DDC urges people to get booster shots
Covid-19 caseloads have increased by 4% from last week, reaching a daily average of 440 cases, according to the Department of Disease Control (DDC).
The DDC also urged people to get a booster shot, especially children who have not been vaccinated.
The number of Covid-19 inpatients rose last week while health authorities encouraged vaccination for young children.
Dr Tares Krassanairawiwong, the DDC director-general, said that from May 28 to June 3, there were 3,085 Covid-19 inpatients, up 4% from the previous week.
On average, there were about 440 Covid-19 inpatients a day last week, up from 424 a day in the previous week.
However, the number of inpatients with lung inflammation dropped to 386 last week from 425 the previous week. Among them, 243 were hooked on life support a day last week, down from 253 daily in the week before.
Meanwhile, Covid-19 fatalities have risen. Last week there were 68 new fatalities, up by 62% from 42 in the previous week.
Dr Tares said that elderly people, those with underlying diseases and pregnant women formed 97% of the new deaths, and they were under-vaccinated against Covid-19.
He encouraged people to receive annual vaccinations to prevent serious illness, hospitalisation and death from the virus. He said this year, children aged less than one had the highest rate of Covid-19, followed by those aged 70 years old and over.
Dr Tares recommended parents promptly bring young children for Covid-19 vaccination. He said there were fewer undesirable symptoms among the young than among older children, and the Covid-19 vaccine has proven internationally to be very safe for recipients.
There may be a fever in most Covid-19 sufferers for a few days, although no severe or dangerous symptoms were detected in young vaccine recipients.
It is advisable that children get a Covid-19 vaccine and basic immunisation against other diseases, he said.