Bangkok became the third most-infected province by Covid-19 in the country after logging 13 new cases yesterday, according to figures supplied by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).
The new infections pushed the cumulative cases for Bangkok to 606, the third highest figure of all infected provinces, after chart-topper Samut Sakhon and Chon Buri.
Yesterday, Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman for the CCSA, said 171 new cases nationwide comprised 158 local transmissions and 13 quarantined arrivals.
The accumulated total in Thailand since the start of the pandemic stood at 12,594. No new deaths were reported, leaving the toll at 70.
There have been 8,357 Covid-19 cases since the start of the new wave of outbreak on Dec 15, and with the disease spreading to 61 out of Thailand's total 77 provinces.
For the capital, Dr Taweesilp said the Covid-19 situation remained a concern despite the number of new cases having been significantly lower than in recent days.
Cases in the capital appeared to be stabilising, he said, but added that active case finding must continue. Most infections in Bangkok were reported in the western districts.
The 13 infected people yesterday include nine who contracted the virus locally from having visited infection-risk areas, professions susceptible to transmission or people who had been in close contact with those who had Covid-19. Of the nine in this group, one was a migrant worker.
The remaining four of the 13 were found to be infected from active case findings. Two of them were migrant workers.
Dr Taweesilp said the transmission in Bangkok was caused mainly by people frequenting, or associating with, those who visited night entertainment venues. Measures to combat the virus will be ramped up, particularly in western districts.
The measures put an emphasis on putting people with a high risk of contracting the virus into 14-day quarantine.
"The Covid-19 situation in Bangkok remains a worry at this stage," he said, adding those running a high risk of infection might have visited or been in close contact with people who visited night clubs and bars in neighbouring provinces or vice versa.
Dr Taweesilp said Bangkok's Bang Khunthian district had seen a surge in infections, had the highest total cases (106) and was among the five most infected districts of Bang Kae, Bang Phlat, Chom Thong and Thon Buri.