Thailand has detected at least 24 cases of the coronavirus variant B117 first identified in Britain, according to a government health expert, its first known domestic transmission of the highly contagious variant.

It recorded 334 new infections in the last 24 hours, with no new deaths, bringing its case total to 29,905 and 95 fatalities. Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha instructed authorities to prepare field hospitals in anticipation of a spike in infections.

“We can handle things right now and I have instructed the preparation for field hospitals in Bangkok area,” Prayuth said of the rise in cases. “We could need these field hospitals in case the pandemic worsens.”