From Coconuts Bangkok

City Hall announced late Thursday afternoon that it was canceling all official New Year’s events to combat the spread of COVID-19.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration said it was acting at the urging of the COVID-19 task force, which in turn cited WHO guidelines for the move, which comes as the disease’s so-called Omicron variant continues to spread.

Though only several dozen cases of Omicron have been confirmed, about 100 more suspected cases are being studied.

The city’s typical New Year’s Eve countdown events will not go forward, nor will a prayer pow wow planned outside City Hall.

Private parties may go on as planned but should comply with public health measures.

https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/bangkok-cancels-nye/

 

Another BS from scared politicians IMNSHO

From Bangkok Post

New Year countdown to stay

The private sector will still be allowed to host New Year countdown festivities under strict precautions while City Hall has decided to cancel all events it had planned to mark the New Year in Bangkok amid fears of a surge in Omicron cases.

National Security Council secretary-general Gen Supoj Malaniyom, in his capacity as head of operations at the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), said the CCSA is permitting the private sector to proceed with its plans but they must seek permission first.

City Hall's decision to cancel its activities has nothing to do with the CCSA's policy, Gen Supoj said.

At least two major New Year countdown parties remain on the calendar in Bangkok -- one at Iconsiam and the other at CentralWorld.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2236891/new-year-countdown-to-stay

13 hours ago, vinapu said:

Another BS from scared politicians IMNSHO

So I suppose you regard those running London, Paris, Rio, Edinburgh, New York, Athens, Rome, Berlin and a host of other major world cities also as culpable of BS!

Politician and BS are frequently used in the same sentence.....and not without cause.

Peter,

Your supposition is correct. I'm neither coronasceptic nor covid denier but omnipotence of governments went too far over this and I suspect we will regret our complacency one day.

when I pounded Pattaya,s pavements passing along literally hundreds of boarded up businesses and grand hotels closed down I couldn't escape thoughts that we are starving  and ruining lives of millions to save life of dozens.

When funeral directors are complaining about bad business in pandemic it is telling story.

 

With widespread vaccination for everyone who wants it and a probably milder variant in circulation, it's time governments move on from compulsion to allowing people to make their own decisions.

That's particularly true in Thailand, as it's irrational to close everything down for a cause of slightly premature death, whilst ignoring easy actions to prevent other causes of premature death.