Thailand’s Covid-19 Roller Coaster: A Record Death Toll and Tightening Travel Rules
Third Wave Hits With a Bang
Thailand has just logged 11 Covid deaths on a single Sunday, setting a new daily record.
Variant‑Fueled Surge
That spike comes from the highly transmissible B.1.1.7 strain, turning what was a quiet country into a bustling hotspot. In just 25 days, the nation amassed over 24,000 new cases and 46 deaths.
India‑Based B.1.617
To add to the headaches, Thailand is slowing air travel for folks coming from India because of the B.1.617 variant.
- All foreign Indians still going to Thailand must go through a slow‑down on documents.
- 131 Thai citizens currently waiting to travel in May from India are still allowed in.
Extended Quarantine
All arrivals will now have to stay home for 14 days instead of the previous 10 until conditions improve.
New Measures in Force
- From 26 April to 9 May, parks, gyms, cinemas, and day-care centers in Bangkok get shut.
- Off‑limits but shopping malls stay open – albeit with reduced hours ruled by the Thai Retailers Association.
- Face masks will cost up to 20,000 baht (≈$850) if you nap on them.
- Provincial governors can impose curfews and shut public venues if the threat blazes.
Deadlines and Deaths
Reports on Friday: 2,438 new Covid cases, 11 deaths – a second straight record day.
Hospital Bed Crunch?
One worry is how many beds we’ll have when everyone across the country who tests positive gets admitted – even if they feel fine.
Health officials still have a laugh over 20,000 beds available nationwide.
Latest Totals
So far: 55,460 infections and 140 fatalities.
For more updates, keep an eye on Thai authorities as the situation keeps evolving faster than the pace of a Thai soccer match!
