The Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) reported rising numbers of new COVID-19 infections in the South, triggering concern from the prime minister who has tasked the Ministry of Public Health to put a stop to the increase and contain the outbreak in 2 months.
Government spokesperson Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said the discovery of 1,922 new COVID-19 patients in a single day in the four southern border provinces of Pattani, Songkhla, Narathiwat and Yala has triggered worries about whether the number of infected persons in the area would continue to trend upward. He said Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha had expressed his concern over the development and had ordered Public Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr. Kiatiphum Wongrajit to visit the area to check on the situation.
A goal has been set for the outbreak in the four provinces to be contained within 1 or 2 months. Authorities will work to reduce the number of infected persons by 10% each week, by implementing social measures and discouraging congregations. “COVID-Free Setting Areas” will be set up and people’s access to antigen test kits (ATK) will be improved. Hospitals in the area will also prepare beds to accommodate patients with moderate to severe symptoms.
The Ministry of Public Health has already dispatched 1 million tablets of the favipiravir drug to the four provinces, in addition to 20,000 sets of ATK, 100 oxygen concentrators, 25,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine and 100,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine. He urged locals in the four provinces to exercise the utmost caution and protect themselves to the highest degree possible, even though the CCSA has relaxed some restrictions and allowed certain activities to resume. (NNT)
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