Bangkok yesterday logged 1,112 new Covid-19 cases, the highest daily figure ever recorded in the capital as officials keep a close watch on four areas in the city at risk of infections.
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) yesterday recorded 19 more Covid-19 deaths, increasing the total to 382, and 2,419 new cases, raising the city's total since the start of the pandemic to 81,274.
Yesterday's caseload was the third-highest ever recorded in Thailand. Of the new cases, 2,409 were local infections and 10 were overseas arrivals.
Apisamai Srirangson, CCSA assistant spokeswoman, said during a briefing that while Bangkok logged 1,112 new infections, its five surrounding provinces recorded 529 cases with Nonthaburi recording 217, Samut Prakan 114, Pathum Thani 93, Samut Sakhon 77 and Nakhon Pathom 28.
The combined cases of 1,641 in Greater Bangkok were more than half of the nationwide number of new infections, Dr Apisamai said.
On its Facebook page, the CCSA yesterday posted a message saying it was monitoring four at-risk areas in Bangkok -- the Wat Somanas community in Pomprap Sattruphai, Wat Yuan Klong Lam Pak community in Dusit, Pak Klong Talat in Phra Nakhon and a shopping mall in Phra Nakhon.
Dr Apisamai described the clusters in Bangkok as "being on fire", saying all people involved in control measures are trying to contain infections. Surveillance has been stepped up to prevent community infections, she said, adding proactive mass testing has been conducted in Bangkok's 50 districts.
Bangkok's three districts that recorded the highest number of cases on Friday were Klong Toey (37), Ratchathewi (26) and Pathumwan (24). She said the CCSA also discussed moves to speed up a vaccine rollout for public bus drivers, teachers and City Hall rubbish collectors, among others.
Sanan Angubolkul, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber has been working with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to increase the number of vaccination spots in Bangkok from 14 to 25 this week. Each location will be able to accommodate up to 50,000 recipients per day, he said.
The Defence Ministry also ordered the army to set up a field hospital to serve more than 3,000 patients at Impact Muang Thong Thani in Nonthaburi, to open its doors next week.