BANGKOK, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Thailand reported a new daily record of 34 COVID-19 fatalities on Wednesday, taking the country's death toll to 486, with 1,983 new infections, according to the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

Of the new cases, 1,974 were domestic infections while nine others were imported cases, CCSA spokeswoman Apisamai Srirangsan told a daily news conference.

The infections added Thailand's caseload to 88,907, more than tripling from early April when the third wave of coronavirus outbreak began to spread from the capital Bangkok.

Some 29,378 patients are now under treatment in hospitals, with 1,226 in critical conditions, according to spokeswoman Apisamai.

In a separate statement issued Wednesday, the Department of Corrections reported new clusters in two Bangkok prisons, which it said have infected a total of 2,835 inmates as of Wednesday.

Also on Wednesday, the Thailand Volleyball Association said that it would withdraw the national women's volleyball team from an international competition in Italy later this month after more than 20 team members tested positive for COVID-19.

Of the 37 athletes, coaches and team staffs tested on Tuesday, 22 have been infected, it said, adding that it decided to withdraw the team from the women's Volleyball Nations League 2021 from May 25 to June 19 in the city of Rimini, Italy, and has already informed the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB).

Due to concerns over a highly infectious coronavirus variant first detected in India, Thailand has temporarily suspended the issuance of entry certificates to all foreigners traveling from or transiting through countries including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.

The government is also encouraging the public to receive COVID-19 vaccines as the country aims to inoculate 70 percent of its nearly 70-million population by the end of the year. Enditem

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