Closely monitor the COVID-19 situation in healthcare facilities and communities

In the face of the COVID-19 epidemic situation that is developing in many countries around the world, the Ministry of Health requires proactively strengthening supervision, closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation, and strengthening the implementation of epidemic prevention and control measures at medical facilities and in the community.

The Ministry of Health requires medical facilities to be ready to admit, provide emergency care, care for, and effectively treat cases of the disease, especially high-risk groups such as pregnant women, people with underlying diseases, the elderly, etc., to prevent deaths.

According to the Ministry of Health, in the 28 days up to April 27, the world recorded 25,463 COVID-19 infections (down 56.9%), the number of deaths related to COVID-19 decreased by 37.9% compared to the previous 28 days. Brazil is the country with the highest number of infections in the past 28 days with more than 7,000 cases, followed by the UK with more than 5,000 cases.

From January 1 to May 10, Thailand recorded 53,676 COVID-19 cases and 16 deaths. In Bangkok alone, the highest number of infections was 16,723 cases, peaking in the week from April 27 to May 3 with 14,349 cases, including 02 deaths.

Globally, the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths is on a downward trend; the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in Thailand coincides with the time and incubation period after the traditional New Year holiday, most likely due to increased mass gatherings and the rise of the XBB.1.16 sub-variant.

In Vietnam, COVID-19 is a common disease with high interaction and travel of people during the recent holidays, so it is not impossible to rule out the possibility of an increase in domestic cases in the coming time; however, there may not be an increase in severe cases due to COVID-19 virus variants.

The Omicron sub-variant XBB.1.16 has been around since 2023, is highly transmissible but has not been shown to cause more severe symptoms, and the WHO currently has no new global warning for COVID-19.

The Ministry of Health will continue to coordinate with WHO to closely monitor the COVID-19 epidemic situation in the world and propose appropriate and effective disease prevention and control measures.

To proactively prevent and control COVID-19, the Ministry of Health continues to recommend that people take good measures to prevent the COVID-19 epidemic.