Eight provinces under spotlight for rising Covid cases
Eight provinces have been named hotspots because their number of recent cases in the third wave has exceeded 100, Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Disease Control Department, said on Wednesday.
Also read: 1,335 infections confirmed, most in Bangkok and Chiang Mai
Since April 1, 5,712 Covid-19 cases have been confirmed with most patients being asymptomatic or having mild symptoms. Most infections are believed to have been picked up at entertainment venues like pubs, bars, karaoke outlets as well as among students who visited high-risk areas during school vacations.
Bangkok has the highest number of cases in the third wave at 1,687, with 64 per cent linked to entertainment venues, followed by 880 patients and 52 per cent from nightspots in Chiang Mai, 594 and 48 per cent in Chonburi, 416 and 49 per cent in Samut Prakan, 304 patients but zero from entertainment venues in Narathiwat, 265 and 74 per cent in Prachuap Khiri Khan, 116 and 16 per cent in Samut Sakhon and 124 and 40 per cent in Pathum Thani.
Dr Opas called on people who have returned to their hometowns for Songkran holidays to keep their guards up as infections among family members are rising. Dr Opas has also urged people in at-risk provinces to work from home for at least two weeks and maintain protective measures.
Laxity in following preventive measures could increase cases to 28,000 daily
The Department of Disease Control and International Health Policy Program agency have created a mathematical model to estimate the number of daily Covid-19 cases in 2021, based on four main measures. The model considers five possible situations.
The results of the study showed the likely number of new patients daily for the next month.
Case 1: No theoretical measures
-- 9,140 projected average cases per day, with lowest 1,308 cases per day and maximum 28,678.
Case 2: Closed entertainment venues in risky provinces
-- 2,996 projected average cases per day with 817 the lowest and 7,244 maximum.
Case 3: Closed entertainment venues in risky provinces and focus on personal behaviour adjustments
-- 934 projected average cases per day with 475 cases per day the lowest and maximum 1,589.
Case 4: Closure of entertainment venues in risky provinces, adjusting personal behaviour and reducing public gathering activities
-- 593 projected average cases per day with lowest of 378 per day and 857 maximum.
Case 5: Closed entertainment venues in risky provinces, focus on personal behaviour adjustment, reducing group activities and working from home
-- 391 projected average cases per day with 303 the lowest per day and 484 the maximum.