Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Governor Wichien Chantharanothai ordered the closure of a golf course in Pak Chong district today (Sunday), which is the location of the Big Mountain Concert Festival, scheduled to take place yesterday and today.

In his capacity as chairman of the provincial Communicable Diseases Committee, the governor issued an emergency order to close The Ocean Khao Yai golf course, for 24 hours from 2pm today, for health and safety reasons.

He explained in the order that the situation at the concert ground, where several stages were erected on Saturday night, isof serious health concern because many of the concert goers did not wear their face masks at all times, while many sang along with their favourite musicians.

He also said that the festival organizers were not complying with the restrictions, earlier agreed with provincial authorities,regarding the number of people attending the concert, which was capped at 50,000.

Violations of the closure order are liable to imprisonment of not more than one year and/or a maximum fine of 100,000.

Yutthana Boon-om, an organizer of the annual event, which is the year-end highlight of the festivities in this northeastern province, said that he will appeal the governor’s order to the Provincial Communicable Diseases Committee.

Earlier this morning, the Disease Control Department denied a report that one of the concert goers, a woman from Chiang Mai, was infected with COVID-19. The department said that the woman suffered from breathing difficulties and was aided by a respirator before she was taken to a hospital in the province, but she was not infected with the virus.