The government on Tuesday recorded 171 new Covid-19 cases, raising the accumulated total in Thailand since the start of the pandemic to 12,594.

Although the number of new cases was significantly lower than in recent days, authorities expressed concern over the spread of the disease in Samut Sakhon and Bangkok.

Taweesilp Visanuyothin of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) said the 171 new cases were 158 local transmissions and 13 quarantined arrivals.

Among 125 cases detected through active case finding, 120 were in Samut Sakhon -- including 106 migrant workers -- four in Bangkok and one in Nonthaburi.


Of the total 12,594 cases, 9,356 (74.29%) have recovered -- including 150 discharged over the past 24 hours -- and 3,168 were receiving treatment. The death toll remained at 70.

The Public Health Ministry has ordered disease control workers to inspect as many as 600 factories in Samut Sakhon and test 50 people per day in each factory.

“The outbreak in Samut Sakhon is worrying. Factory owners and workers must cooperate. There are more than 10,000 small factories where 1-200 people are employed,” he said.

The Covid-19 situation in Bangkok also raised concerns because many new cases were emerging at entertainment places on its western side next to Samut Sakhon. Possibly workers from Samut Sakhon were visiting the entertainment places, Dr Taweesilp said.