There were 40 more Covid-19 fatalities and 2,331 new cases reported over the past 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry reported on Wednesday.
There were 2,305 new infections diagnosed in the general population and 26 among prison inmates.
Over the past 24 hours, 4,947 Covid-19 patients were diagnosed recovered and were discharged from hospitals.
Since April 1, around when the third wave of Covid-19 began, there have been 175,732 Covid-19 patients, 140,239 of whom have recovered.
Since the pandemic started early last year, there have been 204,595 Covid-19 cases, 167,665 of whom recovered.
The death toll was at 1,431 in the third wave and 1,525 from the beginning of the pandemic early last year.
Apisamai Srirangson, spokeswoman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, admitted during the later afternoon briefing the spread of the virus "seems relentless". Its continuing transmission in factories was of particular concern.
She said the 40 new fatalities were aged 34-90 years. Twenty-four were male and 16 female.
Twenty fatalities were reported in Bangkok, five in Nakhon Pathom, four in Ayutthaya, two each in Chon Buri, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan, and one each in Phetchaburi, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Sawan, Phatthalung and Surat Thani.
Twenty-four of the latest deaths had hypertension and 10 were diabetic, 13 had caught the virus from other family members and 11 from colleagues and neighbours.
The 2,331 new cases over the past 24 hours included 2,276 local infections and 29 imported cases. Of the local infections, 1,814 were confirmed at hospitals and 462 via mass testing.
Bangkok again logged the most new cases at 807, followed by 204 in Nonthaburi, 161 in Samut Prakan, 108 in Chon Bri, 101 in Samut Sakhon, 96 in Chachoengsao, 89 in Pathum Thani, 60 in Songkhla, 52 in Nakhon Pathom and 50 each in Ayutthaya and Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Dr Apisamai said Nonthaburi province had a new cluster of 19 cases at a glass and aluminium company in Sai Noi district, possibly linked to infections at construction workers’ camps, and another new cluster of six cases at an aluminium company in Bang Bua Thong district. Samut Prakan had three new clusters – 26 cases at a plastic hanger company in Phra Pradaeng district, eight at a cloth factory in Muang district and another eight at a sauce factory also in Muang district.
Pathum Thani had a new cluster of 78 cases at a machinery import company in Lat Lum Kaeo district. In Ayutthaya, a new cluster with seven cases was confirmed at an electronic parts company in Uthai district.
Samut Sakhon reported a new cluster of 23 cases at a frozen seafood company in Muang district.
Dr Apisamai said that since April 1, Covid-19 infections in factories producing a variety of products had been confirmed in 27 provinces, including Bangkok.
They were Phitsanulok, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Nayok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya, Lop Buri, Saraburi, Nakhon Pathom, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi, Ratchaburi, Samut Songkhram, Samut Sakhon, Suphan Buri, Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Samut Prakan, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Ranong, Trang, Pattani, Songkhla and Bangkok.
"The spread seems relentless and CCSA is concerned about disease control measures at factories," Dr Apisamai said.
The spokeswoman also said health officials were investigating Covid-19 transmission at a media organisation. Some infections started there in May. The company continued operating as usual in the second and third weeks of May while more cases were detected there.
On June 5 infections expanded to commentators, costume and makeup staff and technicians, the spokeswoman said without naming the organisation. Media reports identified it as Workpoint Entertainment.
The 29 imported cases arrived from Saudi Arabia (1), the United States (1), the United Kingdom (1) and Cambodia (26 including 12 illegal returnees through Chanthaburi and Sa Kaeo).
As of Tuesday, 35,405 were receiving Covid-19 treatment at hospitals. They included 1,306 critically ill patients and 364 dependent on ventilators.
Global Covid-19 cases rose by 370,383 in 24 hours to 177.41 million. The worldwide death toll went up by 9,149 to 3.84 million.
The US had the most cases at 34.35 million, up 12,580, and the most deaths at 615,717, up 353. India was second with 29.63 million cases, up 62,226, and 379,601 deaths, up 1,470.
