COVID-19 infections are rising sharply in Thailand, raising concern across Asia as neighboring countries prepare for potential ripple effects.
According to reports from the Bangkok Post and The Nation, Thailand’s Disease Control Department (DDC) reported 76,161 new infections and 40 deaths between June 8 and 14. Of those cases, 72,166 required hospitalization, while 3,995 received outpatient care. Bangkok recorded the highest regional case count with nearly 18,000 infections.
This marks the 24th consecutive week of rising case numbers in Thailand, with a particularly steep surge in recent weeks. Earlier this month, the total number of COVID-related deaths for 2024 stood at 114. That figure has now jumped to 154 in just one week, with total confirmed cases this year nearing half a million.
South Korea Braces for Possible COVID-19 Resurgence and Variant Threat
Health officials in South Korea are urging older adults and vulnerable groups to get vaccinated amid concerns that the country’s COVID-19 case numbers could rise again by late June.
Jee Young Mee, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), said in a June 10 briefing that while a significant surge is unlikely in the short term, regional outbreaks and emerging virus variants could trigger an increase in domestic transmission by the end of the month.
Currently, South Korea is reporting about 100 hospitalized COVID-19 patients per week, a number that has remained steady for the past month. However, officials warn against complacency, citing recent outbreaks in China, Thailand, and Taiwan, as well as historical spikes during previous summers.
Last year, for instance, South Korea saw hospitalizations jump from 456 in late July to over 1,400 by mid-August.
One growing concern is the NB.1.8.1 variant, already widespread in parts of Southeast Asia and Greater China. First detected in South Korea in February, the variant has quickly gained ground, accounting for just 3.5% of cases in March, but rising to 31.4% by May.
Vaccination Campaigns and South Korea’s Strong Travel Ties to Thailand
As part of its summer prevention strategy, the KDCA is offering free COVID-19 vaccinations through the end of June to high-risk groups. These include adults 65 and older, immunocompromised individuals over 6 months old, and residents in long-term care or high-risk facilities.
“As of yesterday, only 47.5% of seniors aged 65 and up have been vaccinated,” said Jee. “That means nearly half of our older population is still unprotected. We urge all high-risk individuals to get their shots as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, Thailand remains one of the most popular international destinations for South Korean travelers.
According to Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports, about 29.08 million foreign visitors traveled to the country in 2023, spending an estimated 1.36 trillion THB (roughly 41.4 billion USD).
Chinese tourists topped the list with 5.76 million visitors, followed by tourists from Malaysia (4.19 million), India (1.73 million), and South Korea (1.54 million).
South Korean travel to Thailand is expected to remain strong in 2024. In January alone, data from the Tourism Authority of Thailand showed that 34,954 South Koreans arrived through Chiang Mai International Airport, slightly surpassing Chinese arrivals to become the top nationality at that gateway.
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