New surge 'could see 10,000 daily cases'
published : 20 Apr 2023 at 08:44
writer: Gary Boyle
ORIGINAL SOURCE/WRITER: Apinya Wipatayotin and Mongkol Bangprapa
The number of daily Covid-19 cases is likely to reach 5,000-10,000 during a new wave but numbers probably will drop quite quickly after that.
Dr Nitipatana Chierakul of Siriraj Hospital said the number of people infected with the Omicron XBB.1.16 sub-variant had increased but many patients had mild symptoms.
Severe health reactions that were reported were likely triggered by existing health conditions.
"When there is a new wave, daily cases are estimated to be between 5,000-10,000 patients. The number is relatively low compared to last year. Also, it is expected that cases will drop in a few weeks," he wrote.
Dr Nitipatana added that it is natural for the virus to spread during high-contact festivals like the Songkran celebrations.
Dr Nitipatana said most people have already developed immunity and booster shots should be given to people in vulnerable groups.
High-risk groups include seniors, people who have underlying conditions, children aged 6 months and older, pregnant people and frontline health workers.
The Public Health Ministry on Wednesday announced it will provide both influenza and Covid-19 booster shots to people at the same time, starting on May 1.
Learn from listening
Vocabulary
- booster (noun): something that gives extra strength - สิ่งที่เพิ่มกำลังหรือความแข็งแรง
- existing (adj): present now; in use now; used now - ที่มีอยู่
- frontline: directly involved where fighting takes place - แนวหน้า
- immunity: protected from a disease naturally by the body - ภูมิคุ้มกันโรค, ภูมิต้านทานโรค
- infected: having a disease transmitted from someone else - ซึ่งติดเชื้อ
- influenza (noun): flu, an infectious disease like a very bad cold, that causes fever, pains and weakness - ไข้หวัดใหญ่
- mild: not strong - เบา, ไม่หนัก, ไม่รุนแรง
- natural: normal; as you would expect - ตามธรรมชาติ, เหมือนจริง
- severe: very serious and worrying - ที่รุนแรง ที่น่าเป็นห่วง
- surge: a sudden increase in something - การเพิ่มขึ้นอย่างรวดเร็ว
- symptoms (noun): signs that someone has an illness - อาการ
- trigger: to cause - ก่อให้เกิด กระตุ้น
- underlying (adj): important in a situation but not always easily noticed or stated clearly; existing under the surface of something else - ที่สำคัญและซ่อนอยู่, ที่อยู่ในตำแหน่งต่ำกว่า
- variant: a thing that is a slightly different form or type of something else - สิ่งที่ผันแปร, สิ่งที่แตกต่างกัน
- vulnerable: easily damaged - ซึ่งถูกทำลายได้ง่าย
