THAILAND logged a record 239 Covid-19 deaths over the past 24 to this morning (August 17) while a senior doctor pointed out that too few elderly and those with seven underlying diseases have been vaccinated so far, Siam Rath newspaper said.
The Public Health Ministry said there were 20,128 new coronavirus cases in the past day with 19,856 being among the general public and 272 in prisons and detention centres.
This takes the cumulative confirmed total in the ongoing wave that began in April to 919,579 cases.
Today’s record 239 fatalities took the death toll in the current wave to 7,879.
Another 20,791 patients were cured taking total recoveries in the ongoing wave to 703,011 with 210,032 still undergoing treatment.
Meanwhile Dr. Manoon Leechawengwong, Vichaiyut Hospital’s head of ICU specialising in respiratory diseases, revealed statistics showing that the elderly and those with seven underlying diseases are under-vaccinated as follows:
– Thailand had to the time of his writing this Facebook post administered 23.5 million doses of vaccines;
– Altogether 3.7 million people older than 60 years got their first jab ( only 31% of 11.7 million) and 297,000 their second shot;
– A total of 1.9 million people suffering from seven underlying diseases got their first jab (only 44% of 4.3 million) and 347,000 got their second shot;
– There were 9,800 twelve-week or more pregnant women who got their first jab.
Last evening Dr. Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman of Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) announced that the executive committee had approved extending the lockdown in the most restricted 29 provinces till August 31 with a hundred percent work from home rule remaining in place.
However there was one relaxation with banks and financial institutions allowed to open their branches in department stores. Even so, sale of electronic, IT and communication products are still not allowed in these malls because they can be purchased online.
CAPTIONS:
Top: A Thai man getting vaccinated. Photo: Siam Rath
Home Page: Top: Medical treatment. Photo: Sonny Abesamis (CC BY 2.0)
