BANGKOK(NNT) – Each year in April, Thai people celebrate the Thai New Year or Songkran with world-famous water splashing events. This year however, many organizers have already cancelled their events to help reduce the risk of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 spreading among crowds of revellers.
In Bangkok, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has announced the cancellation of the main Songkran events on Khaosan Road, Silom Road, and Ratchaprasong intersection to help minimize the infection risk.
Other events where crowds of people normally gather are also cancelled, including the procession of the Phra Buddha Sihing statue, alms giving ceremonies, and other recreational activities.
City Hall has also asked private companies to cancel their events, which are normally held every year at Asiatique shopping center, Central World shopping center, and Siam Paragon shopping center. The general public is also asked not to come out and splash water, as this activity could potentially be favorable to the spread of this disease.
The Pattaya News notes however that officials stopped short of banning all water parties or wars from private individuals as they continue to say it would be unenforceable.
