Thailand opens up and reports only 18 new coronavirus cases, no deaths

(Reuters) – Thailand’s new Covid-19 (coronavirus) cases rose to only 18 on Monday (May 4), after falling to single-digits for the past week, but the country reported no new deaths.

Monday’s report brought the total number of cases to 2,987 since the new virus was detected in Thailand in January, with a total of 54 deaths.

The new cases were migrants who were entering Thailand through an immigration checkpoint in the southern province of Songkhla, which shares a border with Malaysia, said Taweesin Wisanuyothin, a spokesman of the government’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration.

They were all being quarantined in an immigration detention centre, along with 42 cases found previously on April 25, Taweesin said.

On Monday, Thailand began easing restrictions on movement and gatherings, allowing restaurants, hair salons and open-air markets to resume business — provided that social distancing is maintained and proprietors carry out temperature checks.

Joggers and cyclists crowded into Bangkok’s public parks to exercise and enjoy the sun and open space after more than a month of closure.

Authorities also resumed selling alcohol after a three-week ban, though they warned that restrictions could be reinstated if it caused an increase of large gatherings.