1,882 new COVID-19 hospitalisations and 16 deaths in the last week

[webfact]

 

Thailand is experiencing a significant but underreported surge in COVID-19 cases, with both public and private hospitals feeling the strain as outpatient and inpatient admissions rise. This trend mirrors situations in other countries like Singapore, the UK, the US, Australia, Canada, and France, driven by new variants from the KP lineage (e.g., KP.1, KP.2, KP.3).

 

Governments worldwide, including Thailand, are often downplaying the severity of this surge, with some manipulating COVID data. Despite claims from health authorities that new KP variants are not more transmissible or immune evasive, the increasing severity and hospitalisation rates suggest otherwise.

 

From May 12 to 18, 2024, Thailand reported 1,882 new COVID hospitalisations, averaging 269 per day, with many patients requiring ICU care, supplemental oxygen, or mechanical ventilation. The elderly and those with comorbidities are particularly at risk. During this period, there were also 16 new COVID-19 deaths.

The actual spread of the virus in Thailand could be more extensive than reported, as there is no data on total infections, positivity rates, ICU admissions, or ventilator use. Private hospital data indicates higher COVID admission rates than official reports, reminiscent of the Delta variant surge.

Long COVID poses a significant threat, with potential long-term impacts on Thailand’s healthcare infrastructure. The KP variants are more adapted for viral persistence, potentially leading to severe health issues like organ failure, neurological problems, strokes, blood clots, sepsis, and cancers.

 

 

Since the start of 2024, 16,819 patients have been hospitalised in Thailand due to COVID complications, with 120 deaths reported. With upcoming holidays and school reopenings, experts predict a continued rise in cases, further stressing the healthcare system. Lax health screenings at airports and borders may also contribute to the spread of new variants.

 

Continued vigilance

 

Continued vigilance and robust response measures are crucial as Thailand navigates this challenging period. For the latest updates, you can visit Thailand Medical News to stay on top of the updates.

 

Photo by Fusion Medical Animation on Unsplash

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-05-20

 

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[Robert Paulson]

Are hospitals filling? We may need to flatten this curve. 2 weeks… 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

13 minutes ago, Robert Paulson said:

Are hospitals filling? We may need to flatten this curve. 2 weeks… 

 

Thailand hasn't had any nationwide COVID vaccinations campaign since 2022.

 

The Thai population in general is long out-of-date for COVID vaccinations, and virtually none of them have received the latest XBB-focused vaccine rolled out in the West last fall, since the Thai government as yet hasn't offered those here to the general public.

 

As for your first comment above, note this excerpt from the OP report above:

 

"with both public and private hospitals feeling the strain as outpatient and inpatient admissions rise."

 

AND

 

"Private hospital data indicates higher COVID admission rates than official reports"

 

 

Edited May 20 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

31 minutes ago, webfact said:

The actual spread of the virus in Thailand could be more extensive than reported, as there is no data on total infections,

 

Note that one month ago, one prominent Thai doctor estimated that just COVID infections in Thailand (not hospitalizations) likely were approaching 10,000 per day (doing a projection based on the reported hospitalization numbers.)

 

 

 

The officially reported COVID new weekly hospitalization numbers are just the tip of a bigger, broader COVID iceberg that's currently running through its seasonal spike here in Thailand.

 

Edited May 20 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Here's a bit more context on what to make of the Ministry of Public Health's latest weekly COVID report -- new COVID hospitalizations were almost flat compared to the prior week with only a tiny increase, but COVID deaths, serious condition hospitalizations and ventilations all rose substantially from the week before -- now 10 straight weeks of increased COVID hospitalizations.

 

Thailand MoPH Weekly COVID report for May 12 - 18, 2024:

 

--1,882 new COVID hospitalizations, averaging 269 per day, up 2 from the prior week

--16 new COVID deaths, up 5 / 45% from the prior week

--679 current COVID patients hospitalized in serious condition (pneumonia symptoms), up 91 / 15% from the prior week

--281 current COVID patients hospitalized requiring intubation/ventilation to breathe, up 44 / 19% from the prior week

 

The latest weekly COVID deaths tally is Thailand highest since 25 were reported for a week in early July 2023. The tallies of COVID patients hospitalized in serious condition and those needing ventilation are the highest since at least the start of 2023.

 

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1311049-weekly-thai-ministry-of-public-health-covid-reports/?do=findComment&comment=18927054

 

[DrJoy]

1 hour ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

and virtually none of them have received the latest XBB-focused vaccine rolled out in the West last fall, since the Thai government as yet hasn't offered those here to the general public.

 

XBB vaccine is available in Mahidol Clinic against cash payment since many moons.

 

Cost = 2100/- THB approx

 

https://www.thaitravelclinic.com/cost.html

[BE88]

Out of a population of 65 million officially but over 70 million when these figures are given we should consider the entire population base in proportion and not start a new Covid hysteria which in any case now has effects like a banal flu and it is clear that with of weak people a flu can be fatal which reflects these indicated data.

 

This news and in any case for the data explained above evident misinformation.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

54 minutes ago, DrJoy said:

XBB vaccine is available in Mahidol Clinic against cash payment since many moons.

 

Cost = 2100/- THB approx

 

https://www.thaitravelclinic.com/cost.html

 

Yes, there are several locations in BKK where the newer COVID XBB vaccine from Pfizer have just recently become available for a fee, including Mahihol University's travel clinic [see the link below].

 

But none of those very limited offerings are being run by the Ministry of Public Health, and none of them are free of charge as the government sponsored mass COVID vaccine programs were in 2021 and 2022. Nor has the MoPH actually promoted any of them. So the overall uptake by the general public thus far is virtually nill.

 

Mahidol only began offering the Pfizer XBB COVID vaccine just in the past few months, and with a very limited supply/availability per week. When I spoke with them about it for the linked report below, they said they typically were ordering about 10 doses per week. They definitely recommended anyone interested make an advance booking thru their website, with full details in the link below:

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1323285-new-pfizer-covid-xbb-vaccines-finally-become-available-in-thailand-–-for-a-price/

 

[khunpin]

Tourism reigns! 

The criminal junta does everything in order to keep the cash-cows coming to Thailand. 

In case I will not comment within the next few days - the junta has sent someone to kill me because I wrote the truth. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[RandolphGB]

2 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

Thailand hasn't had any nationwide COVID vaccinations campaign since 2022.

 

The Thai population in general is long out-of-date for COVID vaccinations, and virtually none of them have received the latest XBB-focused vaccine rolled out in the West last fall, since the Thai government as yet hasn't offered those here to the general public.

 

As for your first comment above, note this excerpt from the OP report above:

 

"with both public and private hospitals feeling the strain as outpatient and inpatient admissions rise."

 

AND

 

"Private hospital data indicates higher COVID admission rates than official reports"

 

 

 

They walk among us! Have you stepped outside in the last four years? Have you wore your mask the whole time? 

Edited May 20 by RandolphGB

[Gknrd]

Thailand will be hard hit considering the horrible air pollution. 10-1 the deaths are in the worst polluted sections of Thailand. 

I went threw covid in CM but during the rainy season. I could not imagine it during the worst pollution in history happening there now.

[shackleton]

When I went into my local shopping Mall even the staff there advised me to wear a mask 😷 

On this occasion I was not wearing the face mask but soon reverted back to wearing it 

Better safe than sorry 

[cowellandrew]

Ah problem could be a problem!

[spidermike007]

In the US alone, there are 

47,052 deaths per year from influenza and pneumonia. 14.1 per 100,000 population. 

Cause of death rank: 12

 

Covid is endemic now, and the cases and deaths will continue. We all die at some point and we have to die of something. 

 

This is NOT the Zombie Apocalypse. Let it go. 

Edited May 20 by stats
unsourced claim removed

[patman30]

when the rest of the world goes right, Thailand goes left,
i bet the pug is buzzing.

Time to get a nice crop on the go, just in case.

Edited May 20 by patman30

[ryandb]

Not this bs again, I've never had one and never had covid once or been sick in the 4 plus years over this hypercondriacs wet dream people are living in, it's a cold unless you have underlying health problems, if you do, treat them or act accordingly.

2 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

Thailand hasn't had any nationwide COVID vaccinations campaign since 2022.

 

The Thai population in general is long out-of-date for COVID vaccinations, and virtually none of them have received the latest XBB-focused vaccine rolled out in the West last fall, since the Thai government as yet hasn't offered those here to the general public.

 

As for your first comment above, note this excerpt from the OP report above:

 

"with both public and private hospitals feeling the strain as outpatient and inpatient admissions rise."

 

AND

 

"Private hospital data indicates higher COVID admission rates than official reports"

 

 

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

12 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

In the US alone, there are 

47,052 deaths per year from influenza and pneumonia. 14.1 per 100,000 population. 

Cause of death rank: 12

 

 

COVID is expected to rank 10th among causes of death in the U.S. for 2023 when the final counts are released later this year -- well ahead of the flu and pneumonia.

 

"Based on preliminary data, COVID-19 still ranks as the 10th most common cause of death in the U.S. for 2023, a drop from 3rd in 2020 and 2021 and 4th in 2022."

 

https://www.cdc.gov/ncird/whats-new/changing-threat-covid-19.html

 

AND

Study: COVID Still Deadlier Than the Flu -- But the Gap Is Narrowing

"After adjusting for variables, the risk of death in people hospitalized for COVID-19 was 35% higher (adjusted HR 1.35, 95% CI 1.10-1.66), the authors detailed in a research letter in JAMA.

...

"...there were nearly twice as many hospitalizations for COVID-19 compared with the flu for the 2023-2024, according to CDC surveillance data."

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1327600-study-covid-still-deadlier-than-the-flu-but-the-gap-is-narrowing/

 

 

 

 

Edited May 20 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Governments worldwide, including Thailand, are often downplaying the severity of this surge, with some manipulating COVID data. Despite claims from health authorities that new KP variants are not more transmissible or immune evasive, the increasing severity and hospitalisation rates suggest otherwise.

Life goes on... just don't shut down the country again

[Sticky Rice Balls]

wait a minute didnt the orange guy say covid would go away when biden won??? im confused

 

slow clap for all the grandpas that get angry here when they see thais wearing masks...going to the funeral are you????

[poppysdad]

I’m probably one of the statistics having spent February in icu in our government hospital with pneumonia. I recall being tested 3 times for Covid during the month but each time was given the all clear from it. 

[udontomi]

I would like to see some context in these reports, please. How serious are these numbers?  Compare to flu, perhaps?  Or to the period when it was considered a pandemic?  Absolute numbers as well as percentage increases/decreases need some reference point for the public to judge the seriousness.  Media has been doing the public a disservice by not providing comparisons. e.g. A 50% incresse means different degrees of concern when the cases go from 2 to 3 and from 2000 to 3000.

[wensiensheng]

If a free vaccination program run by the government was in place, I would probably get vaccinated again. I shan’t bother if I have to pay, just as I don’t for influenza.

 

having said that, I don’t have any underlying health conditions and exercise each day, so am not over weight. It’s not bullet proof, but it’s better than nothing.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

28 minutes ago, udontomi said:

I would like to see some context in these reports, please.

 

As posted above:

 

Thailand MoPH Weekly COVID report for May 12 - 18, 2024:

 

--1,882 new COVID hospitalizations, averaging 269 per day, up 2 from the prior week

--16 new COVID deaths, up 5 / 45% from the prior week

--679 current COVID patients hospitalized in serious condition (pneumonia symptoms), up 91 / 15% from the prior week

--281 current COVID patients hospitalized requiring intubation/ventilation to breathe, up 44 / 19% from the prior week

 

The latest weekly COVID deaths tally is Thailand highest since 25 were reported for a week in early July 2023. The tallies of COVID patients hospitalized in serious condition and those needing ventilation are the highest since at least the start of 2023.

 

And for some broader context beyond that:

 

"By comparison, at the start of 2024, the number of serious condition COVID hospitalized patients was 144, meaning the current number is more than four times higher. And the number of hospitalized COVID patients requiring ventilation to start 2024 was 89, meaning the current number is more than three times higher. COVID deaths for that week were four."

 

The weekly COVID new hospitalization counts reported by the MoPH during the past ten weeks have been as follows, with the spring surge beginning well before this year's mid-April Song Kran holidays, but then climbing rapidly until the slowdown for this latest week:

 

March 16 -- 501

March 23 -- 630

March 30 -- 728

April 6 -- 774

April 13 -- 849

April 20 -- 1,004

April 27 -- 1,672

May 4 -- 1,792

May 11 -- 1,880

May 18 -- 1,882

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1326140-hospitalizations-climb-in-thailands-spring-2024-covid-surge/?do=findComment&comment=18927200

 

But the current weekly new COVID hospitalizations number remain below the peaks of mid-2023, when they topped out at over 3,000 per week before declining again.

 

 

[Jackbenimble]

1 hour ago, BE88 said:

Out of a population of 65 million officially but over 70 million when these figures are given we should consider the entire population base in proportion and not start a new Covid hysteria which in any case now has effects like a banal flu and it is clear that with of weak people a flu can be fatal which reflects these indicated data.

 

This news and in any case for the data explained above evident misinformation.

could not agree more. The hysteria the media created when Covid initially arrived was more dangerous to life and limb than the virus. These covid believers would fit in well with the flat-earthers. 

Edited May 20 by Jackbenimble

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

2 minutes ago, Jackbenimble said:

could not agree more. The hysteria the media created when Covid initially arrived was more dangerous to life and limb than the virus. These covid believers would fit in well with the flat-earthers. 

 

Like to see some actual, credible source for your non-credible claims above:

 

The facts say 7 million+ official COVID deaths, and due to undercounting, a likely global total in the 20 millions.

 

 

Source:

 

[Clarkey611]

We're all doomed, Captain Mainwaring.

[Robert Paulson]

Covid is living rent free in some peoples heads

 

In others the stuff people did to “counteract” covid lives rent free

[madmitch]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

This trend mirrors situations in other countries like Singapore, the UK, the US, Australia, Canada, and France, driven by new variants from the KP lineage (e.g., KP.1, KP.2, KP.3).

But is there any hysteria in any of those countries? It hardly gets a mention in the UK and certailnly doesn't make mainstream news. 

 

Yes, people still get covid but for most people it's slightly worse than a typical cold but nowhere near as bad as flu.

[Robert Tyrrell]

Hello,

 

What I dont understand is its difficult to find a vaccine booster !! ??? In Nakhon Ratchisma Regoin , Why ? Anyone have info to a location in this Province ? 🙂