Phuket’s provincial health chief says Covid-19 infections have been rising on the island for the last week, and over half of local hospital beds are full. According to a Bangkok Post report, Dr Koosak Kookiatkul says that 26 new cases were confirmed via PCR tests on Wednesday, while another 294 people tested positive through antigen tests. Of the antigen test results, 285 were in the Muang district, with 9 in Kathu.
According to Koosak, new cases started to increase on the island around a week ago, with 277 new infections on Saturday, 291 on Sunday, 180 on Monday, 293 on Tuesday, and 320 on Wednesday. Of the island’s 162 local hospital beds, at least 91 are currently occupied.
However, it’s understood the number of severely ill patients developing lung inflammation is going down, but Koosak stresses the importance of taking the virus seriously. The island’s health chief says disease prevention measures remain important, including booster vaccine doses and the wearing of face masks in congested areas.
His warning comes as Thailand’s Public Health Ministry eases the country’s mask mandate, confirmation of which has just been published in the Royal Gazette. Effective immediately, people on Phuket and elsewhere in the country are no longer required to wear masks outdoors, unless in crowded spaces.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
