A view of the Songkran New Year Festival in Thailand (Photo: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/) The ministry will start giving COVID-19 boostershots like seasonal flu shotsnext month, Director of the ministry’s Department of Disease Control (DDC) Thares Krasanairawiwong.
He reported that between April 9-15, 435 new infections were admitted to hospitals fortreatment, an average of 62 cases per day or 2.5 times higher than the previousweek. Of them, 30 had lung inflammation and 19 were put on ventilation, up 58%and 36% respectively. Two of the patients died and they received the last booster shots morethan three months ago.
People in risk groups, especially the elderly and those withunderlying diseases, should seek to get a booster shot at a medical serviceoffice near their homes as soon as possible, Thares said.
After the Songkran festival, people are advised to keep themselves under observation for atleast seven days and avoid close contacts with the elderly or people withchronic diseases, he added.
As for the spread of COVID-19 of the XBB.1.16variant, it has been detected in 22 countries, mostly India. According toGISAID, the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data, as of April 13, Thailanddetected cases of XBB.1.16 sub-variant infection out of about 3,000 cases reportedworldwide./.
VNA
