The PPHO reported having a Webex meeting with the Permanent Secretary of the MoPH earlier today (Nov 25). The topics discussed included COVID-19 risk compensations, COVID-19 vaccine management and other issues.
The PPHO report of the meeting said nothing about any new COVID-19 rules or recommendations regarding mask-wearing.
Yet, it was today when the aforementioned Permanent Secretary Opas Karnkawinpong publicly called for mask-wearing due to worsening COVID-19 statistics.
The increase in cases was likely to be a small wave, but fatalities could rise accordingly, he said.
Dr Opas also revealed that he had instructed hospitals to encourage people to get their vaccine booster shots. All because of the rising number of COVID-19 cases, according to Bangkok Post.
"There are about 10 daily fatalities related to COVID-19 at this time. The toll could rise slightly along with the increasing number of daily cases," he said.
Hospitals could cope with the situation because most cases were outpatients and their symptoms were mild, Dr Opas added.
"The situation should improve again after New Year," he said.
As for vaccination, Dr Opas said the following: "The ministry wants 70% of the total population to have booster shots but it is still difficult to reach that target. The number of people getting jabs is declining on the recently improved COVID-19 situation."
According to PPHO’s most recent data, about 68.6% of Phuket’s target population have received their third vaccine shots while 40.13% have received their fourth jabs.