COVID-19 deaths hit record high for third consecutive day in Thailand

BANGKOK: Thailand reported 61 new COVID-19 fatalities, a record high for third consecutive day bringing the death toll in the kingdom to 2,141 since the pandemic began in January last year.

Over the last 24 hours, Thailand recorded 6,087 new COVID-19 cases, including 207 inmates, bringing the total infection in the kingdom to 270,921.

Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) assistant spokesperson Dr Apisamai Srirangsan said the new fatalities involved 32 women and 29 men aged between 30 and 90 years old, including 58 Thais and three Myanmar nationals.

She said 28 fatalities reported in Bangkok, Nonthaburi (nine), Samut Prakan (eight), Pattani (five), three each in Pathum Thani and Narathiwat and one each in Chiang Rai, Songkhla, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Nayok and Ayutthaya.

"The COVID-19 cases in Bangkok continue to surge as 2,267 new cases reported over the last 24 hours. To date there are 113 active clusters in Bangkok," she said during the COVID-19 daily briefing here today.

Meanwhile, Thailand will not impose additional restriction to contain the spread of COVID-19 amid rapid surge in new COVID-19 cases and fatalities.

The operations chief for CCSA, General Natthapon Nakpanich said the existing measures considered "adequate".

"There will be no need for more restrictions because we do not want to increase the burden on the people," he was quoted saying by Bangkok Post.

Nattaphon who is also the secretary-general of the National Security Council (NSC) said the health authorities have been ramping up vaccination drive in bid to curb the spread of infections in the kingdom.

He urged the people to continue wearing masks, observe social distance as well as other safety measures and added that the government has increased the number of hospital beds including at field hospitals as well as 'hospitels'.

"The government also introduced home isolation programme for asymptomatic COVID-19 patients," he said.

-- BERNAMA