Covid-19 infections 'may have peaked'

[reader]

I've been cautious of earlier predictions but there are signs that have foreshadowed slowing in other nations now beginning to show in Thailand.

From Bangkok Post

Signs have emerged that suggest Covid-19 infections are about to level off despite a doctor warning the country could see up to 400,000 new cases.

Apisamai Srirangson, an assistant spokeswoman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), said there are encouraging indicators about the outbreak situation, noting that the number of new infections is no longer on a steep upward curve.

The rate of infections in Greater Bangkok is at 41% while it is at 59% in the provinces, and the trend is expected to continue, she said. However, she warned the public to keep their guard up because fully vaccinated people can still be infected.

"There are signs that the number of infections and fatalities are about to level off," Dr Apisamai said. "We hope the situation is getting better, and we must not make a mistake in this critical period."

She said the home and community isolation programme has also freed up hospital beds for Covid-19 patients with more severe symptoms and reduced wait times for critically-ill patients in the past week.

According to her, there are 70 community isolation centres in Bangkok with 9,426 beds. Of these, 14 can provide standard RT-PCR tests and seven are equipped to treat some 1,000 patients showing mild symptoms, Dr Apisamai said.

Continues at

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2168639/covid-19-infections-may-have-peaked

==============================

From Pattaya Mail

Four types of made-in-Thailand COVID vaccines to begin human trials

Thailand is developing multiple types of vaccine and most of them are entering into human trials this year. Today we’ll look into 4 types showing the most promising results.

The first type is made-in-Thailand mRNA vaccine developed by the Vaccine Center of Chulalongkorn University. It was previously tested in volunteers in the first phase and shows 94% efficacy, as good as other global mRNA types. The result shows that it can successfully suppress 4 strains including Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta and induces T-cell responses as well.

Continues at

https://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnews/four-types-of-made-in-thailand-covid-vaccines-to-begin-human-trials-368684

============================================

From Pattaya News

Opinion: Thailand should seriously consider just letting vaccinated foreign visitors in with much lesser rules

It’s almost a perfect storm-daily protests, 29 areas/provinces under partial lockdown measures that have shuttered tens of thousands of businesses and put an estimated three million people out of work according to the Thai Chamber of Commerce (and likely much, much higher if you count the informal sector), a vaccination program not moving as fast as people would like, continued pressure on the government from multiple sectors and conflicting goals, and much more.

That being said, contrary to some belief, one fairly successful metric cannot be ignored and that is in the Sandbox program in Phuket, the current program that allows vaccinated foreign visitors to enter the country without quarantine and roam the island but with a set of rules, paperwork, and tests. That metric I am referring to is the risk that foreign vaccinated tourists present in terms of having and spreading Covid-19.

Continues at

https://thepattayanews.com/2021/08/21/opinion-thailand-should-seriously-consider-just-letting-vaccinated-foreign-visitors-in-with-much-lesser-rules/

[spoon]

41% and 59% infection rate, does that means positivity rate? If it is, thats is very high indeed. 

[reader]

Good point. Could be that the reporter omitted a decimal point between the numbers (i.e., 4.1 and 5.9). Otherwise I have the same question.

Here's a chart that's embedded in the story that's intended to illustrate the case for slowing infections.

 

[spoon]

Somebody in the comment suggested it means 41% of the infection is from bangkok and 59% is from other provinces. So not really rate of infection...

[reader]

That would seem to explain it. Any good news at this point is welcomed

Thanks for clarification!

[vinapu]

2 hours ago, spoon said:

41% and 59% infection rate, does that means positivity rate? If it is, that's is very high indeed. 

don't forget that most likely  only people  feeling very sick get's tested , specially in provinces.  Who would risk order of being locked out for 2 -3 weeks if is not feeling that bad ?

[vinapu]

3 hours ago, reader said:

That metric I am referring to is the risk that foreign vaccinated tourists present in terms of having and spreading Covid-19.

 

scientists did their best and gave us vaccines, not what world needs are brave politicians who will start opening their economies and borders before their populations start being impatient or even worse, desperate.

[vinapu]

post above doesn't make any sense courtesy of auto-correction replacing ' now" with 'not'

it should read:

scientists did their best and gave us vaccines, now what world needs are brave politicians who will start opening their economies and borders before their populations start being impatient or even worse, desperate.

[reader]

From The Thai Enquirer

Chinese-made vaccines not effective against Delta variant after one dose

A single dose of the Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines is only 13.8 per cent effective against the new Delta variant, a recent study conducted in Guangzhou, China shows.

The research shows that while two shots of the Chinese vaccines are effective at, 59 per cent in preventing the Delta strain and 70.2 to 100 per cent effective at preventing severe symptoms caused by the variant, a single shot of the vaccines was only 13.8 per cent effective in preventing COVID-19 infections.

The research shows that two doses are the minimum necessary to fight the new Delta variant and prevent severe symptoms, said Zhong Nanshan, China’s leading epidemiologist and co-author of the study. 

The report was based on real-world data collected in Guangzhou between May 18 and June 20.

The report has ramifications for Thailand which has chosen to continue to buy Sinovac vaccines despite their lower efficacy and higher cost.

https://www.thaienquirer.com/31677/chinese-made-vaccines-not-effective-against-delta-variant-after-one-dose/