A worker disinfects a fresh market in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 21, 2021. Thailand reported 3,175 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, marking the fifth consecutive day recording over 3,000 coronavirus infections as it was gradually easing restrictions for economic recovery. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)
BANGKOK, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Thailand reported 3,175 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, marking the fifth consecutive day recording over 3,000 coronavirus infections as it was gradually easing restrictions for economic recovery.
With the new infections, the number of cumulative cases in Thailand rose to 221,306, with over 85 percent of them recorded since April 1 when the third wave of the pandemic hit and quickly spread across the country.
An additional 29 deaths from COVID-19 were recorded on Monday, taking the total fatalities to 1,658, according to the Center for the COVID-19 Situation Administration.
While the COVID-19 situation in Thailand remains severe, especially in the capital Bangkok and its neighboring provinces, the Thai government was easing restrictions nationwide gradually.
Effective from Monday, restaurants in Bangkok can serve food till 11 p.m., while swimming pools, educational institutions, libraries and stadiums are allowed to reopen.
As of Sunday, Thailand has administered over 7.67 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, of which 3.58 million doses were given after a mass inoculation drive began on June 7.
After more than 400,000 doses were given on the first two days of the campaign, the daily vaccine rollout saw a gradual decline with less than 100,000 doses administered on Sunday.
The Thai government has recently diversified its vaccine procurement by allowing private sectors to import more vaccines from different producers.
Thailand received a batch of China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines Sunday to support its fight against the worst wave of the virus' outbreak so far for the Southeast Asian country. Enditem
