Stay home or face lockdown – supreme commander

 

 

Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Gen. Pornpipat Benyasri today issued a stern warning to all Thai people to stay home and to practice strict social distancing to avoid exposing themselves to the coronavirus or risk facing a full lockdown of the country.

 

The warning came as Thailand entered the first day of the state of emergency imposed by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and while as many as 357 check-points were set up throughout the country to discourage people from non-essential travel.

 

“Do we want to voluntarily comply with the directive to stay at home and to practice social distancing or do we want to see a lockdown?” asked Pornpipat who has been appointed by Prime Minister Prayut to be in charge of law enforcement and security under the emergency decree.

 

Speaking at his first press conference, the supreme commander appealed to all government agencies and business establishments to introduce staggered work schedule or cut down on working hours to minimize the number of personnel and employees having to commute to work.  “I am also appealing to you to start introducing work from home practice,” he said.

 

Pornpipat said the next few days will be very crucial in the fight against the coronavirus. And only strict compliance with the directives to stay at home and to avoid non-essential travel can help stop the spread of the deadly virus.

 

He said a curfew or a lockdown of the country is still not necessary at this stage. “We certainly don’t need to reach the stage of having to lock down the country if everybody plays his and her part in complying with the directives,” he said.

 

He said Thai people need to learn to adapt their way of life under the present circumstances.  “Starting this weekend, we should confine ourselves to our home and go out only when it’s necessary, and avoid all gatherings,” he said.

 

“Thai people can set a good example for the rest of the world by disciplining themselves so that that we won’t need to have a lockdown,” he said.

 

Addressing the same press conference, police spokesman Pol Gen Piya Uthayo said several additional check-points will be set up around the country as part of the attempts to control travel by the people.

 

Since last night, 357 check-points have been set up to check vehicles travelling between provinces.  Seven of them are in areas in and around Bangkok which will today see an addition of 5 check-points on Bangna-Trat, Phetchkasem, and Vibhavadi roads as well as on Don Muang Tollway.

 

He said each of the check-points will be manned by police and military personnel as well as health officials and volunteers.  Passengers of all vehicles will be subject to strict screening.

 

“Every passenger has to make sure that he or she wears a surgical mask and that there is enough space between them. Everyone will also have his or her temperature taken,” he said.

 

People who are in the so-called “high-risk groups” – people who are 70 or older, children under 5 and those with illnesses – will be subject to thorough screening.

 

“If you are found to have fever, you will be stopped from travelling and will be sent for a medical check-up,” he said.

 

He said people who gather in pubic places, such as parks and beaches, will be ordered to disperse.  “First, they will be given a warning. But if they resist, legal action will be taken against them,” he said.

 

Violators of directives issued under the emergency decree are liable to a maximum jail term of two years or a fine of 40,000 baht or both.

 

Source: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/stay-home-or-face-lockdown-supreme-commander/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2020-03-26

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Announcements from all and sundry at the moment

Supreme commander. I thought that was Prayut or General Happy Apirat

In other words , there is going to be a lockdown and they are saying this to justify it.

OMG, the writings on the wall.  Thais and foreigners have just been warned, life as we knew it will be stuck in an episode of Keystone cops, staring the MIB...no envelope can save the day, and a 40,000 baht fine to boot.

outdoor skin surface temp reading doesn't work it will show most people outside in direct sunlight as having a high temperature of 40c or more so the screening is flawed 

 

Outdoor in the sun is vastly different from indoor

The Supreme Cdr is the head of all the armed forces. Army, Navy & Air Force come (theoretically) under him, though I suspect (but don't know) his normal role is ceremonial & coordinating rather than operational command. (Certainly Army seems to act like a law unto itself.)

 

The PM has nominated him to be in charge of the Emergency law enforcement function.

In a rational world, it would not be the army's place to make these sort of statements of course. Everything wrong with Thailand politically captured in this (well, almost everything).  

1 minute ago, mfd101 said:

The Supreme Cdr is the head of all the armed forces. Army, Navy & Air Force come (theoretically) under him, though I suspect (but don't know) his normal role is ceremonial & coordinating rather than operational command. (Certainly Army seems to act like a law unto itself.)

 

The PM has nominated him to be in charge of the Emergency law enforcement function.

ELF Really?

1 minute ago, mfd101 said:

The Supreme Cdr is the head of all the armed forces. Army, Navy & Air Force come (theoretically) under him, though I suspect (but don't know) his normal role is ceremonial & coordinating rather than operational command. (Certainly Army seems to act like a law unto itself.)

 

The PM has nominated him to be in charge of the Emergency law enforcement function.

I'm just wondering if my hunch was right and there is a spat between the army chief and Prayut - this looks to me like the army chief has been sidelined but then I could be totally wrong ....................who knows

Full lockdown it is. Maibpenrai assures that.

29 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

... as well as on Don Muang Tollway.

 

I thought both ends were in Greater Bangkok, I drive it every morning and evening.

 

I expect the office to go to "essential staff only" over the weekend but for now it's business as usual (with masks, social distancing and hand sanitiser). Will I need a letter or something as "essential staff"?

 

Sod it, if I get grief from the authorities I will just return home and "work from home".

 

Quote

People who are in the so-called “high-risk groups” – people who are 70 or older, children under 5

Children under 5? Have I missed something?

30 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Violators of directives issued under the emergency decree are liable to a maximum jail term of two years or a fine of 40,000 baht or both.

theyre  gonna  need to  build not  only more  hospitals  but  jails as  well  then!

36 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Gen. Pornpipat Benyasri today issued a stern warning to all Thai people to stay home and to practice strict social distancing to avoid exposing themselves to the coronavirus or risk facing a full lockdown of the country.

 

How about you tell that to Thai Immigration, Buddy????

 

I'm 72. During my 6 K run this morning at 5 am I met, maskless, another group of five runners, not socially distancing, three farmers with cows, and a guy on a motorbike (same guy twice). This routine won't be changing soon.

around 10 workers still at work on an extension to my neighbour's home.  Clearly nobody is taking a blind bit of notice of what this government has to say. 

33 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Announcements from all and sundry at the moment

 

Every day, a new adventure in Thailand!!!

 

31 minutes ago, cooked said:

I'm 72. During my 6 K run this morning at 5 am I met, maskless, another group of five runners, not socially distancing, three farmers with cows, and a guy on a motorbike (same guy twice). This routine won't be changing soon.

Well, at least the cows were obeying the authorities. 

30 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

Every day, a new adventure in Thailand!!!

 

That's why we all love it and stay here. Excitement.

He said people who gather in pubic places, such as parks and beaches, will be ordered to disperse.  “First, they will be given a warning. But if they resist, legal action will be taken against them,” he said.

 

But 100s gathering at immigration for hours is ok? 

 

The mind bogles! 

 

 

40 minutes ago, cooked said:

I'm 72. During my 6 K run this morning at 5 am I met, maskless, another group of five runners, not socially distancing, three farmers with cows, and a guy on a motorbike (same guy twice). This routine won't be changing soon.

Do farmers have to socially distance themselves from their cows?

58 minutes ago, smedly said:

outdoor skin surface temp reading doesn't work it will show most people outside in direct sunlight as having a high temperature of 40c or more so the screening is flawed 

 

Outdoor in the sun is vastly different from indoor

Good point. The happy chap at the bottom of the escalator at Big C yesterday showed me the 35 on his temperature thingmie that indicated I had borderline hypothermia.

 

"OK!"

It is only his Temptation(s) to be a Supreme. He aint got no sunshine even on a cloudy day.

“Starting this weekend, we should confine ourselves to our home and go out only when it’s necessary, and avoid all gatherings,”

 

Just make sure everybody is at immigration every 30 days, to be like sardines in a can! 

They cannot stop the deaths on the roads, or the smoke haze where I live so how will they stop Coronavirus

1 hour ago, Pilotman said:

around 10 workers still at work on an extension to my neighbour's home.  Clearly nobody is taking a blind bit of notice of what this government has to say. 

The same thing is happening at my condo building in Bangkok.

 

The half-wits who manage the building have issued a decree which prevents restaurant and grocery delivery drivers from entering the building, but construction crews currently working on renovation and remodeling projects are free to come and go as they please.

 

It's almost like money is a higher priority than public health, or something.

2 hours ago, Creasy said:

Supreme commander. I thought that was Prayut or General Happy Apirat

It's all the same, they're all the Borg. They share one mind between them.

 

Happy Clappy, Patty myself on the backy...

 

Pretending not to notice is generally the kindest thing... you know how Thais feel about face and a loss thereof...

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

Pornpipat said the next few days will be very crucial in the fight against the coronavirus.

So, not two months ago. Not before the the boxing fiasco, not before NOT closing the borders. This is just nonsence. Manditory wearing of face masks for everyone. This is what's needed. The ship has well and truely sailed. Only way now is to slow it down. Who hasn't seen Thais, yes Thais, not us dirty filthy farangs, going into 711's etc without a mask. No one should be allowed out without a mask. THIS should be MANDITORY.

1 hour ago, ripstanley said:

They cannot stop the deaths on the roads, or the smoke haze where I live so how will they stop Coronavirus

With great difficulty and a mental exertion that no 3 of them put together could muster.

 

But that's just a guess...