Restaurants re-opened in Thailand this week after industry pressure during the recent flare-up in Covid-19 cases across the country.

The food businesses had been shuttered last month following an outbreak of infections in the capital Bangkok which quickly spread across the country.

However, restaurant industry leaders - still reeling from more than 14 months without international tourists - successfully lobbied the government to re-open the venues.

Ministers ruled that from Monday (May 17) restaurants are allowed to open until 9pm each day as long as they operate at 25 per cent capacity and following social distancing rules.

Footage from the Silom and Patpong area of the city shows how locals quickly returned to restaurants to took into their favourite meals.

Thailand recorded 2,473 new Covid-19 cases today (May 18) and 35 deaths, taking the total number of infections recording since the pandemic began to 113,555 with 649 dead.