Songkran and Covid-19: Water festival to go ahead, despite being terrible for spread of virus

[webfact]

Songkran and Covid-19: Water festival to go ahead, despite being terrible for spread of virus

 

 

The Department of Public Health has warned the government that the upcoming Songkran festival due to be held next month could be disastrous for efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus/Covid-19.

 

The festival - something that has become a national free-for-all water fight in recent years - can't just be cancelled, said officials at a meeting of top level ministers.

 

This is because Songkran is a "People's Festival" celebrated nationwide.

 

On Tuesday, Tourism Authority of Thailand chief Yuthasak Supasorn said at this moment in time, the Songkran festival will go ahead as planned, although some events might be scaled back, while organisers may cancel some events of their own accord. 

 

As well as the coronavirus, the severe drought that Thailand is facing may also impact Songkran celebrations, Mr Yuthasak said.

 

The close proximity of people with physical contact could provide a perfect chance for the virus to spread.

 

PM's office minister Tewan Liptaphallop said that the government was "very concerned" for people's health at Songkran and during other events due to be held in April and May.

 

The health department has therefore been ordered to come up with guidelines for the people about how to celebrate Songkran this year.

 

The meeting at the end of last week heard that future developments in the crisis could not be accurately predicted.

 

If things got worse major events may need to be cancelled and for now it was better not to organize much and adopt a wait and see approach.

 

One event that could be chopped is a large merit making gathering at Sanam Luang. An alternative could be to arrange smaller events at government department offices instead.

 

Other events are also due to be held in April and May and these too will need to be assessed as to how they proceed.

 

The Thai MotoGP, Bangkok Motor Show and the Thai football league have all been postponed due to the coronavirus. 

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-03-04

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[Just1Voice]

My feeling, and I hope I am wrong, is that Songkran will cause an explosion of Corona virus cases nation wide. It could turn out to be a medical disaster. 

[Jingthing]

Both shocking and expected. 

Short sighted 

Business interests over basic common sense. 

[colinneil]

Tewan said, the government was very concerned for peoples health during songkran !!

Absolute boll+++s, they dont give a rats a++e about anyone other than themselves.

[lemonjelly]

We’re facing the most serious bio crisis in living memory and policies to control the outbreak are being heavily influenced by the department of tourism !!! 

Edited March 4, 2020 by lemonjelly

[Wiggy]

Of course it's going ahead; nothing can get in the way of 'sanook.'

[Saint Nick]

COVID19 would be the ONLY reason, that I would accept,cancelling Sogkhran!

But that will - of course- never happen!

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ ad nauseum...

[spiekerjozef]

The water will flush the virus away...

[spiekerjozef]

It's more then 5 weeks from now, all the Chinese will be back by then.

[bluesofa]

5 minutes ago, spiekerjozef said:

It's more then 5 weeks from now, all the Chinese will be back by then.

Are you saying that Covid-19 will accelerate to Warp Factor 10 when that happens?

[Dmaxdan]

I always stock up with groceries and stay at home. At least now I have a legitimate excuse for being a miserable old git. 

[Odin Norway]

17 minutes ago, spiekerjozef said:

It's more then 5 weeks from now, all the Chinese will be back by then.

Lots of things can happen in 5 weeks.But all the water must be gone for song kran to be cancelled

[Curt1591]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The health department has therefore been ordered to come up with guidelines for the people about how to celebrate Songkran this year.

Yes. And once these guidelines are announced, the Thai people will follow them, just as they have all the previous Songkran guidelines.

[Ian Nagle]

'The People's Festival'    55+

 

If EVER there was an extreeme damning indictment that 'Money Number 1 in Thailand' this, surely is it. 

 

Edited March 4, 2020 by Ian Nagle

[Ian Nagle]

19 minutes ago, Dmaxdan said:

I always stock up with groceries and stay at home. At least now I have a legitimate excuse for being a miserable old git. 

I absolutly detest Songram. I hate the farangs who come here and ruin it. Chiang Mai is a nightmare at this time.  

[FarFlungFalang]

1 hour ago, lemonjelly said:

We’re facing the most serious bio crisis in living memory and policies to control the outbreak are being heavily influenced by the department of tourism !!! 

Sounds quite dramatic.I think it's just a part of the evolutionary process.Less dramatic I know but there you have it.

[baansgr]

Having not taken part in this s h I t sharade for over ten years...surprised anyone Thai or Foreign can enjoy it anymore...

[PatOngo]

Chaiyo! ????

[CraigInBangkok]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

On Tuesday, Tourism Authority of Thailand chief Yuthasak Supasorn said at this moment in time, the Songkran festival will go ahead as planned

lets see what happens eh? 

As much as I am not a fan, I think they'd be stupid to cancel it 5 weeks before it happens 

[trainman34014]

50 minutes ago, Dmaxdan said:

I always stock up with groceries and stay at home. At least now I have a legitimate excuse for being a miserable old git. 

Ditto; never go anywhere near the mindless mess they call 'fun' !

[Saint Nick]

38 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Having not taken part in this s h I t sharade for over ten years...surprised anyone Thai or Foreign can enjoy it anymore...

I am 52 and still enjoy at least the first day!

It's happy, it's wild, it's crazy and mostly friendly!

After that...not so much,but I let people be people and stay home. enjoying the hot weather at the pool of my condo!

This year, I will skip all of it, because I don't think, being cramped with hundreds of people in a humid and hot place will do much to keep that virus at bay!

[kingstonkid]

This is probably the most sane thing the government has done.

 

You can not cancel Songkran it is an important holiday for families and religion.

 

You can not tell people THOU SHALL NOT SPRAY WATER

 

How can they stop people from doing it?

 

This is just like telling kids that they can not throw snowballs.

People are going to do it anyway.

Imagine when the MLB starts in April the government telling Yankees fans not to go to the games/

 

The only thing they can do is restrict where they can and ask the businesses to be smart.  

 

Central could not have anything at their locations to celebrate it.

Do NOT close streets like Silom leave it all open.

 

The average Thai person is aware of what is happening.  Yes there are those that will want to be stupid and party their ass off.  Most of the youth understand this is serious.  Most tourists we know are staying away from Thailand.

 

[ChiangmaiRob]

Welcome to Songkran ... the worlds biggest Covid-19 petri dish! ????????????????????????  ????????‍♂️

[legend49]

Reap what you sow. Two reasons it should be cancelled; first one has been explained re Coronavirus. Second one is the drought, every drop of potable water should be treasured not wasted in stupid water fights. Dumb and dumber!

[legend49]

1 hour ago, CraigInBangkok said:

lets see what happens eh? 

As much as I am not a fan, I think they'd be stupid to cancel it 5 weeks before it happens 

Go and look up the word " think" in the dictionary.

[mickymouse1]

My advice is, use holy water during songkran.  55555

[RichardColeman]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The Department of Public Health has warned the government that the upcoming Songkran festival due to be held next month could be disastrous for efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus/Covid-19.

 

On Tuesday, Tourism Authority of Thailand chief Yuthasak Supasorn said at this moment in time, the Songkran festival will go ahead as planned

And there we have it. The tourist board over-riding the health board. Absolute nutters

[Katipo]

It will go ahead. But large parties and gathering will be cancelled. i.e. I would say the festivals in Pattaya, Khao San, and Silom will be cancelled.

[Pedrogaz]

More quality leadership from the junta.

[Sheryl]

never mind COVID, I am worried about how it will affect the drought.

 

Water pressure in my area has already slowed to a trickle, have had to stop watering the vegetable garden and everything is dying as a result. I shudder to imagine what will happen during and after Songkran.