3rd batch of China's Sinovac vaccine arrives in Thailand

BANGKOK - A third batch of COVID-19 vaccines Thailand ordered from China's Sinovac arrived in Bangkok Saturday as the Southeast Asian country strives to contain a new flare-up of coronavirus infections.

The vaccines, after final examination, will be dispatched nationwide for inoculation, the Ministry of Public Health said in a statement.

The shipment came following the delivery of the first batch on Feb 24 and the second batch on March 20.

The ministry said Thailand has signed a contract with the Sinovac for an additional batch of the COVID-19 vaccines, which are scheduled to arrive in Thailand at the end of April.

As of Saturday, the country's total caseload has risen to 31,658, with latest clusters involving entertainment venues leading to a spike in infections in the capital city and peripheral provinces.