After experiencing a lull in COVID-19 cases over the summer, Thailand has recently experienced a surge in infections. From January 1 until May 26, the country identified only 186,955 infections. In the week of May 18 to May 24, the country averaged 53,563 new COVID-19 infections each day. Unfortunately, there were five other deaths as well during this period. This increase serves as a reminder of the continuing struggles health departments face as they grapple with the realities of the pandemic.
In the context of the period reported, Thailand’s national health system has been coping with 46 death tolls since the beginning of the year. The last month’s increase in infections is causing alarm to government leaders and Americans everywhere. Bangkok, the capital city, quickly became the most affected area, showing an alarming trend of urban seeding and concentration of infections in cities. With the exception of Bangkok, Chon Buri ranked second in cumulative case numbers. At the same time, Samut Prakan and Nonthaburi came in third and fourth. Rayong came in fifth place as the region with the highest COVID-19 infection rate during this time.
From May 18 through May 24, hospitals averaged 2,827 admissions. At the same time, an astonishing 50,736 cases were treated in an outpatient setting. At a glance, this distribution highlights the nature of the outbreak. It further reflects upon the readiness of Thailand’s healthcare system to continue handling inbound cases. Much like the recent surge, that spike primarily affected those aged 30 to 39. This group was responsible for a shocking 10,740 of the overall infections. The second largest cohort was patients, 20 to 29, highlighting an alarming trend among younger adults.
For comparison, the prior week—from May 11 – May 17—Thailand saw a drastic high of 49,065 COVID-19 infections. This consistent rise in infections poses a challenge for public health officials as they seek to implement effective control measures. Ratwinit Bangkaeo School in Bang Phli district. As the COVID-19 health crisis escalated, schools around the globe began shifting toward online education platforms. As a precautionary measure to prevent future outbreaks in schools, they declared a transition to online learning from May 26 to May 28.
