuap reports 105 new COVID-19 cases, 22 cases in Hua Hin - Hua Hin Today English Newspaper Info, Reports, Events and News Social Life

I read a newspaper the thaiger and there were the same numbers at 16.00

https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/sunday-afternoon-covid-19-update-provincial-totals

https://thethaiger.com/news/national/saturday-afternoon-covid-19-update-provincial-totals

 

 

Just spoke to the GF's daughter and it appears that here in Bangkok they started break last week after having spent this entire term doing on-line learning.  She told her mother and I that she now goes back in November for the new term and only will they start in class learning after almost all of the teachers are vaccinated with many from her school being vaccinated this coming week.  She also said that she will have to take a covid test the week before the classes start and then every two weeks they will be ATK tested.  I have yet to see anything in writing from the school, but this was also confirmed by the daughters father who wanted to know if my GF had been vaccinated as only when she has had her first vaccination will he allow the daughter, who had covid and is now covid free to come and visit.  I asked him when he was going to be vaccinated along with his family, and he said they will be vaccinated this next month because they had not needed to be vaccinated as they had all had covid, and he had had covid twice.  It is a major mess as far as I see it.  Has anyone else here in BKK heard that the schools will indeed restart the next term in November?.  I am sure a few of the regulars who post in this topic thread would like to know as well.

20 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Just spoke to the GF's daughter and it appears that here in Bangkok they started break last week after having spent this entire term doing on-line learning.  She told her mother and I that she now goes back in November for the new term and only will they start in class learning after almost all of the teachers are vaccinated with many from her school being vaccinated this coming week.  She also said that she will have to take a covid test the week before the classes start and then every two weeks they will be ATK tested.  I have yet to see anything in writing from the school, but this was also confirmed by the daughters father who wanted to know if my GF had been vaccinated as only when she has had her first vaccination will he allow the daughter, who had covid and is now covid free to come and visit.  I asked him when he was going to be vaccinated along with his family, and he said they will be vaccinated this next month because they had not needed to be vaccinated as they had all had covid, and he had had covid twice.  It is a major mess as far as I see it.  Has anyone else here in BKK heard that the schools will indeed restart the next term in November?.  I am sure a few of the regulars who post in this topic thread would like to know as well.

I've heard nothing about my son's international school, but term already started in August and is due to finish in December, so I have a horrible feeling it might remain online for the rest of the year!

 

I'm a teacher for adults in a language institute at Centralworld and we've been told we should be able to resume face-to-face classes in a week or so, with restrictions (85% of staff vaccinated, masks and temperature checks, 1.5 metre distancing etc.).

Cheap but quality ATKs to be available at GPO stores in Bangkok on Oct 18th

 

The Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) will put two million quality rapid antigen test kits (ATKs) on sale to the public, for home use, at 40 baht per kit at its eight stores in Bangkok from October 18th.

 

GPO Deputy Director Sirikul Matevelungsun said today (Sunday) that the ATKs, procured by the GPO, are of standard quality and are much cheaper than those available in private pharmacies.

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/cheap-but-quality-atks-to-be-available-at-gpo-stores-in-bangkok-on-oct-18th/

2 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Just spoke to the GF's daughter and it appears that here in Bangkok they started break last week after having spent this entire term doing on-line learning.  She told her mother and I that she now goes back in November for the new term and only will they start in class learning after almost all of the teachers are vaccinated with many from her school being vaccinated this coming week.  She also said that she will have to take a covid test the week before the classes start and then every two weeks they will be ATK tested.  I have yet to see anything in writing from the school, but this was also confirmed by the daughters father who wanted to know if my GF had been vaccinated as only when she has had her first vaccination will he allow the daughter, who had covid and is now covid free to come and visit.  I asked him when he was going to be vaccinated along with his family, and he said they will be vaccinated this next month because they had not needed to be vaccinated as they had all had covid, and he had had covid twice.  It is a major mess as far as I see it.  Has anyone else here in BKK heard that the schools will indeed restart the next term in November?.  I am sure a few of the regulars who post in this topic thread would like to know as well.

Thanks for the update. 

2 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Just spoke to the GF's daughter and it appears that here in Bangkok they started break last week after having spent this entire term doing on-line learning.  She told her mother and I that she now goes back in November for the new term and only will they start in class learning after almost all of the teachers are vaccinated with many from her school being vaccinated this coming week.  She also said that she will have to take a covid test the week before the classes start and then every two weeks they will be ATK tested.  I have yet to see anything in writing from the school, but this was also confirmed by the daughters father who wanted to know if my GF had been vaccinated as only when she has had her first vaccination will he allow the daughter, who had covid and is now covid free to come and visit.  I asked him when he was going to be vaccinated along with his family, and he said they will be vaccinated this next month because they had not needed to be vaccinated as they had all had covid, and he had had covid twice.  It is a major mess as far as I see it.  Has anyone else here in BKK heard that the schools will indeed restart the next term in November?.  I am sure a few of the regulars who post in this topic thread would like to know as well.

We had a msg from our daughter's private school yesterday saying that next week's online classes will be the last as they're preparing for reopening in November. This is in Kanchanaburi.

12 hours ago, anchadian said:

Top Thai virologist claims herd immunity does not work with COVID-19

“Forget about herd immunity because it will not work with COVID-19.” So says Dr. Yong Poovorawan, chief of the Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology at the Faculty of Medicine of Chulalongkorn University, in his Facebook post on Sunday.

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/top-thai-virologist-claims-herd-immunity-does-not-work-with-covid-19/

I'd go with that, same as one of the Oxford professors stated. He said herd immunity not possible, should be talking about herd protection.