A Buddhist monk wearing a face mask has his temperature taken before entering the Wat Arun Ratchavararam in Bangkok, Thailand, on April 2 (Photohttps://www.thestar.com.my/)
Bangkok (VNA) – Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha onApril 2 announced a nationwide curfew to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that caused the acuterespiratory disease (COVID-19).
In his speech on television on the same day, Prayut saidthat local residents, except for medical staff and importantofficials, are prohibited from leavingtheir residence between 10.00 pm and 4.00 am (local time) daily, starting on April3.
Exceptions under the curfew will be allowed for people who workin 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 permissionfrom their district officials.
Prayut said his government has been taking necessary measures to ensureadequate supplies of food and services for all Thai people, and it wouldstrictly handle shops, merchants or people trying to taking advantage of thesituation to seek personal benefits.
To ensure adequate and accurate information about the pandemic situation to thepublic, the Thai government has set up an information centre to disseminateinformation consistently through announcements and statements on radio andtelevision systems of the country.
He also called on Thai citizens abroad to contact the country's embassiesif they need to return home so that the government can coordinate theirrepatriation.
Thailand announced 104 new confirmed cases of the disease on April 2, bringingits total to 1,875 as the virus cases rise in Southeast Asia more generally./.
