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| BANGKOK, THAILAND – MARCH 14: Empty shopping street is seen as precaution against coronavirus (Covid-19) are taken in Bangkok,Thailand on March 14, 2020. ( İch Thanomsak – Anadolu Agency ) |
Thailand, the first country outside China to discover a case of the new coronavirus, on Wednesday reported no new daily cases for the first time in two months.
Taweesin Wisanuyothin, a spokesman for the government’s Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration, said the report made the government to consider easing more restrictions on businesses.
“We all can be relieved but not complacent.
“We need to continue with the main measures, wash hands, practice social distancing and wear masks,” Taweesin said.
Thailand detected its first coronavirus case, a tourist from China on Jan. 13.
Since then it has recorded a total of 3,017 infections and 56 deaths.
Taweesin said areas that were still most at risk included Bangkok and surrounding provinces, as well as southern Thailand, where there has been a large number of cases in the past two weeks.
Fuelling the rise in southern cases has been a cluster at an immigration detention centre in Songkhla province and in provinces bordering Malaysia.
Thailand’s neighbour to the south has had 6,742 coronavirus cases and 109 deaths.
The last day Thailand recorded no new cases was March 9, but within two weeks the daily numbers jumped to double digits and then to over 100 a day.
That sharp escalation prompted the government to order the closure of shopping malls, restaurants, gyms and other businesses and to impose a 10 p.m. curfew.
Recently, as the numbers of new cases fell, some of those restrictions were lifted, with businesses such as hair salons and pet groomers allowed to open.
Report says the government is considering reopening shopping malls next week.
It is, however, expected to meet on Friday to decide on the easing of measures.
