BANGKOK, March 23 (TNA) — – Thailand recorded 122 new cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and the total reached 721, the Public Health Ministry reported.
Dr Taweesin Wisanuyothin, spokesman of the ministry, said that the 721 patients included 668 at hospitals and 52 people who recovered and were discharged
Of the 122 new cases, four of them were boxers’ trainers and spectators at boxing stadiums who were in Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom and Ubon Ratchathani provinces and 16 people in close contact with them.
Others included 10 international travelers, deliverymen, students, masseurs and relatives of previous patients. Among them were German and French people. Thai patients in this group were in Bangkok, Surat Thani and Roi Et provinces.
Ninety-two new patients were being investigated on the causes of their infection. They included seven severely ill people.
Dr Supakit Sirilak, deputy permanent secretary for health, said the number of Covid-19 cases soared because the Public Health Ministry relied on the tests from one laboratory, instead of two, for each case for the sake of quick examination and visitors to boxing stadiums and entertainment places were spreading the disease.
The people who were traveling to their home provinces were transmitting the disease on their vehicles, he said.
About 10,000 beds were prepared for patients including 2,000-3,000 seriously ill ones. Treatment could be compromised if their numbers soared like those in Italy and the United States, Dr Supakit said. (TNA)
