Bangkok is preparing extra staff, beds and medical resources to handle the surge in Omicron cases since the New Year holiday. Thailand had recorded 2,062 cases of the Omicron variant spread across 54 provinces, as of January 3.
Bangkok has logged the highest number at 585, though only seven of these were domestic cases with the rest found in travellers. Kalasin has recorded 233 cases (231 domestic), Roi Et 180 (all domestic), Phuket 175 (17 domestic), Chonburi 162 (70 domestic), and Samut Prakan 106 (28 domestic).
Bangkok has 25,345 treatment beds – 2,922 in hospitals, 2,898 in field hospitals and 19,525 in hospitels.
The city also has 40 Community Isolation centres with a capacity of 5,066 beds.
Thailand has officially entered its fifth wave of Covid-19 infections with record daily cases predicted, according to experts. Department of Medical Services chief Dr Somsak Ankasil announced the epidemic’s new phase on Wednesday after talks with the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA).
The Department of Disease Control estimates the latest wave could see a record-breaking 30,000 new cases per day in a worst-case scenario.
Such levels of Omicron-fuelled infection would overwhelm hospital capacity, which stands at 52,300 beds across the whole country and 25,828 in metropolitan Bangkok.
A surge in cases would trigger a switch to Home Isolation (HI) and Community Isolation (CI) as the first line of treatment. Only severe cases would then be sent to hospitals, said Dr Somsak.
He also predicted a high infection rate among children, most of whom have not been vaccinated. However, most infected children would escape severe symptoms unless they had underlying disease, he added.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is preparing Community Isolation beds for children and families in six zones, with at least 50 beds per site.
Somsak also called on the Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health to prepare stocks of antiviral favipiravir to treat children across the country.
Police are hunting for a security guard who allegedly raped a woman at her luxury condominium in Bangkok’s Bang Khae district on Tuesday night.
The female resident, 36, said the guard barged into her flat before handcuffing and sexually assaulting her at 1.50am. She managed to escape the room and call the police. However, they were barred from entering the condo, giving time for the security guard to escape.
The resident told police she had returned from errands and was about to enter her room on the 7th floor when she realised she had left the key inside. She went downstairs to ask for help from the condo’s chief security guard. The guard called a locksmith, who opened the door and then left.
Later, the resident answered a knock at the door to find the guard standing outside. She said he pushed her back into the apartment, locked the door, shackled her and warned her not to make a noise. She told police that he raped her and then fell asleep, giving her the chance to get dressed, run downstairs and call the police.
Six Phet Kasem police officers arrived at the scene but were denied entry by a receptionist.
Two hours passed before security camera footage was examined to reveal the suspect had dumped the handcuffs in the garbage. Police then checked the guard’s apartment but found it empty.
The female resident was taken to Siriraj Hospital and will be questioned later by police.
Officers have requested an arrest warrant for the suspect, named as Montree Yaikratok, 40.
The same man was reportedly found guilty of raping a 15-year-old girl in Sa Kaew province in 2013. He was released from prison in 2017.
The condominium’s operator said it had used the security company for three years and received no complaints from residents. It blamed the security company for not checking the suspect’s criminal record before hiring him.
Road accidents claimed 333 lives over the New Year break’s “seven dangerous days”, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM).
Atotal of 2,707 road accidents were recorded from December 29 to January 4, resulting in 2,672 injuries.
Chiang Mai had the highest number of accidents at 96, while Bangkok saw the greatest death toll (22). Chiang Mai and Kanchanaburi recorded the most injuries, at 93 each.
Nine provinces recorded no road deaths during this period – namely Trang, Nakhon Nayok, Pattani, Phang Nga, Yala, Satun, Samut Songkhram, Sukhothai and Phrae.
Tuesday, the last day of the danger period, saw 209 road accidents, 21 fatalities and 202 injuries.
Speeding was behind more than one-third (34.45 per cent) of accidents while changing lanes caused 25.36 per cent. Most accidents (82.04 per cent) involved motorbikes and most crashes occurred between 6pm and 7pm.
Tuesday alone saw 78,340 motorists charged with breaking traffic laws – 23,131 for not wearing a helmet and 20,023 for driving without a licence.
The DDPM reported that accidents and deaths were 18.9 per cent lower than in the same period last year.
In 2016, Thailand recorded one of the highest road death tolls in the world at 32.7 people out of every 100,000 people.
The DDPM wants to reduce that number to 12 people per 100,000 by 2027.
Rumours circulating on social media that Sattahip Naval Base in Chonburi province has reported an “uncontrollable” Covid-19 cluster and that the authorities are unable to control it are certainly not true, Royal Thai Navy spokesman Vice Admiral Pokkhrong Monthatphalin said on Wednesday.
“From December 26 to January 2 there have been a total of 37 infections reported at Sattahip Naval Base,” he said. “These infections have been found among navy personnel of different departments. Most of them are not directly connected, and therefore are not considered as cluster cases.”
The Naval Medicine Department provided details of infections at the naval base as follows:
• December 26: 0 infection
• December 27: 1 infection
• December 28: 2 infections
• December 29: 10 infections
• December 30: 7 infections
• December 31: 2 infections
• January 1: 9 infections
• January 2: 6 infections
“All infected patients have been treated in isolation under Public Health Ministry standards, while all areas of Sattahip Naval Base have employed strict disease control measures,” Pokkhrong said.
“People should not panic over the rumours. They should only follow the latest updates from the Royal Thai Navy or related government agencies regarding the Covid-19 situation,” he advised.
Bangkoks mostly deserted streets roared back to life on Tuesday as people returned to the capital after spending their New Year hols outside the province.
But not all roads witnessed jams – not yet at least – as traffic proceeded smoothly.
Following criticism by netizens that Yala’s Betong Airport has not fully opened even after two years, the Department of Airports responded on Tuesday that it had decided to use the 1,800-metre for 80-seater planes on two routes only after taking into account the number of passengers and flights.
Airlines had asked for authorisation to operate only the two routes – Hat Yai-Betong and Don Mueang-Betong, it said.
The Betong Airport is also currently available for personal flights, the department also said, adding that the airport would discuss the issue of aviation fuel services with PTT.
The Betong Airport was approved by the Cabinet on October 6, 2015, to solve the transportation problem and develop the economy in three southern border provinces.
Bangkok Governor Asawin Kwanmuang warned that Covid-19 Omicron infections were likely to rise especially because of New Year celebrations involving large gatherings.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has prepared medical staff, equipment, medication and patient beds in case there is a new surge of Omicron, he said.
Precisely 25,345 beds have been reserved for patients in main hospitals, field hospitals, and hospitels, according to the Public Health Ministry’s Department of Medical Services.
Additionally, the BMA has prepared 40 community isolation sites with a capacity of 5,066 beds to treat Omicron cases.
The BMA, concerned about the current wave of Covid-19, has urged related organisations to closely monitor the spread of the new variant and asked the agencies to implement strict measures, especially after the New Year holidays.
City hall has also advised Bangkokians to get fully vaccinated to stay safe from infection or death.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has not been infected with Covid-19, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said, refuting social media rumours on Tuesday.
He also confirmed that Prayut is healthy and continues to serve the people.
“The premier has asked the public to follow information related to Covid-19 only from the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, the Public Health Ministry and medical personnel,” Thanakorn said.
“Meanwhile, the Public Health Ministry should present to the public the Covid-19 situation in countries where more than 100,000 infections have been reported daily to create awareness among Thais,” he added.
Separately, Progressive Movement leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit posted on his Facebook page on Tuesday that he tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday after travelling abroad.
He said he is undergoing quarantine in line with Public Health Ministry regulations. He asked people to take care of their health.
The ministry reported on Wednesday morning that the past 24 hours have seen 3,899 new Covid patients, 68 of whom have been found in prisons.
The death toll has increased by 19, while 2,508 patients have been cured and allowed to leave hospital.
Cumulative cases in the country (since April 1, 2021) stand at 2,210,612 with 21,769 deaths.
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