webfact Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 Songkran and Covid-19: Water festival to go ahead, despite being terrible for spread of virus The Department of Public Health has warned the government that the upcoming Songkran festival due to be held next month could be disastrous for efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus/Covid-19. The festival - something that has become a national free-for-all water fight in recent years - can't just be cancelled, said officials at a meeting of top level ministers. This is because Songkran is a "People's Festival" celebrated nationwide. On Tuesday, Tourism Authority of Thailand chief Yuthasak Supasorn said at this moment in time, the Songkran festival will go ahead as planned, although some events might be scaled back, while organisers may cancel some events of their own accord. As well as the coronavirus, the severe drought that Thailand is facing may also impact Songkran celebrations, Mr Yuthasak said. The close proximity of people with physical contact could provide a perfect chance for the virus to spread. PM's office minister Tewan Liptaphallop said that the government was "very concerned" for people's health at Songkran and during other events due to be held in April and May. The health department has therefore been ordered to come up with guidelines for the people about how to celebrate Songkran this year. The meeting at the end of last week heard that future developments in the crisis could not be accurately predicted. If things got worse major events may need to be cancelled and for now it was better not to organize much and adopt a wait and see approach. One event that could be chopped is a large merit making gathering at Sanam Luang. An alternative could be to arrange smaller events at government department offices instead. Other events are also due to be held in April and May and these too will need to be assessed as to how they proceed. The Thai MotoGP, Bangkok Motor Show and the Thai football league have all been postponed due to the coronavirus. -- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-03-04 Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info 1 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Just1Voice Posted March 4, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted March 4, 2020 My feeling, and I hope I am wrong, is that Songkran will cause an explosion of Corona virus cases nation wide. It could turn out to be a medical disaster. 52 1 2 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jingthing Posted March 4, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted March 4, 2020 Both shocking and expected. Short sighted Business interests over basic common sense. 56 1 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post colinneil Posted March 4, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted March 4, 2020 Tewan said, the government was very concerned for peoples health during songkran !! Absolute boll+++s, they dont give a rats a++e about anyone other than themselves. 63 2 9 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post lemonjelly Posted March 4, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted March 4, 2020 (edited) We’re facing the most serious bio crisis in living memory and policies to control the outbreak are being heavily influenced by the department of tourism !!! Edited March 4, 2020 by lemonjelly 44 3 4 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Wiggy Posted March 4, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted March 4, 2020 Of course it's going ahead; nothing can get in the way of 'sanook.' 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Saint Nick Posted March 4, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted March 4, 2020 COVID19 would be the ONLY reason, that I would accept,cancelling Sogkhran! But that will - of course- never happen! $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ ad nauseum... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post spiekerjozef Posted March 4, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted March 4, 2020 The water will flush the virus away... 1 23 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post spiekerjozef Posted March 4, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted March 4, 2020 It's more then 5 weeks from now, all the Chinese will be back by then. 1 2 1 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post bluesofa Posted March 4, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted March 4, 2020 5 minutes ago, spiekerjozef said: It's more then 5 weeks from now, all the Chinese will be back by then. Are you saying that Covid-19 will accelerate to Warp Factor 10 when that happens? 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Dmaxdan Posted March 4, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted March 4, 2020 I always stock up with groceries and stay at home. At least now I have a legitimate excuse for being a miserable old git. 23 6 30 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odin Norway Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 17 minutes ago, spiekerjozef said: It's more then 5 weeks from now, all the Chinese will be back by then. Lots of things can happen in 5 weeks.But all the water must be gone for song kran to be cancelled 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Curt1591 Posted March 4, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted March 4, 2020 1 hour ago, webfact said: The health department has therefore been ordered to come up with guidelines for the people about how to celebrate Songkran this year. Yes. And once these guidelines are announced, the Thai people will follow them, just as they have all the previous Songkran guidelines. 7 18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Ian Nagle Posted March 4, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted March 4, 2020 (edited) 'The People's Festival' 55+ If EVER there was an extreeme damning indictment that 'Money Number 1 in Thailand' this, surely is it. Edited March 4, 2020 by Ian Nagle 15 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Ian Nagle Posted March 4, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted March 4, 2020 19 minutes ago, Dmaxdan said: I always stock up with groceries and stay at home. At least now I have a legitimate excuse for being a miserable old git. I absolutly detest Songram. I hate the farangs who come here and ruin it. Chiang Mai is a nightmare at this time. 23 1 8 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post FarFlungFalang Posted March 4, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted March 4, 2020 1 hour ago, lemonjelly said: We’re facing the most serious bio crisis in living memory and policies to control the outbreak are being heavily influenced by the department of tourism !!! Sounds quite dramatic.I think it's just a part of the evolutionary process.Less dramatic I know but there you have it. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post baansgr Posted March 4, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted March 4, 2020 Having not taken part in this s h I t sharade for over ten years...surprised anyone Thai or Foreign can enjoy it anymore... 3 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatOngo Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 Chaiyo! ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CraigInBangkok Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 1 hour ago, webfact said: On Tuesday, Tourism Authority of Thailand chief Yuthasak Supasorn said at this moment in time, the Songkran festival will go ahead as planned lets see what happens eh? As much as I am not a fan, I think they'd be stupid to cancel it 5 weeks before it happens 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post trainman34014 Posted March 4, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted March 4, 2020 50 minutes ago, Dmaxdan said: I always stock up with groceries and stay at home. At least now I have a legitimate excuse for being a miserable old git. Ditto; never go anywhere near the mindless mess they call 'fun' ! 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Saint Nick Posted March 4, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted March 4, 2020 38 minutes ago, baansgr said: Having not taken part in this s h I t sharade for over ten years...surprised anyone Thai or Foreign can enjoy it anymore... I am 52 and still enjoy at least the first day! It's happy, it's wild, it's crazy and mostly friendly! After that...not so much,but I let people be people and stay home. enjoying the hot weather at the pool of my condo! This year, I will skip all of it, because I don't think, being cramped with hundreds of people in a humid and hot place will do much to keep that virus at bay! 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingstonkid Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 This is probably the most sane thing the government has done. You can not cancel Songkran it is an important holiday for families and religion. You can not tell people THOU SHALL NOT SPRAY WATER How can they stop people from doing it? This is just like telling kids that they can not throw snowballs. People are going to do it anyway. Imagine when the MLB starts in April the government telling Yankees fans not to go to the games/ The only thing they can do is restrict where they can and ask the businesses to be smart. Central could not have anything at their locations to celebrate it. Do NOT close streets like Silom leave it all open. The average Thai person is aware of what is happening. Yes there are those that will want to be stupid and party their ass off. Most of the youth understand this is serious. Most tourists we know are staying away from Thailand. 2 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ChiangmaiRob Posted March 4, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted March 4, 2020 Welcome to Songkran ... the worlds biggest Covid-19 petri dish! ???????????????????????? ????????♂️ 3 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post legend49 Posted March 4, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted March 4, 2020 Reap what you sow. Two reasons it should be cancelled; first one has been explained re Coronavirus. Second one is the drought, every drop of potable water should be treasured not wasted in stupid water fights. Dumb and dumber! 10 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legend49 Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 1 hour ago, CraigInBangkok said: lets see what happens eh? As much as I am not a fan, I think they'd be stupid to cancel it 5 weeks before it happens Go and look up the word " think" in the dictionary. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickymouse1 Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 My advice is, use holy water during songkran. 55555 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post RichardColeman Posted March 4, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted March 4, 2020 2 hours ago, webfact said: The Department of Public Health has warned the government that the upcoming Songkran festival due to be held next month could be disastrous for efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus/Covid-19. On Tuesday, Tourism Authority of Thailand chief Yuthasak Supasorn said at this moment in time, the Songkran festival will go ahead as planned And there we have it. The tourist board over-riding the health board. Absolute nutters 9 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katipo Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 It will go ahead. But large parties and gathering will be cancelled. i.e. I would say the festivals in Pattaya, Khao San, and Silom will be cancelled. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedrogaz Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 More quality leadership from the junta. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Sheryl Posted March 4, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted March 4, 2020 never mind COVID, I am worried about how it will affect the drought. Water pressure in my area has already slowed to a trickle, have had to stop watering the vegetable garden and everything is dying as a result. I shudder to imagine what will happen during and after Songkran. 7 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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