2022 starts with cases spike
Many schools delay return of students
Several provinces yesterday recorded a sharp rise in the number of new Covid-19 infections on the first working day after the long New Year holiday, prompting some to suspend in-person learning for students and prepare new isolation facilities for infected people.
Phuket recorded 184 new Covid19 infections yesterday, including 149 outside controlled areas, said Dr Koosak Kookiatkul, the provincial chief health officer.
The sudden spike prompted the province to suspend onsite learning at all schools until Jan 14 and prepare 66 hotels for Covid-19 isolation, said Phichet Panaphong, the deputy provincial governor.
In Chiang Mai, where 117 new Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, all civil servants were required to undergo Covid-19 testing using a rapid test kits to curb it spreading among visitors to the province’s government offices in all 25 districts.
At least one civil servant tested positive for Covid-19 in the first hour of mass testing at the province’s government centre yesterday, said a source.
The first two weeks after the New Year holiday are being treated as a crucial period for the province in its battle to contain the spread of Covid19, said Dr Chatuchai Manirat, the provincial chief health officer.
Lampang in the North recorded 24 new Covid-19 infections and one death.
One cluster there led to more than 600 people being quarantined.
In Bangkok, one bar and restaurant on Khao San Road had to close down for three days after 10 people were infected with Covid-19. All of them were friends who had visited the eatery to celebrate the New Year.
Phra Nakhon District Chief Wasant Boonmeaunwai said about 26 more people were considered high risk. District officers conducted large-scale “clean-up operations” on Khao San Road yesterday and provided onsite tests for the restaurant operator and its staff during which it found one infection among waiters.
The district chief previously issued a warning for people who planned to visit Khao San Road from Dec 30-31 to monitor their health condition and visit the doctor if they showed any symptoms.
As for the Omicron variant, Thailand has recorded 2,062 cases in the period from Nov 1 to Monday (Jan 3), said Dr Supakit Sirilak, directorgeneral of the Department of Medical Sciences.
The Ministry of Public Health has prepared about 20% more hospital beds across the country to accommodate the rising number of new Covid-19 patients, said Dr Chawetsan Namwat, director of the Emergency Health Hazard and Disease Control Division under the Department of Disease Control.
There is still scope to add many more hospital beds if necessary, he said, adding that home and community isolation for Covid-19 patients with mild symptoms is also being expanded to cope with the expected growing demand.