Thailand on Monday added 73 new coronavirus cases, 66 of them locally transmitted, bringing the total number of confirmed cases since the pandemic began to 27,876. One new death was reported, raising the toll to 91.
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) said the fatality was a 60-year-old Thai man living in Bangkok. The man, who suffered from multiple diseases, including lung cancer, tested positive on March 15 and died on Thursday.
Bangkok and Samut Sakhon led new cases from hospital reports with eight cases each. Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Chon Buri and Ratchaburi reported one infection each.
Mass testing found 25 new cases in Samut Sakhon, 13 in Bangkok, five in Pathum Thani and one in Phetchaburi.
CCSA assistant spokeswoman Apisamai Srirangson said the centre planned to ease more restrictions on Samut Sakhon from April 1 after moving the province out of the red zone, but details were not provided.
Despite a plan to ease restrictions in the province, some field hospitals will remain open as a precautionary measure, she said. "Samut Sakhon will maintain several field hospitals with about 2,000 beds for about one or two years," Dr Apisamai said.
Health officials are trying to keep new infections at bay at worker camps in Muang district of Samut Prakan after a new cluster emerged there last week.
The outbreak began on March 15 when a Cambodian woman working at the camps tested positive. Her test was conducted in Ayutthaya when she visited the province to extend her work permit. Sixteen more workers — 10 Cambodians, four Thais and two Myanmar — at the compounds then tested positive on Thursday and Friday.
The CCSA is waiting for more results of the mass testing undertaken at the camps and in surrounding areas, including markets.
"We are trying to contain the spread of this cluster," Dr Apisamai said.
The country also added seven cases imported from Germany, Belgium, Qatar, Poland, Denmark, the United States and Hungary, according to the CCSA.