State of emergency extended, Covid zoning changed

THE Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) executive committee today (Mar. 18) extended the state of emergency by another two months till end of May and adjusted the Covid zoning with provinces in the blue tourism pilot scheme zone increased from eight to 10, Matichon newspaper and Amarin TV said.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who chaired the meeting, ordered all agencies to monitor the new mutant Omicron strain BA. 2.2, which is currently hitting Hong Kong hard, after four cases emerged here. The focus is on detection of infection, watching the symptoms and severity, the efficacy of the vaccines and response to medication.

– Effective from today the blue tourism pilot scheme zone comprises 10 provinces with these being Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, Krabi, Chonburi, Chiang Mai, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Phang Nga, Phetchaburi, Phuket. However some areas in other provinces also come under this category.

– There are now 20 provinces in the orange controlled zone as follows:

Tak, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Buriram, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ayutthaya, Phatthalung, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Ranong, Rayong, Ratchaburi, Songkhla, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Surat Thani, Udon Thani and Uttaradit

– High surveillance yellow zone now covers 47 provinces as follows: 

Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Khon Kaen, Chanthaburi, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Chumphon, Chiang Rai, Trang, Trat, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Sawan, Narathiwat, Nan, Bueng Kan, Prachinburi, Pattani, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phrae, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Mae Hong Son, Yasothon, Yala, Roi Et, Lopburi, Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Sisaket, Sakon Nakhon, Satun, Samut Songkhram, Sa Kaeo, Saraburi, Sing Buri, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surin, Nong Khai, Nong Bua Lamphu, Ang Thong, Amnat Charoen, Uthai Thani and Ubon Ratchathani.

This morning the Public Health Ministry said there were 27,071 Covid cases and 80 deaths over the past 24 hours with this raising the cumulative confirmed total since the start of the pandemic to 3,303,169.

Another 23,157 people tested positive via ATK but this total was not added to the daily count.

Another 21,522 patients were cured taking total recoveries since the start of the pandemic to 3,048,491 while  230,603 are still undergoing treatment.

Today’s 80 fatalities raised the death toll to 24,075.

Altogether 126,659,661 doses of vaccines have been administered.

CAPTIONS:

Top: Today’s CCSA executive committee meeting. Photo: Matichon

Insert: The new zoning map. Image: Amarin TV

Home Page: Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha attending today’s CCSA executive committee . Photo: Matichon

Also read: Bangkok logs 3,703 Covid cases out of 25,456 nationwide

Ministry moves to further ease Covid control including face mask rule

BMA allows consumption of alcohol at events till 11 p.m. 

Four cases of mutant Omicron strain BA. 2.2 found in Thailand

Ministry warns Omicron symptoms overlap that of dengue fever

New Omicron strain killing hundreds everyday in HK has not reached Thailand