Thailand is experiencing a significant but underreported surge in COVID-19 cases, with both public and private hospitals feeling the strain as outpatient and inpatient admissions rise. This trend mirrors situations in other countries like Singapore, the UK, the US, Australia, Canada, and France, driven by new variants from the KP lineage (e.g., KP.1, KP.2, KP.3).

Governments worldwide, including Thailand, are often downplaying the severity of this surge, with some manipulating COVID data. Despite claims from health authorities that new KP variants are not more transmissible or immune evasive, the increasing severity and hospitalisation rates suggest otherwise.

From May 12 to 18, 2024, Thailand reported 1,882 new COVID hospitalisations, averaging 269 per day, with many patients requiring ICU care, supplemental oxygen, or mechanical ventilation. The elderly and those with comorbidities are particularly at risk. During this period, there were also 16 new COVID-19 deaths.

The actual spread of the virus in Thailand could be more extensive than reported, as there is no data on total infections, positivity rates, ICU admissions, or ventilator use. Private hospital data indicates higher COVID admission rates than official reports, reminiscent of the Delta variant surge.

Long COVID poses a significant threat, with potential long-term impacts on Thailand’s healthcare infrastructure. The KP variants are more adapted for viral persistence, potentially leading to severe health issues like organ failure, neurological problems, strokes, blood clots, sepsis, and cancers.

Since the start of 2024, 16,819 patients have been hospitalised in Thailand due to COVID complications, with 120 deaths reported. With upcoming holidays and school reopenings, experts predict a continued rise in cases, further stressing the healthcare system. Lax health screenings at airports and borders may also contribute to the spread of new variants.

Asean Now

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