Thailand ramps up efforts to rein in COVID-19, deaths hit daily record of 11

BANGKOK: Thai authorities are stepping up travel restrictions and other measures to combat a rapidly spreading third wave of COVID-19 infections as the country logged 11 deaths on Sunday, a daily record.

Although Thailand had success in limiting the spread of the virus last year, a new outbreak driven by the highly transmissible B.1.1.7 variant has resulted in over 24,000 cases and 46 deaths in just 25 days. The Southeast Asian nation will slow the issuance of travel documents for foreign nationals from India due to the outbreak of a coronavirus variant called B.1.617, said Taweesin Wisanuyothin, a spokesman for the government's COVID-19 taskforce.