BANGKOK: Thailand imposed a ban on Wednesday (Dec 30) on large gatherings and events across the nation in an effort to contain its worst coronavirus epidemic but during New Yr, with active cases in over half of its provinces.Â
Authorities have requested the general public to keep away from the journey and have imposed tighter control measures in some areas, together with entertainment businesses. Targeted lockdowns have been imposed in some provincial districts.
The health ministry confirmed 250 new infections on Wednesday, among the many largest number of confirmed day by day cases since a big outbreak discovered nearly two weeks in the past that was the nation’s largest yet.
“Immediately’s figures made me nervous … what we do not want to see is a second or third lockdown,” COVID-19 taskforce spokesman Taweesin Wisanuyothin informed a briefing.
“If the situation cannot be controlled, rather than count down to the New Yr, we could count up (the number of cases).”
Taweesin on Tuesday mentioned more aggressive restrictions like these seen earlier within the year could be imposed if the spread will not be contained.
These measures, which included closures of malls, restaurants, and entertainment areas and restrictions on international travel, brought on the tourism-reliant economy to contract probably the most in 22 years within the second quarter.
New clusters have emerged within the wake of a giant outbreak this month at a seafood market close to Bangkok, amongst mainly migrant employees from Myanmar, with cases since reported in 48 provinces.
Although low compared to many nations, the sharp improvement in Thailand’s day-by-day cases is a setback for its efforts to keep the virus at bay, having recorded simply 6,690 infections and 61 deaths in general.
