File photo: REUTERS

 

Thailand on Friday (October 29) reported 8,968 new COVID-19 cases, 8,747 recoveries and 64 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. 

 

▶︎ Total infections since April 1: 1,865,078

▶︎ Total recoveries since since April 1: 1,748,144

 

Friday’s cases bring the total number of COVID-19 infections in Thailand to 1,893,941 with 19,070 deaths.

 

The news comes as doctors in Thailand’s northern province of Chiang Mai are expressing serious concerns that COVID-19 infections there are approaching a critical level, with the ICU wards in two hospitals almost fully occupied.

 

Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Chiang Mai University Prof. Dr. Bannakit Lojanapiwat, said in a written statement issued today (Thursday) that daily new infections in the province averaged 400 in the past several days and new clusters are emerging on a daily basis.

 

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https://twitter.com/ThaiNewsReports/status/1453887038365724679

 

The number of Covid-19 cases crossed 13.11 million across Southeast Asia, with 30,327 new cases reported on Thursday. #COVID19 #ASEAN #TheNationThailand

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40008122

PCR test positive cases, total of 8,968 official new infections. 64 official covid deaths recorded. 

 

Rapid tests positive cases, 4,575 bringing the total of PCR and ATK results to 13,543

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

 

Rolling 7 day average chart (up to 27 Oct) and bar chart of both PCR and ATK totals

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

WHO Thailand Weekly Situation Update:

 

Current levels of severe cases, ventilated cases and deaths are all less than 50% of the average numbers that were seen at the peak in August 2021.

 

However, COVID infections remain very widespread and absolute case numbers remain high, reflecting significant transmission in communities. There is also incomplete information about the number of people self-testing positive with the antigen test kits that are now widely available, making the situation more difficult to accurately assess.

 

Although case numbers in Bangkok and the surrounding Metropolitan area are lower than for several months, the Ministry of Public Health is now closely monitoring a number of ‘watch list’ Provinces reporting active outbreaks, including Tak, Ratchaburi, Chantaburi, Rayong, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala, and Songkhla.

 

https://www.who.int/thailand/emergencies/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports

I must have missed this one but it's been said on here that there were 1000 prisoners testing positive in one jail. Where are these numbers? As for ATK tests the WHO is saying what many on here have already said. What isn't mentioned is the possibility of false negatives either through an incorrect reading or by incorrect self testing. This obviously will lead to a false sense of security and continued spread of the virus. 

New cases from Phuket = 68 

New infections from Sandbox = 6

People still hospitalized = 1,077

Cumulative confirmed cases = 15,083

New confirmed deaths today = 0

Cumulative deaths = 116 cases

https://www.facebook.com/phuketinfocenter/posts/415372670117915

 

 

https://www.thaienquirer.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Thai-Enquirer-Summary-October-29-2021.pdf

Today's local Covid19 situation in #Chonburi.

 

https://thepattayanews.com/2021/10/29/chonburi-announces-382-new-and-confirmed-cases-of-covid-19-and-1-new-death/

 

Latest data from the worldometer ranking table for deaths/million of population over the past 7 days, including yesterday’s numbers, shows Thailand remaining at 72nd in the world, 30 places below the UK.

 

Same table shows Thailand remain at 14th in Asia, 5 places below the Philippines and 6 places above Vietnam. 
 

72

Thailand

63,394

69,875

-9%

905

447

530

-16%

6

70,031,680

 

The number of deaths over the past week remains at 6 deaths/million of population, down 16% over the 7 day period, with the number of official infections also falling 9%

 

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

 

 

For me it looks like their daily death rates and the high % of positive persons pr daily tests, are still way to high to fully open up.

Their positive % of daily tests are still through the roof.

 

Here in Denmark which has been open for months we're seeing quite a rise in the daily numbers, and looks like we're heading into a winter that might cause problems once again, and our daily numbers are way lower than Thailand when comparing population Numbers.

We have approx 1900 positives pr 70.000 daily tests in a 5.8 mill population, which seems to start a spike once again.

 

And we have vaccinated 85 % of the target group of age 12+, and most of us got Pfizer.

 

This damn virus is not going to go away anytime soon.

 

COVID-19 sucks big time.

 

1 hour ago, Bkk Brian said:

However, COVID infections remain very widespread and absolute case numbers remain high, reflecting significant transmission in communities. There is also incomplete information about the number of people self-testing positive with the antigen test kits that are now widely available, making the situation more difficult to accurately assess

This in itself is a big concern, we'll at least to the WHO and myself of course.  The ARK tests are not truly being tracked as far as in home use as stated.  This creates a big anomaly no one is considering.

1 hour ago, Bkk Brian said:

New cases from Phuket = 68 

New infections from Sandbox = 6

People still hospitalized = 1,077

Cumulative confirmed cases = 15,083

New confirmed deaths today = 0

Cumulative deaths = 116 cases

https://www.facebook.com/phuketinfocenter/posts/415372670117915

Sandbox cases look to be increasing over the past few days. Wonder what day they tested positive.

14 minutes ago, Kadilo said:

72nd in the world, 30 places below the UK

 

There is always room for improvement. Cut down on testing and it will be 40 places below UK.

43 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Sandbox cases look to be increasing over the past few days. Wonder what day they tested positive.

Yes 6 yesterday, out of those 6, one got sent to mandatory quarantine after testing positive on arrival, 2 after the second test and 3 after the third test. Those 5 on the second and third test in all possibility they caught it in Phuket.

 

Figures for above is in the same facebook page link

Bloomberg Covid Resilience Rankings 

Latest figures from 27th Oct

 

Thailand down to 51 of 53 countries

 

The monthly snapshot measures where the virus is being handled the most effectively with the least social and economic upheaval -- ranks 53 major economies on 12 datapoints related to virus containment, the economy and opening up. 

 

Thailand was 50 last month but has now moved down to 51 out of 53 countries measured. Philippines is last. You can see in the graph below how Thailand began dropping down in April when the third wave hit, it used to be in the top 15.

 

Bloomberg link is under a paywall but you can read on other online media  such as https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/10/28/2137295/philippines-remains-bottom-bloombergs-covid-19-resilience-ranking

Edited October 29, 20214 yr by Bkk Brian

18 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Bloomberg Covid Resilience Rankings 

Latest figures from 27th Oct

 

Thailand down to 51 of 53 countries

 

The monthly snapshot measures where the virus is being handled the most effectively with the least social and economic upheaval -- ranks 53 major economies on 12 datapoints related to virus containment, the economy and opening up. 

 

Thailand was 50 last month but has now moved down to 51 out of 53 countries measured. Philippines is last. You can see in the graph below how Thailand began dropping down in April when the third wave hit, it used to be in the top 15.

 

Bloomberg link is under a paywall but you can read on other online media  such as https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/10/28/2137295/philippines-remains-bottom-bloombergs-covid-19-resilience-ranking

Just lucky it has that paywall.. dont subscribe! 

1 minute ago, Olmate said:

Just lucky it has that paywall.. dont subscribe! 

Yep, don't have to that's why I gave other links to the same article where its free to read in its entirety.

1 hour ago, ThailandRyan said:

Sandbox cases look to be increasing over the past few days. Wonder what day they tested positive.

How can they get covid? I thought the whole point was to prevent covid. 

1 hour ago, Neeranam said:

How can they get covid? I thought the whole point was to prevent covid. 

Easily, even though vaccinated and depending on when one can still be infected by a carrier be they asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic.  Being vaccinated just reduces the chances of being infected, of course lifestyle also plays a significant role in this as well.  Just think of all those working, or living around Phuket that are still being infected even though they have been vaccinated as well, and then those that have yet to be vaccinated, or those that had their jabs 6 months ago and need a booster.

A spokesman for the CCSA made a statement after the meeting that the dark red area will be reduced to 7 provinces left: Chanthaburi, Tak, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala, and Songkhla #Thailand

 

https://twitter.com/ThaiNewsReports/status/1453976216306782212

 

Also an important summary of disinformation was also relayed today in the WHO Thailand Covid update.

 

Combatting Infodemics

 

During a health emergency like this pandemic, an infodemic can drown out reliable information and allow rumours to spread more quickly, impeding an effective public health response.

 

Infodemics make it difficult to recognise accurate and reliable information that tells people what preventative actions they should take. Some information even promotes stigma, discrimination or violence.

 

Therefore, we all have an important role to play in sharing trustworthy information and reducing disinformation. Look for facts and evidence. Be critical when receiving information - assess and make a judgement about the accuracy and reliability of the source and compare with other sources. Choose carefully. Only share content from trusted sources.

 

Be a good example. Correct or call out people in your social networks when they post something untrue. Then, refer them to verified content and expert organisations for better information.

 

https://www.who.int/thailand/emergencies/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports

Yesterday's vaccinations - 879,556

 

https://twitter.com/NBTWORLDNews/status/1453976747775463427

 

UPDATE: I’ve just had this confirmed by the TAT and the MFA about unvaccinated children. For Test & Go they are exempted from the quarantine rule if under 12. For the 17 Sandbox destinations, they are exempted if under 18. In both cases, they must travel with parents #Thailand

 

https://twitter.com/RichardBarrow/status/1453979234016251906

English version of the new coloured zoning that is due to start on 1st November #Thailand

 

https://twitter.com/ThaiNewsReports/status/1453980180037312512

Thailand not eligible to produce generic Molnupiravir anti-viral drug

Thailand is not eligible to produce a generic version of Merck’s Molnupiravir anti-viral drug, which is shown to reduce hospitalisations and deaths among COVID-19 patients by 50%, because it is classified as an upper-middle income economy according to the World Bank, unlike other ASEAN neighbours such as Myanmar, the Lao PDR, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia, which are low to middle income economies.

 

Director-General of the Medical Services Department Dr. Somsak Akksilp said that this means that Thailand has to buy the drug directly from US pharmaceutical giant Merck.

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-not-eligible-to-produce-generic-molnupiravir-anti-viral-drug/

5 minutes ago, anchadian said:

Thailand not eligible to produce generic Molnupiravir anti-viral drug

Thailand is not eligible to produce a generic version of Merck’s Molnupiravir anti-viral drug, which is shown to reduce hospitalisations and deaths among COVID-19 patients by 50%, because it is classified as an upper-middle income economy according to the World Bank, unlike other ASEAN neighbours such as Myanmar, the Lao PDR, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia, which are low to middle income economies.

 

Director-General of the Medical Services Department Dr. Somsak Akksilp said that this means that Thailand has to buy the drug directly from US pharmaceutical giant Merck.

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-not-eligible-to-produce-generic-molnupiravir-anti-viral-drug/

Unfortunately, this being Thailand they may possibly do what they did to Japan, and just take it, like they did Favipivir, and make it themselves.   

3 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

Bloomberg Covid Resilience Rankings 

Latest figures from 27th Oct

 

Thailand down to 51 of 53 countries

 

The monthly snapshot measures where the virus is being handled the most effectively with the least social and economic upheaval -- ranks 53 major economies on 12 datapoints related to virus containment, the economy and opening up. 

 

Thailand was 50 last month but has now moved down to 51 out of 53 countries measured. Philippines is last. You can see in the graph below how Thailand began dropping down in April when the third wave hit, it used to be in the top 15.

 

Bloomberg link is under a paywall but you can read on other online media  such as https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/10/28/2137295/philippines-remains-bottom-bloombergs-covid-19-resilience-ranking

 

I could read it because I hadn't maxed out my monthly Bloomberg quota yet.  Biggest take-home message is that Thailand and Vietnam are tied for worst performers in the world (among these countries) since April.  What's more, Thailand isn't getting any better yet in comparative terms.  Will be interesting to see what the consequences of the premature reopening to tourists will be.

 

 

Edited October 29, 20214 yr by Macrohistory

Thailand looks to welcome tourists again — less than half its population is fully vaccinated

 

Come Monday, Thailand will be lifting quarantine restrictions for travelers from more than 40 countries — even though less than half its population has been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

 

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/29/thailand-travel-covid-vaccination-rate-ahead-of-nov-tourism-reopening-.html

Tougher health screening measures at Chiang Mai international airport

Due to recent surges in COVID-19 cases, Chiang Mai international airport has adopted an 8-step protocol, to make sure arriving passengers are safe, which may mean a delay of 2-3 hours before passengers are allowed to leave the airport following disembarkation.

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/tougher-health-screening-measures-at-chiang-mai-international-airport/