Six provinces, including the capital, have been designated "maximum control zones" in the wake of the fresh Covid-19 outbreak that has spread to 51 provinces.
Bangkok, Chon Buri, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Rayong and Samut Sakhon were declared "maximum control zones" as each has more than 50 Covid-19 cases, with special measures in place to curb the spread of the virus.
Meanwhile, eight provinces -- Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Pathum Thani, Phetchaburi, Ratchaburi, Samut Prakan, Saraburi and Tak -- were named "control zones", as each has between 11–50 Covid-19 infections.
In lieu of a nationwide lockdown, a Covid-19 zoning system is currently in place, with provinces falling into different zone category depending on the number of new cases and the rate of spread. Provinces with no more than 10 cases are categorised as "high surveillance zones", with disease control measures possible, while "surveillance zones" are provinces with no cases and little likelihood of an outbreak.
Thirty-seven provinces are classified as high surveillance zones, while 26 provinces see no infections and are surveillance zones.
Taweesilp Visanuyothin of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) said on Thursday the situation isn't yet fully under control, even though the number of new cases is dropping.
The CCSA reported 194 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday -- 181 local transmissions and 13 among quarantined arrivals -- raising the country's total to 6,884. On Wednesday, 250 new cases were recorded.
Of the new cases, 11 were linked to the Samut Sakhon cluster, 32 were close contacts of confirmed patients, were in crowded places and/or worked risky jobs, while one was linked to the cluster in Rayong. The remaining cases were still under investigation.
