Update 5:15pm, Nov. 9: Gov’t spokesperson Traisulee Traisoranakul said Prayuth’s comments canceling Loy Kratong were “misunderstood,” and public agencies may host events so long as preventive health measures are in place. So now that that’s clear.
With COVID-19 still threatening to upend the return to prosperity, Thailand won’t risk Loy Krathong becoming a super-spreader event and today canceled the usual festivities.
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha put the kibosh on hosting traditional celebrations for the Nov. 19 event at this afternoon’s cabinet meeting, tourism minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn said afterward, due to the diminished-but-still-raging pandemic.
Still, committed observers floaters can loy, loy, loy their boats in local waterways without the usual pomp.
“We might not be able to host Loy Krathong this year, but people can still…
