Coronavirus cases surge in Thailand as spike is mostly driven by jail outbreaks

Thailand has reported 9,635 new coronavirus cases – doubling the previous daily record set last week – with more than 70% of the increase coming from prisons.

Thailand’s confirmed case total rose to 111,082, of which almost three-quarters – 82,219 – have been recorded since the beginning of April this year, when a new wave of coronavirus infections began.

Twenty-five deaths were reported on Monday, bringing the total number to 614.

Thailand had about 7,100 cases including 63 deaths in all of last year, in what was regarded as a success story in containing the virus.

The capital, Bangkok, accounted for 1,843 of Monday’s new cases, with no signs of decline, said Taweesilp Visanuyotin, spokesperson for the government’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. He…