586 new cases found, mostly through proactive testing
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Friday reported 586 new cases, 13 of whom are Thai returnees in quarantine facilities.
Of the remaining 573, 47 had been exposed to the virus while visiting high-risk areas. Samut Sakhon again leads the list with 26 cases, followed by 18 in Bangkok and three in Tak.
The rest of the cases were found via proactive testing, with the highest number – 522 – found in Samut Sakhon, three in Phetchaburi and one in Sa Kaew. The Sa Kaew case is a Cambodian prisoner who had to be tested three times before the infection was confirmed.
The 13 Thais returnees came from the United States, Italy, Tanzania, South Africa, Rwanda, Egypt, Germany, the United Kingdom and Myanmar.
Meanwhile, 533 patients have recovered and been discharged.
As of Friday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 22,644. Of these, 20,126 had been contracted locally, including 12,824 who were found via proactive testing, while 2,518 were returnees. So far, 15,331 have recovered and been discharged, 7,234 patients are still in hospital (2,272 in hospitals and 4,962 in field hospitals) and the death toll remains at 79.
According to Worldometer, as of 10am, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 105.4 million (up by 504,938), 77.25 million have recovered, 25.85 million are active cases (105,747 in severe condition) and 2.29 million have died (up by 14,287).
Thailand ranks 115th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 27.26 million cases, followed by India 10.8 million, Brazil 9.39 million, Russia 3.92 million and the United Kingdom 3.89 million.
CCSA spokesperson Dr Apisamai Srirangsan said an intensive hunt for infected people over the past 10 days has made the daily numbers high for a week. She explained that a new measure has been applied to seven large factories called “seal and bubble”.
Under this measure, workers will be provided with food and facilities to live in the factory full time for 24 days.
She also said these people should be applauded because they are sacrificing their comfort to ensure the health security of everybody else.