Coronavirus: Bangkok closes bars, schools amid surge in cases and public rumours of a lockdown
- Kick boxing stadiums, cinemas and bars in Bangkok and its surrounding areas will be closed for 14 days from Wednesday
- But Thailand’s flip-flopping on measures to curb the outbreak, along with a minister mask-hoarding scandal, have seen a deterioration of public trust
Thai actor Matthew Deane became the first celebrity in Thailand to contract the coronavirus after hosting a boxing match in early March, although the health ministry said he had become infected after meeting a friend who flew in from abroad.
The surge in local cases from such large venues has prompted the Thai government to announce the closing of recreational sites including stadiums, cinemas, bars, gyms and spas for 14 days in Bangkok and its surrounding areas, beginning on Wednesday.
Office workers have been encouraged to work from home, while schools and universities have been closed, as well as independent tutoring centres. Restaurants and department stores can stay open but must upgrade their screening efforts to include temperature checks as well as cleaning and disinfecting.
The traditional Thai New Year holiday, usually held from April 13-15, will be postponed until later in the year.
The measures were confirmed on Tuesday as Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha delivered a televised address saying they were designed to delay a full-blown pandemic phase of the outbreak for as long as possible.
