Thailand’s Department of Disease Control (DDC) stated on Wednesday, May 29, that schools should remain open during the current seasonal rise in COVID-19 cases, asserting that proper screening and isolation protocols are sufficient to manage outbreaks in educational settings.
Speaking at a press briefing, DDC spokesperson Dr. Jurai Wongsawat confirmed that several clusters of COVID-19 have emerged in recent weeks, including in prisons, schools, military camps, and one hospital. Specifically, six prison clusters have reported 198 cases, five school clusters have identified 258 cases, two military camp clusters have recorded 178 cases, and 35 cases have been linked to a hospital cluster.
Dr. Jurai emphasized that closing schools should only be considered in exceptional circumstances where containment becomes unmanageable. “We recommend schools intensify screening of students and staff. If infection is found, home isolation is sufficient. There is no need to close schools—except in extreme cases where control becomes difficult,” she said.
The DDC advises that schools report to local health officials if two or more infections are detected in the same classroom within a one-week period. Despite this guidance, some schools have opted to revert to online classes as a precautionary measure.
The surge in infections aligns with Thailand’s rainy season, which typically coincides with increased flu transmission. Children are considered a high-risk group during this period. According to Dr. Jurai, the current trend of infections in Thailand resembles patterns observed in other countries such as Singapore and China—marked by increased cases but generally reduced severity.
Case numbers have risen notably following the Songkran holiday in April. Infections climbed from 9,083 cases during April 20–26 to 67,484 cases between May 18–24, surpassing both the five-year average and figures from the same period last year. Since the beginning of 2025, there have been 211,717 confirmed cases and 51 deaths attributed to COVID-19.
Thailand’s current infection rate stands at 326 cases per 100,000 people. The mortality rate remains low at 0.08 deaths per 100,000, with most fatalities (78%) occurring among elderly patients who developed lung infections from the virus.
The JN.1 variant remains dominant in Thailand, accounting for 63% of sequenced cases, while the XEC strain has declined to just 3%, in line with global patterns.
The Ministry of Public Health continues to recommend standard preventive measures, including mask-wearing, frequent handwashing, and avoiding crowded spaces. Travellers returning from countries with ongoing outbreaks are urged to monitor their health closely.
Additional officials present during the DDC briefing included public health experts and disease surveillance teams involved in managing the national COVID-19 response.
