Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health said on Monday that it has discovered 745 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours.
Of the 745 new coronavirus cases, 577 in migrant dormitories and via active case findings, 152 were locally transmitted cases, and 16 in quarantine facilities.
There was one new fatality, with the death toll now at 65.
The second wave which started in Samut Sakhon on December 18 has spread to 54 provinces so far.
28 provinces are now in partial lockdown (highly-controlled areas) where high-risk venues for spreading the coronavirus are temporarily closed until further notice.
Traveling between these provinces is still possible, but checkpoints are being set up to discourage people from to doing so.
More than 3,300 schools in 44 provinces are temporarily closed until January 31. Classes will now be done online or on take-home workshops.
Employers are encouraged to deploy the work-from home model.
Total numbers
With 745 new cases on Monday, Thailand has now discovered 8,439 confirmed coronavirus cases since the first case was discovered a year ago on January 3, 2020.
Of the 8,439 cases, 6,379 were found locally and 2,060 were imported.
Of the 6,379 local cases, 2,037 are migrant workers.
Of the 2,060 imported cases, 1,526 were found inside quarantine facilities. The remaining 534 were found outside quarantine facilities such as people who illegally entered the country.
New death
The recently deceased patient was Thai male aged 45 years old from Bangkok, who had diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
The patient travelled to Samut Sakhon and Khlong Toey Market before he was admitted to a private hospital on December 28 and was later tested positive for the virus on January 1.
Clusters and provinces
Of the 152 local cases, Samut Sakhon and Bangkok saw the highest number of new cases on Monday with 36 and 28 cases respectively.
This is followed by Samut Prakan at 20 cases then Rayong (17), Chonburi (13) and Ang Thong (12)
The rest were found in Pathum Thani (9), Chanthaburi (5), Phichit (3), Nakhon Pathom (2), Samut Songkhram (2), Phetchaburi (1), Surat Thani (1), Ayutthaya (1), Nonthaburi (1), and Prachuap Khiri Khan (1).
Of the 577 cases that were found in migrant dormitories and via active case findings, 505 were found in Samut Sakhon, 25 in Rayong, 22 in Chonburi, 22 in Chanthaburi, two in Trat and one in Chai Nat.
With the addition of a confirmed case in Prachuap Khiri Khan, the second wave of the virus has now spread to 54 provinces.
Migrant workers
Dr Thaweesin Visanuyothin, the spokesperson of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), said the number of more than 500 reported cases in migrant dormitories is “as expected”.
He explained that since the workers are living in congested places, the virus is prone to spread within the dormitories.
The number of infections has shot up to more than 500 is due to the incubation period because as they were conducting the test “periodically”.
He added that government will continue to lock the workers in the dormitories without specifying how long. Dr Thaweesin said in December that they could be in there for “weeks” or “a month”.
For Children’s Day, which is the first weekend of every January in Thailand, the government asked for parents to avoid taking their children to crowded places.
Dr Thaweesin concluded with the CCSA proposing for the extension of the State of Emergency, which is expiring on January 15, by one month or another 45 days.
The center will conclude its latest proposals after the meeting that is being chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha on Monday afternoon, he added.