Thailand Ministry of Health reports 25,164 new COVID-19 cases and an additional 80 deaths since yesterday. The ministry also announced an additional 24,770 patients recovered from the COVID-19 virus.
Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul urge everyone to complete their vaccinations. In preparation for the Songkran Festival, all elderly are encouraged to get their vaccinations done.
The Department of Disease Control will be working with the local public health offices to get about 2.1 million vaccinated. He urges everyone to do it as early as possible since it takes some time for immunity to build up.
Infections are expected to go up during the Songkran Festival as many will travel to their provinces to reunite with family. It has been about 2 years since the festival was suspended due to the COVID pandemic. It is also advised for those coming home not to take part in activities that would put them at risk of infection.
The Public Ministry of Health said that most of the deaths associated with COVID are due to not being vaccinated. It is risky not to get vaccinated if you have an underlying health problem.
According to the dean of Siriraj Hospital’s medical school, Dr. Prasit Watanapa, this year’s celebrations are not as worrisome. Even if the factors of people, places, activities, and timing, the vaccination percentage of the country is high. Also, the omicron variant, although contagious, mostly exhibits mild symptoms.
With all these said, it is important to keep in mind that basic practices can prevent the spread of COVID. Wearing masks, frequent washing of hands, social distancing, and vaccination can help reduce the risk. Also, it is wise not to attend events that would be crowdy or held in poorly ventilated places.