Thai Authorities Propose Stricter Measures To Curb Covid Fatalities

By Linda Khoo Hui Li and Tuwaedaniya Meringing BANGKOK, July 8 (Bernama) -- Thailand’s Public Health Ministry has proposed stricter measures in high-risk areas to halt the spread of COVID-19 as daily cases and deaths continue to climb. Over the last 24 hours, Thailand recorded 7,058 new COVID-19 cases and 75 fatalities, a single-day high, taking the total number of infections in the kingdom to 308,230 and 2,462 deaths, since the pandemic in January last year. Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) assistant spokesperson Dr Apisamai Srirangsan said the Public Health Ministry had proposed measures including limiting people’s movement, closing of non-essential businesses and limiting operating hours for businesses and public transport. She said the proposed restrictions would be implemented in Bangkok, the epicentre of the latest outbreak, and nearby provinces. “Prime Minister Prayuth Chan o-cha will chair the CCSA meeting to consider the new restrictions tomorrow (Friday),” she said at COVID-19 daily briefing here today. At present, Thailand has imposed measures including a ban on dining-in at restaurants, closing malls early and restricting gatherings to a maximum of 20 people in Bangkok and the five neighbouring provinces – Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon and Nakhon Pathom. Besides that, all construction sites have been closed and sealed off while workers will be isolated in camps in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus. To curb the surge in new COVID-19 cases in Bangkok, Dr Apisamai said new measures would be implemented including stepping up active case detection, setting up walk-in COVID-19 testing centres and establishing 20 community isolation centres for patients while waiting for hospital beds and collaborating with private hospitals to support home isolation for COVID-19 patients. “The health authorities will speed up vaccination among high-risk groups and constructions workers,” she said. Of the new COVID-19 cases, Dr Apisamai said 7,049 were local transmissions and nine imported cases, including 1,732 via active case detection. She said Bangkok which has 121 clusters, reported 2,212 new COVID-19 cases and 33 fatalities. The new fatalities, she said, comprised 39 men and 36 females, aged between 33 and 94 years old, involving 74 Thais and one Chinese. Meanwhile, Head of Islamic Council of Pattani, Wae Deramae Matmingchik urged Muslims in the five provinces in southern Thailand - Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Songkhla, and Satun to perform Solat Hajat (prayer of need) at home or mosque after Maghrib prayers today. -- BERNAMA