COVID-19 Outbreak Spreads To 45 Provinces, Thailand Warns Of Spike In Cases

BANGKOK, Dec 30 (Bernama) -- The latest COVID-19 outbreak in Thailand has spread to 45 of the 77 provinces in less than two weeks, and public health authorities warned that the number of daily cases could soar to five digits by mid-January. Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) spokesman Thaweesilp Wissanuyothin said the latest outbreak at a seafood market in Samut Sakhon province since Dec 18 had spread to 45 provinces with more than 1,300 cases recorded. He said the daily cases could soar to 18,000 by the middle of next month if no preventive measures are taken. “With moderate measures, the number of daily new cases could hit 8,000 and with intensified measures, it could reach 1,000 cases or fewer. The number of new cases is increasing... We will review the measures if the situation is not under control,” he said at a press conference here Tuesday. Thailand has detected at least three clusters since mid-December - the outbreak linked to the seafood market in the southwestern province of Samut Sakhon, an illegal gambling den in the eastern province of Rayong and superbike enthusiasts who gathered at Lanta Island in the southern province of Krabi. Thailand recorded 155 new COVID-19 cases comprising 134 local transmissions, 11 from active case detection in Samut Sakhon province and 10 imported cases. To date, Thailand has recorded 6,440 cases and 61 fatalities. In a bid to curb the COVID-19 outbreak, all entertainment outlets and betting premises in Bangkok will be closed from today till Jan 4. Bangkok Metropolitan Administration ordered entertainment outlets including bars and night clubs to be closed while restaurants can stay open as long as they do not serve alcoholic beverages and close by midnight. Besides that, horse racing tracks and cockfighting arenas will be closed till Jan 4. The cabinet Tuesday approved an allocation of 11.3 billion baht to combat the new outbreak, including 27.2 million baht to purchase equipment and screening devices. -- BERNAMA