A kind-hearted Thai chef supported medical staff battling the Covid-19 pandemic by cooking them food.

Papassorn Na Chiangmai and his wife Papaspim Phattarakorn prepared 200 sets of sticky rice with fried pork and chill paste on Wednesday (March 25) afternoon for the medical staff and workers who have been laid-off.

Many business in Thailand have closed down amid the economic downturn while doctors and nurses have been dealing a surge in patients due to the spread of Covid-19 in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand.

The couple wanted to boost the morale of those affected by the pandemic.

The chef said: "Cooking food is the best thing that I can do to show my support towards the both medical staff and jobless workers.

"The pandemic has caused many people to suffer, whether they have lost their job or they are medical staff who have to work around the clock. I want to show how much they are appreciated and to encourage them to keep going.''

Thailand has declared 1,045 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and four deaths since the outbreak began.

Measures to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic have been introduced including a travel ban on tourists and the closure of thousands of businesses.

The Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said the country would be placed under a state of emergency from March 26 onwards as curfews and the ban on movements between provinces are considered.

Government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek has also warned that the virus is now also spreading in provinces outside the capital.