Beginning April 26th, over 30 types of venues in Bangkok are to suspend services.
Bangkok is asking 31 types of venue to suspend or change their service hours or offerings starting Monday, April 26th for at least 14 days, after the capital registered 1,582 new patients from a total of 2,839 new cases registered nationwide on April 24th. A very long way from last year’s first wave where the highest daily infections was registered at 188.
With daily new patient numbers rising at such an alarming rate, the capital is asking venues, such as cinemas, theme parks, water parks, zoo, all entertainment venues, fitness center, sports stadiums, swimming pool, exhibitions, libraries, nursery, schools, clinics, parks, and recreational venues, to close.
Meanwhile, any gathering of 20 people or more, including, movie productions, television shows and religious activities are to stop, while shopping malls in red zones are asked to operate only from 11am to 8pm. Supermarkets and restaurants inside department stores can operate until 9pm and convenience stores open from 5am to 10pm.
Hair salons can still open, but only one customer will be allowed in the shop at a time.
44 other provinces have joined Bangkok in strengthening their measures, by imposing a fine of up to 20,000 baht on those failing to wear a mask when in public spaces, while Nonthaburi Province is now urging its residents not to leave home between 9pm and 4am.
Provincial governors has been given the powers to impose tougher measures, including targeted curfews to curb the spread of COVID-19 infections, under new guidelines to be issued by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Thailand reached a new record on April 24th, after registering 2,839 new cases and 8 deaths in one day. Currently, the cumulative number of infections, including today (April 25th) , since the initial outbreak last year, now stands at 55,460.
There are now 24,207 active cases with 507 patients in a critical condition, 138 of whom require ventilators, while the remainder have recovered.
The Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) revealed that bed capacity for COVID-19 patients is already over half full. If the daily new patient numbers stay at the current rate, however, will see the current available beds filled in a week or two, despite erection of new field hospitals.
Last year some countries needed to ask patients to recover at home, as medical facilities and personnel available reached maximum capacity. Thailand will soon experience the same, if the numbers continue to grow at this rate.
With worsening situation, despite not yet enforcing an economically damaging national lockdown, like last year, the government is asking the public to stay home, and work from home. Businesses are urged to get even more creative in delivering their products and services to customers, as well as greater use of e-commerce and delivery services.
