Chiang Mai province is confident it can curb the spread of Covid-19, insisting that it will stage its New Year countdown celebration.

The Director of Public Health Promotion in Chiang Mai said the province will not ban New Year events due to the economic impact of doing so.


Organisers of all New Year celebrations are required to inform authorities of the activities they are planning, he said.

People from Samut Sakhon, a new hotspot of the virus, must be quarantined for 14 days once they arrive in Chiang Mai. No quarantine is required for visitors from other provinces, according to the director.


People in three sub-districts of Mae Ai, Malika and Tha Ton face travel restrictions after public health authorities found that a Covid-19 patient in Ayutthaya province had travelled from Tha Ton.

In Bangkok, governor Aswin Kwanmuang has announced measures to prevent and control Covid-19 in Bangkok.

Markets, public parks, temples as well as entertainment venues are required to comply with the measures effective until Jan 15, 2021. Covid-19 screening in the capital city is focused on migrant workers.

Samut Sakhon has enforced more stringent disease control measures until Jan 3, 2021. The central shrimp market and Si Muang dormitory, where a number of cases were found, have been completely sealed off.

Sport stadiums, playgrounds, academic institutions and nurseries in the province are temporarily closed. Restaurants are open for takeout only and convenience stores are closed between 10pm until 5am.