First province in Thailand locks down amid virus crisis
Thailand’s eastern province of Buri Ram, an area of about 10,322 square kilometers with a population of almost 1.6 million people, has been locked down on orders of the provincial administration, becoming the first Thai province to do so amid a surge of coronavirus cases in the country.
Provincial governor Thatchakorn Hatthathayakul on March 16 ordered a lockdown of the province, which also shares a southern border with Cambodia, to combat the spread of the disease, applying public health measures to implement the decision, even though the province had no reported cases of infection so far, the Bangkok Post reported.
The lockdown took immediate effect and gives health authorities power to make any decision to prevent the spread of the virus. All people entering the province – regardless whether they are foreigners, Thais from elsewhere or local residents – will be required to undergo strict screening and then self-isolation for 14 days. Authorities and volunteers will check up on them. Those with fevers will be sent to hospitals.
Gatherings of more than 50 people banned for 30 days
Gatherings of more than 50 people in one venue – for activities including seminars, entertainment events, religious ceremonies, summer courses and public markets – are banned for 30 days, or until further notice.
It is expected that the lockdown will have an extensive effect on tourism and other businesses. Buri Ram is home of popular football club Buriram United which frequently plays in the largest club-owned football stadium in Thailand, Chang Arena, in front of a large audience, as well as houses the Chang International Circuit Speedway which stages several motor racing events throughout the year. This year’s Thai MotoGP, a motorcycle championship, has already been postponed to October from March.
The governor, who imposed the lockdown and accompanying measures without waiting for government orders, warned that violators will be subject to legal action. He emphasised that the lockdown was “necessary before the province is getting damaged by the disease.”
Thatchakorn urged people to cancel plans to visit their families during the upcoming Thai New Year holidays to prevent the further spread of the virus. As per latest news, the government plans to defer the traditional holiday from next month to later dates anyway. The holiday will no longer fall on April 13 to 15, but new dates have not been announced yet.
Buri Ram has become the first Thai province to switch into lockdown mode as the coronavirus keeps spreading Thailand’s eastern province of Buri Ram, an area of about 10,322 square kilometers with a population of almost 1.6 million people, has been locked down on orders of the provincial administration, becoming the first Thai province to do so amid a surge of coronavirus cases in the country. Provincial governor Thatchakorn Hatthathayakul on March 16 ordered a lockdown of the province, which also shares a southern border with Cambodia, to combat the spread of the disease, applying public health measures to implement...
Thailand’s eastern province of Buri Ram, an area of about 10,322 square kilometers with a population of almost 1.6 million people, has been locked down on orders of the provincial administration, becoming the first Thai province to do so amid a surge of coronavirus cases in the country.
Provincial governor Thatchakorn Hatthathayakul on March 16 ordered a lockdown of the province, which also shares a southern border with Cambodia, to combat the spread of the disease, applying public health measures to implement the decision, even though the province had no reported cases of infection so far, the Bangkok Post reported.
The lockdown took immediate effect and gives health authorities power to make any decision to prevent the spread of the virus. All people entering the province – regardless whether they are foreigners, Thais from elsewhere or local residents – will be required to undergo strict screening and then self-isolation for 14 days. Authorities and volunteers will check up on them. Those with fevers will be sent to hospitals.
Gatherings of more than 50 people banned for 30 days
Gatherings of more than 50 people in one venue – for activities including seminars, entertainment events, religious ceremonies, summer courses and public markets – are banned for 30 days, or until further notice.
It is expected that the lockdown will have an extensive effect on tourism and other businesses. Buri Ram is home of popular football club Buriram United which frequently plays in the largest club-owned football stadium in Thailand, Chang Arena, in front of a large audience, as well as houses the Chang International Circuit Speedway which stages several motor racing events throughout the year. This year’s Thai MotoGP, a motorcycle championship, has already been postponed to October from March.
The governor, who imposed the lockdown and accompanying measures without waiting for government orders, warned that violators will be subject to legal action. He emphasised that the lockdown was “necessary before the province is getting damaged by the disease.”
Thatchakorn urged people to cancel plans to visit their families during the upcoming Thai New Year holidays to prevent the further spread of the virus. As per latest news, the government plans to defer the traditional holiday from next month to later dates anyway. The holiday will no longer fall on April 13 to 15, but new dates have not been announced yet.
