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Night curfew, inter-provincial travel remain in place throughout May
The extension of the emergency decree on Monday raised many questions about whether certain aspects of the restrictions may be eased even though the country will remain in a state of emergency.
Yesterday, the Thai Government announced that the 10 pm to 4 am night curfew will remain in place as will the restrictions on inter-provincial travel, until the end of May at least.
However, the announcement also included instructions for provincial governors to reopen some businesses if they have had no new covid-19 cases in the last 14 or 28 days.
The government also announced that all four May public holidays will go ahead as scheduled but asked people not to travel during these times.
Bangkok & Phuket lift restrictions
The Bangkok Governor yesterday instructed the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to request the reopening of some businesses after the current provincial restrictions end at midnight on Thursday.
The request includes restaurants, beauty salons, golf courses, hairdressers, and other businesses and services that will be allowed to open from Friday if the government approves the request.
Meanwhile, the Phuket Governor has called an end to the sub-district lockdown on the island and will allow people to move between areas again with the exception of five “high-risk” places.
Inmates at immigration center catch covid-19 from officer
As many as 42 inmates at an immigration detention center in Songkhla province have caught coronavirus from an infected immigration officer who works at Sadao border.
The border checkpoint had already been closed due to staff contracting coronavirus and it now seems that one of the infected staff visited the immigration center and passed on the virus.
The center has been temporarily turned into a field hospital while the infected are treated.
Seven new covid-19 cases, two new deaths
Yesterday’s official coronavirus figures were one of the lowest since the virus came to Thailand with just seven new cases reported.
The cases came from just three provinces – Bangkok, Phuket, and Korat – while the two deaths were in Bangkok and Phuket.
However, there are a very low number of tests being conducted in Thailand so the official figures are more than likely much lower than the true numbers.
Photo: Reuters