New infections hit another record, as death toll rises

The government yesterday reported 1,582 new Covid-19 cases over the past 24 hours, setting a record for the third consecutive day and raising the total to 39,038.

The Covid-19 death toll reported yesterday rose to 98, after a 38-yearold man who visited an entertainment venue in the Thong Lor area and was infected by Covid-19 died later in Tak.

Dr Chawetsan Namwat, acting director for emergency health hazard and disease control at the Department of Disease Control, said 1,577 cases were local infections in 66 provinces and five were imported.

Of the local infections, 921 were confirmed at hospitals and 656 detected in mass testing. Normally, new cases were confirmed 5-7 days after infection, he said.

Bangkok logged 312 new cases, Chiang Mai 272, Chon Buri 111, Prachuap Khiri Khan 100, Songkhla 89 and Lampang 59. “The new cases were visitors to entertainment places and people close to them,” Dr Chawetsan said.

The southern provinces of Ranong and Satun, which had been spared any cases this month, saw their first yesterday — a father and a child in Ranong who had visited Bangkok and a Japanese tourist in Satun. All provinces have now reported Covid-19 cases this month, he said.

The five imported cases were quarantined arrivals from Cambodia, Egypt, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates and Ukraine.

Of the 39,038 total cases, 28,480 (72.9%) recovered, including 97 discharged over the past 24 hours. Another 10,461 remained at hospitals, including 67 in critical conditions and 16 depending on ventilators.

Dr Chawetsan said clusters of more than 100 Covid-19 cases had been found this month in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Samut Prakan, Narathiwat, Samut Sakhon, Pathum Thani, Sa Kaeo, Nonthaburi, Rayong, Phuket and Nakhon Pathom.

“There have also been reports of the spread of Covid-19 related to schools in many places including 28 cases in Kanchanaburi, three in Samut Prakan, four in Krabi, two cases in Chanthaburi and seven cases in Chon Buri,” he said.

The 38-year-old male victim reportedly visited Krystal Club on March 19. He later visited his relatives in Chaiyaphum before visiting his wife in Tak. He coughed and felt aches and pain.

He was confirmed to have contracted the virus and was admitted to hospital on April 6. With a weight of 140 kilogrammes, diabetes and hypertension, he became unconscious on April 11 and died yesterday, according to a source.

In Prachuap Khiri Khan, the lower central province with the popular tourist district of Hua Hin logged 100 new Covid-19 cases over the past 24 hours.

Suriya Khuharat, chief medical officer of Prachuap Khiri Khan, said 75 new cases were reported in Hua Hin alone. The remaining 25 cases were in other districts.