As concerns grew over shortages in treatment facilities and vaccine supplies, Thailand's health authorities reported more than 6,200 Covid-19 cases Saturday.Officials also reported 41 deaths, bringing it to 2,181.Around 90% of Thailand's 271,000 coronavirus cases were reported in Thailand, and 95% of deaths occurred during the surge that began in April. In June, there were 992 deaths, which is more than 15 times the total of Thailand's 2020 total.Over the past two weeks, there has been an increase in patients on ventilators and in ICUs nationwide.According to the governments Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, 39% of new cases were reported in Bangkok. 25% were reported in neighboring provinces. 36% were reported in the remaining 71 provinces. Apisamai Srirangsan, Center deputy spokesperson, stated that Bangkok authorities should immediately set up isolation stations in order to isolate infected persons from their communities and provide beds for serious cases.Critics have stated that Prayuth Chanocha's government has failed to secure adequate and timely vaccine supplies since the start of the year. They also claim that efforts to get more have been slow.Friday's Health Ministry briefing revealed a dire picture of the priorities for who gets vaccinated.Kamnuan Ungchoosak, an epidemiologist, said that the Delta virus variant, which is more contagious than the original, could increase the death toll to 1,400 in July, and even more in the coming months.According to him, 80% of deaths occur among the elderly and those with chronic illnesses. Vaccinating them could reduce their death rate and decrease the need for ICU beds. He said that 10% of the elderly and infirm die while the rate for patients aged 20-40 is lower than 0.1%.However, there are also significant outbreaks among other groups such as construction workers and restaurant workers who need to be vaccinated.The camps and businesses have been closed, but the economy is still in trouble. Kamnuan stated that if we concentrate on older people and those with chronic diseases, it might not be necessary to close down businesses. The bed demand from these groups will also decrease.Prayuth plans to open the country to foreigners vaccinated in October without quarantines.Sopon Mekthon is the chairman of the governments subcommittee for Covid-19 vaccine management. He stated that only two million people out of 16 million have been vaccinated.Director of the National Vaccine Institute Nakorn Premsri said that Siam BioScience, a Thai company, was supposed provide 10m doses per month of AstraZeneca vaccine. However, this has been reduced to 5-6m doses. According to reports, the company, which is owned by Thailand's king, has experienced production problems. It also has contracts to supply vaccines to other nations.He stated that Thailand is working with other producers to make up the difference. Thailand has used vaccines only from AstraZeneca, China's Sinovac, and Sinopharm so far. However, the government claims it has agreements to buy from Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer.
