An official watches a computer monitor showing a thermal scan of passengers’ body temperatures as they arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport on March 9. (File photo)

The Public Health Ministry on Wednesday reported six new local cases of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) infection, five Thais and one Singaporean, lifting the total number of cases to 59.

Of the six new cases, two work at Suvarnabhumi airport. One is an immigration officer and one an airport worker.

One of the two men, a 21-year-old, fell ill on March 8, developing a fever, a runny nose and a headache. Tests at two labs showed positive for Covid-19 infection.

The second, aged 40, was working in a different area. He had a fever and a cough on March 7 and sought treatment at a private hospital.

Both men were in contact with foreign tourists and touched objects such as luggage and passports.

The third patient was a Thai man, 25, working for a private firm. The fourth patient was a 27-year-old Thai woman who returned from South Korea. The fifth was a 40-year-old Thai man who returned from Japan on Feb 25. The sixth patient was a Singaporean man, 36, who runs a business in Thailand.

The six new cases brought the total number of coronavirus infections in Thailand to 59. Of these, 34 patients had been treated and discharged from hospitals. Twenty-four others remained at hospitals. One has died.