The new round of Covid-19 outbreaks is more severe than the first round: CCSA

The number of new infections this round has jumped rapidly within a week or so, while the virus is spreading fast, reaching over half of the country now, according to CCSA

Spokesperson of the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin has conceded during the latest press briefing today that the situation in the latest round of Covid-19 infections now is more severe than that in the first round, citing the number of local infections, which has risen to over a thousand within a week or so.

The virus has also spread to 38 provinces, as of today, over half of the total number of the provinces, 77.

Dr. Taweesin said the rapid rise and spread of Covid-19 in this round are partly because people’s traffic and movements are still allowed between provinces.

However, he has tried to allay public panic, saying the country this time is better equipped with knowledge and people prepare themselves to cope with the virus better. For instance, mask production is now sufficient to serve people, unlike the first round, under which masks were inadequate.

Dr.Taweesin urged the people to 100% cooperate with the government in helping suppress the virus, for instance, protecting themselves with 100% of mask-wearing while their traffic and movements are still allowed so that they can continue their daily businesses and activities.

The new surge

The country faced sporadic infections of Covid-19 with some few cases and clusters reported, months after the first round of infections in mid March, but it started to see the new surge of Covid-19 infections in late November when some young Thai revellers crossed the boder to visit and work in some entertainment venues in Myanmar’s border town of Tachilek, next to Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district in the North, and crossed back with the virus. (Read: Covid-19 emergency operation beefed up as local transmissions emerge)

The virus infections from this group spread as far as Bangkok and two local transmission were reported out of these before the situation was brought under control.

However, the new cases spiked with the infections in the Central Shrimp Market in Samut Sakhon in the mid-month (Dec 17), starting from one female wholesaler in the market, before a number of cases were reported each day among migrant workers who were subject to active case finding and testing.

Over 15,000 cases have been tested so far, with the latest number of cases, 1,356, reported today.

At the same time, a number of provinces with local transmissions, mostly from Samut Sakhon, have been reported, with cases rising up to 234, as of yesterday, surpassing the peak in the first round (188) already.

Among these are some few cluster explosions of cases in Rayong and Krabi provinces, where a connection to Samut Sakhon’s cases is under investigation. 17cases in Krabi in connection with a Big Bike party have so far been confirmed, while the other 85 cases have been reported in Rayong in connection with a gambling den in the province.

With such the spike of local transmissions, Rayong would be placed as Zone 1, or an infected area with a maximum control, according to Dr. Taweesin, being the second province placed under such the classification after Samut Sakhon.

So, the country now has seen accumulated cases stand at 6,141 cases today, with 121 new infection cases reported (94 are local transmissions, 18 from active testing cases among migrants, 8 from ASQ, and 1 from illegal entry).

Thailand’s sharp rise comes as the world’s cases have surpassed 80 million, and 1.75 million deaths.