Songkran officially postponed

Anything and everything about Thailand
Post Reply
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21462
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1306 times

Songkran officially postponed

Post by Gaybutton »

At the time of this post, this is breaking news. When more information becomes available it will be posted.
____________________________________________________________________________________________

Songkran holiday officially postponed nationwide due to Covid-19 Coronavirus pending cabinet approval

By Adam Judd

March 16, 2020

In an unprecedented and historic decision, Rachada Tanadirek, a Thai government spokesperson, has stated this afternoon on her Twitter account that the Thai government and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha have resolved to officially postpone and move the Thai New Year, scheduled for April 13-15 due to the Covid-19 Coronavirus threat. It is worth noting that final cabinet approval will be needed for this.

This is being done to ensure that hundreds of thousands of people do not go home for the holiday, as they traditionally do, and to increase social distance. It is also meant to ensure there is not a large amount of people travelling in and out of the country. Songkran is traditionally the longest single holiday of the year in Thailand, similar to Christmas week in the west and for most Thais who come from the rural parts of the country but go to work in Pattaya, Bangkok, Phuket and other large cities it is the only time of the year they get to go home to visit families.

For context to a Western reader, this would be like moving Christmas week to a different date for the year, a historic decision.

Previously, nearly every Official Songkran event in the country had been cancelled except religious ceremonies, which includes the normal huge water wars and festivals that bring millions of tourists and bring out hundreds of thousands of domestic Thais to party. However, as fears grow on domestic transmissions and because the rural part of Thailand has the largest vulnerable elderly population, delaying the entire festival is now taking place.

The exact details on what this means and when the festival will be rescheduled have not been released.

This is a developing story and may be updated with no notice as the Thai Government gives further details.

https://thepattayanews.com/2020/03/16/s ... ronavirus/
_________________________________________________________________________________

Songkran to be postponed, venues and schools closed

16 Mar 2020

The government said it plans to temporarily close venues that attract crowds of more than 50 people and postpone the traditional Songkran New Year holiday, as part of efforts to prevent a widespread outbreak of the new coronavirus.

Universities will be shut and courses moved online, Ratchada Thanadirek, a government spokesperson, said on Monday. The holiday will no longer fall on April 13 to April 15, but new dates weren’t announced.

The plan calls for the closing of universities, schools, international schools, boxing arenas, cock fighting arenas, bars and theatres nationwide to curb the spread of the coronavirus outbreak. The government will submit the proposal to the Cabinet on Tuesday, Ms Ratchada said.

Thailand on Sunday reported its biggest daily spike in cases of the disease known as Covid-19, stoking fears that it’s on the cusp of a larger outbreak. They jumped by 32 to 114, with many others being tested for suspected infections.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... ols-closed
____________________________________________________________________________

Songkran holidays to be postponed in attempt to 'limit public movement'

Mar 16. 2020

A meeting of the Covid-19 Administration Centre, chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, approved a motion to postpone the Songkran holidays from April 13-15 to later dates, deputy government spokeswoman Rachada Thanadirek said on her Twitter account today (March 16).

Ratchada said the meeting cited the reason of “increasing social distance” and “minimising public movement both domestically and internationally”.

“The compensating holidays will be announced later,” she added.

A news source from the centre also revealed that it would by next week present to the Cabinet a motion to have all entertainment venues close at 8pm and all universities close their campuses and provide online classes starting April 1 until the situation improves.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30384184
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21462
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1306 times

Re: Songkran officially postponed

Post by Gaybutton »

Undaunted will definitely need another one of these:

Image
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21462
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1306 times

Re: Songkran officially postponed

Post by Gaybutton »

Thai Government proposing three primary measures for control of Covid-19 Coronavirus

An accurate report from this afternoons government press conference

By Adam Judd

March 16, 2020

Three measures have been proposed and were discussed this afternoon by the Deputy Government Spokesperson, Ratchada Tanadirek, to help control any potential outbreak of the Covid-19 Coronavirus in Thailand. Additionally, the measures were discussed in further detail at a press conference at 3:45PM this afternoon by Wissanu Kruagnam, A Deputy Prime Minister.

1. Postponing Songkran in April to later in the year, including moving the entire holiday to prevent a large migration of people going home. This is awaiting final cabinet approval and highly likely to be approved. The Prime Minister of Thailand has already given his blessing on this action.

2. Closing of Universities and schools. This is a proposal and needs to be further discussed by the Thai Cabinet and Thai leadership. Many have already been temporarily or voluntarily closed, but there have been no mandatory orders at this time.

3. Closure of places such as boxing stadiums, sports stadiums, cinemas, pubs, chicken fighting arenas,etc. with more than fifty people. Contrary to some other press reports, there was nothing discussed about a mandatory or country wide closure of all venues. This is also a proposal and being discussed. If it goes through, it would be temporary and involve cleaning of the venues as well. Venues such as bars who have less than 50 people would not be affected by the proposal.

It was noted that several nightclubs had already voluntarily closed in Bangkok and some venues had been closed due to suspected and confirmed cases of Covid-19, such as the recent cases that came from a boxing match at a boxing stadium in Bangkok.

Restaurants, Bars, cafes, etc who have less than fifty people or control the number of patrons can remain open under the proposals but must ensure they are using proper hygiene standards, providing hand sanitizer for customers and prohibiting guests who show signs of illness from entering. Checking guests temperatures was also highly suggested.

The Pattaya News notes that some press has incorrectly stated that all venues were proposed to be closed, this is incorrect. There was also no proposal about curfews or specific closing times, these were speculation and early rumors.

At this time, there are no further announcements on border closings or restrictions for coming to the country as with the heavily reduced travel authorities feel they can accurately screen and track arrivals at this time. Seventeen of today’s confirmed cases of the Covid19-Coronavirus were recent foreign arrivals caught through screening, officials from the Public Health Ministry stated.

The proposals above will be discussed over the next few days and looked at based on how the situation continues to develop in the country.

https://thepattayanews.com/2020/03/16/t ... onference/
User avatar
Undaunted
Posts: 2567
Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2016 8:47 am
Has thanked: 23 times
Been thanked: 368 times

Re: Songkran officially postponed

Post by Undaunted »

Gaybutton wrote: Mon Mar 16, 2020 4:52 pm Undaunted will definitely need another one of these:

Image
Actually, I am thrilled it won’t happen as planned, however I am far less thrilled for the reason.
"In the land of the blind the one eyed man is king"
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21462
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1306 times

Re: Songkran officially postponed

Post by Gaybutton »

As expected, the Thai cabinet has made it official.
___________________________________________

Cabinet approves plans to close schools, postpone Songkran

17 Mar 2020

The cabinet on Tuesday approved plans to postpone next month's Songkran New Year holiday and to close schools to limit the spread of the coronavirus, a government spokeswoman said.

The approvals followed a series of plans announced on Monday to close schools, bars, movie theatres, cockfighting arenas and other entertainment centres as well as postpone the Thai New Year holiday, which falls between April 13 to 15.

"The cabinet approved that the Songkran holiday be postponed and schools closed," Ratchada Thanadirek, the government's deputy spokeswoman, told Reuters.

She added that closures of entertainment venues would be up to the discretion of each provincial governors, adding that more details would be available later.

Schools and universities will be closed for two weeks from Wednesday, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said in a briefing on Tuesday.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... e-songkran
User avatar
2lz2p
Posts: 957
Joined: Sun Aug 01, 2010 8:08 am
Location: Pattaya, Thailand (Jomtien)
Has thanked: 148 times
Been thanked: 108 times

Re: Songkran officially postponed

Post by 2lz2p »

Bank of Thailand has now informed banks to cancel their Songkran holidays.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30384330
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21462
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1306 times

Re: Songkran officially postponed

Post by Gaybutton »

Does anyone know whether immigration will be open during the April days?
User avatar
2lz2p
Posts: 957
Joined: Sun Aug 01, 2010 8:08 am
Location: Pattaya, Thailand (Jomtien)
Has thanked: 148 times
Been thanked: 108 times

Re: Songkran officially postponed

Post by 2lz2p »

Gaybutton wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2020 12:59 pm Does anyone know whether immigration will be open during the April days?
Can't say with absolute certainty, but since the official Songkran Government holidays have been canceled, then most likely Immigration will not be closed on those days (April 13 - 15 if I recall correctly).
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21462
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1306 times

Re: Songkran officially postponed

Post by Gaybutton »

2lz2p wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2020 4:38 pm Can't say with absolute certainty
Thank you, but I think we need to know with absolute certainty, not guesses. If anyone is going to immigration, please ask and let us know.
Post Reply