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| Thailand reported 9,186 new COVID-19 cases and a record high of 98 new fatalities during the past 24 hours |
Thailand's COVID-19 deaths hit record high
BERNAMA
15/7/2021
BANGKOK, July 15 -- Thailand reported 9,186 new COVID-19 cases and a record high of 98 new fatalities during the past 24 hours.
To date, Thailand recorded 372,215 COVID-19 cases and 3,032 deaths since the outbreak in January last year.
In a statement, Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) said the new fatalities involved 61 men and 37 women aged between 27 and 108 years old, including 96 Thais, one Myanmar national and one Japanese.
It said Bangkok reported 51 fatalities followed by Samut Prakan (14), Nakhon Pathom (seven), Pathum Thani (five), Nakhon Ratchasima (three) and two each in Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Narathiwat and Tak.
Of the 9,186 new cases, CCSA said 9,164 were local transmissions and 22 imported cases.
Meanwhile, Thailand plans to limit the exports of locally produced AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine as the kingdom faces an uphill battle to fight the outbreak since April.
The proposed plan could disrupt the vaccine supply to countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia.
National Vaccine Institute director Nakorn Premsri said the plan to limit a quota on vaccine exports had been agreed in principle on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, AstraZeneca said the company is working with the governments across Southeast Asia, including Thailand to ensure equitable vaccine access to the region as Thailand-manufactured vaccine "is of critical importance" to neighbouring countries where the pandemic is also accelerating, reported Reuters.
Thai biopharmaceuticals manufacturer, Siam Bioscience Co. Ltd has been contracted to produce 180 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine this year where 61 million doses for Thailand and the remaining of the supply capacity will be distributed across contracting countries in Southeast Asian region.
In June, several countries including Taiwan, Malaysia and the Philippines reported delays in receiving AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured in Thailand.
AstraZeneca delivered 6 million doses as promised to Thailand in June and it is expected to deliver a similar amount in July, falling short of the 10 million doses target.
