Thai PM urges people to stay home during Songkran festival
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on April 10 called on people to stay at home during the traditional Songkran festival to curb the spread of COVID-19.
A food supply area established in the yard of a shopping centre in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo: VNA)
Bangkok (VNA) –Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on April 10 called on people to stay athome during the traditional Songkran festival to curb the spread of COVID-19.
In his televised address, thePM recommended people stay home instead of visiting relatives before or duringthe festival, which is slated for April 13-15. He also warned them not to leavehome or join a celebration party anywhere else.
The Thai Government officiallypostponed the Songkran holidays and water splashing activities nationwide dueto the complex developments of the pandemic.
The PM also allowed some groups or sectors to be excludedfrom the nationwide curfew to facilitate their work.
Thailand has been under anemergency decree from March 26 to April 30 to restrict travel to stop thetransmission of the coronavirus.
Among the orders under thisdecree, a nationwide curfew from 10pm to 4am has been enforced since April 3,and only authorities and their assistants on duty, health care personnel andemergency patients are exempted.
However, according to thelatest regulation, those working at petrol stations and public utilities, foodshippers, garbage collectors, guards, fishermen and rubber tappers are alsoallowed to work during the curfew.
Meanwhile, Phuket has becomethe first province in Thailand to impose a lockdown on all 17 sub-districts,from 00:01am on April 13 to 11:59pm on April 26 or until the situation improves,to prevent the COVID-19 spread.
As of April 10, Thailand had confirmed2,473 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection, including 33 deaths. Bangkok capital cityhad the biggest number of cases, 1,262, while the highest infection rate, 38.95cases per 100,000 people, is recorded in Phuket./.
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A food supply area established in the yard of a shopping centre in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo: VNA) 
