Health officials this morning again cited alcohol consumption as the biggest cause for people to congregate despite the risk of coronavirus exposure and said many businesses are failing to follow the rules.
Announcing six additional infections but no more fatalities Monday, COVID-19 task force spokesman Taweesilp Wissanuyothin complained that a third of the roughly 18,000 businesses which have reopened have not fully followed the complex array of rules governing their operation.
“I’m glad people are trying, but please try harder,” Taweesilp said.
There’s clearly some desire to reimpose a publicly unpopular ban on alcohol sales that was in place for most of April. Taweesilp said carousing remained the No. 1 reason for people to gather but did not cite any evidence of alcohol-related infections.
Thailand has now reported 3,015 infections and 56 deaths since the outbreak began in January, despite limited testing that makes the actual number unknown. Daily case reports have fallen to the single digits since April 27.
The spokesman added some more details about further relaxed policies come May 17: Shopping malls and large department stores will be allowed to reopen except for theaters, fitness centers, bowling alleys and amulet markets they house.
He said that beauty salon patrons can now get their hair curled and colored, and nails painted, so long as it takes under two hours.
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