Thailand recorded 81 new COVID-19 cases today, including 67 locally-acquired infections and 14 cases among new arrivals from abroad, according to the CCSA.

Of the local infections, 35 were recorded in Samut Sakhon, 21 from proactive community screening and 14 among those under observation and treatment. The rest include 20 in Pathum Thani, 5 in Bangkok and Tak province and 2 in Phetchaburi.

Of the 14 imported cases, three are from Myanmar, aged 15 and 16, who crossed the border into Thailand illegally via a natural crossing in Prachuap Khiri Khan province.  Asymptomatic cases, they have been admitted to a quarantine facility at the provincial hospital.

Cumulative infections in Thailand, since early last year, are 26,679, with 26,056 recoveries and 85 deaths. 538 people are still being treated in hospitals.

Meanwhile, Thai virologist Dr. Yong Poovorawan explained that Caucasians are more prone to blood clots than Asians, due to different genetic traits, with the incidence among Caucasians being three times higher than among Asians.

He cited the case of the UK, where 11 million people have already been inoculated with the AstraZeneca vaccine and the incidence of blood clots among them is no higher than normal.

Blood clot incidence increases as people age and the incidence among Caucasians over 60 is between 5 and 13 per 1,000 people.

He disclosed that the AstraZeneca vaccine batch of 117,000 doses, which were delivered to Thailand, were produced in South Korea and is different from the batch being used in Europe, which may have caused some adverse side effects.