Thais facing bleak New Year

Exodus home: Passengers waiting to board at Hua Lamphong Railway Station in Bangkok. The Songkran New Year holiday is when millions of people travel around the country and though the number of travellers has dropped considerably due to the current outbreak, there are still many sticking to their travel plans. — AP

AUTHORITIES struggled to contain a growing coronavirus outbreak just days before the country’s traditional Songkran New Year’s holiday, when millions of people travel.

Health officials reported 559 new infections on Friday, following increases over the previous two days. The government response has so far centred on closures of nightlife venues in 41 provinces for two weeks.