Nightlife clusters expose virus stumbles

Praying for divine intervention: People praying at a temple to celebrate Thailand’s Buddhist New Year, known locally as Songkran, amid public safety restrictions on the festival due to the resurgence of the coronavirus. — AFP

When the country’s transport minister was recently diagnosed with Covid-19, it was Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha who got a headache.

Prayut was not particularly lauded for his leadership last year against the coronavirus, but for much of 2020 Thailand fought the disease to a standstill, with low infection and death rates that were envied by more developed countries.