237 new Covid-19 cases reported, mostly in Samut Sakhon

Of the 113 exposed to the disease while visiting high-risk areas, Samut Sakhon leads the list with 95 cases, followed by 14 in Bangkok and three in Tak.

Meanwhile, proactive testing led to the discovery of 112 cases, most of them in Samut Sakhon 107, followed by Bangkok 3 and Tak 2.

Of the cases in quarantine centres, five are Thais returning from Germany, Maldives and Myanmar. Foreigners include a Sri Lankan citizen from Singapore, an Irish national from France, two Britons, an Italian, a Pakistani and a Japanese, who flew in from their respective countries.

Meanwhile, 668 patients have recovered and been discharged.

As of Sunday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 23,371. Of these, 20,830 had been contracted locally, including 13,348 found via proactive testing, while 2,541 were returnees. So far, 16,942 have recovered and been discharged, 6,350 patients are still in hospital (2,447 in hospital and 3,904 in field hospital) and the death toll remains 79.

According to Worldometer, as of 10am on Sunday, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 106.34 million (up by 421,496), 77.98 million have recovered, 25.89 million are active cases (104,408 in severe condition) and 2.32 million have died (up by 10,998).

Thailand ranks 115th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 27.51 million, followed by India 10.83 million, Brazil 9.49 million, Russia 3.95 million and the United Kingdom 3.92 million.

CCSA assistant spokesperson Panprapa Yongtrakul said intensive case finding will continue with around 10,000 people tested per day and assessed through February even if the number continues to decrease. She added that this operation would continue until health security is ensured. More than 150,000 people in Samut Sakhon have entered the screening process.