The government on Wednesday reported one new coronavirus patient, a Thai masseuse, and one death, of an Australian hotel manager in the South.

Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said the total of Covid-19 cases rose to 2,986 as the masseuse, aged 27, tested positive for the disease after returning from Russia and being quarantined.

The native of Buri Ram province arrived back from Russia on Sunday on a flight that carried about 70 passengers. After landing at Suvarnabhumi airport, they were brought to quarantine at a hotel in Samut Prakan province.

The death toll went up to 55 with the case of the Australian man, 69, who worked as the manager of a hotel in the southern province of Phangnga.

Dr Taweesilp also said that the Department of Medical Sciences had confirmed that the 40 suspected cases of infection in the southern province of Yala had conclusively tested negative for Covid-19.

Over the past 24 hours, 14 coronavirus patients recovered and were discharged from hospitals. The accumulated number of recovered patients was now 2,761, representing a recovery rate of 92.37%. Dr Taweesilp said 173 patients remained at hospitals.