Covid-19 'may claim 5 million lives' by year-end
The number of Covid-19 cases worldwide by the end of this year is expected to be over 50 million people, while the death toll could exceed 5 million, Dr Yong Poovorawan, an expert virologist at Chulalongkorn University, said on Friday (August 21).
He said though Thailand had been free from Covid-19 for almost 90 days, the situation in other countries still poses challenges.
According to statistics on Saturday (August 22), a total of 23.1 million people had been infected, 802,950 people had died, and 15,7 people had recovered.
"Considering the rise in the number of cases, we expect Covid-19 cases worldwide at the end of this year to be over 50 million people, while the death toll is expected to be up to 5 million people," he said.
"Covid-19 antiviral drug and vaccine are the only hope to overcome this crisis. We believe that vaccine development will be completed by the end of this year as more than six companies are conducting the third phase of clinical trials on humans."
Regarding two Thai returnees who tested positive for Covid-19 after completing their 14-day quarantine, he said Thailand had been free from Covid-19 for over 80 days.
"Meanwhile, Covid-19 tests on people who were in contact with these returnees were negative, so it is possible that these returnees had been infected from overseas," he said.
"The Covid-19 test on returnees may have been negative at first, but turned positive later because they carried only a small amount of genetic viral material that was difficult to detect."
He added that the current Covid-19 testing was very fast and accurate, thanks to advanced technology that enabled medical personnel to search for genetic viral material.
"However, they may not have found the genetic viral material because the viral material may remain in a spot where medical personnel cannot swab, so it is not a surprise if the Covid-19 test on some people may be negative at first, but turn positive later," he added.
