The communicable disease committee in Thailand’s north-eastern province of Kalasin has ordered all schools and educational institutes located in the municipality to close until December 30^th, after it was discovered that some students had eaten at Rongsee market.

Rongsee market was closed for 14 days last week when a married couple, returning from Belgium and who later tested positive for the COVID-19 Omicron variant, had dinner with relatives at a restaurant in the market.

Over 100 people, who were at the restaurant at the time, including some musicians and staff, were later found to be infected with COVID-19, including 22 confirmed Omicron cases.

Due to concerns over Omicron variant infections, the public sector has decided to cancel all New Year celebrations.

For the private sector, organisers of New Year events have been asked to limit the number of attendees to 100 and prior permission must be granted by the district chief officer of each district.

In the northern province of Chiang Mai today, Governor Prachon Pratsakul told the media that two foreign tourists, a Briton and a German, are thought to have contracted the Omicron variant, adding, however, that both are now isolated and undergoing treatment.

He offered an assurance that, so far, there has not been a single case of local transmission of Omicron, as he urged people in the province to get their third vaccine dose to boost their immunity.

Dr. Waranyoo Jamnongprasartporn, the provincial deputy health chief, said he expects test results from the Medical Sciences Department for the two tourists would be known in two days.

He said that, altogether, 18 people have been listed as being at high risk after having been in close contact with the German tourist, some of them have already tested negative.

Three people were found to be in close contract with the 64-year British tourist, two of whom have tested negative and the result is pending for the third.