“People started registering on Tuesday [March 24] and we’re getting at least 1,000 a day on average,” said the office’s Ladda Saelee.

“And they’re not just Chiang Mai people, but also from other provinces.”

Registration can be done at a special centre opened in front of Chiang Mai city hall to protect people working at or visiting city hall from infection.

Bit laid-off workers are encouraged instead to register online or through the post, both avoiding the queues and adhering to the principle of social distancing.