Ayutthaya cancels Songkran festivities
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Ayutthaya cancels Songkran festivities

Elephants join the water war with holidaymakers in Ayutthaya in 2018. The province calls off the activity this year due to the third round of the Covid-19 outbreak. (Bangok Post file photo)
Elephants join the water war with holidaymakers in Ayutthaya in 2018. The province calls off the activity this year due to the third round of the Covid-19 outbreak. (Bangok Post file photo)

AYUTTHAYA: All activities to mark the Songkran festival in this former capital city during April 13-15 have been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Panu Yaemsri, the provincial governor, issued an urgent announcement on Sunday to inform the public - particularly tourists - that the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)'s Ayutthaya office and the provincial Songkran committee had decided to cancel the elaborate activities planned to be held on Si Sanphet road.

The abrupt cancellation - just one day after the activities scheduled for April 13-15 were publicly announced - was necessary because the Covid-19 situation in Thailand was deteriorating, Mr Panu said.

In Ayutthaya, 21 new Covid-19 infections were found on Saturday afternoon, raising the provice's tally to 86. This led to the decision to cancel the Songkran activities.

The Ayutthaya Hospital on Saturday issued an announcement to prohibit visits to patients. Only one relative is allowed in the presence of each patient. Relatives are advised to visit patients via video calls instead.

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