81 new cases reported, more infected migrants found sneaking in via Prachuap Khiri Khan

Thirty cases were exposed to the virus while visiting high-risk areas. Samut Sakhon leads the list with 14 cases, followed by seven in Pathum Thani, five in Bangkok and two each in Tak and Phetchaburi.

Proactive testing led to the discovery of 37 cases, of which 21 were found in Samut Sakhon (16 Myanmar nationals and five Thais), 13 in Pathum Thani (10 Myanmar nationals, two Thais and one Cambodian) and three Myanmar nationals in Tak.

Of the travellers found infected, seven are Thais returning from the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Finland, and the Philippines, as well as, an American from Kazakhstan, an American from the US and two Britons from their country.

Meanwhile, three men from Myanmar were caught crossing the border illegally in Prachuap Khiri Khan province on March 3 and tested positive on March 9.

Separately, 56 patients have recovered and been discharged.

As of Friday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 26,679. Of these, 23,777 had been infected locally, including 14,795 who found via proactive testing, while 2,902 were returnees. So far, 26,056 have recovered and been discharged, 538 patients are still in hospitals, and the death toll remains at 85.

According to Worldometer, as of 10am, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 119.12 million (up by 477,306), 94.73 million have recovered, 21.75 million are active cases (89,952 in severe condition) and 2.64 million have died (up by 9,634).

Thailand ranks 116th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 29.93 million, followed by India at 11.31 million, Brazil at 11.28 million, Russia at 4.36 million and the United Kingdom at 4.24 million.