Thailand sets more restrictions amid COVID-19 second wave

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Thailand sets more restrictions amid COVID-19 second wave

 

People queue to check their temperature as they visit a popular entertainment street to celebrate New Year's Eve during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bangkok, Thailand December 31, 2020. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's government held off from ordering new nationwide business shutdowns on Sunday amid a new wave of coronavirus cases but empowered some provincial governors to set their own restrictions and pleaded with the public not to travel.

 

Thailand, which had largely controlled the virus by mid-2020, saw a second wave of outbreaks beginning in December.

 

On Sunday, it confirmed 315 new coronavirus cases, the majority of which are from local transmission, bringing its total to 7,694 cases and 64 deaths since its first case last January.

 

The country also reported its first known case of a more contagious variant of the coronavirus called B.1.1.7 on Sunday, Yong Poovorawan, a senior virologist from Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, said in a post on his official Facebook page.

 

The variant was found in a family of four who were in quarantine after arriving in Thailand from the UK, and Yong said there is no risk of that variant being spread in Thailand.

 

The current domestic outbreak is linked to illegal border migration from neighbouring Myanmar.

 

The government COVID-19 taskforce had earlier designated 28 provinces, including Bangkok, as high risk zones and recommended suspension of some businesses and crowded activities in those area that pose infection risks to the public.

 

The measures, which still need final approval from Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, will empower provincial governors to suspend businesses and other activities if there is a risk of infection, Taweesin Wisanuyothin, a spokesman for Thailand's COVID-19 taskforce said.

 

"We are asking people for cooperation first. We know that tough measures are needed but that could also lead to losses in other areas so we need to have compromises and have reasonable measures put in place," Taweesin said adding that the government is also concerned about the economic costs of more restrictions.

 

Some ministries and agencies have already issued new restrictions in their areas.

 

The Education Ministry has ordered all public and private schools and vocational training centres to close down from Monday until end of January.

 

The Thai Retailers Association has also announced that all shopping malls around the country should close at 9 pm daily, an hour earlier than the usual closing time, a statement said.

 

Authorities in Bangkok had earlier closed entertainment venues, nurseries, gyms and massage parlours, while keeping open shopping malls, restaurants and public parks.

 

(Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um, edited by Kay Johnson; Editing by Kim Coghill)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-01-03

 

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[John Drake]

4 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

there is no risk of that variant being spread in Thailand.

 

No, no risk at all! Whew!

[ThailandRyan]

6 minutes ago, John Drake said:

 

No, no risk at all! Whew!

Sounds like Anutin talking again.  All under control.  Ok yes I bashed him.

[Justgrazing]

16 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

 

The current domestic outbreak is linked to illegal border migration from neighbouring Myanmar

 

facilitated by bent and corrupt Thai border authorities .. that should also be included everytime they wanna play the blame game .. 

[Clarkey611]

What is the nationality of the family of 4 that arrived in Thailand from the UK? Could it be Thai? 

[bluesofa]

35 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

The Education Ministry has ordered all public and private schools and vocational training centres to close down from Monday until end of January.

Is this in selected areas, or is it a nationwide order?

[fangless]

37 minutes ago, Clarkey611 said:

What is the nationality of the family of 4 that arrived in Thailand from the UK? Could it be Thai? 

Why are you asking that?

[topt]

41 minutes ago, Clarkey611 said:

What is the nationality of the family of 4 that arrived in Thailand from the UK? Could it be Thai? 

from another report

 

Quote

The virus was obtained from a British family of four from Kent, England.

 

[asiasurfer]

Ban beaches and National Parks again! They're evil. 

 

(My sarcasm in between the words) 

[FritsSikkink]

1 hour ago, Clarkey611 said:

What is the nationality of the family of 4 that arrived in Thailand from the UK? Could it be Thai? 

"The virus was obtained from a British family of four from Kent, England."

Unlucky, you can't blame the Thai for this 

[GeorgeCross]

Quote

Samut Sakhon reports 541 new COVID-19 cases Sunday afternoon

 

breaking:

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/samut-sakhon-reports-541-new-covid-19-cases-sunday-afternoon/

 

whats that 850+ cases today?

 

[Chongalulu]

5 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

"The virus was obtained from a British family of four from Kent, England."

Unlucky, you can't blame the Thai for this 

What’s the betting this turns out to be UK father with wife and kids Thai nationals,possibly with dual nationality,but conveniently all labeled as British? 

[RichardColeman]

I know the UK message is confusing, but Thailand's message seems to be 'create as many holidays as possible to boost the economy and get people moving about whilst closing everything for covid reasons'. 

Edited January 3, 2021 by RichardColeman

[KC 71]

3 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

I know the UK message is confusing, but Thailand's message seems to be 'create as many holidays as possible to boost the economy and get people moving about whilst closing everything for covid reasons'. 

"Stand Up   ~  Sit Down"

[Dukeleto]

...and it was written, “go forth and test and yee shall find”!

[radjag]

9 hours ago, nchuckle said:

What’s the betting this turns out to be UK father with wife and kids Thai nationals,possibly with dual nationality,but conveniently all labeled as British? 

So, what difference does that make? COVID is not particularly racist! New strains of this nasty virus are popping up all the time, all over the place, according to reports I've read. I am British by birth, but recently travelled from "dirty" USA and did my 14 days - fortunately tested negative every time and am now at home. Even with this sudden spike in cases in Thailand, I certainly feel safer here than I was in USA. Minimise travel, hunker down and wait for the arrival of vaccines.

[IamNoone88]

Actual cases and reported can be a huge variant as reported cases are only a function test results and not what might be in a broader population. Unless I have missed something, I have not heard of any action being taken by the Government against those that allowed the mass immigration in the first place ... that maybe wishful thinking.

[vandeventer]

With this rise in covid-19 do they really want more Tourist to come in?

[rupert the bear]

the govt is now banning or minimising travel so why didnt that happen over the new years hols?it was suggested by many myself included as a common sense response to the outbreaks in north ,rayong and mahachai.something about a gate, a horse and .........locking  it comes to mind.whats next?bumble do do land in all its glory so the vaccs,this will be fun.ahhh whos your daddy and how self important are you and how much money do u have?thats a given.this is not looking good.we still have relatively low levels of virus so maybe hopefully we can contain it but this isnt singapore

[thai006]

School of my boy close in khon kaen province 

[smudger1951]

5 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

I know the UK message is confusing, but Thailand's message seems to be 'create as many holidays as possible to boost the economy and get people moving about whilst closing everything for covid 

Richard, we can all see how this being "played". As Churchill said , Why waste an opportunity when a crisis comes along.

I am not hopeful that I will be able to return this year and age is not on my side now.

[5633572526]

Interesting that we never hear of anyone in the military or government getting the disease. Military is supposed to be patrolling the Burma border where all this disease is supposed to be coming from and government reps seem to want to visit any area where there is an outbreak to show they are “in control” yet other than Anutin’s voluntary quarantine nothing. Are they all immune or too big a “loss of face” risk to report those numbers??

[johnarth]

yes it is so, Trat had no virus cases, one woman gets it and brings it to Trat and already we have 23 cases why do not they say everybody has it and be done with it, sure there are a lot of new jobs now, but they are holding the world at ram son

[maddermax]

So when are we going to get a vaccine in Thailand? Somebody is dragging his heels here!

[Snig27]

35 minutes ago, 5633572526 said:

Military is supposed to be patrolling the Burma border where all this disease is supposed to be coming from

With the Border Police - who were pulled off the border in their thousands under Prayut’s direct order to confront largely peaceful protests who were challenging his government. It was a blatant misuse of this force that likely contributed to or caused the problem we have having now. It’s no wonder Prayut and his cabal don’t want any focus on them. 

[rocksniffer]

The second wave of Covid 19. In the cool season. Amazing. I predict the third wave will be the cool season of 2021, and the fourth wave will be the cool season of 2022. Can you see a pattern here ? 

 

[MasterBaker]

such anti migrant propaganda always bring a risk, usually described by the word "lynch". god bless

[DJ54]

6 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

e economy and get people moving about whilst closing everything for covid reasons'

Maybe it’s a new Savings plan... or nuttery 

[bstafford214]

 

19 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

The variant was found in a family of four who were in quarantine after arriving in Thailand from the UK, and Yong said there is no risk of that variant being spread in Thailand.

What about all the people that were on the plane?  Does this mean people coming in from other countries are not tested before they fly, especially for UK?

 

They need to issue restrictions for flying!  What is wrong with this government?

 

There seems to be no real control and everything is becoming worse.

[Jeffrey346]

18 hours ago, bluesofa said:

Is this in selected areas, or is it a nationwide order?

The Education Ministry has ordered all public and private schools and vocational training centres to close down from Monday until end of January.

Mrs got a message from my kids school saying open as usual tomorrow.