The start of Songkran, the traditional Thai New Year, also marks a celebration of family as most people take advantage of the long holiday to return home.
This should be a joyful occasion. For many, Songkran is probably their one chance each year to step away from work and the everyday grind to spend time with members of their family, friends and loved ones.
It is therefore unfortunate that we are heading towards yet another muted celebration this year.
Covid-19's Omicron wave is claiming more than a hundred lives a day at present and new cases remain high at around 20,000 per day, with another 10,000 positive antigen test kit results.
As some doctors noticed, the number of new infections could be higher in reality considering there must be many milder cases that have gone unreported as well as those who remained asymptomatic for the duration and did not test at all.
Omicron infections are expected to peak after Songkran, with the Public Health Ministry forecasting as many as 100,000 new cases a day.
All things considered, even that estimate appears conservative. That is why even those who choose to stay put during the break must remain vigilant to the heightened risk this time of the year poses.
Songkran is traditionally a time for people to enjoy familial activities and warmth.
However, as evidenced all over the world, it is often through families that the virus sweeps due to members' close contact with each other, which puts the onus on those visiting older relatives to take particular care.
Social distancing and rigorous hygiene are still recommended.
As much as it may feel awkward to remain at a safe distance from senior family members, it is better to be safe than sorry under the circumstances.
People of advanced age are more vulnerable when it comes to Covid-19 infections. Since many of them may not have received booster shots -- which have been given to only 35% of the population so far -- it would be best to keep them safe.
Do not forget that while the Omicron variant appears to cause milder symptoms, severe cases are still being reported, and the death toll is certainly not falling.
As new infections are expected to rise, so too will the demand for hospital beds and specialist medical equipment such as respirators.
There is a limit to the number of severe cases that the public health system and medical workers on the front line can handle.
Nobody wants to see another round of restrictions or lockdowns, and the infection rate during and immediately after Songkran could prove key in determining both the strictness of public health measures and the overall health of the economy for the rest of the year.
The only way to avoid a catastrophic scenario where the number of patients overwhelms the healthcare system and wreaks havoc on the economy is for everyone to maintain strict Covid-19 precautions even as they go about enjoying the Songkran holidays.
The five-day festival starts today. It is probably a more subdued Songkran but with strict adherence to Covid-19 measures, it can still be a happy and safe one.
