Two succumb to virus, 273 of 279 new Covid-19 cases contracted locally

FRIDAY, January 01, 2021

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) announced 279 confirmed cases on Friday, 273 of which were transmitted locally. Two patients also succumbed to the virus on Thursday.

Of the local cases, 257 are Thai nationals and 16 migrant workers living in the country.

The Thai patients include 90 in Samut Sakhon, 51 in Chonburi, 37 in Rayong, 29 in Chanthaburi, 20 in Bangkok, 13 in Samut Prakan, seven in Trat, two in each Pathum Thani and Sa Kaew, and one in each Nakhon Si Thammarat, Lamphun, Surin, Nakhon Pathum, Ubon Ratchathani and Chachoengsao.

The 16 infected migrant workers include 15 in Samut Sakhon and one in Ang Thong.

The six cases in state quarantine included five foreigners and one Thai returnee from the US. Of the foreigners, one is a German national, one Italian and one Slovene, both of whom flew in from the UK, and two Chinese nationals from Hong Kong and China.

The deaths, meanwhile, include a 44-year-old in Bangkok and a 70-year-old in Mae Sot. The Bangkok resident tested positive for Covid-19 on December 30.

CCSA spokesman Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin said the patient had visited a restaurant in the capital on December 20, before developing a cough and runny nose between December 26 and 27.

On December 28, he developed a fever and breathing difficulties, and went to Charoenkrung Pracharak Hospital on December 30 when his symptoms worsened. He tested positive for the virus on the same day.

When his state worsened on Thursday, he was shifted to Chulalongkorn Hospital where he died at around 3pm.

Meanwhile, the 70-year-old in Tak’s Mae Sot district tested positive for the virus on December 4 and succumbed on Thursday at 10pm to pneumonia and respiratory failure.

The total number of confirmed cases in Thailand has risen to 7,163 – 5,142 of which were contracted domestically, comprising 1,408 migrant workers, and 2,021 returnees. So far, 4,273 have recovered and been discharged, while 63 people have died.

Lamphun and Sa Kaew are the latest to be added to the list of 51 provinces where Covid-19 patients have been reported.

According to Worldometer, as of 10am on Thursday, the total number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 83.80 million (up by 736,680), 59.32 million have recovered, 24.48 million are active cases (106,378 in severe condition) and 1.82 million have died (up by 13,411).

Thailand ranks 136 in the global list of most cases, while the US tops the ranking with 20.44 million, followed by India 10.28 million, Brazil 7.67 million, Russia 3.15 million and France 2.62 million.