Bangkok schools closed for 12 days to contain outbreak

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) on Wednesday ordered all 437 schools and 299 kindergartens under its jurisdiction to close for 12 days from tomorrow to contain the latest Covid-19 outbreak. 
The order comes after the Communicable Disease Committee (CDC) announced 10 measures to prevent the virus from spreading in crowded areas such as entertainment venues, markets and boxing stadiums, said BMA spokesperson Pongsakorn Kwanmuang.
The BMA is conducting Covid-19 tests at 478 markets in the capital, following an outbreak at a wholesale prawn market just 45 kilometres south of Bangkok in Samut Sakhon. Testing at about 100 Bangkok markets had so far been completed, Pongsakorn said.
"We only have four weeks to control the disease. Global statics show that 88 per cent of outbreaks spread to become more severe. But if we can control [the Samut Sakhon outbreak] in four weeks, we may join the 12 per cent that snuffed out the threat. Hence the meeting passed a resolution that 437 BMA-run schools and 299 child centres will be closed for 12 days to reduce social mixing, starting from 24 December”, he said.
He also advised government and private sector staff to work from home during the 12 days.