New Year countdown events get the “okay,” but under strict health measures

Lockdowns, social distancing, face masks and lots and lots of hand sanitiser… this year has been different to say the least and counting down the last hours of 2020 will be different as well. New Year countdown events have been given the “okay,” but just as long as health safety measures are in place, according to Nattaphon Narkphanit who leads a Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration panel on health restrictions.

Nattaphon, who is also the secretary general of the National Security Council, says the New Year events need to be under strict health measures. After recent Covid-19 cases from those who illegally crossed the Thai-Myanmar border, evading the mandatory quarantine, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha told state agencies to step up precautions, according to a deputy government spokesperson Traisuree Taisaranakul.

So far, 11 people who worked in the Myanmar border town Tachileik tested positive for Covid-19 after entering Thailand illegally. Some travelled to other provinces like Chiang Mai and Bangkok. Since then, there have been 3 local transmissions related to the returnees. According to the spokesperson, Prayut advised health officials to use efficient contact tracing methods to track down people who may have been in contact with infected returnees.

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“The government is convinced that Covid-19 control measures are efficient enough to detect infections and prevent further transmissions. However, the public are urged not to lower their guard and to follow healthy safety measures such as wearing masks and washing hands regularly.”

SOURCE: Bangkok Post