The PPHO report, marked as accurate as of 8pm last night, and posted online at 11:44pm, reported three new infections among Sandbox tourist arrivals but no new infections among non-Sandbox arrivals from abroad.
The report also marked two new deaths attributed to COVID-19, bringing the total number of deaths in Phuket attributed to COVID-19 since Apr 3 to 85. Of those, 65 deaths have occurred since Sept 4. Ten of those deaths have been since last Saturday (Oct 2).
The PPHO later posted details of the deaths reported for Oct 7, as follows:
1) Case 9189, male, 73 years old (Group 608*), suffered high blood pressure, was a high risk contact but had received two injections of AstraZeneca.
2) Case 12212, male, 86 years old (Group 608), suffered from kidney disease, high blood pressure and dyslipidemia, was a high risk contact and was not vaccinated.
Meanwhile, the 158 new local infections bring the total number of new local infections reported on the island in the past seven days to 1,216, as follows:
- Oct 1 - 182 new cases
- Oct 2 - 180 new cases
- Oct 3 - 179 new cases
- Oct 4 - 177 new cases
- Oct 5 - 175 new cases
- Oct 6 - 165 new cases
- Oct 7 - 158 new cases
The current total of 12,332 people infected in Phuket since Apr 3 does not include 10 infected with COVID-19 in other provinces and 28 returning from other countries and testing positive.
The current Phuket tally also does not include 42 COVID patients brought back to Phuket under the “Bring Phuket people home” policy, or the 138 Phuket Sandbox arrivals who have tested positive for the virus after landing on the island since the Sandbox scheme began on July 1.
According to the PPHO COVID situation report for yesterday, 3,798 people were under medical care or supervision, 241 fewer than the 4,039 reported the day before.
The report also marked 8,699 people in total being discharged from medical care for COVID infection since Apr 3 ‒ 400 more than the 8,299 reported yesterday.
The report recorded 47 people suspected of being infected with COVID-19 after testing positive by antigen test kits (ATK), with the total number of people reported as currently being held at ‘COVID-19 Care Centers’ across the island decreasing by 61, from 2,350 to 2,289.
The report did not confirm how many people who tested positive by ATKs were confirmed infected by RT-PCR tests or how many people had been released from ATK detention at ‘COVID-19 Care Centers’ and allowed to go home.
The PPHO daily COVID situation report also marked that Phuket currently has in total 6,650 beds available for COVID patients (+82 from yesterday).
The total number of hospital beds actually occupied by COVID patients in Phuket decreased by 523, from 4,291 to 3,768 ‒ with the 3,768 beds occupied representing 56. 66% of the total number of hospital beds designated for COVID patients.
Meanwhile, the number of hospital beds reported as remaining available increased by 605, from 2,277 to 2,882 ‒ with the 2,882 beds available representing 43.34% of the total number of beds designated for COVID patients.
The report marked that of the COVID patients in care only 38 were designated as ‘Red patients’ (+3 from yesterday), 391 were designated ‘Yellow’ patients (+12 from yesterday), and 295 were designated as ‘Green’ patients (+-5 from yesterday).
The PPHO no longer issues an updated map showing the locations of COVID infections across the island. The most recent map was posted publicly on Sept 16. It was dated Sept 15 but marked as accurate as of 6pm on Sept 14, and was the first daily report to mark five COVID deaths on the one day.
* ‘Group 608’ has become Phuket officials’ preferred term for higher at risk patients, comprising people over 60 years old along with those suffering from any of the seven recognised medical conditions that place patients at higher risk of developing serious signs of infection, plus women more than 12 weeks pregnant.