Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Rayong, Chon Buri (including Pattaya) and Chanthaburi face full travel restrictions
Rayong, Chanthaburi and Chon Buri (that includes Pattaya), could be facing a full lockdown as soon as tomorrow if a recommendation from the Ministry of Public Health is approved by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. The outbreak of new infections are almost entirely linked to illegal gambling dens, mostly in Rayong.
Thailand’s Deputy Health Minister says the measure “is necessary” because the people considered “at risk” are concealing their involvement in activities and others are refusing to report to health officials for screening. Although the government has said they won’t prosecute people over the illegal gambling, the promise hasn’t convinced the patrons of the gambling dens to come forward.
It’s proposed the more restrictive lockdown would run for 4 weeks in an effort to stop the flow of infected people in and out of the provinces.
The Minister claimed that 99% of the hundreds of Covid-19 cases emerging over the past week in the 3 provinces all are linked to illegal casinos in Rayong and Chanthaburi, saying that the gablers were lying to government contact tracers and failing to disclose their true movements out of fear of being prosecuted.
He said this had “crippled” the contact-tracing efforts and exacerbated the spread of Covid-19 across the provinces east of Bangkok, as well as other areas of Thailand.
“If the plan is approved, police or the army will block highways at the borders of each of the three provinces while local police would restrict access on surface streets.”
As part of the efforts, checkpoint police will block all travel, in and out of the 3 provinces, who didn’t have “urgent business” or their travel approved by the provincial government or CCSA. The checkpoints would be set up along roads linking the 3 affected provinces to Bangkok and other regions, including the Burapha Withi Expressway and a highway through Prachin Buri. Officials would also have checkpoints at all entry and exit points at the borders of the provinces.
Rayong and then Chonburi’s Banglamung District, including Pattaya, were the first to implement strict business shutdowns following the outbreak that kicked off in Rayong’s illegal gambling dens.
The Minister’s proposal, as go now, is just that, but is likely to spark panic and some exodus of people out of the Eastern provinces as they return to their homes, potentially spreading the virus further.
If approved, the measures will likely be introduced at the conclusion of the New Year long weekend. The announcement didn’t mention if the U-Tapao Airport would also be closed or not.
The proposed additional restrictions on travel in and out of the 3 provinces has NOT been enacted at this stage.
Pattaya, surviving on some weekend traffic and the extra long weekends the Thai government has added, will be challenged further by a 28 day lockdown. Restrictions are already place in Banglamung and Pattaya. There is currently no curfew in place.
- Service venues closed, including bars, nightclubs, karaokes, massage parlours, etc
- Restaurants take away only. No dine-in service
- Shopping centres, retail, etc closed except for supermarkets, pharmacies, banks, hardware and construction stores, mobile phone shops and electronics. All non-essential sops closed, like clothes, etc
- Supermarkets may sell only essential items like food
- All educational places closed, nurseries, child care centres, schools, learning centres, vocational schools, private tutors, etc
- Leisure locations, like bowling, movie theatres, water parks, tourist attractions, etc. closed
- 24 hour convenience stores must be closed from 10pm to 5am
- Restaurants in hotels can stay open, however can only serve hotel guests
- Public swimming pools closed
- Amulet stores, religious artifact stores, temple stores closed
- Pool, snooker parlours closed
- Gyms, fitness closed and similar establishments
- Internet and game cafes closed
- Close massage shop, spas, beauty clinics
- Public parks, exercise areas, playgrounds and any place where people gather closed
- No parties or gatherings at all, even at private residences
- Beaches were not specifically covered in the order
- The proposal does not include an alcohol sales ban
Keep in contact with The Thaiger by following our Facebook page.
Never miss out on future posts by following The Thaiger.
Pattaya hotels and tourism businesses want to close… just temporarily until the Covid-19 situation improves, but they say an official closure order needs to be issued by the Chon Buri governor so employees can claim unemployment benefits.
The hospitality and tourism industry in the 5 highest risk red zones (the coastal provinces Chonburi, Rayong, Chantaburi, Rayong, Samut Sakhon, and Trat) has been battered by strict restrictions.
Only essential travel is allowed in and out of the 5 provinces, taking a toll on hotels in the area with occupancy rates nearly at zero.
The governor in neighbouring Chantaburi recently ordered hotels in the province to temporarily close. Many representatives of Pattaya hotels suggest the Chon Buri governor issue a similar order which would allow employees to be eligible for unemployment benefits to help them during the Covid-19 crisis.
Pattaya City Mayor Sonthaya Khunpluem says he referred the proposal to the Provincial Communicable Disease Committee, which the Chon Buri governor chairs.
He adds that the proposal must be considered carefully because there are about 80,000 employees in the sector and the closure of all hotels will have widespread consequences.
SOURCE: Thai PBS World
Keep in contact with The Thaiger by following our Facebook page.
Never miss out on future posts by following The Thaiger.
Thailand
Chon Buri announces a list of 2 Covid-19 hotspots, visitors are urged to get a virus screening
Chon Buri Provincial Health Office is urging people who visited 27 Covid-19 hot spots in the province between December 20 and 31 to get a test at their local districts. Those who have outstanding Covid-19 symptoms after visiting the listed venues are also asked to report to the district public health offices they live in.
Here’s the list…
- James Boy Pub and Karaoke, Sri Racha district
- Satang Pub, Sri Racha
- Sense of the Sea bar, Bang Lamung
- Spicy restaurant, Sri Racha
- Flower Snack Japan shop, Sri Racha
- Brewery 90 Sriracha, Sri Racha
- Orange Bar Amata Nakorn, Muang Chonburi
- Cool Club restaurant, Sri Racha
- Halem Snack Japanese shop, Sri Racha
- Bar Snack shop, Sri Racha
- Midori Snack, Sri Racha
- Pa Dang Beer Brewery, Sattahip
- Mountain Bar and Bistro restaurant, Sattahip
- Nuu Mai Deu restaurant, Sri Racha
- Kiss Snack bar, Sri Racha
- Hops Bar Pattaya, Bang Lamung
- OPPAI Snack shop, Sri Racha
- SANKYU39 Bar & Bistro, Sri Racha
- 48 Bar, Sri Racha
- Friend Zone club, Bang Saen
- BUZZED BAR, Sri Racha
- MEETING CLUB, Sriracha
- Differ Club Pattaya, Bang Lamung
- Lan Lom restaurant, Sri Racha
- Snooker club near Brewery 90, Sri Racha
- Plearn Bar 168 restaurant, Sattahip
UPDATE:The Thaiger received a message from one of the originally listed cafes in this story clarifying that their establishment was NOT infected with Covid-19. “I am the owner of De Florist Cafe, it is not reported to be infected with COVID 19, that is another cafe'”.
The Thaiger apologises if an error has been made in the reporting of this list.
Contact of public health offices in Chonburi’s districts.
- Muang Chon Buri District Public Health Office at (038) 282148
- Sriracha District Public Health Office at (038) 322503
- Sattahip District Public Health Office at (038) 245330
- Bang Lamung District Public Health Office at (038) 221925.
Currently, Chon Buri records 10 new cases, bringing total to 630 cases in the second wave of the outbreak.
SOURCE: Nation Thailand
Keep in contact with The Thaiger by following our Facebook page.
Never miss out on future posts by following The Thaiger.
Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Chon Buri governor urged to order hotels to close so staff can collect social security
The Eastern Hotel Association is urging the governor of Chon Buri to order all hotels in the province to close, so that staff can be eligible for social security payments. Prien Sae Ku, president of the EHA, says that as the province is currently considered “high risk” and people from other provinces are unable to enter without just cause, hotels should be closed until the situation improves, as was done last year. He says the forced closure of Chon Buri’s hotels would make staff eligible for government benefits, pointing out that the neighbouring province of Chanthaburi has ordered hotels to close for this reason.
Employees affected by workplace closures due to Covid-19 are eligible to receive 50% of their daily salary from the government. However, The Pattaya News reports that there is currently no such assistance on offer to casual workers impacted by the resurgence of the virus.
Prien says the average hotel worker would receive approximately 7,500 baht a month if hotels were forced to shut their doors. Many have done so of their own accord, due to occupancy rates in Pattaya and Chon Buri being practically at zero as a result of the current restrictions on entry to the province. The EHA says its member hotels are very reluctant to let staff go and would prefer to be in a position to keep them on. Some are already helping workers by providing them with free rooms and food.
The deputy governor of Chon Buri, Naris Niramaiwong, has confirmed receipt of Prien’s proposal and says he will review it with the governor.
SOURCE: The Pattaya News
Keep in contact with The Thaiger by following our Facebook page.
Never miss out on future posts by following The Thaiger.
Government in control of Mor Chana app, says user data will be kept private
Thailand News Today | Weekend Bangkok bombs, Thailand fires, Covid update | January 18
Visitors to Phuket from “highest risk” areas must show Covid-19 test results
BTS Skytrain’s Green Line maximum fare to rise, Rail Transport Department disagrees with the move
High demand for health insurance due to Covid-19 worries, premiums expected to rise
PM Prayut Chan-o-cha considers legalising gambling
Police to issue arrest warrants for 2 people allegedly involved in bombing outside Bangkok shopping centre
Tower Of Babble – Have your say on The Thaiger, January 18 | VIDEO
Police arrest “prime suspect” in narcotics case linked to 10 deaths in Bangkok
CCSA Update: 369 new Covid-19 cases
Australian man wanted for allegedly sexually abusing children in Thailand
Australia might keep borders closed throughout 2021
Disease control measures ease up in Samut Sakhon
Police raid Bangkok restaurant, more than 80 people face charges for violating Emergency Decree
Police say at least 2 people to be arrested in Bangkok bomb attack – UPDATE
Bangkok officials to consider easing Covid restrictions
Thai travel agents call for vaccinated foreigners to be exempt from quarantine by third quarter of 2021
Cannabis café: Prachin Buri hospital opens “Taste of Ganja” restaurant
Thailand ranks 4th in the world for highest loss of tourism revenue – Official ESTA
Thai Vietjet announces 6 and 12 month unlimited travel passes
Golf quarantine now available in 6 golf resorts
Thailand’s rich not eligible for 3,500 baht government handout
Screening measures to enter Phuket, travellers from “red zone” provinces to self-quarantine
Thailand to introduce 300 baht “tourism fee” to insure foreign visitors, manage tourist destinations
Future of Thai department stores is being redefined
PM announces the distribution of 3,500 baht to help during Covid outbreak
Bangkok condo prices expected to continue to fall this year
Thai brothers charged with trafficking Thai women to Brunei for prostitution
Thailand News Today | Bangkok may ease restrictions, Phuket bar curfew, Vaccine roll out | January 12
Late-night alcohol ban in Phuket, bars to close at midnight
Thailand News Today | Weekend Bangkok bombs, Thailand fires, Covid update | January 18
Thailand News Today | Stray car on runway, Indonesian quake, 300 baht tourist fee | January 15
Thailand News Today | Governor off respirator, sex-trafficking arrest, condo prices falling | January 14
Thailand News Today | Chinese vaccine, Thailand ‘drug hub’, Covid update | January 13
Thailand News Today | Bangkok may ease restrictions, Phuket bar curfew, Vaccine roll out | January 12
Thailand News Today | Covid latest, Cockfights closed down, Bryde’s Whale beached | January 11
Thailand News Today | Southern floods, Face mask fines, Thai Air Asia woes | January 8
Thailand News Today | 305 infections, No happy ending for massages, Phuket quarantine mooted | Jan 7
Thailand News Today | 10,000 schools closed, 900 new migrant infections, Gambling crackdown | January 6
Thailand News Today | PM reverses lockdown, Southern P.D.A. crackdown, Covid update | Jan 5
Thailand News Today | Record daily infections, Covid restrictions, British arrivals ‘on hold’ | Jan 4
Thailand News Today | Pattaya restrictions, 2021’s extra holidays, Covid update | December 30
Thailand News Today | Covid update, Bangkok restrictions, Gold rush | December 29
Thailand News Today | No national lockdown, Bangkok schools closed, Abortion Bill | Dec 24
Thailand News Today | Covid outbreak update, migrant workers ‘dumped’, Phuket’s fake cases | Dec 23
Thailand4 days agoThailand to introduce 300 baht “tourism fee” to insure foreign visitors, manage tourist destinations
- Coronavirus (Covid-19)4 days ago
Covid-19 measures and safety restrictions to be reviewed at the end of the month
- Crime4 days ago
Koh Samui senior police officer faces charges for allegedly raping a suspect
- Coronavirus (Covid-19)2 days ago
Thailand threw a tourism party. No one arrived.
- Bangkok2 days ago
BTS skytrain maximum fare rate increasing to 158 baht despite backlash
- Central Thailand4 days ago
Student arrested in dormitory at night, charged with lèse majesté offences
- Coronavirus (Covid-19)4 days ago
At least 33 police officers, officials, implicated in migrant smuggling operation
- Coronavirus (Covid-19)2 days ago
Norway adjusts advice after 28 possible vaccine-related deaths of elderly people
blattalito
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 5:33 pm
Click bait!
COULD is not a thing, kit is MAYBE!
Jack Sombra
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 5:34 pm
If it was phuket they would have locked down the island before new years. Central provinces always get more leeway and a lighter touch
David Beckman
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 6:12 pm
Too late ,the birds have flown the coop ,there all over Thailand now locking down these areas won’t achieve anything, government already said the economy is more important than people’s lives ,just leave it all open.3 weeks too late!!
FedUpWithCorruption
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 8:10 pm
The police know all about these illegal gambling dens. They either run them or collect money to allow them to operate.
Because of that, millions of law abiding Thais who have been doing their absolute best to keep COVID away are now suffering intensely.
WHEN WILL THESE PARASITES IN BROWN UNIFORM FINALLY BE CLEANED UP???
Jake
Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 8:36 am
Never
Leo Z
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 10:45 pm
Agreed with David above. It’s all too late now. The “targeted” testing, whose real aim is to keep the number of infections low on the global chart, didn’t work. Nor did contact tracing, apps et al.
It also didn’t help that Myanmar migrant workers from Samut Sakhon were found in Chonburi, therefore, it’s not just the illegal gambling dens. But I guess it’s easier to blame a few “rogue” gamblers than the collapse of immigration control of the Thai-Myanmar border. But I can see why, since they were so busy mulling over the how, when and why of foreign tourist arrivals, daily.
Joel
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 11:46 pm
Sometimes I dont understand how thai government is thinking
Warren Gerdes
Monday, January 4, 2021 at 3:28 am
Going to be a blow to me and many other expats relying on making videos to carry on living here. Can see quite a few having to leave the country when they can . Looks like the retirement dream in the land of smiles is coming to an end.
patty
Monday, January 4, 2021 at 2:53 pm
The government need to ask themselves why people are panicking. They need to look in the mirror as they have no one to blame except themselves if people panick.
Yan
Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 7:28 pm
Massage parlours in Bangsaray are still open…