Thailand’s New Year Holiday of Songkran officially began Tuesday without the typical countrywide water fights which had been banned due to a recent coronavirus outbreak.
“We hope you will comply with the health ministry’s guidelines which will not only protect yourselves but also members of your family and society,’’ Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said in a televised address on Tuesday.
Bangkok’s streets and areas such as Khaosan Road, which was typically packed with rowdy water fights, were empty on Tuesday due to the ban on water wars and large gatherings.
The restrictions follow a recent outbreak that has seen a record number of new coronavirus cases.
Nearly 1,000 new cases are being reported each day.
Officials reported 965 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday.
Thailand’s population of about 70 million has seen a total of 34,575 coronavirus cases and 97 deaths.
Pubs and sites known to have been visited by people who have contracted the coronavirus have been ordered to shut, but travel was still allowed.
Officials have expressed concern over a potential surge in cases during Songkran as many were expected to travel between provinces to visit friends and families over the week-long holiday.
The transport ministry said on Monday that the number of people using public transportation to travel has been about 30 per cent less than it had earlier estimated.