Disease dept issues fresh Covid-19 alert

Disease dept issues fresh Covid-19 alert

The Department of Disease Control yesterday warned the public that Covid-19 was again spreading and advised people to take protecting themselves from the disease seriously.

Dr Tares Krassanairawiwong, the director-general, said that last week there were 2,356 Covid-19 inpatients, up by 39% from the previous week.

The number of patients who had lung inflammation and depended on ventilators rose about 45%. Related fatalities doubled on a weekly basis.

Of the latest fatalities, 55% were vulnerable and unvaccinated people, and the remainder were those whose Covid-19 antibody count had plunged since being vaccinated or infected more than six months ago, Dr Tares said.

He said people should get Covid-19 and influenza vaccines simultaneously to reduce the risk of severe illness from both diseases.

The Covid virus has been spreading again since the Songkran festival in mid-April.