Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt yesterday insisted on holding more public events aimed at boosting the economy, saying they are not to blame for the rise in new Covid-19 infections.
He was responding to concerns raised by the Ministry of Public Health over the risks posed by City Hall's launch of an outdoor film festival in the city.
"If there is a sound reason for us to call off these activities, we will be more than happy to stop… but to cancel without any good reason will only make people panic," the governor said.
"As for now, since there has not been any clear indication that we should stop, we will stick to our plan," he said.
Outdoor activities draw people away from closed spaces such as shopping malls where the risk of Covid-19 spreading is possibly higher, he added.
Nevertheless, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will heed advice by health authorities and heighten Covid-19 screening, including administering antigen tests, at its next activity, an orchestral contest which is to be held in an enclosed area.
Other measures the BMA yesterday resolved to adopt include pro-active testing at schools to cut the risk of students passing the virus onto family members, he said.
Booster shots will also be offered within communities for at-risk groups, including the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions, he said.
Mr Chadchart yesterday did not attend the Public Health Ministry's emergency meeting where he was expected to be asked to scale back public activities, claiming not to have been formally requested to attend in person by the ministry. Dr Wantanee Wattana, a deputy city clerk, attended in his place.
Dr Wantanee insisted that all the BMA's activities are being held in line with the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration's regulations, although she hoped the declining number of new infections might see them relaxed in favour of a better balance between public health security and economic growth.
"We have strictly followed the ministry's guidance, and have not found any clusters arising from such activities. If it happens, we will suspend or cancel the activities immediately," she said.
