The Thai government reported 89 new cases of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection in the past 24 hours on Saturday, bringing the total to 322 confirmed to have the pathogen. Due to complications after infection with COVID-19, one person died in the country.
Most (41) of the latest infections are related to previous cases, Suvannachai Wattanayingcharoen, director of the department of disease control at the health department, emphasized at a press conference on Friday. Nine cases concern people who have been abroad or have had contact with foreigners, he added. All new infections have been reported in the Bangkok metropolitan area.
In a country that lives off tourism, only one death from Covid-19 has been recorded so far. In early March, a 35-year-old man died of coronavirus infection. 43 patients were considered cured. There are still 278 people in hospitals.
For several days, the country has seen an abrupt increase in the number of coronavirus infections. Many new cases involve patients who have visited kickboxing stadiums.
While no decision has yet been made to impose an entry ban for foreigners, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-Ocha admitted on Wednesday that the country is preparing to completely close its borders and restrict the movement of citizens. Such restrictions should be applied when the epidemic in Thailand enters the "third phase", that is, the emergence of a wave of new infections in many regions of the country at the same time.
Schools and universities are closed throughout Thailand from Wednesday to late March. In Bangkok and neighboring cities, entertainment and sports facilities such as boxing arenas, racetracks, gyms, spas, cinemas and theaters have also been closed. The authorities of the tourist resort of Phuket decided to take a similar step.
