BANGKOK: After imposing stringent measures in Bangkok and nine provinces since Monday (July 12), Thailand is now considering tightening further the restrictions in bid to curb the rapid surge of COVID-19 infections as new cases hit a record high on Friday.

Over the last 24 hours, the kingdom hit an all-time high of 9,692 COVID-19 infections and 67 fatalities, taking total cases to 381,907 and 3,099 deaths since the pandemic started in January last year.

To date, there are 106,951 patients remain hospitalized at hospitals and field hospitals nationwide including 3,367 in critical condition and 847 on ventilators.

Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) assistant spokesperson Dr Apisamai Srirangsan said CCSA assessed the COVID-19 situation since the implementation five days ago found many violating the measures.

"To slow the rising infection rate, CCSA is considering to intensify COVID-19 restrictions including closures of more establishments and restrict people's movement," she said at COVID-19 daily briefing here today.

The restrictions enforced since Monday include curfews between 9 pm to 4 am, closure of malls and some businesses including four southern provinces - Narathiwat, Pattani, Songkhla and Yala.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan o-cha who returned to work at Government House today after his COVID-19 test came back negative, chaired the CCSA meeting.

Meanwhile, Dr Apisamai said the health authorities will to step up active case detection as rapid antigen as test kits become available for the public from next week.

She said the positive results from the test kits bought by the public would require confirmation RT-PCR test at testing centres approved by the Public Health Ministry.

Director of News Division from the Department of Information of Foreign Affairs Ministry, Pensom Lertsithichai said more than 700 violations including breaking curfew orders and social gathering of more than five people have been recorded.

She said another seven provinces namely Chon Buri, Chachoengsao, Rayong, Ratchaburi, Udon Thani, Surin and Ubon Ratchathani have been categorized as "Maximum and Strict Controlled Area" or dark red zone, bringing the numbers to 17 provinces.

On mix-and-match COVID-19 vaccine, Pensom said it is safe and effective method for fighting the fast-spreading Delta variant.

She said the AstraZeneca vaccine will be used as the second dose for those who received first Chinese's Sinovac shot, three to four weeks later to boost protection against the virus.

"This has been confirmed through researches by experts and virologists at medical colleges to be safe and efficient," she said.

For medical frontline workers, she added those complete two doses of Sinovac vaccine would receive a booster shot, either AstraZeneca or mRNA vaccine, which will be administered at least four weeks after second jab.

-- BERNAMA