THE Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) announced late this morning (May 3) that there were a record 31 coronavirus fatalities over the past 24 hours while 2,041 new cases emerged, up from 1,940 yesterday, Amarin TV said.
Meanwhile Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is concerned about the rising number of Covid cases in Bangkok’s slum areas and has asked the Port Authority of Thailand to set up a field hospital at its stadium and warehouse buildings for cases arising in Klong Toey area, Siam Rath newspaper said.
Today’s new coronavirus cases raised the cumulative confirmed total to 71,025 while the death toll climbed to 276.
Another 1,726 patients have been cured, adding up to 40,984 who have recovered. Altogether 29,765 are still undergoing treatment with 981 in severe condition and 278 using ventilators.
Of today’s 2,041 patients, 1,943 emerged in service systems while 97 were found through proactive search in communities. One overseas arrival was quarantined.
More people have been vaccinated as follows:
– 1,598 got their first jab raising the total to 1,099,460 who have done so;
– 744 got their second jab adding up to 387,447 who have completed the course.
Regarding the new field hospital, the Defence Ministry is now concerned that the Klong Toey community and those adjacent to it are collectively large and crowded and if the outbreak is this area is not brought under control it could spread so rapidly it would be beyond the capabilities of the public health system to handle.
The Thai Armed Forces Security Centre will be helping the Port Authority of Thailand in establishing a field hospital at its stadium and warehouse buildings.
Chulalongkorn Hospital said proactive testing is now showing an infection rate of 5-10%. At the same time more pneumonia patients from the Klong Toey community are coming in for treatment and all sides must now cooperate in taking action to prevent the disease from spreading further out.
In April there were 304 patients in the Klong Toey area with 193 being slum dwellers while 111 lived in other types of accommodations such as condos and dormitories.
CAPTIONS:
Top: A porter prepares to wheel a load of vegetables from a delivery truck to a vendor at the Klong Toey market. Photo: Mark Fischer (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Home Page: A street vendor at Klong Toey market. Photo: Maneesh (CC BY-SA 2.0)
