Thailand to shut borders during coronavirus state of emergency

Wed, Mar 25, 2020
By publisher
2 MIN READ

Foreign

THAILAND on Wednesday said it would close its borders and urge the frail and elderly to stay at home during a month-long state of emergency to curb the spread of coronavirus, officials said.
According to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, for the past few weeks and for many months ahead, we may have to deal with difficult and tough times for our beloved Thailand.
Chan-o-cha’s said that the emergency law would come into force on Thursday and remained in place until at least April 30.
He said measures would include restrictions on access to high-risk regions, recommendations for vulnerable groups, and tighter rules on hoarding and fake news.
The Deputy Prime Minister, Wissanu Krea-ngam, corroborated Chan-o-cha that Thailand would close its borders to all visitors during the state of emergency, barring some exceptions.
Krea-ngam also said government recommended groups vulnerable to the virus, such as people with underlying diseases, those over 70 or those under five years old, to stay at home.
He noted that while the emergency law was in place, the recommendations could at any time become legal requirements if measures were stepped up.
Krea-ngam, the government’s top legal advisor, said that a curfew would not be imposed yet, in spite rumours to that effect.
“If the government wanted to stop people leaving their homes it was unlikely to be only at night.
“Though the virus does not only appear at midnight. The virus can spread 24 hours a day. If a curfew were to be announced, it would be for 24 hours, barring some exceptions.”
Thailand has reported 934 cases of the virus and four deaths.

NAN

– March 25, 2020 @ 15:20 GMT |

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