This is the moment a traditional Thai dance group performed separately in their homes on a Zoom call due to Covid-19.

Footage shows the dancers swaying individually in front of their cameras as the video call was shown on an LED screen at a festival in Udon Thani province on January 18.

They performed a ‘Ram Wong Sruang,’ a Buddhist worship dance while wearing colourful robes.

Weeks before the event, the provincial government gathered interested dance groups online to perform in the 128th Memorial Day of Udon Thani.

The selected groups were given access to the Zoom conference call so they could perform simultaneously while staying at home.

Passers-by were able to watch the groups dancing through the LED screen installed at the park as well as Facebook Live.

Siam Sirimongkol, Governor of Udon Thani Province, said the safety of the people is more important than any celebration.

He said: ‘We need to sacrifice now so we can enjoy doing our traditions in the future. Right now, our priority is to prevent Covid-19 from spreading.’

Covid-19 guidelines in Thailand prevents mass gatherings so dancing in groups during festivals have also been stopped.

The country has been praised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for its efficiency in keeping numbers though. However, some researchers suggest the climate around the Mekong Delta countries of Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia plays a part.

Thailand has recorded 12,594 Covid-19 infections and 70 deaths. A second wave started in mid-December when hundreds of Burmese migrant workers at a seafood market tested positive. Cases have since spread to more than 45 provinces and lead to lockdowns and mass closures of businesses in some regions.