Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports will seek cooperation from the private sector to cancel their Songkran celebrations if the rate of COVID-19 infections does not subside by the end of March.

Tourism and Sports Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn said today that the ministry has already scrapped all the Songkran activities in most provinces, due to concerns over the coronavirus threat.

The minister said that the tourism business would be even harder hit if the contagion does not slow down by June, with loss of revenues estimated at about 300 billion baht.

The Department of Health has issued a set of measures to prevent COVID-19 spread at government and private offices, restaurants and other eateries.

The department’s director-general, Dr. Panpimon Wipulakorn, said today that these premises and their equipment must cleaned on a regular basis, with door knobs, door handles, hand rails and switches, among others, being cleansed with disinfectant.

For restaurants, tables, chairs and kitchen ware, faucets and toilet seats must be cleansed with disinfectant.  Sanitizer gel must be made available at different locations within the premises.

Cleaners at the premises must be provided with protective gear, such as rubber gloves and face masks, by the owners.

The Thai embassy in Kuala Lumpur issued an announcement today, asking 132 Thai citizens, who attended a religious ceremony at the Sri Petaling Mosque in the Malaysian capital, to see a doctor at their closest hospital immediately for virus tests.

They were also advised not to venture out of their homes or lodgings until they are cleared of COVID-19.