Thailand bans large gatherings ahead of New Year to contain outbreak, Latest World News

BANGKOK: Thailand imposed a ban yesterday on large gatherings and events across the country in an effort to contain its worst coronavirus outbreak yet with active cases in over half of its provinces.

The authorities have asked the public to avoid travel and have imposed tighter control measures in some areas, including entertainment businesses. Targeted lockdowns have been imposed in some provincial districts ahead of the New Year.

The Health Ministry confirmed 250 new infections yesterday, among the largest number of confirmed daily cases since a big outbreak found nearly two weeks ago that was the country’s largest yet.

“Today’s figures made me nervous… what we don’t want to see is a second or third lockdown,” Covid-19 task force spokesman Taweesin Wisanuyothin told a briefing.

“If the situation can’t be controlled, rather than count down to the New Year, we may count up…