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Thailand has introduced a series of new restrictions after the country’s first coronavirus death in nearly two months.
Gambling businesses in Bangkok will be closed, while bars, nightclubs and music venues in the capital will be forced to close at midnight until January 4.
It comes as the government tries to contain an outbreak that has reached more than half of the country’s provinces, and 144 new infections were confirmed on Monday.
Thailand confirmed 144 new infections on December 28
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said he was under two weeks of quarantine after being exposed to an infected provincial governor, while House Speaker Chuan Leekpai asked 29 members of the parliamentary staff to do so. tests after meeting someone who contracted the virus.
Thailand, the first country outside of China to report a coronavirus infection, has registered only 6,285 cases and 61 COVID-19 deaths, having controlled previous outbreaks.
Its success has been attributed to strict restrictions on inbound travel and quick tests and contact tracing.
Bangkok’s stricter measures follow similar regulations in some of the 43 provinces that have reported cases since a large outbreak was discovered among migrant workers at a seafood market in Samut Sakhon 11 days ago.
A group has been found in eastern Rayong province linked to a gambling den, with 92 infections in three days and one death.
Pongsakorn Kwanmuang, a spokesman for the Bangkok authorities, said that a field hospital would also be established in the capital and that restrictions would be reviewed next week.
The outbreak could hamper efforts to revive a crucial tourism industry ravaged by the pandemic as authorities ease some restrictions on foreigners and offer incentives to boost domestic travel.
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May 2020: Thai stores reopen with robots
And Thailand is not alone in its efforts to combat a worrisome new outbreak as 2020 draws to a close.
South Africa has banned all alcohol sales to help the country combat the surge in COVID-19 cases amid the spread of a new coronavirus variant.
President Cyril Ramaphosa says new infections are “increasing at an alarming and unprecedented rate,” and that new restrictions will be imposed from Tuesday until at least January 15:
- All indoor and outdoor events will be prohibited.
- Masks are mandatory in public spaces, with possible arrests, prosecutions, fines, and jail time for those who refuse to wear them.
- Curfew throughout the country from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., without anyone being able to leave their place of residence and non-essential establishments must close at 8:00 p.m.
- The sale of alcohol will not be allowed and it cannot be consumed in parks and beaches
The director of the World Health Organization has said that it is vital to intensify genomic sequencing around the world to ensure that new variants are detected when the pandemic enters its second year.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that “only if countries are searching and testing effectively, will he be able to detect variants and adjust strategies to cope.”
Vaccines started in Spain on Sunday, but now the country faces delivery delays
And in europe Spain faces a delay in a new delivery of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine, due to a “logistical problem” of Pfizer, said the minister of Health of the country.
Salvador Illa says that a temperature control problem during the vaccine loading and shipping process led to the incident, but the problem has now been resolved.
He said a new batch of the vaccine will now be delivered on Tuesday instead of Monday.
