Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health confirmed on Friday 103 new coronavirus cases bringing the total number of infected within Thailand to 1,978 cases.
The government also announced 4 more fatalities bringing the total number of dead to 19.
76 more people have recovered from the disease bringing the total number of recovered to 581.
“The number of recovered seems low because are adjusting our reporting system,” said government spokesman Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin. “Look for that number to increase.”
Dr Taweesin said that the government were not happy with the new numbers despite a lack of exponential increase seen in European countries.
“Even with 100 per day increase, within ten days that is a 1,000 more cases,” he said. “We must do better.”
ASEAN
Thailand’s new infection numbers place it at third among ASEAN nations in terms of the total number of cases behind Malaysia and the Philippines.
Both countries are reporting around 200 cases per day compared to Thailand’s 100 per day increase. Indonesia’s numbers are also expected to overtake Thailand as testing increases in Southeast Asia’s most populous country.
World Numbers
The 2019-20 coronavirus pandemic, also known as COVID-19, has officially infected more than one million people globally and killing at least 50,000 as of Friday morning.
“It is a real threat to anyone on the planet,” said Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, the World Health Organization’s technical lead on the outbreak.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO said that he was “deeply concerned” with the “rapid escalation and global spread” of the coronavirus infection, which has now affected 203 countries and territories around the world.