It will no longer be possible to fly in and out of Thailand’s worst-hit provinces, where residents are being asked not to leave their homes if possible.
The newest lockdown measures coming to curb COVID-19 infections and deaths by way of the Royal Gazette and aviation authority were announced yesterday and apply to provinces with the most severe outbreaks, a number which has now grown to 13.
Effective on Monday, 10 Thai provinces impose overnight curfew, bans gathering of 5 people
The new restrictions are effective Tuesday through Aug. 2 in provinces deemed “dark red” and are subject to extension. The 13 provinces are Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Narathiwat, Pattani, Songkha, Yala, Ayutthaya, Chachoengsao and Chonburi. The latter three provinces are new to the list.
People living in the affected areas are asked to refrain from leaving their residences without “necessary cause” such as buying food and groceries, seeing a doctor or getting vaccinated.
Meanwhile, starting Wednesday, domestic flights to and from those provinces will be suspended for at least 14 days, the Civil Aviation Authority also announced Sunday.
Canceled domestic flights included those from Phuket, stranding sandbox travelers trying to get home. Emergency landings and medical flights are also exempt.
All other domestic flights can fly at only 50% capacity.
The new orders expand existing measures to the additional three provinces of Ayutthaya, Chachoengsao and Chonburi. They include a curfew from 9pm to 4am, a ban on gatherings larger than five, and interprovincial vehicle checkpoints. Public transport will stop running at 9pm.
Shopping malls are closed except for their supermarkets, banks, pharmacies, restaurants and cafes; those are allowed to operate until 8pm. Restaurants and cafes can operate until 8pm but cannot serve customers on-site. Convenience stores and night markets must close 8pm to 4am. Public parks can open until 8pm.
