Government Reports Lower Than 100 Cases

The number of daily cases reported by the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration has lessened as of today, February 16. Today, the CCSA said that they have found only 72 new COVID-19 cases as opposed to the hundreds that were reported in the weeks immediately after the eruption of the second outbreak.

According to the CCSA, these 72 cases include 48 cases found through community active testing. 21 more were reported in medical facilities and hospitals, while three cases were found while the patients were on state quarantine.

CCSA spokesperson Taweesilp Visanuyothin said that only 16 cases were found in the province of Samut Sakhon. This represents only 23.19% of the daily total, as opposed to previous reports wherein the province reported up to 90% of the daily cases.

Dr. Taweesilp said that all 16 cases are currently being treated in hospitals. The patients are six locals and ten foreigners from Myanmar.

Samut Sakhon is the epicenter of the current outbreak, which began in the middle of December last year in the Central Shrimp Market. Majority of the cases found were migrant workers, who worked in the Central Shrimp Market.

However, a number of locals had been exposed and were infected after visiting the shrimp market to buy fresh seafood.

At its peak, the second wave had brought the virus to more than 60 provinces in the Kingdom.

Aside from Samut Sakhon, hospitals in other provinces also reported new cases. Samut Prakan reported two, and Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom and Khon Kaen reported one case each.

Pathum Thani also reported 47 cases found through active testing. The other lone case discovered through active case finding is in Ayutthaya.

The Pathum Thani cases involved 26 Thais, 18 Myanmar nationals, 2 Laos and 1 Cambodians. All of these patients contracted the virus by visiting local markets.

Bangkok, on the other hand, reported no new cases.

Dr. Taweesilp warned everyone not to let their guard down just because the number of cases is declining, especially the people in Pathum Thani.

The CCSA explained that the infection rate among Thais is higher than migrant workers. Thais can freely move around, while migrant workers are usually confined to their quarters and work areas. Because of this, locals are more at risk of getting infected and inadvertently spreading the virus.

“Pathum Thani people must take precautions,” Dr. Taweesilp urged.

On the other hand, only three cases were reported in state quarantine. These involved arrivals from the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Thailand’s total number of cases is at 24,786. The CCSA said that 23,563 patients have already recovered, and have been discharged from the hospitals. 680 patients have been charged in the past 24 hours. Only 1,141 patients remain in the hospital.

With no new deaths, the death toll remains at 82.

These stats translate to 95.07% recovery rate and a 4.93% death rate for COVID-19 in Thailand.

Source:
BangkokPost