The government on Tuesday recorded 189 new coronavirus cases, including 159 in second wave epicentre Samut Sakhon, for an accumulated total of 23,746.

The 189 new cases were 123 reported by hospitals, just 56 through active testing and ten imported from abroad.  

Taweesilp Visanuyothin of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration said Samut Sakhon province logged 159 new cases over the past 24 hours. They were 109 confirmed at hospitals (74 Myanmar nationals, 32 Thais, two Cambodians and one of unidentified nationality) and 50 found through active testing in communities (24 Thais, 24 Myanmar and two Lao nationals).

About 700-800 people were being tested in communities and factories a day.

Bangkok’s nine new cases were all found at hospitals - six Thais, two Myanmar and one Lao national. Infections in the capital have been found in factories and communities and linked to parties, the spokesman said.

"Overall, new cases are slowing down but we must continue taking precautions," Dr Taweesilp said.

There were 10 imported cases were from several countries.

The death toll remained unchanged at 79.