FILE PHOTO: The giant Buddha statue of Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen temple is seen at the end of an avenue amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bangkok, Thailand, June 9, 2021. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand on Sunday announced new restrictions centred around its capital in a bid to tackle the country's worst coronavirus outbreak.

 

The new measures, which will be implemented for 30 days from Monday, include a ban on restaurant dine-ins in Bangkok, the capital, and five surrounding provinces, according to a document published in the country's royal gazette.

 

Shopping malls in Bangkok and the five provinces must be closed by 9 p.m., and parties or celebrations, or activities involving a gathering of more than 20 people will be banned for the same duration, the document said.

 

It also said construction sites in the six areas will be shut down and workers' camps will be sealed off to contain clusters. The order followed the emergence of more clusters in construction camps in the capital, which has 575 such sites housing about 81,000 workers.

 

Since May, 37 clusters have been found in Bangkok camps.

 

Authorities will set up checkpoints in Bangkok and the five provinces to limit travel and relocation of construction workers, the document said, adding that there will also be checkpoints in the country's four southern provinces near Malaysia.

 

#BangkokLockdown was trending on Twitter in the early hours into Sunday, with internet users criticising the timing of the announcement and saying they were taken by surprise by the new measures.

 

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Friday he wanted to avoid the word lockdown and that specific businesses and activities would be targeted to contain the virus.

 

(Reporting by Patpicha Tanakasempipat; Editing by Dan Grebler)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-06-27

 

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A lockdown in reality but without being official, therefore meaning the gvt don't need to compensate and look less of a failure....if that's possible!

Checkpoints to be set up after workers have already left construction camps? 

Too late Mr PM ????

8 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Authorities will set up checkpoints in Bangkok and the five provinces to limit travel and relocation of construction workers,

So unrestricted travel for everybody,  except (non-Thai) labors.

Should be OK to drive out of Bangkok Monday.

Very weak considering the situation.  Will mostly do much of nothing.

Has anybody seen the horse ....................LOL

Where's the vax? That's what we really need. About 45% of the US is now vaccinated, and so everywhere's reopening. Amazing considering how at one time we had the highest rate of infections.

 

These small, occasional shipments from China are ridiculous. Why can't larger supplies be secured, from other sources? Why can't the manufacturing be done here?

27 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

include a ban on restaurant dine-ins in Bangkok, the capital,

Wow...that easing didn't last long

4 minutes ago, CrunchWrapSupreme said:

Why can't the manufacturing be done here?

It's not as simple as kicking out some Prada knockoffs...

I can't see what are the other 5 provinces?

35 minutes ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

So unrestricted travel for everybody,  except (non-Thai) labors.

Should be OK to drive out of Bangkok Monday.

It would seem so.

37 minutes ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

So unrestricted travel for everybody,  except (non-Thai) labors.

Should be OK to drive out of Bangkok Monday.

Five provinces   i cant see any mention of what the 5 are 

1 minute ago, actonion said:

Five provinces   i cant see any mention of what the 5 are 

The 5 provinces around Bangkok are,

 

Samut Prakan, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Sakhon

Just now, ozfarang said:

The 5 provinces around Bangkok are,

 

Samut Prakan, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Sakhon

Thank you

\

2 minutes ago, ozfarang said:

The 5 provinces around Bangkok are,

 

Samut Prakan, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Sakhon

But travel restrictions are just for migrant workers, right? At least that is what Barrow is saying.

Chonburi is next

4 minutes ago, Mintyy said:

Chonburi is next

For what?

1 minute ago, brewsterbudgen said:

For what?

Closure of restaurants and such. You do know there is an influx of covid workers from factories here, too.

14 minutes ago, ozfarang said:

The 5 provinces around Bangkok are,

 

Samut Prakan, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Sakhon

Thank you

Migrants are the danger, they are the ones who spread the virus, so let's stop them all in cages, this is the racist advertisement of this government.

 

 

8 minutes ago, Mintyy said:

Closure of restaurants and such. You do know there is an influx of covid workers from factories here, too.

Sure. But why didn't the PM include Chonburi in last night's order? Or do you think the Governor will do it unilaterally? 

But the flip flop on open close restaurant 25%/50% occupancy... I think this is even worse than really close the restaurant, but then let them open. A few restaurant I know myself they just opened about 2 weeks ago as it was useful now.. and again they have to send their workers back home! You don't believe when the restaurant is closed their personal will stay in Bangkok!!!

 

The costs for the restaurant in my guess is much higher with reopening including special care and then after 2 weeks have to shut down again. Would probably cheaper to close the restaurant for the next 6 months, as you can't predict the surprised by government.

22 minutes ago, Mintyy said:

Chonburi is next

This doesn't make sense. The people of the now restricted provinces need a location where they still can have fun especially on weekends. ????

3 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Sure. But why didn't the PM include Chonburi in last night's order? Or do you think the Governor will do it unilaterally? 

It is anyone's guess why he didn't. 

I would like to know how many person catch covid in a restaurant?

Or would there be better option to take care of the clusters?

1 hour ago, petermik said:

Too late Mr PM ????

indeed i am affraid thailnd is heading into a disaster.

in pandemic  everyday counts. and the government does not seem

to get the severety of the situation.

does it mattar if the malls will be closed 9 p.m. or 7 p.m. ?

yes it mattars to the economy but not for the virus.

again oil massage solutions that rub only the surface.

another solution is the mexican - open all now and this way

at least save the economy.

yes there will be hundreads of deaths every day, from the virus. but many

others will be saved from hunger and depression.

 

8 minutes ago, HampiK said:

I would like to know how many person catch covid in a restaurant?

Or would there be better option to take care of the clusters?

I can see a U-turn coming on the restaurant restriction soon, if Thai social media can be believed!

28 minutes ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Waiting for all the daring farangs to land in Phuket before they lock that down......

 

No one escapes the rock...no one......(sees some farang start escaping on rented jet ski)

 

I think that was filmed during rainy season on Lat Phrao road in Bangkok...

2 hours ago, Danderman123 said:

Checkpoints to be set up after workers have already left construction camps? 

but have they left the camps? This is something I'm not clear about. Are the camps being sealed when the they have been vacated, or have the workers been sealed in the camps, hence in quarantine?

 

It makes a very big difference!