No cases found in over 32 provinces
Image adapted from: iStock/tabiasjo
With restrictions to lock down cities activated nationwide, people’s lifestyles and work across the country have been affected, even those in low-risk regions.
To help those people in parts of the country that are free from COVID-19 cases, the Public Health Ministry shared plans to lift restrictions in specific provinces with no new reports of COVID-19 infections for more than 14 days.
Restrictions might be lifted in provinces with no new cases
The Public Health Ministry held a meeting with related agencies on 20th April 2020 and came up with an agreement that the restrictions should be lifted in some parts of Thailand. This is due to over 10 million people losing their jobs during the period of restrictions, which led to a number of consequent problems.
Kamnuan Ungchusak, an adviser to the public health minister on the COVID-19 outbreak, mentioned that the preventive measures should be gradually lifted so that local people can run businesses and live their lives as per normal. As over 32 provinces across the country have no new reports of COVID-19 cases for over 14 days, the measures applied in those provinces should be relaxed from 1st May 2020 onwards.
Doesn’t mean everything is back to normal
Image credit: Thaiger
However, Mr. Kamnuan added that some measures should still be active in those provinces – for example, towns should still screen people returning from overseas and request them to quarantine for 14 days. Also, wearing a face mask and maintaining social distance in public should be practised.
Even though this plan will allow local businesses to reopen as per normal, entertainment venues such as bars or boxing stadiums are ordered to be closed till the pandemic stabilises.
This agreement will be presented to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) for consideration soon, so stay tuned for updates.
Enjoying The Smart Local Thailand? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all things Thailand!