COVID-19: Less New Cases In Thailand, Government Considers Relaxing Restrictions

By Linda Khoo BANGKOK, April 17 (Bernama) -- As Thailand continues record low numbers of new COVID-19 cases, the government is considering relaxing COVID-19 restrictions and measures. Thailand recorded 28 new COVID-19 cases and one more death overnight, bringing cumulative cases to 2,700 cases and 47 fatalities. To date, 1,689 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals while 964 remain at wards. Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) spokesman Thaweesilp Wissanuyothin said the government will decide whether to lift the restrictions and measures, including reopening hair salons and barber shops. “Although the number of new cases has dropped to double digits, we must not take it for granted. We should remember that the low numbers (new cases) is the result of measures imposed. “We must continue to keep our guard up to maintain effectiveness in containing the COVID-19 pandemic. We must continue until the number of new cases decrease to zero,” he said at his COVID-19 daily briefing here Friday. Last week, World Health Organisation (WHO) director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that lifting restrictions "too quickly" could lead to a deadly resurgence of COVID-19. Thaweesilp said the latest fatality reported in the kingdom was an 85-year-old Thai woman who had a history of diabetes and high-blood pressure. He said Bangkok has reported the highest number of cases at 1,371, followed by Phuket (192), Nonthaburi (148), Samut Prakan (108), Yala (99) and Pattani (87). “Nine provinces in Thailand remain free from COVID-19. To date, a total of 27 provinces have no new cases of COVID-19 in the last 14 days,” he said. -- BERNAMA