Thailand could see coronavirus cases double to 45,000 per day by early next month, even with current lockdown measures in place, its Covid-19 task force said as authorities urged people to stay home to reduce infection risks.

Thailand has been struggling with its worst outbreak so far, with a daily average of 20,000 new infections and 180 deaths in the past week, compared to 70 new cases and single-digit daily fatalities less than five months ago, according to Reuters.

Current travel restrictions and containment measures in place over the past month have yet to make an impact, the task force said.

“The lockdown has been 20 per cent effective but the infections continue to rise, projected to reach about 45,000 cases per day by the start of or mid September,” spokesman Taweesin Wisanuyothin told a news conference.