Health authorities have shifted their focus onto infections in households as the number of new cases among family members continues to rise at an alarming rate.

A total of 1,891 new Covid-19 infections were confirmed on Saturday and 1,940 on Sunday, with 21 deaths recorded on each day, said Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

"Our concern now is that the disease is no longer out there but instead has already come into households, especially ones in Bangkok," he said.

"These fluctuations in the number of new cases are not satisfactory, and point to the need to adopt more stringent control measures," he said.

Of the 21 deaths logged on Saturday, nine males and 12 females, 10 were in Bangkok, with two each in Chon Buri and Samut Prakan and one each in Ubon Ratchathani, Kalasin, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Pathum Thani and Phetchaburi.

Bangkok led fatalities on Sunday with eight victims, seven of whom had been in close contact with infected family members. Chiang Mai recorded the second most deaths – four –  followed by two each in Chon Buri and Lamphun, and one each in Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Sawan, Rayong, Tak and Udon Thani.

The number of Covid-19 infections has risen to 68,984, with 245 deaths, he said.

The vast majority of deaths contracted the virus from their families, said Dr Taweeslip.

Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Samut Prakan and Nonthaburi were the five provinces with the highest number of new infections.