COVID-19: Thailand confirms 18 new cases, total now 2,987

Thailand has reported 18 new COVID-19 cases - all migrants at an immigration detention centre in the southern province of Songkhla - bringing the cumulative figure to 2,987 cases.

Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) spokesman Thaweesilp Wissanuyothin said the latest cases comprised 17 females aged between 13 and 22 and a 10-year-old boy who were detained at the Sadao Immigration Detention Centre.

On April 25, a total of 42 migrants including two Malaysians from the detention centre were tested positive for COVID-19, he said.

"A total of 60 positive cases have been detected at the detention centre," he said at a daily COVID-19 briefing here today.

He said the COVID-19 death toll stands at 54 as no fatalities were reported today.

On reports that 40 had tested positive for COVID-19 in Yala, southern Thailand, Thaweesilp said samples taken for a second test at the Medical Science Department of Songkhla yesterday had turned out negative.

"A third test will be conducted in Bangkok for accuracy. The results are expected within days," he said.

To date, 126 positive cases have been reported in Yala.

Meanwhile, health officials in Yala have intensified screening of villagers especially workers who returned from Malaysia.

Bangkok Post reported that the health officials were touring villages in Bannang Sata, informing the people on the schedule for swab tests to be held in the evening.

"Tests will be conducted after breaking of fast," Yala's public health chief Songkran Maichum said.

-- BERNAMA