Daily infections and deaths reach new high on Saturday at 10,082 infections and 141 deaths
Ministry of Public Health reported on Saturday (July 17) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 10,082 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 127 of whom have been found in prisons.
Death toll increased by 141, which is also the country’s new high, while 6,327 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.
Cumulative cases in the country are at 391,989 with 3,240 total deaths.
Thai Red Cross asks provinces to book free Moderna doses
The Thai Red Cross Society has contacted governors of every province, seeking data on the number of at-risk residents eligible for free Moderna vaccine doses.
The Red Cross announced on Thursday that it was importing 1 million doses of the US-made mRNA vaccine and would offer them free of charge.
“Governors of each province in Thailand have been asked to notify their Provincial Administrative Organisation to reserve vaccines for high-risk groups free of charge,” the Red Cross letter read.
The reservations must be made by July 21, it added.
Tej Bunnag, secretary-general of the Thai Red Cross Society, told a House committee on Thursday that his agency had concluded talks to import 1 million Moderna doses.
From March last year to May this year, people purchased 18.3 million Covid-19 insurance policies worth 7.6 billion baht in premiums, according to the Thai General Insurance Association.
From January to May this year, people purchased 9 million Covid insurance policies worth 3.5 billion baht.
21 arrested for partying in ritzy Bangkok neighbourhood
Police raided a hotel in Bangkok’s upscale Watthana area on Friday and arrested almost two-dozen people found partying inside.
Police were informed at 1am that a birthday party was raging at the hotel. Gatherings of more than five people were banned last week in Bangkok as rising Covid-19 infections spurred a tightening of restrictions.
Thonglor police arrived at the hotel in the early hours of Friday to find a group of 21 people partying loudly.
The partygoers were screened for drug use by urine tests, some of which came back positive, said police. All 21 participants were charged with violating the emergency decree, with drug charges tossed in for those who tested positive.
Covid patients overflow into hospital car park as cases surge in Bangkok
Photos of Covid-19 patients lying in a hospital car park next to biohazard dumpsters underlined the critical shortage of beds in Bangkok on Friday.
The photos were posted on the Facebook page of “sleepless” celebrity medic Mor Lab Panda.
They reveal a chaotic scene as dozens of patients lie on mats or sit on plastic chairs in the car park of PMG Hospital. Some are sprawled close to orange biohazard dumpsters that are overflowing with dangerous waste. Liquid can be seen leaking from the biohazard bins.
The photos were taken by Facebook user Pawezi Naraporn.
A guard at the hospital said numerous people in the car park had been left waiting because of a shortage of ambulances.
Bangkok logged 2,195 new Covid-19 infections and 33 fatalities on Friday. Authorities in the capital have mandated home treatment for mild cases in a bid to ease the pressure on hospitals.
Thailand seeking at least 10 different vaccine brands, says Foreign Ministry
Thailand is using diplomatic channels to procure as many as 10 different Covid-19 vaccine brands from overseas, the Foreign Ministry says.
The announcement comes after AstraZeneca revealed it can deliver only around half the monthly target of 10 million locally made doses to Thailand.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Saengrat said vaccine brands sourced and to be purchased by Thailand include China’s Sinovac, Sinopharm and CanSino; US-made Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and Novavax; Russia’s Sputnik V; and Covishield and Covaxin from India.
Covishield is the name for AstraZeneca vaccine made in India.
The Foreign Ministry is currently cooperating with the US government on a large shipment of vaccine, Saengrat added. The US announced last week that it was donating 1.5 million doses of Pfizer to Thailand.
Meanwhile, the local importer has delivered shipment documents for Sputnik V to Thai government agencies including the Food and Drug Administration, Foreign Ministry and National Vaccine Institute.
Rapid test kits can be bought over the counter from today
Rapid test kits for Covid-19 should be available for sale in pharmacies from Friday, according to a Public Health Ministry announcement on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Dr Surachok Tangwiwat, Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s deputy secretary-general, said the agency has given four companies the green light to sell test kits over the counter.
He said consumers must check if the test kit has a “for citizens” stamp before purchasing.
“Rapid antigen test kits will also be available at hospitals, clinics and pharmacies from Friday,” he said.
He also advised people against buying Covid-19 test kits online, saying that it is against the law to advertise these devices without permission.
“People who find test kits being advertised can call the 1556 FDA hotline,” he added.
Dr Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, permanent secretary of the Public Health Ministry, said people who are not at risk should not waste their money on these kits.
Dr Supakit Sirilak, director-general of the Department of Medical Sciences, explained that antigen tests use saliva or samples from the nose cavity, while the more accurate antibody test uses blood samples.
He also advised at-risk people who test negative to take the antigen test again three to five days later and isolate themselves.
“Those who test positive, should inform public health agencies near their home and separate themselves. They should seek medication if they have trouble breathing,” he said.
He also advised people to disinfect used test kits and put them in a bag before discarding them.
Elderly woman, 89, shown suffering at home with Covid in plea for hospital treatment
A man in Nonthaburi has posted a clip of his elderly mother-in-law severely ill at home with Covid-19, and demanded an ambulance and hospital beds for her and other infected members of his family.
Kong Petchkaew, 58, posted the video on social media on Friday. It shows his 89-year-old mother-in-law lying on her bed at home and crying out with pain.
Kong said that he was afraid that her condition would worsen if she does not get medical treatment quickly.
Bangkok and surrounding provinces like Nonthaburi are facing a severe shortage of hospital beds as Covid-19 cases surge.
Kong revealed that his wife, 64, and nephew, 18, had also contracted the virus.
He added that he cannot leave the home, as he is a high-risk person.
This is not the first time Kong’s family has made headlines.
Earlier this week, his home was sealed from outside by his neighbours over fears the family could infect others in their community.
After the story was highlighted, wooden planks hammered over the home’s door were pulled out. Kong said he has filed a police complaint over the incident.
Customer melts restaurant owner’s heart with unusual food delivery order
A restaurant owner in Suphanburi has shared heart-warming details of an unusual order he received from a customer this week.
The kind-hearted customer ordered food not for himself but for the delivery driver.
The unnamed owner of Playground restaurant in Suphanburi posted the story on his “Tun Baantormai” Facebook page.
“I got an order this afternoon and was impressed by the customer’s comment. It was: ‘rider, you do not need to deliver this food for me. Take it back home and have this good dinner with your family. This order is to help local restaurants in Suphanburi.’”
The owner said he read the message again and again, before cooking the food for the lucky rider.
People flock to Rajamangala Stadium for rapid tests
The 1,500 places for Covid-19 testing at Bangkok’s Rajamangala National Stadium were snapped on Friday.
The tests using rapid antigen test kits are being conducted by the National Health Security Office in cooperation with the Urban Institute for Disease Prevention and Control and Mahidol University’s Faculty of Medical Technology.
According to media reports, the antigen test kit is 99 per cent accurate and provides a result in 30 minutes.
An official at the testing station said the quota of 1,500 tests has been filled up for several days since testing began on Friday.
People flock to Rajamangala Stadium for rapid tests
The official advised people to arrive at the testing station before 6am, and not skip their breakfast as they may faint while waiting for queue cards.
“The Rajamangala National Stadium testing stadium only operates on weekdays,” the official said.
People flock to Rajamangala Stadium for rapid testsPeople flock to Rajamangala Stadium for rapid tests
Billions spent on Covid insurance
People flock to Rajamangala Stadium for rapid tests
People flock to Rajamangala Stadium for rapid tests
People flock to Rajamangala Stadium for rapid tests
