All shopping malls in Thailand will close at 9pm until further notice, it was announced on Wednesday.

According to the Thai Retailers Association and Thai Shopping Centre Association, the early closure is aimed at helping to limit the spread of COVID-19.

The news comes as the government is considering implementing lockdowns in a several provinces, most notably in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Prachuap Khiri Khan, where cases have spiked.

Also on Wednesday, Thailand reported 1,335 new COVID-19 cases, the biggest daily rise since the start of the pandemic and the third record rise this week.

"The period after Songkran is a critical time to control the outbreak, if not we could see 10,000 to 20,000 cases per day," senior health official, Opas Karnkawinpong, told Reuters.

The government has also urged people to work from home for two weeks after the holidays.

Meanwhile, Dr Opas said inter-provincial travel should be discourage and that people planning to return home from Songkran should delay their trip and work remotely from their current location. 

 

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7 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

"The period after Songkran is a critical time to control the outbreak, if not we could see 10,000 to 20,000 cases per day," senior health official, Opas Karnkawinpong, told Reuters.

 

Wrong Mr Opas, the period right before Songkran was critical to control the outbreak, now the horse has bolted already

10 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Meanwhile, Dr Opas said inter-provincial travel should be discourage and that people planning to return home from Songkran should delay their trip and work remotely from their current location. 

 

Sure Mr Opas, they gonna put that Toyota together at their current location.

Another one who has lost the plot and doesn't quite see the entire picture.  Covid does not come out after 9pm it's around all day and all night and just takes a susceptible host to catch a ride on after being shedded from a carrier. 

1 minute ago, ThailandRyan said:

Another one who has lost the plot and doesn't quite see the entire picture.  Covid does not come out after 9pm it's around all day and all night and just takes a susceptible host to catch a ride on after being shedded from a carrier. 

 

Shopping malls are usually busier in the evening than during daytime.............................not taken in account the foreigners that go for the aircon

9 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Another one who has lost the plot and doesn't quite see the entire picture.  Covid does not come out after 9pm it's around all day and all night and just takes a susceptible host to catch a ride on after being shedded from a carrier. 

 

So you don't agree that limiting the hours where people can mingle and cough and sneeze on each other is a good idea? Yes, Covid is lurking on surfaces everywhere just waiting to be transported somewhere, but if nobody's touching them or spreading them around for a good twelve hours or so, where's the downside?

5 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

 

So you don't agree that limiting the hours where people can mingle and cough and sneeze on each other is a good idea? Yes, Covid is lurking on surfaces everywhere just waiting to be transported somewhere, but if nobody's touching them or spreading them around for a good twelve hours or so, where's the downside?

They are closing basically 1 hour earlier than normal.  Already many have not been opening until 11am, and they are fairly busy from after opening until the lunch crowd has filtered out.  With the heat now, its normal to see many hanging out inside all day long with their computers and phones trying to save on money from using their aircons and then of course hanging out where its cool for those living true Thai Style with just a fan room. Downside, well where to begin, but I wont because i could write a montage.  

1 minute ago, NanLaew said:

So you don't agree that limiting the hours where people can mingle and cough and sneeze on each other is a good idea? Yes, Covid is lurking on surfaces everywhere just waiting to be transported somewhere, but if nobody's touching them or spreading them around for a good twelve hours or so, where's the downside?

If you feel it's important, why not limit the hours to ZERO?

Just now, ThailandRyan said:

They are closing basically 1 hour earlier than normal.  Already many have not been opening until 11am, and they are fairly busy from after opening until the lunch crowd has filtered out.  With the heat now, its normal to see many hanging out inside all day long with their computers and phones trying to save on money from using their aircons and then of course hanging out where its cool for those living true Thai Style with just a fan room. Downside, well where to begin, but I wont because i could write a montage.  

I've never felt much need for air-con, happy enough in the open air with a fan.

Can't understand people who come to the tropics and don't like the heat.

12 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

 

So you don't agree that limiting the hours where people can mingle and cough and sneeze on each other is a good idea? Yes, Covid is lurking on surfaces everywhere just waiting to be transported somewhere, but if nobody's touching them or spreading them around for a good twelve hours or so, where's the downside?

Are you sure this will not make roughly the same number of people mingle over a shorter period of time thereby increasing the risk because of the density of the crowd?

 

34 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I've never felt much need for air-con, happy enough in the open air with a fan.

Can't understand people who come to the tropics and don't like the heat.

Most of those I see inside Brit are not foreigners but Thai's.  It also amazes me.  It is this time of the year when the humidity gets to me here in Bangkok along with the PM 2.5 and I can not open the sliders. That's why my electric bill goes up starting with my April bill and does not drop back down until around the August billing cycle.  I run the Aircon at 26 in the rooms I am in with a fan as well as the Air Purifiers. Night time, the AC is at 24 for a restful sleep.  The malls are to damned cold for me, always need to carry a heavy top with me to wear if I go to the mall.

lockdown incoming

57 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

 

So you don't agree that limiting the hours where people can mingle and cough and sneeze on each other is a good idea? Yes, Covid is lurking on surfaces everywhere just waiting to be transported somewhere, but if nobody's touching them or spreading them around for a good twelve hours or so, where's the downside?

 

It does the opposite. It limits the amount of hours people visit the mall, which means more people will visit the mall at the same time.

 

Logic.

most if not all close at 10pm anyways 

Also if a virus was truly deadly enough to impose tyrannical rule about shutting down private businesses, most people would not want to visit the mall in the first place.

 

 

What the heck does this do...most close at 22 or 23:00 right now?

1 minute ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

What the heck does this do...most close at 22 or 23:00 right now?

It will do sweet F.A. They were more or less empty at that in Phuket anyway so all they are doing is saving themselves some money.

1 hour ago, Susco said:

 

Shopping malls are usually busier in the evening than during daytime.............................not taken in account the foreigners that go for the aircon

Early evening yes...by 21:00 and later they're mostly empty. 

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

1 hour ago, NanLaew said:

So you don't agree that limiting the hours where people can mingle and cough and sneeze on each other is a good idea? Yes, Covid is lurking on surfaces everywhere just waiting to be transported somewhere, but if nobody's touching them or spreading them around for a good twelve hours or so, where's the downside?

If you feel it's important, why not limit the hours to ZERO?

It will become important again. I reckon before the end of the month we will see a 2 to 4 week general closure to halt this spread, just like several other countries have had to do.

25 minutes ago, Metapod said:

 

It does the opposite. It limits the amount of hours people visit the mall, which means more people will visit the mall at the same time.

 

Logic.

No it doesn't. More people decide that they don't really need the hassle or the increased risk and stay away from the mall completely. If takings were up on a shorter mall opening, they'd adopt shorter hours and close early all the time and save a fortune on utilities. But they aren't, so they won't and they don't.

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

I've never felt much need for air-con, happy enough in the open air with a fan.

Can't understand people who come to the tropics and don't like the heat.

Good for you. You can  perspire and be soggy to your heart's content. Not all of us walk around in flip flops, shorts and singlet.

For those of us who work,  temperature under 23C makes it more productive because we are comfortable. I like to sleep in cool room. Maybe you want to live life in Hades, but many of us do not. Enjoy the heat and if you are happy then you can enjoy.

2 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

All shopping malls in Thailand will close at 9pm until further notice, it was announced on Wednesday.

Ye Gods!

Will this make one iota of difference?

Anyone that has used a Thai mall in the later evening will know that they are usually so empty compared to their size that on occasion you would need use a megaphone to speak to the person in front of you, let alone being at risk of catching covid.

32 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Anyone that has used a Thai mall in the later evening will know that they are usually so empty compared to their size that on occasion you would need use a megaphone to speak to the person in front of you, let alone being at risk of catching covid.

Top floor in Maya shopping mall in CM is usually packed and busy in the evenings. They have entertainment and bars on that floor...so that is the reason.. I guess down of the malls in Bangkok are similar. 

Bangkok malls are still fairly busy - but not in the evening. 

 

By closing an hour early, you just force more people to squeeze in earlier. I suppose this could be warming everyone up for a curfew. 

5 hours ago, Susco said:

 

Shopping malls are usually busier in the evening than during daytime.............................not taken in account the foreigners that go for the aircon

If that's the case, customers will just go in earlier.... 

People are at the mall at 10 pm?

Had no idea I am usually sleeping.

9 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

All shopping malls in Thailand will close at 9pm

good idea

 

I love Thailand and especially the daily challenge of trying to work out the impossible - making sense of government 

 

I can work out how they have enriched themselves and that is quite easy when the gun holds more power than the brain

10 hours ago, Susco said:

 

Wrong Mr Opas, the period right before Songkran was critical to control the outbreak, now the horse has bolted already

 

Exactly. It shows how poorly educated their leaders often are. They don't understand cause and effect. 

 

The damage is already done. 

 

In about 2 weeks, the numbers will likely sharply increase. 

there is a suspicious virus activity after 9pm