Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health has urged people to avoid panic and remain cautious after a sudden surge in Covid-19 cases in Bangkok.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul, along with Dr Opas Karnawinpong, the director-general of the Department of Disease Control (DDC), went on March 14 to inspect a proactive testing operation in Wang Thong village in Bangkok’s Nong Khaem district, after it was found that people in the village had visited Bang Khae Market, a Covid-19 hotspot in the capital.

Anutin told people while visiting the area to stop worrying about the infection, and that March 14’s proactive screening was already in line with the proactive patient search mechanism of the public health system for disease control. If an infected person is found, they will be taken into the system for further treatment.

The minister also revealed that the government was negotiating with Sinovac to purchase an additional five million doses of vaccine, as reserve. However, he insisted that AstraZeneca would be the main vaccine and would be ready for mass inoculation from May.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will start Covid-19 vaccination by March 15 for people with underlying medical conditions, according to the health service department.

He added that the government was accelerating delivery of vaccine to the people.

In the meantime, he urged people to be careful and fully protect themselves.

Dr Opas confirmed 80 new cases from markets in Bangkhae district, adding the source of the infection was being investigated.

THE NATION (THAILAND)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK