25 found positive in quarantine
Thailand saw 25 new cases in quarantine over a 24-hour period, Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said on Wednesday.
He also confirmed that of 196 people who had travelled back from Tachilek province in Myanmar, 46 were found to have been infected. Only 17 entered the country illegally, he added.
The latest cases in the past 24 hours comprise both Thais and foreigners from abroad:
> Two Kuwaiti women, aged 31 and 71. The elderly woman had already been infected in October.
> Six from Switzerland – a Thai female accountant, 46, a Thai businesswomen, 50, three Thai maids, 52, 60, and 67, and a Swiss man, 53.
> Seven Thai women, ranging in age from 25-35. They worked in entertainment venues in Myanmar.
> A Russian diving instructor, 31, who travelled from his home country.
> A Thai female merchant, 52, who returned from Sweden.
> A Thai steersman, 27, who came home from Singapore.
> A Libyan woman, 32, and her son, 4, who travelled from Turkey.
> Two Thais – a female operating room officer, 59, and a female student, 18 – who travelled back from the United States.
> Three tourists who flew in from South Korea – a Korean man, 44, a Korean boy, 8, and a Japanese woman, 43.
Meanwhile, six patients have recovered and been discharged.
“I would like to thank all those who have cooperated with us. This will help keep our country safe,” Dr Taweesin said while talking about the 196 who travelled back from Myanmar's Tachilek province.
He added that any Thais who want to return home should first contact officers instead of deciding to cross the border by themselves. He also encouraged people to continue with their travel plans but follow the rules by wearing a mask.
As of Wednesday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand has increased to 4,151 (1,164 in state quarantine). Of these, 211 are in hospital and 3,880 have recovered and been discharged. The death toll remains at 60.
According to Worldometer, as of 10am the number of confirmed cases has reached 68.56 million (increasing by 584,388). Of these, 47.45 million have recovered, 19.54 million are active cases (106,441 in severe condition) and 1.56 million have died (an increase of 11,714).
Thailand ranks a safe 151st for most cases in the world, while the US has the most number, with 15.59 million, followed by India (9.74 million), Brazil (6.67 million), Russia (2.51 million) and France (2.3 million).