Thailand calls on the elderly to receive COVID-19 jabs before Songkran festival

Thailand’s Department of Disease Control (CDC) has urged more than 2 million elderly people to get COVID-19 shots before the Songkran festival as infections may soar during the festive period.

CDC deputy chief Sophon Iamsirithavorn said on March 4 that the department has voiced strong concern that 2.17 million senior citizens still have not received any COVID-19 vaccines, meaning their health could be jeopardised if they get infected.

About 83 percent of the elderly demographic in Thailand is now vaccinated with at least one shot, he said.

Statistics provided by the department show that out of every 100,000 senior citizens in Thailand aged 60 to 69, 521 contract COVID-19. The number is slightly lower for those above 70 at 444.

Thailand reported 22,818 new cases and 52 deaths in the past 24 hours to March 5 morning, raising the national count to more than 3 million and 23,176, respectively.

Meanwhile, authorities of Bali resort island of Indonesia have decided to remove quarantine for foreign tourists starting March 7, one week earlier than the initial plan.

Tourists must test for COVID-19 using RT-PCR method before arriving and are allowed to travel to all destinations in Bali if they test negative. They must take the test again on their third day in Bali.

If the result turns out to be positive, they will be quarantined at a hotel or hospitalised./.

VNA