By Linda Khoo Hui Li
BANGKOK, April 16 (NNN-Bernama) — Thailand will not impose a nationwide lockdown or curfew amidst number of new COVID-19 cases hitting another record high Friday.
Over the last 24 hours, Thailand recorded 1,582 new COVID-19 cases marking a rising tide of cases over the week bringing the total number of infections in the kingdom to 39,038. However, the number of fatalities remain at 97.
To halt the spread of COVID-19 infections in the kingdom, Thailand will close educational institutions and nightspots as well as ban alcohol sales in restaurants for at least two weeks starting on Sunday.
Besides that, activities involving more than 50 people will be prohibited.
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan o-cha who chaired the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) meeting today approved the latest measures in containing COVID-19 in the kingdom
Meanwhile, CCSA spokesman Thaweesilp Wissanuyothin said the government has declared 18 provinces including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chonburi, Songkhla, Rayong and Khon Kaen as ‘maximum controlled area’ or red zone provinces while remaining 59 provinces as ‘controlled area’ (orange zone).
For all red zone provinces, he said all shopping malls and fitness centres must be closed by 9 pm and convenience stores, markets, supermarkets must be closed by 11pm.
“Restaurant in red zone provinces can open until 9pm for dine-in but for takeaway service until 11pm. For 59 orange zone provinces, restaurants can open for diners until 11pm,” he said at a press conference here today.
Thaweesilp urged the people to limit their movement and work from home in containing the spread of the virus.
The current outbreak is the largest since January last year. Thailand was hit by second outbreak in mid-December last year where it centred around a seafood market in Samut Sakhon.
Meanwhile, local media reported that a 38-year-old man in Tak provinces is the latest fatality reported in nightspot cluster in Bangkok. However, this will be included in tomorrow’s tally.
The man with underlying health conditions including high-blood and diabetes visited one of the entertainment outlet in the capital, a hotspot of the latest outbreak.
— NNN-BERNAMA