State of Bangkok with COVID-19

The city seems to be on a complete lockdown. The Coronavirus situation in Bangkok and Thailand looks like will take a while to get back to normal.

Jimmy

Updated Nov 5, 20265 min read

Key Takeaways

The short version, in 5 points.

Songkran was canceled, and the government banned the sale of alcohol for eleven days around the Thai New Year to slow the spread of the virus.
At the time of writing, Thailand had more than 2,500 confirmed coronavirus cases and 33 fatalities, and more than half were in Bangkok.
A state of emergency was in place with a 10pm to 4am curfew, and Thailand already bans alcohol sales from 2pm to 5pm.
Nana Plaza and Soi Cowboy looked dead, tourists were nowhere to be seen, and many girls were out of work or back in their villages.
The earlier report on mongering during the coronavirus scare should be disregarded now, so stay home and stay safe.

It has been a difficult month for me to do anything in Bangkok. This Bangkok coronavirus has literally disrupted so many businesses and things are taking too long to get back to normal. Girls are out of jobs or they have returned to their villages. Traffic on the streets is almost dead and tourists cannot be seen anywhere. The economic downpour this has brought is terrible and the weeks ahead don't look so great either.

Songkran Is Canceled

This may be the first time in my life that I do not know what to do in Bangkok. Additionally, with Songkran being canceled, there is nothing to do but wait till all this madness is over.

Songkran in Bangkok

No more wet girls in Bangkok since Songkran is canceled.

Recently, I heard that the Police and government officials in Bangkok banned the sale of alcohol for eleven days as an attempt to degrade the rate of spread for the COVID19 virus during the Thai New Year, or Songkran, which begins on Monday.

More than half the country's known coronavirus cases have been seen in Bangkok. Authorities in Chiang Mai, Phuket and several other provinces have also called for similar alcohol bans.

Bangkok Coronavirus Bans Alcohol

"The announcement prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages at all shops," says Bangkok Metropolitan Administration spokesman Pongsakorn Kwanmuang. "We ask that all of you cooperate with the laws of our government."

On Friday, Thailand had more than 2,500 confirmed coronavirus cases, with 33 fatalities. Thailand's issued a state of emergency last month in an effort to encourage social distancing and slow the spread of the COVID19 virus.

Nana Plaza looks Dead

Nana Plaza looks Dead

The decision to halt alcohol sales in Bangkok came ahead of what's usually a long holiday weekend to mark the beginning of Songkran. We all know that Songkran is normally a booze-soaked, day-long event that involves water fights and absolutely no social distancing. Songkran celebrations have officially been postponed this year in the neighboring country of Cambodia as well.

No Action at Soi Cowboy

No Action at Soi Cowboy

The ban on booze seems especially cruel to some, given the timing. Thailand normally prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. And under the state of emergency, there's a 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew. That meant anyone who wanted to stock up had just a few hours to do so. I saw a lot of people running around trying to make sure they have enough alcohol. The 7Elevens cant keeps up with the crowd.

Accidents Will Stop Due to Bangkok Coronavirus

There might be an upside to the alcohol ban, however. Fewer road fatalities have happened, which usually spike during Songkran, a period known informally as the "seven deadly days" for its high rate of inebriated driving. Thailand has one of the world's highest rates of road fatalities otherwise.

Bangkok Police

Bangkok police set up checkpoints everywhere.

Stay Home & Stay Safe

Personally, I am happy that things are controlled in Bangkok. I can't wait for this period to get over and start reporting back to you. Earlier, I had written about mongering in Bangkok with the outbreak of coronavirus in the air. That should be highly disregarded now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Songkran Canceled in Bangkok Because of Coronavirus?

Yes. Songkran was canceled in Bangkok, so there were no water fights or wet girls on the streets. Songkran is normally a booze-soaked, day-long event with no social distancing, and Cambodia also postponed its celebrations. At the time of writing, there was nothing to do but wait until the situation settled.

Did Bangkok Ban Alcohol During Songkran?

Yes. The police and government officials banned the sale of alcohol for eleven days around the Thai New Year, which begins on Monday, to slow the spread of the virus. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration said the announcement prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages at all shops. Chiang Mai, Phuket and other provinces called for similar bans.

How Many Coronavirus Cases Did Thailand Have When I Wrote My Report?

On the Friday I wrote, Thailand had more than 2,500 confirmed coronavirus cases, with 33 fatalities. More than half of the known cases were in Bangkok. A state of emergency was issued the month before to encourage social distancing and slow the spread. Figures have changed since, so check current official numbers.

Was There a Curfew in Bangkok During the Coronavirus Outbreak?

Yes. Under the state of emergency there was a 10pm to 4am curfew. Thailand also normally prohibits the sale of alcohol between 2pm and 5pm, so anyone who wanted to stock up before the Songkran ban had just a few hours to do so. I saw people running around the 7-Elevens trying to buy enough.

What Was Nana Plaza and Soi Cowboy Like During the Lockdown?

Dead. Nana Plaza looked empty and there was no action at Soi Cowboy. Traffic on the streets was almost dead, tourists could not be seen anywhere, and many girls were out of jobs or had returned to their villages. The economic damage was terrible, and the weeks ahead did not look great either.

Did the Alcohol Ban Reduce Road Deaths in Bangkok?

There might be an upside. Fewer road fatalities were reported, and they usually spike during Songkran, informally known as the seven deadly days because of the high rate of drink driving. Thailand has one of the world's highest rates of road fatalities, and police set up checkpoints everywhere during the lockdown.

Should I Go Mongering in Bangkok During the Lockdown?

No. I am happy that things are controlled, and my advice at the time was to stay home and stay safe. My earlier report on mongering during the coronavirus scare should be highly disregarded now. This is not medical advice, so follow official health guidance and wait for the situation to improve.

Which Other Provinces Called for Alcohol Bans During Songkran?

Authorities in Chiang Mai, Phuket and several other provinces also called for similar alcohol bans around Songkran. More than half of the country's known cases at the time were in Bangkok, which is why the capital moved first and announced that alcohol could not be sold at any shop.

State of Bangkok with COVID-19