Prayut: Calling in the armed forces
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed the armed forces and the national police to join hands with City Hall to arrange for more than 200 rapid deployment teams to carry out door-to-door testing for Covid-19 in the worst-hit parts of the city.
The move is aimed at finding and isolating infected people to curb soaring transmissions in the capital, according to an informed source.
The teams will be sent out across Bangkok and the surrounding provinces. These teams will go door to door to offer a free Covid-19 testing service to people.
Those who test positive for the disease and have significant symptoms will be immediately transferred to a field hospital, while their contacts who may risk contracting the virus from these new cases as well will be advised to isolate themselves and monitor their health, said the source.
Sweeping closures in city
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As a new wave of Covid infections bites, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has ordered the closure of all entertainment venues from Tuesday until Jan 4.
The order covers bars with hostesses, horseracing tracks and cockfighting arenas and other entertainment venues including massage parlours. However, pubs and restaurants can stay open as long as they serve only food and drinks, and close by midnight.
BMA spokesman Pongsakorn Kwanmuang on Monday advised entertainment venues to switch to serving only food and observe disease control measures.
Meanwhile, the governor of Samut Sakhon, the epicentre of Thailand s latest Covid-19 outbreak, has tested positive for the virus, as health authorities in Rayong reported its first coronavirus-related death.