Government tightens curbs to control Covid-19

The country is currently under a state of emergency until January 15, 2021.

The curbs came into force from 6am on Monday.

The new restrictions, published in the Government Gazette, ban entry into buildings or places at risk of transmission of the disease.

Schools and educational institutions located in the areas designated as red zone are prohibited from organising classes, examinations or workshops, except small schools or educational institutions with the number of students not exceeding 120 people, including border patrol police school.

Online schooling is allowed as well as providing assistance, aid, fostering or treatment of patients.

Activities for public benefit must be done with permission from the provincial governor.

Meetings, seminars, catering, food distribution, etc are prohibited unless it is undertaken by an accountable official or authorised by the accountable official or is an activity in an area designated as a quarantine facility with public health measures.

The government has empowered the governor of Bangkok to act on the recommendations of the Bangkok Communicable Disease Committee and provincial governors with recommendations of the Provincial Communicable Disease Committee to determine the rules according to the situation.

The provincial governor can order the closure of service establishments like entertainment spots, pubs, bars, and karaoke booths located in high-risk areas.

In high-risk areas, food services can be limited to allowing only take-away orders.

Consumption of liquor and alcoholic beverages is prohibited in the store or shop.

Department stores, shopping centres, community malls, exhibition centres, convention centres or other similar establishments can open at the normal hours, with strict preventive measures in place.

There will be strict screening of inter-provincial travellers from red zone provinces.

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has proposed that the measures must not cause unnecessary trouble to the public.

People shall refrain from or postpone their journey across red zone areas, unless there is a strong reason and evidence must be shown to the competent official, including being screened and required to comply with governmental disease prevention measures. This may make it inconvenient to travel and cause a longer travel time than usual.

Private entrepreneurs have been urged to allow staff to work from home or have arrangements to reduce the number of people travelling and help reduce the chance of infection.

The committee of the CCSA will review, screen, and propose to the prime minister to consider allowing relaxation or tightening of measures applicable to additional places, businesses or activities to suit the situation as appropriate.