Songkran holidays to be postponed in attempt to 'limit public movement'

[webfact]

Songkran holidays to be postponed in attempt to 'limit public movement'

By THE NATION

 

 

A meeting of the Covid-19 Administration Centre, chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, approved a motion to postpone the Songkran holidays from April 13-15 to later dates, deputy government spokeswoman Rachada Thanadirek said on her Twitter account today (March 16).

 

Ratchada said the meeting cited the reason of “increasing social distance” and “minimising public movement both domestically and internationally”.

 

“The compensating holidays will be announced later,” she added.

 

A news source from the centre also revealed that it would by next week present to the Cabinet a motion to have all entertainment venues close at 8pm and all universities close their campuses and provide online classes starting April 1 until the situation improves.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30384184?utm_source=homepage&utm_medium=internal_referral

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-03-16

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Thailand plans to close schools, bars and theaters to curb coronavirus - spokeswoman

 

Passengers wear protective masks due to the coronavirus outbreak, in a train in Bangkok, Thailand March 16, 2020. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand plans to close down schools, bars, theaters and other entertainment centres to curb the spread of coronavirus as well as to postpone next month's Thai New Year holiday to limit travel, a government spokeswoman said on Monday.

 

The government will ask the cabinet on Tuesday to consider postponing the traditional Songkran New Year holiday, which falls on April 13 to 15, to limit travel inside and outside of the country, deputy government spokeswoman Ratchada Thanadirek said on Twitter.

 

The government will also ask the cabinet to consider closing of universities, schools, international schools, boxing arenas, cock fighting arenas, bars and theater nationwide to curb the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, she said.

 

Thailand reported 32 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, bringing its total tally to 114. One person has died of the virus in Thailand. Thirty seven people have recovered and been discharged from hospital.

 

(Writing by Kay Johnson; Editing by Toby Chopra)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-03-16

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

[Moonlover]

Good. That what everyone in Thailand needs to see. Positive action.

 

Action speaks louder than words.

[ThailandRyan]

Dear COVID-19, we (The Thai Government) have decided to not let you play with water this year in April and possibly spread yourself to many people, so we have not canceled Songkran, but merely postponed it until we decide you can continue to spread yourself at a later date by playing in water......Until then please understand we have things 100% under control.

[Matzzon]

16 minutes ago, mehrdad said:

And 7 dangerous day also postponed??? 

 

Yep, with the virus in the air, we only have dangerous days.

[ThailandGuy]

Finally a good idea !  Since the virus is more in the BKK area it is better to drop the Songkran festivities at all. Noblody should travel from the BKK area to the country sides. They could not have made a better decision !

[christophe75]

It seems that people where sending insults as comments, on the live youtube of the press conference...

 

Anyway...

 

As usual : 

-wrong in essence : cancel songkran public holiday.

-wrong in the form (postpone... when... mai ru... we will present the motion to the cabinet, blablablabla)

 

... A total fiasco.

 

Wrong on all accounts.

 

Bye bye "mandate of heaven".

Edited March 16, 2020 by christophe75

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

And I've yet to see/hear any news from the Dept of Disease Control yet on today's latest tally of new CV cases... after the 32 case increase from Sunday... Usually, they've updated by this time of the day.

 

 

[RichardColeman]

Surely be better to bring the new year forward to next weekend, extend it to 2 weeks and make everyone stay indoors.

[Mike Teavee]

I agree with cancelling Songkran (more the crazy Farang water fights) but How can you change what dates you celebrate New Year?

 

Surelt it’s set in terms of what date the full moon is etc... or is NASA going to push that back ? 

[mtls2005]

7 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

And I've yet to see/hear any news from the Dept of Disease Control yet on today's latest tally of new CV cases... after the 32 case increase from Sunday... Usually, they've updated by this time of the day.

 

 

 

I think the PM is scheduled to address the nation tonight, maybe 18:30.

 

A lot of infections seem to have come from this Chachoengsao PAO chairman: he attended weddings, temple fairs, boxing matches (Actor Mattherw Deane, Army General infected by him there), cock fighting, hospitals, elderly advocates. The effects are probably too frightening to release at once? He's definitely a super-spreader.

 

Lot's of rumors flying. Newin trying to quarantine Buriram, that one seems backed up by semi-official posts.

[Nyezhov]

I hope they cancel it here.

[Mung]

Remember when they made it illegal to cram people into the back of pickups during Songkran, and nobody cared and there was a mass distaste for the idea. Yeah, probably going to see a similar reaction here. 

[alant]

Bars open from 5 pm to 8 pm, not sure I see the point.

Will that be food establishments as well?

Will people still be able to buy a beer and sit outside a seven eleven at 10 pm?

[mtls2005]

28 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

And I've yet to see/hear any news from the Dept of Disease Control yet on today's latest tally of new CV cases... after the 32 case increase from Sunday... Usually, they've updated by this time of the day.

 

 

 

147, +33

[Salerno]

30 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

And I've yet to see/hear any news from the Dept of Disease Control yet on today's latest tally of new CV cases... after the 32 case increase from Sunday... Usually, they've updated by this time of the day.

33 new cases of the Covid-19 Coronavirus were announced in total.  These cases are nearly all from the previous cluster cases reported found from tracing and quarantining their contacts, with several more cases found from people coming to Thailand from overseas.

[Georgie65]

Turn out the lights, the party's over!!!!

[miamiman123]

“The compensating holidays to be announced later”...depending on the amount of compensation??

hehe u got it! 

[johnray]

So there is now two Songkrans.  Awesome!

Edited March 16, 2020 by johnray

[kingstonkid]

This is an interesting time.  Las vegas closing it's hotels. 

I agree there really is not much reason for bars to be open at all if they have to close at 8.

There will be a loud outcry from the people.  Families set aside this time for a get together.

Families also have this time set for them to get away and have a holiday.

A lot of hotels are going to have to refund or cancel hotel bookings

 

 

 

[Aussie999]

In my opinion, Covid-19 is out of control, they can't hide it much longer, and now starting to hit the panic button.

 Watch for more big changes, in the next few days.

[DrTuner]

Good, good. Finally they started acting. Keep it up.

[mrfill]

58 minutes ago, Mike Teavee said:

I agree with cancelling Songkran (more the crazy Farang water fights) but How can you change what dates you celebrate New Year?

 

Surelt it’s set in terms of what date the full moon is etc... or is NASA going to push that back ? 

Nothing to do with the moon. It used to be on March 1st in Roman times. That's why October suggests eighth month although it is now (Gregorian calendar) the tenth. It is also why a leap year day is at the end of February. It was the last day of the year.

So it's not NASA you need to nag, it is Pope Gregory XIII. Unfortunately, he croaked in 1585 so the reply may be delayed somewhat.

[lemonwaterjoe]

There was no word about bars closing at 8pm.

It was about closing venues with a capacity of more than 50 people. No idea where this wrong information is coming from.

[Mung]

14 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

There will be a loud outcry from the people.  Families set aside this time for a get together.

Families also have this time set for them to get away and have a holiday.

A lot of hotels are going to have to refund or cancel hotel bookings

 

 

 

The only people outcrying are either incredibly selfish, ignorant or simply stupid 

[donmuang37]

Brilliant move!! As everyone knows, COVID-19 only spreads after 8 pm!

Err, correct? ????

[christophe75]

6 minutes ago, donmuang37 said:

Brilliant move!! As everyone knows, COVID-19 only spreads after 8 pm!

Err, correct? ????

 

100 % correct.

 

It's like when you buy alcohol.

 

Between 11 AM  and 2 PM : GOOD : possible

Between 2 PM and 5 PM : BAD : impossible

 

"Why ?"

 

"Because."

 

"But why ?"

 

"Nobody knows ! Shut your mouth, peasant !"

[fvw53]

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

Surely be better to bring the new year forward to next weekend, extend it to 2 weeks and make everyone stay indoors.

Why not postpone until next Christmas and save a lot of working days for finance, commerce and industry ?????

[Pedrogaz]

Yet another non-enforceable idea? We are clutching at straws here. Will the Isaan people really stay down south working or will a few of them sneak back up north to see their families?

The leadership of this lovely nation are incompetent.

[HaoleBoy]

Cancel / postpone Songkran so people don't travel they state.
By closing clubs, bars, schools and everything else will send many many of the low paid people working these places back to their village thus traveling.  Are they going to stop all buses to the countryside?
Thailand is a unique situation with so many of the low paid workers coming from the countryside and working in BKK, Pattaya, Phuket and the islands.