On Friday, Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health will propose that the CCSA orders the closure of all entertainment venues, such as pubs, bars and massage parlours, in 41 provinces for two weeks, to limit the risk of COVID-19 infections, CCSA spokesman Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin said today.

The provinces include Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Songkhram, Samut Sakhon, Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Nakhon Nayok, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Prachin Buri, Chachoengsao, Sa Kaeo, Suphan Buri, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi, Ranong, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phuket, Surat Thani, Songkhla, Yala, Narathiwat, Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen,, Chaiyaphum, Udon Thani, Buri Ram, Loei, Chiang Mai, Lampang, Chiang Rai, Tak and Phetchabun.

He also said that the CCSA will be asked to urge all state employees to work from home, where applicable and possible,and to seek cooperation from the private sector by doing the same.

Regarding Songkran activities, Dr. Taweesin said that religious activities or traditional rituals, such as the sprinkling of water on Buddha statues and paying respects to the elderly to seek their blessings, are possible on the condition that basic safety measures are observed, such as the wearing of face masks and social distancing.

The permitting of water splashing, concerts and similar activities, which bring people close together, is at the discretionof communicable disease committee in each province, he added.

The Public Health Ministry has also discussed the possibility of increasing the number of beds in university hospitals, in case there is a sudden spike in COVID-19 infections, he said.