Crowds return to Bangkok bus stations as Thailand eases lockdown for public holiday

Thousands of Thais crowded bus stations and airports for the holiday getaway as the country eases COVID-19 restrictions.

Footage from the Mo Chit station in Bangkok shows the long queues stretching along walkways and into the station on July 24.

Thailand has a public holiday on Monday (July 27) for its reschedule Songkran New Year celebrations and on Tuesday (July 28) to mark the birthday of King Vajiralongkorn.

Many residents take advantage of the extended public holiday to return to the provinces or take vacations.

Ministers have eased coronavirus pandemic restrictions allowing citizens to travel around the country.

However, masks, social distancing and hand sanitizing measures remain in place and international tourists have been banned since March 22.

Thailand has not recorded any local transmissions of Covid-19 for two months - an impressive record that has to lead to the World Health Organisation (WHO) choosing it for a documentary.