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

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.

Phuket

A meeting of Phuket’s Contagious Diseases Committee has approved a proposal to close all high-risk places in the province from March 24 to March 31 in order to prevent people contracting Covid-19.
The places the province is closing are malls, pharmacies, shops, entertainment venues, spas, restaurants, amulet markets, golf clubs, pet-service shops, beauty clinics, barber and tattoo shops, and swimming pools of both government and private organisations.

Khon Kaen announced shutdown measures on Sunday (March 23) to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus (Covid-19) after five cases of infection were confirmed in the province.

The following business venues in Khon Kaen will have to close down from March 23 to April 21, Governor Somsak Jangtrakul said:

▪︎ Food and beverage vendors, except take-out services

▪︎ Department stores, except the supermarket section, drug stores and take-out food vendors

▪︎ Food court and public dining areas in convenience stores, department stores, restaurants

▪︎ All types of markets except fresh food vendors and food stalls that are necessary for daily life

▪︎ Barbers, beauty salons and aesthetic clinics

▪︎ Tattoo and piercing parlours

▪︎ Skate and rollerblade arenas

▪︎ Theme parks, bowling alleys and arcade game centres

▪︎ Computer and internet cafés

▪︎ Golf courses and golf driving ranges

▪︎ Swimming pools and water parks

▪︎ Cockfighting rings as well as training rings

▪︎ Amulet centres

▪︎ Convention and exhibition centres

▪︎ All types of educational institutes, tutoring centres and nurseries

▪︎ Spa and massage parlors

▪︎ Slimming centres

▪︎ Pet spa and grooming centres

▪︎ Entertainment venues, including movie theatres, concert halls and karaoke

▪︎ Fitness centres

▪︎ Sport gyms and stadiums

▪︎ Fishing pond or similar businesses.

Meanwhile, Dr Somchaichote Piyawatwela, Khon Kaen public health officer, said that the five confirmed cases of Covid-19 infection "are being treated in quarantine, while public health staff are monitoring people who have made contact with the five patients recently after telling them to self-quarantine at home,” he said.

“In the next weeks, we expect more Khon Kaen locals to travel back home from Bangkok following the shutdown policy, so we will increase staff at checkpoints and hospitals to prevent further spread of Covid-19.”

A Nakhon Ratchasima official has announced the closure of 22 public places in the province until April 22. These include: Restaurants (can open only food section, which should sell only on a takeaway basis. The food section in hotels that serve only guests can be open); department stores, except the supermarket and pharmacy sections, as well as food zones (only for selling takeaway); spa and massage parlours; slimming centres; pet spa and grooming centres; skate and rollerblade arenas; beauty salons and aesthetic clinics; theme parks; bowling alleys and arcade game centres; karaoke booths; computer and internet cafés; golf courses and golf driving ranges; swimming pools; tattoo parlours; nursery and children care at home business; elderly care at home business; amulet centres; convention and exhibition centres; markets except fresh food vendors and food stalls that are necessary for daily life; preschools, public and private schools, boarding schools, international schools, seminary schools, tutoring centres; public and private universities and graduate schools, as well as vocational colleges; movie theatres, and massage parlours.
In addition, boxing stadium, sports stadium, race track, chicken fighting stadium, snooker club, cow and buffalo markets will remain closed.

Meanwhile, a Phayao official announced the Baan Hua Kwok Thai-Laos border crossing point will close on Monday (March 23) until the virus outbreak is controlled.

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 Songkhla Governor Jaruwat Kliangklao on March 23 issued an order, temporarily closing nine high-risk venues from March 24  to April 12 as a measure to stem the escalating Covid-19 outbreak.
Affected venues include restaurants, but they can still operate sales counters for take-away orders.
Department stores will also be closed, except the supermarket, pharmacy and essential consumer-goods sections while food sections in malls can only sell take-away food.

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.