Restaurants gear up for possible reopening of food businesses as coronavirus preventive measures are expected to ease in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand.

Footage from Wednesday morning (April 29) shows kitchen staff cleaning their properties after almost a month of temporary shutdown.

Government officials have suggested that restaurants could begin to slowly open up again if diners follow social distancing rules.

The owner Chanita Hreanpracha said that many other restaurants are also preparing their establishments for reopening.

She said: "Cleaning is only part of our preparations. We will also place the tables further apart to prevent spreading coronavirus.

"Most of the restaurants in the province are ready to re-open even under the rules set by the government."

Meanwhile, strict measures will still be in place for markets including the use of plastic sheets and requiring customers and sellers to wear protection equipment to prevent the infection.