New daily high, 34 Covid deaths

New daily high, 34 Covid deaths

Monks pray at Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram in Bangkok on Tuesday evening, as Covid-19 third-wave deaths continue to mount. The National Office of Buddhism organised prayers at temples nationwide. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)
Monks pray at Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram in Bangkok on Tuesday evening, as Covid-19 third-wave deaths continue to mount. The National Office of Buddhism organised prayers at temples nationwide. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)

The government on Wednesday reported a record daily high of 34 Covid-19 related deaths, lifting the total to 486, along with 1,983 new infections, for a total caseload of 88,907 since the epidemic began early last year.

The daily figures were logged on Tuesday, the Public Health Ministry statement said.

Over the past 24 hours, 2,006 cases had recovered and were discharged from hospitals. 

Since the third wave of novel coronavirus disease began in early April, there had been  60,044 cases reported, 31,617 of whom had recovered, the announcement said.

On Tuesday, 31 fatalities were reported and 1,919 new infections, matching the previous record high announced on May 3, when the government reported 2,041 new cases. There were 22 new deaths reported on Monday, and 1,630 new cases.

Apisamai Srirangson, a spokeswoman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said later during the daily briefing that the 34 new fatalities were aged 33-93 years, and included one foreigner, from Finland.

Sixteen were men and 18 women.Samut Prakan reported 13 fatalities over the past week, with their information verified during the past 24 hours.

Elsewhere, 10 fatalities were reported in Bangkok, two each in Nakhon Pathom and Pathum Thani, and one each in Suphanburi, Samut Songkhram, Samut Sakhon, Phetchabun, Chon Buri, Nakhon Nayok and Sa Kaeo. Eighteen had hypertension and diabetes. Other chronic illnesses were high cholesterol, renal disease, heart disease, liver disease, mental illness, obesity and lung disease.

Twelve of them caught Covid-19 from infected relatives and 10 from colleagues, neighbours and minders. Six cases visited risk provinces, four were either taxi drivers or worked at markets, and two visited a market and a party. The death toll in the third wave of Covid-19, starting early last month, has risen to 392.

Dr Apisamai said the number of fatalities was rising because infected people sought treatment late, and the elderly and people with chronic disease quickly developed severe symptoms.

"Do not wait until you have symptoms. If you know you have been in close contact with an infected person for more than five minutes, go to a hospital right away, give your information and receive a test. If you test positive, you will be treated and saved," she said.

The 1,983 new Covid-19 cases over the past 24 hours included 1,974 local infections, 1,328 of whom were confirmed at hospitals and 646 through mass testing. Bangkok logged 976 new cases, Nonthaburi 266, Samut Prakan 110, Chon Buri 57, Surat Thani 53, Ayutthaya 38, Samut Sakhon 36, Chanthaburi 32, Pathumthani 29 and Pattani 28.Nine new cases were arrivals from Malaysia (3), Germany (1), Switzerland (1), Cambodia (2 illegal arrivals) and Laos (2 illegal arrivals).

Eighteen provinces were free of Covid cases in 24 hours. They were Lampang, Nakhon Phanom, Surin, Nan, Sukhothai, Yasothon, Phayao, Sakon Nakhon, Loei, Chai Nat, Phrae, Uttaradit, Nong Khai, Sing Buri, Mae Hong Son, Mukdahan, Bung Kan and Satun.

Dr Apisamai said 29,378 Covid-19 cases were at hospitals, including 1,226 in critical condition and 401 dependent on ventilators. The number of severely ill cases and those needing ventilators was rising.

Global Covid-19 cases rose by 710,122 in 24 hours to 160.32 million. The worldwide death toll went up by 13,444 to 3.33 million. India logged 348,499 new cases and 4,205 deaths for a total caseload of 23.34 million.

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