Border provinces asked to close or limit access

By THE NATION

 

 

The governors of border provinces have been asked to consider temporarily closing all permanent crossings in a move to slow the escalation of the Covid-19 situation.

 

 

Interior Ministry permanent secretary  Chatchai Promlert also suggested closing all areas where temporary access is permitted for the trade in goods.

 

Where crossings are essential, they should be limited to just one, he said.

 

Foreigners arriving via that single entry-point who have been to a high-risk locale will be quarantined at a designated facility and must cover their own costs.

 

Thais arriving under the same conditions will be asked to self-isolate for 14 days in their hometown.

 

Boxing fever continues to add to virus count

 

Chinese woman on spitting spree in public transport arrested

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30384521

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-03-21

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Covid-19: Most of Thailand’s land borders now closed

 

Image: Mae Sot border file photo

 

Thai media reported that Thailand's hand was largely being forced by authorities in bordering countries closing their frontiers in response to the coronavirus crisis.

 

Malaysia, Laos and Myanmar have all introduced restrictions of one kind or another and links between Thailand and Cambodia are becoming increasingly scrutinized.

 

Provincial governors of border crossings nationwide have been given special powers to close borders, with only one land border crossing per province permitted to stay open. 

 

In Chiang Rai only a main international crossing to both Laos and Myanmar was available for travellers, while the Mae Sot border will remain open.

 

Channel 7  said that foreigners visiting Laos would have to apply for a visa in Bangkok from March 20th to April 20th, while the Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge 1 in Nong Khai was a restricted point.

 

People moving between Thailand and Cambodia at Had Lek, Klong Yai, Trat were facing strict screening measures.

 

In Sa Kaeo, only the Aranyaprathet border crossing remains open.

 

In Kanchanaburi, the Phu Nam Ron border was also closed, as was the Sinkhorn checkpoint in Prachuap Khiri Khan.

 

In Ranong, the border with Ko Song (commonly referred to as the Andaman Club) was also closed after the provincial governor raised concerns that gamblers returning from the casino located at the club could increase the risk of COVID-19 spreading in the province.  

 

In southern Thailand, many of the border checkpoints were closed after the Malaysian government ordered border closures earlier this week.

 

Source: Channel 7

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-03-21

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

2 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Thai media reported that Thailand's hand was largely being forced by authorities in bordering countries closing their frontiers in response to the coronavirus crisis.

To quote a very apt comment which someone has since deleted:

"I used to be indecisive, now I'm not sure" - Prayuth March 2020

3 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Foreigners arriving via that single entry-point who have been to a high-risk locale will be quarantined at a designated facility and must cover their own costs.

lets  hope  rest  of  the  world  reciprocates

It's a bad Joke; they couldn't close an Umbrella !   The Borders are so long and porous that it is impossible to stop comings and goings unless they build a Trump style wall, and even then you would have the bent Immigration Officers taking Envelopes on the Gates !

What about the covid19 test within three days and the USD100k insurance policy?

7 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Covid-19: Most of Thailand’s land borders now closed

 

Image: Mae Sot border file photo

 

Thai media reported that Thailand's hand was largely being forced by authorities in bordering countries closing their frontiers in response to the coronavirus crisis.

 

Malaysia, Laos and Myanmar have all introduced restrictions of one kind or another and links between Thailand and Cambodia are becoming increasingly scrutinized.

 

Provincial governors of border crossings nationwide have been given special powers to close borders, with only one land border crossing per province permitted to stay open. 

 

In Chiang Rai only a main international crossing to both Laos and Myanmar was available for travellers, while the Mae Sot border will remain open.

 

Channel 7  said that foreigners visiting Laos would have to apply for a visa in Bangkok from March 20th to April 20th, while the Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge 1 in Nong Khai was a restricted point.

 

People moving between Thailand and Cambodia at Had Lek, Klong Yai, Trat were facing strict screening measures.

 

In Sa Kaeo, only the Aranyaprathet border crossing remains open.

 

In Kanchanaburi, the Phu Nam Ron border was also closed, as was the Sinkhorn checkpoint in Prachuap Khiri Khan.

 

In Ranong, the border with Ko Song (commonly referred to as the Andaman Club) was also closed after the provincial governor raised concerns that gamblers returning from the casino located at the club could increase the risk of COVID-19 spreading in the province.  

 

In southern Thailand, many of the border checkpoints were closed after the Malaysian government ordered border closures earlier this week.

 

Source: Channel 7

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-03-21

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

It's time for the Thai Government to allow Tourists to stay without extending Visas, as has already been suggested by The Tourist Authority.  Have now been waiting for three days for Immigration and the appropriate Deputy Minister to agree and publish the conditions.

More border crossings closed

 

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Ministry of the Interior has acted on an order from Prime Minister and Defense Minister, Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, to close border checkpoints by ending special trade posts and restricting permanent border crossings to only one per province.

 

The Ministry of the Interior has circulated an urgent memorandum to the governors of border provinces concerning the control of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The memo temporarily shuts down special trade posts, and restricts border crossings to only one per province. Crossings are to be properly manned in the interests of screening travelers.

 

People entering and exiting the nation at the first Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge crossing point in Nong Khai province have significantly dropped in number despite other crossings being suspended from March 20 to April 20. Those using the checkpoint must request a visa from the Laotian embassy in Bangkok or its office in Khon Kaen province as crossing cards will no longer be applicable from March 20, 2020.

 

Immigration officers have stepped up checks and screenings of border travelers using a thermal scanner in light of the COVID-19 situation.

 

Meanwhile, Myanmar’s decision to close its natural crossings and ferry piers has left docks along the Moei River on the Thai side noticeably quiet. Officials are nonetheless maintaining screenings at the entry point.

 

The Governor of Tak, Ansit Samphantharat, has ordered the first Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge to be closed, with only the second to be in operation to undertake screenings.

 

Source: http://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG200321113656443

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2020-03-21

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

The mind boggles, governors are quite obviously above the central government in Bangkok. In any other country the interior ministry informs the police, they then inform the immigration to execute an order. 

Can you imagine what kind of special deals are being swapped across those "restricted" borders? No dialogue takes place, despite ASEAN and AEC2015. 

8 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Provincial governors of border crossings nationwide have been given special powers to close borders, with only one land border crossing per province permitted to stay open

Makes sense under the circumstances... although hard for some people.

Tough decisions are never easy or welcome.

Begs the question about visa runs.  If you can get across a border do you then have to self isolate for a month on coming back in?  I know all you savvy ex-pats don't have to worry about such things but many do.

LOCKDOWN PLEASE...