Panya Hanphanitphan, 66, became the first medical worker in Thailand to die from the coronavirus.
Panya was confirmed dead early this morning in the northeastern province of Maha Sarakham two weeks after he was found infected with COVID-19, making him the first frontliner to die of the disease since the pandemic began over a year ago.
The doctor reportedly treated three COVID-19 patients at his clinic last month. He tested negative for coronavirus on Jan. 29 but fell sick two days later. Another test on Feb. 1 came back positive, making him the province’s 18th COVID-19 patient since the second wave of infections hit the kingdom in mid-December.
His condition deteriorated and he was pronounced dead at around 1:30am on Thursday.
Panya was the country’s 83rd known death from COVID-19. Thailand this morning reported new 150 COVID-19 infections with 142 local transmissions and eight from abroad.
