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Thailand’s ‘Hi-So’ elite blamed for new Covid-19 cases forcing closure of nightspots

  • New cases have been linked to Bangkok’s wealthy party scene including a VIP club popular with officials, with #CovidThonglor trending
  • Hospitals are scrambling as nightspot closures mean yet another stinging blow for businesses and workers

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Customers have a drink outside a bar in Bangkok on March 12. Photo: Bloomberg
Thailand is contending with a third wave of Covid-19 driven by a fast-spreading variant first identified in Britain after clusters were found across Bangkok’s wealthy party scene including at a VIP club allegedly popular with government officials.
Thailand recorded 559 new coronavirus infections on Friday and one more death, after several days of a climbing caseload initially linked to bars and clubs in the capital’s upmarket Thong Lor district was hastened by the travel movements of Bangkok’s wealthy set. The outbreak has now reached 20 provinces and forced nearly a third of cabinet ministers to self-isolate due to exposure to cases.

While the cases are small in comparison to nations from Brazil to the UK hammered by the virus, Thai authorities are desperate to avoid the double calamity of a public health crisis and economic ruin – the kingdom’s GDP slumped by 6.1 per cent last year.

But the Southeast Asian nation is braced for bad news, as several major Bangkok hospitals – including private facilities – took to Facebook to warn they had run out of testing kits and bed space prompting the government to scramble to set up field hospitals for the anticipated surge in cases.

Phuket – which has been rapidly vaccinating its population in a bid to reopen to foreign tourists – also faced a setback after around 10 cases were confirmed. The infections were mainly linked to partygoers at a dance music festival held last weekend.

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