Thailand logged 15,942 Covid-19 cases and 257 fatalities, with Bangkok setting records again in both categories.
Of the new cases nationwide, 15,665 were among the general population and 277 were in prisons, the Public Health Ministry announced on Saturday morning.
On Friday, 20,351 patients were discharged from hospitals. Since April 1, when the third wave of Covid-19 began, 1.07 million people have recovered.
Since the pandemic started last year, there have been 1.27 million cases, 1.10 million of whom recovered.
The death toll stood at 12,537 during the third wave and 12,631 since the beginning of the pandemic.
The single-day death toll peaked on Aug 18, at 312, after the caseload hit a record 23,418 five days earlier.
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration reported in the afternoon that the 257 new fatalities were two to 100 years old, average 68. Of them, 135 were men. By nationality, 254 were Thais, two were Cambodians and one was a Myanmar national.
A majority, or 98%, of the new deaths were people aged 60 and more and those with underlying conditions. The two-year-old baby who died in Tak province on Friday, however, did not have existing conditions.
Bangkok continued to log record deaths, at 57, while a combined 72 were reported in adjacent provinces of Pathum Thani (21), Samut Prakan (20), Samut Sakhon (20), Nakhon Pathom (10) and Nonthaburi (1).
The Northeast reported 13 fatalities — Si Sa Ket (3), Chaiyaphum (2), Bung Kan (2), Ubon Ratchathani (1), Nakhon Phanom (1), Maha Sarakham (1), Amat Charoen (1), Sakon Nakhon (1) and Surin (1).
The North had 15 new deaths — Chiang Rai (2), Kamphaengphet (2), Lampang (2), Phitsanulok (2), Uthai Thani (2), Nakhon Sawan (2), Tak (2), and Phetchabun (1).
The South reported 18 deaths — Nakhon Si Thammarat (6), Pattani (5), Narathiwat (4), Chumphon (1), Ranong (1) and Songkhla (1).
Other 16 provinces recorded 82 deaths in total — Chachoengsao (20), Chon Buri (20), Saraburi (13), Suphan Buri (7), Ang Thong (5), Kanchanaburi (4), Nakhon Nayok (2), Chanthaburi (2), Trat (2), Rayong (1), Lop Buri (1), Ayutthaya (1), Phetchaburi (1), Sing Buri (1), Prachuap Khiri Khan (1) and Prachin Buri (1).
The 15,942 new cases included 15,659 local infections and six imported cases.
Of the local infections, 13,549 were confirmed at hospitals and 2,100 during mass testing.
Bangkok continued to log the highest daily cases at 3,835. Of them, Bang Khae district reported the highest cases at 213, followed by Lak Si (176), Lad Krabang (173), Phasi Charoen (13), Min Buri (126), Nong Khaem (123), Chom Thong (107), Bang Kapi (105),Bang Bon (104), and Bang Khunthien (99).
Watthana district reported the fewest daily cases, at 11, while Samphanthawong had 12 cases.
Trailing the capital were 1,570 new cases in Samut Prakan, 955 in Chon Buri, 895 in Samut Sakhon, 502 in Ratchaburi, 468 in Nonthaburi, 446 in Rayong, 341 in Narathiwat, 340 in Nakhon Pathom and 296 in Nakhon Ratchasima.
Greater Bangkok reports 7,270 new cases and 129 new deaths. Four southern border provinces had 895 new cases and 10 new fatalities and 67 other provinces recorded 7,494 new cases and 115 new deaths.
The six imported cases were from Cambodia (3) and Malaysia (3). They were five Thai returnees, three of whom entered the country illegally, and one Cambodian national who had entered the country illegally.
On Friday, 155,134 people received Covid-19 treatment at hospitals. Of them, 4,741 were seriously ill, with 1,004 dependent on ventilators.
Global Covid-19 cases rose by 663,846 cases in 24 hours to 220.61 million. The worldwide death toll went up by 9,441 to 4.56 million. The US had the most cases at 40.70 million, up 182,593. Thailand ranked 29th globally with its 1.27 million accumulated cases.