The Thai Ministry of Public Health today reported 35 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 212.

In the north-eastern province of Khon Kaen, Dr. Somchaichote Piyawatwela, the provincial health chief, said that one man, who attended a boxing match at the Lumpini stadium, has tested positive for coronavirus.

The man, who is not a resident of Khon Kaen, reported to the Ratchapruek Hospital for tests on March 15^th. The patient is now being treated at Khon Kaen Hospital.

Another case, also related to the boxing stadium, was confirmed in Muang district of the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat. He is currently hospitalized and his family members are quarantined for observation.

In the southern province of Songkhla, Governor Charuwat Kliangklao said today that eight out of 29 people, returning from Malaysia after attending a religious ceremony at a mosque in Kuala Lumpur, had fevers and were sent to hospital for further screening, while the remainder have been placed in self-quarantine, under observation by local officials.

The governor also sought cooperation from relatives, friends or neighbours of those who attended the ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, asking them to report to local officials so that they can be kept under observation.

Many Thai Muslims, from the three southernmost provinces of Thailand who went to work in Malaysia, mostly in “tom yum gung” restaurants owned by Thai citizens, have been steadily streaming back home since the Malaysian government locked down the country for two weeks to stem the COVID-19 spread.

Health officials have been dispatched to border crossings to screen the returning Thai Muslims.