BANGKOK, April 11 (Xinhua) - Thailand on Sunday saw its highest daily record of 967 new COVID-19 cases largely due to cluster spreads in the capital and other provinces, according to the Center for the COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

Of the new cases, 964 were reported as domestic and three others were imported. Among them, 517 of the domestic infections were related to the cluster spreads from nightlife venues where the first local cases of B.1.1.7 variant were reported a few days ago, the CCSA report said.

A virologist from Chulalongkorn University warned that the variant would spread 1.7 times faster than the previous one and urged people to act in a more responsible manner.

The new COVID-19 wave came at a time when people were ready to celebrate the traditional Songkran New Year's holiday. Stricter measures have been implemented to prevent a further spread of the coronavirus.

The caseload in Thailand has hit 32,625, of which 28,214 patients have fully recovered while 4,314 others are currently hospitalized with 97 fatalities.