Covid-19 status may be downgraded from next month
The Public Health Ministry is considering downgrading Covid-19 from a “dangerous communicable disease” to a “communicable disease under surveillance” from next month, Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Wednesday.
After the downgrade is announced, people in the 608 group – which comprises the elderly aged 60 and over, people with chronic diseases, pregnant women, and those over 90kg – are still advised to get a booster shot and wear a face mask in public as currently almost 100 per cent of Covid-19 deaths are from this group, he said.
“People who test positive should follow doctor’s suggestions and refrain from getting anti-viral drugs from pharmacies unless you have a prescription, as not all Covid-19 cases require drug treatment,” advised Anutin.
On October 1 several departments under the ministry will have new executives, from director-general to deputy permanent-secretary levels, he said, insisting that the transition will not affect the department’s Covid-19 reclassification plan or any public health services.
The minister also said that from October 1 Pfizer will start delivering Covid-19 vaccines for children aged 6 months to under 5 years. The Department of Disease Control had ordered 3 million doses.
Pfizer’s vaccine for children under five must be administered at 10 micrograms per dose for the first two jabs three weeks apart. For a booster shot, the vaccine will be given at 3mcg per dose eight weeks after the second jab.
“As for the vaccine management plan for next year, the National Vaccine Institute’s Immunisation Subcommittee is finalising the details regarding target groups, the number of allocated booster shots, as well as the proposed budget,” he said.
On Thursday, Thailand recorded 1,587 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 19 deaths in the past 24 hours, while 1,969 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospital. The number of cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022, stands at 2,440,721 with 10,785 deaths.
As of September 6, Thailand administered 142.89 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines, with 57.27 million being the first jab, covering 82.3 per cent of the population, 53.74 million being second jabs (77.3 per cent), and 31.88 million third jabs (45.8 per cent).
