Pedestrians wearing face masks walk in front of a shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand, March 25, 2022. A near-record number of new COVID-19 infections were reported in Thailand on Thursday as the Southeast Asian country is preparing for a transition from the pandemic to endemic phase later this year. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)
BANGKOK, March 24 (Xinhua) -- A near-record number of new COVID-19 infections were reported in Thailand on Thursday as the Southeast Asian country is preparing for a transition from the pandemic to endemic phase later this year.
According to the Center for the COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), 27,024 cases were recorded over the last 24 hours, taking the total tally to over 3.45 million. The death toll rose to 24,579, with an increase of 82.
The average number of daily cases in the past seven days increased slightly from the previous week, showed data released by the World Health Organization Thailand office on Wednesday.
The levels of severe cases and coronavirus-linked deaths in confirmed infections remained much lower than during the peak of the wave in last fall of infections triggered by the Delta variant of the virus, thanks to the rising vaccination rates in the country.
As of Wednesday, some 72.1 percent of the country's nearly 70 million population had been fully vaccinated, while 32.6 percent had received booster doses.
Starting from April 1, international visitors to Thailand will no longer be required to show negative COVID-19 test results 72 hours prior to their departure. It is part of the country's relaxed border restrictions in an effort to boost tourism and local economy. ■
A pedestrian wearing a face mask walks into a shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand, March 25, 2022. A near-record number of new COVID-19 infections were reported in Thailand on Thursday as the Southeast Asian country is preparing for a transition from the pandemic to endemic phase later this year. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)
A pedestrian wearing a face mask walks in front of a shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand, March 25, 2022. A near-record number of new COVID-19 infections were reported in Thailand on Thursday as the Southeast Asian country is preparing for a transition from the pandemic to endemic phase later this year. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)
Pedestrians wearing face masks walk in front of a shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand, March 25, 2022. A near-record number of new COVID-19 infections were reported in Thailand on Thursday as the Southeast Asian country is preparing for a transition from the pandemic to endemic phase later this year. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)
