Anutin reveals increase in COVID-19 cases, but not severe: urges public to remain calm

[webfact]

 

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health, Anutin Chanvirakul, presided over a meeting with Dr. Opas Kankawinpong, Director-General of the Department of Disease Control, and other Ministry of Public Health officials to oversee the COVID-19 situation.

 

Anutin reported that the number of COVID-19 cases had increased as projected by the Department of Disease Control, but there was no corresponding increase in severity, reported INN.

 

With the majority of the population having received vaccination or having immunity, the emergence of new cases of the XBB.1.16 variant was expected and has raised concerns.

 

Nonetheless, it remains a hybrid of the original Omicron strain and has not demonstrated any signs of increased severity. The at-risk group for severe symptoms remains the same, consisting of 608 individuals who have not received the vaccine or have not received a vaccine dose in more than six months.

 

Anutin underscored the importance of obtaining the COVID-19 vaccine to increase immunity and reduce the risk of severe illness or death, particularly among the at-risk group.

 

He directed hospitals across the country, including those under the Ministry of Public Health's jurisdiction, to establish COVID-19 vaccination centers for public convenience.

 

The available vaccines are primarily of the Bivalent type, and medical professionals who are faculty members of medical schools will administer the COVID-19 vaccine alongside the flu vaccine.

 

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[JonnyF]

No need to panic guys.

 

But best you don't make the trip back to Issan to vote. Better safe than sorry.

[BKKBike09]

41 minutes ago, webfact said:

 

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health, Anutin Chanvirakul, presided over a meeting with Dr. Opas Kankawinpong, Director-General of the Department of Disease Control, and other Ministry of Public Health officials to oversee the COVID-19 situation

Hopefully also a subliminal message in this photo that it's safe to ditch the masks now.

[Snugs08]

10 minutes ago, BKKBike09 said:

Hopefully also a subliminal message in this photo that it's safe to ditch the masks now.

Doesn't seem like the bulk of Thais are noticing yet, outdoor any scenario masking is still above 90% in main population in bangers, I wonder how the forum promaskers are going to swallow the above though - indoors, no masks, no social distance - surely a photoshop jobbie? #misinformation

 

They just need to come out and say it, as always in Thai hierarchies - it's do as I say not as I do - even on the positive things like demasking

Edited April 21, 2023 by Snugs08

[ikke1959]

It is a reason for concern and publish that Covid is rising, but don't worry we don't panic... run run as soon as possible to get a jab, before there is a pandemic again, and surely don't let your guard down..But we remain calm 

Edited April 21, 2023 by ikke1959

[sungod]

The air pollution is far more of a worry, yet he does nothing.

[dinsdale]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Nonetheless, it remains a hybrid of the original Omicron strain and has not demonstrated any signs of increased severity.

Yep. It's Omicron and I have stated many times a mild viral infection for the majority, a majority which will have levels of immunity either from previous exposure, vaccines or both. It is not a variant of concern. So why keep going on about it? 

Edited April 21, 2023 by dinsdale

[smedly]

covid is over Anutin - and so are you.................   1.5% popularity lol - how impressive - I hope you can take a hint and ##### ###

 

Is this recent covid focus an attempt to cancel/delay the elections - it is only going on in Thailand - wouldn't surprise me

[Letseng]

4 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Yep. It's Omicron and I have stated many times a mild viral infection for the majority, a majority which will have levels of immunity either from previous exposure, vaccines or both. It is not a variant of concern. So why keep going on about it? 

And where did you get your expertise ? As long as nobody in your circle falls severely ill you assume nobody else does. Ever heard of Long Covid after "mild" infection? You won't die but your life will not be the same.

[Tom H]

Where is Doctor Yong?

I miss him:).

[RayOday]

Ok, got it Covid. Now stop gaslighting and tell the public how you plan and execute action against the unbreathable air in Thailand. People are suffering the worst pollution in Asia excepting New Delhi and when sandstorms hit Beijing. What are you doing from a public in health perspective to stop the burning. Is there a plan? What is it and what are the actionable measures? Certainly an engineer/health minister wanna be PM can convene parties and plan and hold people accountable to the plan. Can't he? 

[Millcx]

50 minutes ago, Letseng said:

And where did you get your expertise ? As long as nobody in your circle falls severely ill you assume nobody else does. Ever heard of Long Covid after "mild" infection? You won't die but your life will not be the same.

55555555 Were Doomed .. Long COVID = Good excuse for days off work .. Nothing to do with underlying issues … Whoa is me

[fulhamster]

He;s probably still got a few warehouses of unsold face masks that he needs to get rid of quick

[PETERTHEEATER]

The Minister's face is looking quite puffy these days, I do hope he's not coming down with some bug or other. 

[Millcx]

Is he still about .. Better take extra shower guys

[Mad mick]

Gif welcome CCP ???????? longest lockdowns don't work after 3 years once its out its out  thank you gift from EHA Fauchi Daszak crimes against humanity we all have to get use to it ! its here to stay live with it 

Edited April 21, 2023 by Mad mick

[Snig27]

6 hours ago, Snugs08 said:

Doesn't seem like the bulk of Thais are noticing yet, outdoor any scenario masking is still above 90% in main population in bangers, 

It really depends where in the city you are. I'm around the top end of Ekkamai and it's around 50% now. 

 

Arriving back from a week in Vietnam though, it's still a shock. It's around 20% there now, at least where I was in Saigon and the Delta. 

[paulikens]

It was always going to go up after songkran as that's the only time of the year the Thais venture out these days.  a country full of hermits. 

[vivananahuahin]

Omicron spreads with the media at the speed of the news, its main target is in the body is the brain, they will understand one day, I doubt it

[Burma Bill]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

but there was no corresponding increase in severity,

Oh really? From today's International media headlines (21 April 2023):

 

The first death from the Arcturus strain, thought to be around 1.2 times more infectious than the last major sub-variant, was recorded in Thailand yesterday.............Dr Supakit Sirilak, director-general of the Medical Sciences Department, revealed today that it was an unnamed elderly man died from the new variant.......the man who died was “an elderly foreigner” with underlying health conditions.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/dead-arcturus-covid-variant-thailand-b2323608.html

 

Good news for TAT??????

As this is a Thai Forum and I no longer live in the Country, I will make no further comment.

 

 

 

[transam]

2 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

Oh really? From today's International media headlines (21 April 2023):

 

The first death from the Arcturus strain, thought to be around 1.2 times more infectious than the last major sub-variant, was recorded in Thailand yesterday.............Dr Supakit Sirilak, director-general of the Medical Sciences Department, revealed today that it was an unnamed elderly man died from the new variant.......the man who died was “an elderly foreigner” with underlying health conditions.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/dead-arcturus-covid-variant-thailand-b2323608.html

 

Good news for TAT??????

As this is a Thai Forum and I no longer live in the Country, I will make no further comment.

 

 

 

Yes, so let's be careful out there, wash hands regularly, wear a mask in close quarters, etc, and all will probably be fine..................

[mrfill]

When a politician tells you to 'remain calm', its usually time to start worrying.

[Skeptic7]

Turn the record over already ???????? 

[bradiston]

Déjà vu?

[spidermike007]

7 hours ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

The Minister's face is looking quite puffy these days, I do hope he's not coming down with some bug or other. 

The likely result of eating in too many Michelin starred restaurants. 

[spidermike007]

7 hours ago, RayOday said:

Ok, got it Covid. Now stop gaslighting and tell the public how you plan and execute action against the unbreathable air in Thailand. People are suffering the worst pollution in Asia excepting New Delhi and when sandstorms hit Beijing. What are you doing from a public in health perspective to stop the burning. Is there a plan? What is it and what are the actionable measures? Certainly an engineer/health minister wanna be PM can convene parties and plan and hold people accountable to the plan. Can't he? 

They would have stand up to Big Agra, who are one of their biggest supporters. They are way too compromised and sold out for that. 

[MrJ2U]

14 hours ago, sungod said:

The air pollution is far more of a worry, yet he does nothing.

Nothing you can do. 

 

 

[cowellandrew]

Run get your masks back on and your 20th booster!

????

[talahtnut]

Calm panic

Get tested

for stupidity.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

On 4/21/2023 at 9:05 AM, ikke1959 said:

It is a reason for concern and publish that Covid is rising, but don't worry we don't panic... run run as soon as possible to get a jab, before there is a pandemic again, and surely don't let your guard down..But we remain calm 

 

You'll notice that neither the EN language OP nor the TH language report it's based on contain any actual numbers on the LATEST increase in COVID hospitalizations here. (They're usually updated to the public sometime between Saturdays and Mondays for the prior week).

 

Last week's week-over-week report showed a 250% increase in COVID hospitalizations to a daily average of 62 new COVID hospitalizations per day.

 

I suspect in the next day or two, from some source, we'll find out what the actual new numbers are for this just ended week... and obviously they'll be another increase over the prior week. Becaise Anutin's already telling us the latest week was UP again:

 

"Anutin reported that the number of COVID-19 cases had increased as projected by the Department of Disease Control, but there was no corresponding increase in severity, reported INN."

 

As of a week ago, new COVID hospitalizations in Thailand had reached their highest level since late January. Stay tuned.