Thailand today logged a record 15 COVID-related deaths, setting the most fatalities recorded in a single day since the outbreak began and heralding stricter measures to be imposed.
This morning, health officials reported the alarming number of fatalities along with 2,179 new infections, raising the total since the outbreak began last year to 59,687 infections and 163 deaths. There are 25,973 patients being treated at hospitals, 169 of which are currently on ventilators.
Although Thailand was able to limit the spread for most of last year and again earlier this year, its third-wave ignited in late March, initially spreading through the capital’s entertainment venues and fueled by the highly transmissible U.K. variant.
Public Health Ministry said yesterday it would propose stricter measures to combat the outbreak by declaring six provinces “dark red zones.” The six provinces are Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chonburi, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan. Additional restrictions to be imposed on these provinces will be announced later.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration this morning asked for residents to not travel between provinces and those doing so should quarantine two weeks.
