Phuket internet cafes to be off line for two weeks

PHUKET CITY: Internet cafes throughout Thailand will be closed for two weeks following the death of a Phuket university student last week.

Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai has announced plans to close tutorial schools and Internet cafes nationwide in a bid to prevent the spread of the A(H1N1) virus that causes swine flu.

Schools and internet cafes will be asked to spend the two weeks thoroughly cleaning their computers to prevent them from becoming sources of infection.

The venues, which are usually crowded with young people, must close on Monday July 13 and remain closed until July 28.

Mr Witthaya and senior ministry officials at the Government House met with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to discuss the pandemic.

Deputy Public Health Minister Manit Nopamornbodi announced 290 more new cases of type-A (H1N1) influenza on Tuesday, bringing the official total of cases in Thailand past the 2,700 mark.

The vast majority have already been cured, but around 110 patients were still in hospital as of Tuesday.

There have also been 14 confirmed deaths from the disease, including the one case in Phuket.

For local reaction to the closure order, read the hard copy edition of the Gazette that hits newsstands on Saturday.