The authorities of Bangkok decreed from this Tuesday and for two weeks the closure of some 200 bars and entertainment venues in three districts after confirming an outbreak of coronavirus covid-19 linked to a number of leisure establishments.

The Thai capital saw a sudden increase in cases over the weekend after at least 45 customers who were recently in some bars in the central areas of Ekkamai and Thong Lor were infected with the virus.

Thailand It keeps the number of infected under control, which in recent weeks ranged from 20 to 60 a day, but this Monday the figure rose to about 200 cases.

The measures against the virus coincide with the celebration of the Buddhist New Year, the most important holiday on the Thai calendar, when tens of thousands of people return to their homes in other provinces or go on tourism throughout the country, although, as happened in 2020, the parties and big celebrations have been canceled.

The health emergency authorities will also propose to designate the entire city, where around 10.5 million people reside, along with four other neighboring provinces, as a “red zone” or maximum control, a decision that the committee must ratify on Wednesday designated to control covid-19 in the country.

If accepted, all the bars and restaurants in the capital and the other “red zones” will be forced to close at 9:00 p.m. and will not be able to serve alcoholic beverages in their establishments.

Educational campuses, shopping centers and other businesses, for their part, may operate normally, but under strict health and safety protocols.

In previous outbreaks of the virus, Thai health authorities had already implemented measures against nightlife venues, such as a dry law that lasted for weeks at the start of the pandemic.

Since January, when Thailand detected the first covid-19 infected in the country, a total of 29,321 cases have been confirmed, including 95 deaths.

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