Chiang Mai province is confident it can curb the spread of COVID-19, insisting that it will go ahead with its New Year countdown celebration.
Director of Public Health Promotion Division Chiang Mai Municipality Danai Sarapruek said the province will not ban New Year events due to the economic impact of doing so.
Despite no ban, organisers of all New Year celebrations are required to inform the provincial administration of the activities they are planning to organise, Mr Sarapruek said. The municipality has measures in place to control the virus, he added.
People from Samut Sakhon, a new hotspot of the virus, must be quarantined for 14 days once they arrive in Chiang Mai. No quarantine is required for visitors from other provinces, according to Mr Sarapruek.
Provincial public health department chief, Chatuchai Maneerat reassured the public that Chiang Mai’s communicable disease committee is implementing stringent measures to control the spread of the pandemic.
People in three sub-districts of Mae Ai, Malika and Tha Ton face travel restrictions after public health authorities found that a COVID-19 patient in Ayutthaya province had travelled from Tha Ton, Dr Maneerat said.
In Bangkok, governor Aswin Kwanmuang has announced measures to prevent and control COVID-19 in the city.
Markets, public parks, temples as well as entertainment venues are required to comply with the measures effective until 15th January 2021. COVID-19 screening in the capital city is focused on migrant workers.
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Samut Sakhon has enforced more stringent disease control measures until 3rd January 2021. The central shrimp market and Si Muang dormitory, where a number of cases were detected, have been completely sealed off.
Sports stadiums, playgrounds, academic institutions and nurseries in the province are temporarily closed. Restaurants are open for takeout only and convenience stores are closed between 10 pm until 5 am.
In Samut Songkhram, some at-risk establishments were ordered to close on Wednesday until 4th January next year, including service establishments, cockfighting and betta fish fighting rings, movie theatres, karaoke bars, gaming cafes, nurseries, spas, massage parlours and all types of academic institutions.
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