Update: BMA on Monday afternoon approved the extension of the ban through April 30.

Congrats, y’all. You’ve made it to the last day of the Bangkok booze ban. Wait. Maybe not.

City Hall this afternoon will conclude whether it should extend its prohibition on alcohol sales in the capital from the initial 11 days ending today until the end of the month.

The ban was meant to reduce carousing-related gathering during the traditional Thai New Year period. After the capital ordered it on short notice April 9, nearly every other province nationwide followed suit. Many did so through the end of April.

The topic of reopening store liquor sections is on the agenda for today.

The rationale? Although a lower rate of COVID-19 infections has been detected in Bangkok, extending the ban would discourage its large population from acting “recklessly,” according to Chavin Sirinak, the top health official at the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

Health officials today reported 27 new cases but no additional fatalities. That brings the total to 2,792 confirmed infections and 47 deaths since the outbreak began, though testing remains limited.

Related:

Fear of a dry Bangkok sparks rabid run on liquor, critics slam ‘feeble’ gov’t logic

Booze now banned nationwide. Find out for how long in each province.

Bangkok bans sale of booze for 11 days

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