Thailand imposes nationwide curfew amid increasing COVID-19 cases
Bangkok (VNA) – Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on
April 2 announced a nationwide curfew to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that caused the acute
respiratory disease (COVID-19).
In his speech on television on the same day, Prayut said
that local residents, except for medical staff and important
officials, are prohibited from leaving
their residence between 10.00 pm and 4.00 am (local time) daily, starting on April
3.
Exceptions under the curfew will be allowed for people who work
in medicine, banking, and delivery of consumable goods, crops, medicine,
medical supplies and equipment, newspapers, and gas; people who work shifts;
people who are travelling to and from an airport; and people with permission
from their district officials.
Prayut said his government has been taking necessary measures to ensure
adequate supplies of food and services for all Thai people, and it would
strictly handle shops, merchants or people trying to taking advantage of the
situation to seek personal benefits.
To ensure adequate and accurate information about the pandemic situation to the
public, the Thai government has set up an information centre to disseminate
information consistently through announcements and statements on radio and
television systems of the country.
He also called on Thai citizens abroad to contact the country's embassies
if they need to return home so that the government can coordinate their
repatriation.
Thailand announced 104 new confirmed cases of the disease on April 2, bringing
its total to 1,875 as the virus cases rise in Southeast Asia more generally./.