The Thai Medical Sciences Department has reported a 20% COVID-19 infection rate among people undergoing tests in the past 40 plus days.

Of 40,007 people tested on September 4^th, at 288 of the 375 authorised laboratories across the country, 8,804 tested positive, representing an infection rate of 22%.

From January 1^st to September 4^th, 12,575,261 people were tested and 1,026,043 were found to be infected, said the department.

From August 29^th to September 4^th, an average of 48,000 people were tested each day and 9,500 people tested positive, representing 19.5% infection rate.

14,176 new infections have been recorded in Thailand in the past 24 hours and 16,769 have recovered, according to Dr. Chawetsan Namwat, director of the emergency health hazards and diseases division. There were 228 COVID-19 related fatalities today.

He said that the infection rate in Bangkok and its suburbs is slowing, but the numbers remain high.

After the easing of lockdown restrictions on September 1^st, he said the situation in Bangkok remains under close watch and assessment, with preparations made for the vaccination of about 400,000 students aged from 12 to 17.

Regarding construction workers, Dr. Chawetsan said more than 61,000 workers in 606 worker dormitory facilities have been vaccinated in a program which will end this Friday, but he warned that supervisors of these facilities must make sure that their workers strictly comply with basic safety measures or they will face charges.

Throughout August, an average of 20,000 infections were recorded on daily basis, but, in September, the numbers are slowing which, according to Dr. Chawetsan, is a good sign.