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Thailand reported more than 3,300 coronavirus cases on Wednesday following the discovery of nearly 1,500 cases in prisons in the past 24 hours.
“The proactive tests at prisons will continue for the next two to three days,” said Dr Apisamai Srirangsan, the deputy spokeswoman of the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).
The CCSA reported 3,394 confirmed cases and 29 related deaths in the past 24 hours.
Of that, 1,625 were found at medical facilities, 254 via proactive tests at known clusters, 1,498 cases via proactive tests at prisons and 17 imported cases.
The Department of Corrections said on Tuesday that 11,670 inmates and 35 correctional officers are currently being treated for the infection.
The majority of the cases are at seven prisons, namely Chiang Mai Central Prison (more than 3,600), Thonburi Remand Prison (2,800), Bangkok Remand Prison (1,800), Central Women’s Correctional Institution (1,400), Klong Prem Central Prison (1,100), Nonthaburi Prison (400) and Bang Kwang Central Prison (300).
Bangkok
Of the 1,879 local cases (excluding the 1,498 cases in prisons) that were found in the past 24 hours, the highest numbers by province were 876 in Bangkok, followed by 153 in Samut Prakan, 130 in Nonthaburi, 119 in Pathum Thani and 76 Phetchaburi.
Bangkok, the hardest-hit province in the third wave, reported on Wednesday that 34 clusters have been found in 20 districts so far.
Of the 34 clusters, nine were crowded communities, nine markets, nine companies, six worker camps and one prison, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) said.
The five new clusters that were reported on Wednesday were Bang Kapi Market, a construction worker camp in Bang Kho Laem district, an ice factory in Chatuchak, a construction worker camp in Don Muang and a warehouse in Bang Sue.
Of the 34 clusters, seven clusters have more than six cases out of every 1,000-population, specifically Din Daeng, Lak Si, Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Ratchathewi, Pathumwan, Khlong Toei and Huai Khwang.