Thailand saw 136 new coronavirus cases on Monday, raising the total number of infections to 1,524, said the spokesman of the government's Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

No new deaths were initially reported, but it later emerged than two more patients have died. Dr Anupong Suchariyakul, a specialist of the Disease Control Department, said one was a Thai man, 54, who had visited Malaysia and been later admitted to a hospital in Yala. The other was a Thai woman, 56, who had suffered pneumonia and been admitted to a private hospital in Bangkok. 

The number of new infections was slightly lower than the 143 reported on Sunday. Dr Anupong said of the new 136 cases, 59 had been in contact with previous patients; 21 -- both Thais and foreigners -- had recently arrived from other countries; 15 had been in crowded places or worked closely with foreigners; 10 had visited entertainment places; four had worked in public transport; two had visited boxing stadiums, and two were medical personnel. So far, a total of 21 medical personnel have been infected.

Of 1,524 cases, 1,297 were Thai and 227 were foreigners. The largest cluster of patients – 715 -- was in Bangkok. The average age of all patients was 40.

A total of 1,388 patients were still being treated in hospitals, 23 of them severely ill. Sixteen patients were discharged on Monday, raising the total of recovered cases to 127.

Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman of the government’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, earlier on Monday told a briefing there were now patients in 59 provinces, with the increased numbers in Bangkok, Chon Buri, Krabi, Nonthaburi, Pattani, Phuket, Sa Kaeo, Ubon Ratchathani and Yala raising particular concern. Nine new cases were reported in Phuket on Monday.

He said 32 patients in Phuket and six in Krabi had worked at entertainment places, restaurants and hotels, while some were public transport drivers.

Twenty-two patients in Yala and 23 patients in Pattani had attended religious ceremonies in Malaysia; 17 patients in Chon Buri included foreigners, visitors to pubs and returnees from Bangkok; eight in Sa Kaeo had worked in Poipet, and seven in Ubon Ratchathani had worked in Poipet and had been in contact with Muay Thai teachers from Bangkok.