2,331 new COVID-19 infections and 40 more deaths were recorded today (Wednesday) as eight new clusters were reported in five provinces, according to the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

Two new clusters were found in Nonthaburi province, at an aluminium factory in Sai Noi district, where 19 people were infected, and at construction worker housing in Bang Bua Thong district, where 6 workers were infected.

Three clusters were found in Samut Prakan province, at a shirt hanger factory in Phra Pradaeng district, where 26 workers were infected, at a textile factory in Muang district and at a seasoning sauce factory, in the same district, where 8 workers in each were found infected.

There are 2 clusters at a couple of seafood processing plants in Muang district of Samut Sakhon, with 6 infections at one and 23 at the other. Another cluster was found at a machinery import company in Lat Loom Kaew district in Pathum Thani, where 78 workers were found to be infected.

CCSA Assistant Spokeswoman Dr. Apisamai Srirangsan said that cluster infections at a TV station were not included in the tally today, because an investigation is still under way adding, however, that the disease has already spread to several departments in the company.

She disclosed that, in the past two weeks, widespread infections, with more than 50 cases in each work place, have been found in several factories in Saraburi, Chachoengsao, Trang and Chon Buri provinces, while fewer than 10 cases in each work place have been found in Ayutthaya and Rayong.

Cluster infections in factories are now reported in 27 provinces and the disease is still spreading in similar work places, causing real concern over control of the disease in factories, said Dr. Apisamai.

Cumulative infections, since April 1^st, 2021, have reached 175,732. The death toll since last year is 1,525.

Of the 40 deaths today, 24 are men and 16 women, aged from 34 to 90. 20 were in Bangkok, 5 in Nakhon Pathom, 4 in Ayutthaya, 2 each in Chon Buri, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan and 1 each in Phetchaburi, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Sawan, Phatthalung and Surat Thani.

269,632 doses of vaccines were administered yesterday, bringing the total administered, since February 28^th, to 6,780,816 out of over 7.1 million doses distributed.