Cram schools ordered shut

These private schools, 1,078 of which teach foreign languages, are also advised to sanitise their classrooms and facilities during this time and provide handwashing gel, protective masks and other equipment to students once they reopen.

The General Aptitude Test and the Professional Aptitude Test, scheduled for this weekend and next weekend, respectively, will still be given, said Education Minister Jurin Laksanawisit.

Students who miss the tests because they catch the disease will be excused and allowed to take the exams later if they can produce a doctor's note.

Those who miss the tests due to other illness will have their test fees refunded and be allowed to take them in the next round four months from now.

The Corrections Department has cancelled Visitors' Days at all prisons. Anyone wishing to visit an inmate for legal purposes or in special cases must first be tested for the typeA (H1N1) virus.

At present, a few inmates nationwide are in prison hospitals with colds and the common flu, but there have been no cases of this new flu reported within the prison population, said Dr John Lerwitworapong, director of the Corrections Department's central hospital.

The National Culture Commission is asking some 10,000 karaoke parlours and 49,000 game shops nationwide to sanitise their equipment and not to allow children or young adults inside.

Secretary General Chaweerat Kasetsoontorn said she would like to see them close voluntarily for 15 days, especially if any staff or customers were found to have contracted type A (H1N1).

In Chiang Mai, a man said he came down with the disease after visiting a gay sauna in Bangkok, said Natee Teerarojjanapongs, pres¬ident of the Gay Political Group of Thailand.

He called on saunaowners to screen clients before allowing them in.

The sauna in question is located in the Pattanakarn Road area, and many clients were coughing, Natee quoted the unnamed man as saying.

He said there were about 60 saunas for gay men in Bangkok, two in Khon Kaen and three in Chiang Mai.

In Kamphaeng Phet yesterday, the provincial culture and publichealth offices inspected local karaoke parlours and urged them to keep their doors open during their offservice hours, for better ventilation.

They also asked them not to serve young adults or any clients exhibiting flu or cold symptoms.