More provinces shutter public outlets to create social distance amid Covid-19 threat

[Jonathan Fairfield]

More provinces shutter public outlets to create social distance amid Covid-19 threat

 

 

After Bangkok announced the closing of 26 different locations in Bangkok from March 22 to April 12, to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic, five neighbouring provinces -- Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani -- followed the capital with the same measures.

 

Besides schools and colleges, malls with the exception of supermarkets and pharmacies, will remain closed among numerous other retail and service businesses.

 

Meanwhile, provinces in different regions have also announced lockdowns to prevent the outbreak of Covid-19.

 

Chiang Mai has closed from March 19 to April 1 spa shops, health massage parlours, beauty salons, karaoke shops, game centres, fitness centres, theatres, playgrounds in malls, and walking street. It has also closed the boxing stadium, race course and chicken fighting stadium.

 

Chiang Rai has ordered the closure of some locations, from March 21 to April 3. They include spa shops, health massage parlours, beauty salons, karaoke shops, game centres, fitness centres, theatres, playgrounds in malls, and walking street plus boxing stadium, horse race course and chicken fighting stadium.

 

In addition, people have been told to avoid organising activities that include a large number of people; not more than 100 people can participate in an activity, or if there is a need to arrange the activities, people must sit not less than a metre apart.

 

Songkhla has closed some locations from March 20 to April 2. They include spa shops, health massage parlours, beauty salons, karaoke shops, game centres, fitness centres, theatres, and walking street. In addition, boxing stadium, horse race course, chicken fighting stadium, playgrounds, sports stadium and pool venues will be closed.

Government agencies have to cancel or postpone activities that involve a lot of people, such as sporting events, traditional activities, or activities with 50 or more participants.

 

The private sector must strictly screen people before they enter service places such as department stores, markets or petrol stations by taking their temperature and offering hand sanitiser.

 

Colleges, schools and tutorials must switch to online learning.

 

Phitsanulok has closed some locations from March 20 to April 2. They include spa shops, health massage parlours, beauty salons, karaoke shops, game centres, fitness centres, theatres, pubs, educational institutions, colleges, both public and private schools, and cram schools. Also closed are: boxing stadium, horse racetrack, chicken fighting stadium, sports stadium and pool venues.

 

Locals have been told to refrain from organising activities that include a large number of people unless it is an important activity and complies with the measures prescribed by Phitsanulok province.

 

The private sector has to ensure strict screening of people before they enter service places such as department store, market, or petrol station by checking the temperature and providing hand sanitiser

 

Locals must avoid activities that would make people move across the province.

 

Ranong has temporarily closed some locations from March 20 to April 2. They include spa shops, health massage parlours, beauty salons, karaoke shops, game centres, fitness centres, theatres, pubs, educational institutions, sports stadium, boxing stadium, and theatre.

 

The use of border crossings for movement of people, vehicles and goods along the border of Ranong province has been suspended except at the permanent crossing point of Ranong-Koh Song island in the area of the fish market pier.

 

Ratchaburi has temporarily closed some locations from March 20 to April 2. They include spa shops, beauty salons, karaoke shops, game centres, fitness centres, theatres, and pubs. In addition, boxing stadium, horse racing track, chicken fighting stadium, sports stadium, educational institutions, colleges, both public and private schools, and cram schools, department stores, fresh markets, walking street and massage houses have been temporarily closed.

Service providers have been told to strictly screen customers and follow health safety measure such as employees wearing face masks and keep clean with hand sanitisers.

 

People have been urged to refrain from organising activities that involves a large gathering.

 

Mae Hong Son has closed some locations for 14 days. They include spa shops, beauty salons, massage houses, karaoke shops, game centres, fitness centres, theatres and pubs.

 

Also closed are boxing stadium, horse racetrack, chicken fighting stadium, and sports stadium.

 

Locals have been told to refrain from organising activities that include a large number of people.

 

Fever screening measures have been increased for those travelling to Mae Hong Son province as follows:

 

 - Travellers using public buses and private vehicles at Mae Ping, Nartum, Mae Suong and Mae U Kho checkpoints;

 

- Travellers entering the country at all five temporary permitted areas -- Baan Huai Phueng, Baan Nam Peang Din, Baan Huai Ton Noon, Baan Sao Hin, and Baan Mae Sam Lab;

 

- Fever screening points for travellers arriving at public transport stations, such as at airport, bus station, and bus terminal.

 

- Travellers staying in a hotel, homestay, including all types of accommodation.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30384601

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-03-22

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[graemeaylward]

Why do these places only shutdown for a specific length of time?  Nobody knows the course of this virus here, but based on predictions, it is only going to spread at the speed of light and certainly won't be all done and dusted in 14 days!  Why not issue a closure notice stating that places will be closed "until further notice" rather than giving people false hope!

[anchadian]

Richard Barrow in Thailand 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BREAKING NEWS: Chiang Mai will be going into partial shutdown from Monday 23rd March at 6:00pm until 13th April at midnight. The list of closures will be similar to #Bangkok. Malls closed except for supermarkets, banks, pharmacies & restaurant takeaways

[tropo]

20 minutes ago, graemeaylward said:

Why do these places only shutdown for a specific length of time?  Nobody knows the course of this virus here, but based on predictions, it is only going to spread at the speed of light and certainly won't be all done and dusted in 14 days!  Why not issue a closure notice stating that places will be closed "until further notice" rather than giving people false hope!

It is rather absurd to think everything will open again by mid-April. It will be 10x or 100x worse by then. Maybe it's to prevent public panic and hoarding, which could empty supermarket shelves in a day as the rich people stock up, leaving no food for battlers. They need to come up with some anti-hoarding policy.

Edited March 22, 2020 by tropo

[CharlieH]

Post quoting and referring/linking to Bangkokpost has been removed in accordance with forum rules.

[Thailand]

35 minutes ago, graemeaylward said:

Why do these places only shutdown for a specific length of time?  Nobody knows the course of this virus here, but based on predictions, it is only going to spread at the speed of light and certainly won't be all done and dusted in 14 days!  Why not issue a closure notice stating that places will be closed "until further notice" rather than giving people false hope!

Do you think they might just extend the closures depending on the situation?

[kimamey]

6 hours ago, graemeaylward said:

Why do these places only shutdown for a specific length of time?  Nobody knows the course of this virus here, but based on predictions, it is only going to spread at the speed of light and certainly won't be all done and dusted in 14 days!  Why not issue a closure notice stating that places will be closed "until further notice" rather than giving people false hope!

It may be a legal requirement that the order had to have an end date but that can be extended if need be. Also by the time the order is due to end it may need to cover more venues as well as have an extended end date. 

[PatOngo]

10 hours ago, graemeaylward said:

Why do these places only shutdown for a specific length of time?

Because they only have rather short attention spans!

[hotchilli]

17 hours ago, graemeaylward said:

Why do these places only shutdown for a specific length of time?  Nobody knows the course of this virus here, but based on predictions, it is only going to spread at the speed of light and certainly won't be all done and dusted in 14 days!  Why not issue a closure notice stating that places will be closed "until further notice" rather than giving people false hope!

This is an initial shutdown period to monitor the affects... infection numbers will be scrutinised in those areas to see if it is working.

If someone said now... your closed for 2 months there'd be mass hysteria!!

[Kadilo]

Why only these Provinces?  It’s spreading, close them all!

[DrTuner]

Close Pattaya now or half of BKK will be here living on pickups in Jomthien, like it was during the floods. The infra won't be able to handle it.

[Tayaout]

18 hours ago, graemeaylward said:

Why do these places only shutdown for a specific length of time?  Nobody knows the course of this virus here, but based on predictions, it is only going to spread at the speed of light and certainly won't be all done and dusted in 14 days!  Why not issue a closure notice stating that places will be closed "until further notice" rather than giving people false hope!

It's the same in most countries like France for example. They probably want the population or the stock market to think it's a short disruption. It's a bit like you are put in jail or solitary confinement but they don't tell you when you will be released. You would probably lose your mind more quickly. 

Edited March 23, 2020 by Tayaout

[Magenta408]

Chiang Mai is closed down for having the world's crappiest air. Pollution so bad that people are likely dying from the very poor air quality. Perhaps, event the virus are dying from this foul air!

[Prairieboy]

20 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Meanwhile, provinces in different regions have also announced lockdowns to prevent the outbreak of Covid-19.

If there was a real national government that actually cared for all citizens they would lock-down all provinces.  No good to close a few establishments in one province while adjacent provinces are carrying on with no concerns.

[Chassa]

4 hours ago, Kadilo said:

Why only these Provinces?  It’s spreading, close them all!

Most of them are anyway - all the news is abut Bangkok & Pattaya!

[GreasyFingers]

Phetchabun has introduced restrictions accord to the wife, probably the usual gatherings, mall etc.

The Puu Yai was on the loud speakers this morning and anyone coming to the village must report to him together with their family if staying with them. Presumably to make it easier to track them. This is better than last week when it was only falangs that had to report.

[Krataiboy]

The COVID-19 scare is having a big impact on small businesses, and particularly those which rely on tourism.

 

Many of the bars, restaurants, massage partlours, etc. now being shuttered against the virus are shoestring operations, already struggling to survive a slump in traditional tourism triggered by a creeping worldwide recession. 

 

The arrival of the Wuhan virus and departure of the Chinese package tourists is the last straw for a lot of these fragile enterprises. They face the prospect of not being able to reopen - with all that means for countless thousands of employees with little prospect of finding work elsewhere.

 

I've always admired the entreprenurial spirit of Thai people who, in the absence of an adequate social welfare safety net, mostly somehow find the means to survive. The way events are unfolding, they are going to need every ounce of their traditional resilience and ingenuity. 

[Redline]

 Very late indeed 

[William C F Pierce]

I'm going to miss the Chicken Fighting Stadium not that I have ever been before

[JimmyJ]

19 hours ago, William C F Pierce said:

I'm going to miss the Chicken Fighting Stadium not that I have ever been before

I didn't realize Thailand has chicken fighting stadiums.

Never heard or saw it mentioned previously.

 

Very primitive and cruel.