A 42-year-old woman, who is 25 weeks into her pregnancy, became the first Thai patient to be infected by the Indian variant of Covid-19, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) said on May 10.

She and her four-year-old tested positive in state quarantine after returning from Pakistan on April 24. Her other two children are so far infection-free.

The CCSA also reported 22 deaths and 1,630 new cases, including eight returnees, over the past 24 hours.

Of the deaths, 13 were in Bangkok, two in Chiang Mai and one each in Pathum Thani, Suphanburi, Rayong, Samut Prakan, Chachoengsao, Khon Kaen, and Mahasarakham.

The ages of those who succumbed to the virus ranged from 30 to 92, and they all reportedly suffered from chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.

Two of the patients died immediately after being admitted to the hospital, while seven died within a week of being admitted. The CCSA is urging people to keep an eye on their symptoms and go to the doctor as soon as it gets difficult to breathe.

Meanwhile, the eight returnees had arrived from India, Russia, Ireland, the US, Croatia, Qatar, Turkey and Bahrain.

Meanwhile, 1,608 patients have recovered and been discharged in the last 24 hours.

As of May 10, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 85,005. Of these, 81,615 infections had been contracted locally, including 24,399 who were found via proactive testing, while 3,390 were returnees.

So far, 55,208 have recovered and been discharged, 29,376 patients are still in hospitals – 1,151 in severe condition with 389 using ventilators – and 421 have died.

Meanwhile, another 22,774 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, while 43,400 were given their second shot, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in Thailand to 1,809,894.

THE NATION (THAILAND)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK