After confusing the world with a quickly rescinded travel order just days ago, Thailand formally relaunched mandatory self-quarantine orders – but for fewer nations.
Anyone arriving from South Korea, China, Macao, Hong Kong, Italy or Iran was “strongly advised” to isolate themselves for 14 days on arrival due to the coronavirus outbreak, according to the order published yesterday, as those nations have been categorized “dangerous communicable disease areas.”
All arrivals who traveled from or had a stopover in those six locations must provide their addresses and travel plans to the authorities. Those who violate the order may face a THB20,000 (US$630) fine.
Update: Although this was announced Friday afternoon as “strongly advised,” the government public relations unit further muddied the waters several hours later by declaring it compulsory. It also said anyone suspecting they have symptoms must inform disease control officers within three hours.
Violators will be fined up to 20,000 baht.
More information can be obtained at the Emergency Operations Center, Department of Disease Control, through the Call Center 1422.
— PR Thai Government (@prdthailand) March 7, 2020
The revised order excluded Germany, France and Singapore, which were originally announced Tuesday by Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. In a sign of behind-the-scenes uncertainty, Anutin’s order was quickly dismissed by other officials and he deactivated his Facebook, where he had posted it.
The orders are given legal force by a Saturday declaration adding COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, to a list of illnesses covered by the Communicable Diseases Act. It empowers the government to order civilians into quarantine and shut down events to control and contain the disease.
Though the order was to be effective immediately, a representative at the nation’s busiest airport said they did not know specifics of how it would be implemented.
Asked if the quarantine would apply to those with overnight layovers in Bangkok who would otherwise be free to leave the airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport spokeswoman Anocha Plinsut said they were still waiting for direction from the Public Health Ministry and referred questions to it.
Calls to Suwanchai Wattanayingcharoenchia, director of the Disease Control Department, and a hotline for the Public Health Ministry were not answered early Friday afternoon. Regularly scheduled morning media briefings have reportedly been delayed twice today.
Related:
Doubts emerge over travel order as Thai health minister’s Facebook goes MIA
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