Bangkok could be declared a COVID-19 red zone ahead of the Thai water festival next week after new clusters involving pubs and bars caused a sharp increase in infections in the Thai capital.
The Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) reported 334 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday (Apr 7), which included 216 patients from Bangkok alone.
On the same day, local media reported that transport minister Saksayam Chidchob has tested positive for the coronavirus.
Several cabinet ministers and dozens of lawmakers were also in self-isolation after coming into contact with patients of COVID-19. They include health minister Anutin Charnvirakul, education minister Treenuch Thienthong and deputy prime minister Wisanu Kreungam.
Several new clusters have been found in Bangkok’s pubs and bars, particularly in Wattana district. Between Mar 22 and Apr 6, CCSA reported 257 COVID-19 infections from this area, which houses a number of entertainment venues frequented by partygoers and musicians.
Besides Bangkok, more COVID-19 infections were also reported at entertainment venues in surrounding provinces such as Chonburi, Samut Prakarn, Suphan Buri and Nonthaburi.
Given the approaching water festival Songkran – Thailand’s public holidays which fall on Apr 12 to 15 this year – Thailand’s academic committee under the Communicable Disease Act of 2015 proposed that the Disease Control Department re-categorise different provinces into zones to reflect the level of COVID-19 control measures.
“The committee has considered the situation and determined that provinces where the communicable disease is gaining strength be categorised as red zones, especially when infections involve entertainment venues and a lot of travelling,” said director-general of the Disease Control Department Opas Kankawinpong on Monday.
The proposed red zones include Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakarn and Nakhon Pathom.
According to CCSA, the decision will be decided by the Public Health Ministry and the Interior Ministry.
“The Disease Control Department and the Public Health Ministry have expressed concern that entertainment venues could contribute to interprovincial transmission because once an entertainment venue has to close temporarily, its staff may need to find work elsewhere,” CCSA assistant spokesperson Apisamai Srirangsan said in a press conference on Wednesday.
“As a result, there has been a proposal to recategorise provinces and areas into different zones.”
She added that as of now, the recategorisation has yet to happen. “However, we’d like the public to closely follow developments because within the next few days, the Health Ministry and the Interior Ministry will discuss this issue in detail.”
