THE coronavirus count today (Feb. 9) remained low at 189 while the Ombudsman issued an announcement forbidding any direct purchase of vaccines by municipalities with their own funds, Sanook.com reported.
Dr. Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman of Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), said of the 189 new cases that appeared over a 24-hour period 123 were found through surveillance and service systems and 56 through proactive search in communities.
Ten overseas travellers were placed in state quarantine.
This took the cumulative total to 23,746 confirmed patients, with 18,366 having recovered while 5,301 are still hospitalized. There were no additional deaths with the toll remaining 79.
Meanwhile the Local Administration Department issued an announcement today that the Ombudsman had forbidden local administrations and the private sector from directly purchasing coronavirus vaccines from manufacturers.
The announcement, which was sent to every provincial governor, said the Ombudsman saw that there was a limited supply of these vaccines therefore felt only the central authority should buy them.
It added that if the central authority first bought these vaccines it would ensure their safety without specifying how this would be so.
CAPTIONS:
Top: Some coronavirus vaccine. Thai headline says, “Provincial administrations not yet allowed to buy vaccines.” Photo: Sanook.com
Home Page: Dr. Taweesilp reading out today’s Covid tally. Thai headline says, “189 new cases.” Photo: Sanook.com
