Corona Virus Surge / Vaccine Roll Out
There are calls to lock down everything soon. Up until 2 days ago the cases were around 1500 per day, which is manageable at a stretch, was forecast to have 7 days capacity into future at any one time. Thailand has a policy that anyone that tests positive gets put in a hospital, Hospital (special hotel leased by government) or field hospital. This policy is aimed at quarantine as well as mentoring the individuals health. Once cases hit 2839 Saturday and 2438 Sunday this system will be over capacity in a few days. The system is already starting to have issues with a small number of people not being available to find a hospital and dying, probably unnecessarily at home or admitted to late.
They are going to have to lockdown or change the way they handle cases. The health system is good in Thailand, particularly if you have money, not so much if you do not have $. There is not the surge capacity of a western country though.
The vaccine rollut has just started. About a million people have been jabbed. Apparently 6 million locally produced Astra Zeneca shots will be available in June, but every country has missed their official start date so maybe July? There should be enough shots to vaccinate everybody by years end. Thailand needs 100 million shots for an estimate 50 million people that will get jabbed (the total population 70 million. Not everyone will get jabbed). Half shots will be from Astra Zeneca, 1/4 by sinovac, the rest by sputnik & Pfizer. The Pfizer vaccine apparently will be administered by private Hospitals at 2000 to 3000 Baht per shot. Only HiSo locals and expats with cash will be able to afford or have access to that. The sinovac will probably be replaced by extra Astra Zeneca. Sinovac has major issues with efficacy and while better than nothing isn't anywhere nearly as good as the others.