The government on Monday recorded 186 new coronavirus cases, for an accumulated total of 23,557 since the pandemic began a year ago. No new deaths were reported, leaving the toll at 79.
Of the 186 new cases, only 35 were found during active testing, a sharp drop from recent days. The number of cases reported by hospitals, however, rose to 141. The new caseload was rounded out by 10 recent arrivals from abroad.
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) said the 35 new cases diagnosed through active testing comprised 31 in Samut Sakhon, including six Thais, and four in neighbouring Samut Songkhram.
The number of new hospital walk-ins was highest in Samut Sakhon – 132 -- followed by four in Pathum Thani, three in Bangkok and one each in Nakhon Pathom and Phetchaburi.
Infections were also found in 10 people who arrived from overseas. Seven of those were Thai nationals returning through Suvarnabhumi airport: two from the United Kingdom, two from the United Arab Emirates and one each from India, Malaysia Sweden and Turkey.
CCSA assistant spokeswoman Apisamai Srirangsun warned of a new cluster apparently spread by a woman living in Samut Songkhram's Ampawa district.
The woman brought pork in Photharam district in Ratchaburi and sold it at a Mahachai market in Muang district of Samut Sakhon before returning home in Ampawa.
Dr Apisamai said the woman was infected with the virus on Jan 28, and her daughter-in-law, who lived in the same house, tested positive two days later.
The Ampawa woman was thought to be a super spreader linked to a total of 87 cases: 22 in Samut Sakhon, five in Phetchaburi and one each in Bangkok, Ratchaburi and Suphan Buri.
"This cluster is due to her pattern of frequent travel," the assistant spokeswoman said, adding that details would be released later.