Thailand reports 122 new coronavirus cases Monday, total at 721

An official checks the body temperature of a traveller at the Hua Lamphong railway terminus in Bangkok on Monday as local cases of Covid-19 soared by 122. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)

Thailand has 122 new coronavirus cases, raising the total to 721, a health ministry spokesman said on Monday at a news conference.

The Public Health Ministry on Monday reported 122 new cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections which raised the total to 721, with 668 remaining at hospitals and deaths stable at one.

Announcing the figures, Dr Supakit Sirilak, deputy permanent secretary for health, divided the new patients into three groups.

The first group -- 20 people -- had been in contact with previous patients or were at the venues where previous patients are believed to have contracted the virus. Four had gone to boxing stadiums the other 16 had been in contact with previous patients.

The second group consisted of 10 people: four returnees and foreigners, and six people who had been in crowded areas or worked with foreigners.

The third group, numbering 92, comprised patients whose cases were under investigation.

“The number of new patients is increasing in other provinces because some people returned home, both before and after the closure of places in greater Bangkok. You must report to local officials immediately and strictly observe home quarantine for 14 days,” Dr Supakit said.

People at high risk of infection included visitors and workers at boxing stadiums and entertainment places who returned to their home provinces, and the people close to them in their provinces, he said.

“The best protection is social distancing, staying 1-2 metres away from other people.”

As of Monday morning, the 721 local Covid-19 cases comprised 668 still under treatment at hospitals, 52 discharged and one death. The latest group of discharged patients numbered seven.

The rapid increase in confirmed cases does not necessarily indicate the actual transmission rate of the Covid-19 disease among the general population, but might instead reflect increased testing of at-risk people.