Phuket: Patong on official lockdown from today

Phuket’s Governor Pakkapong Thaweepat has issued a closure order for Patong with all non-essential travel in or out of the popular tourist town banned in an attempt to slow a potential large scale outbreak of Covid-19 in Phuket. In recent weeks the daily reports of new cases in Phuket were mostly focussed on cases in Patong, especially around the Bangla Road area, the town’s popular adult entertainment district.

Thai PBS has reported that effective today, until further notice, all exits and entrances to Patong by the public and vehicles is banned, with the exception of those transporting essential goods, fuel, medical supplies and LPG.

“Those who need access are required to seek permission from the authorities and must strictly comply with the orders of disease control officials.”

During the lockdown, public health officials will conduct a mass health screening house to house, checking the temperatures of every resident. Anyone found with a fever will be separated and quarantined for observation. Public Health Officials will carry out a cleansing of the entire zone and will fumigate every household, restaurant, bar, shop and hotel.

Hotel employees who wish to leave the area are advised to inform their hotels, which must submit the list of names to officials at checkpoints for permission to leave the zone by Tuesday.

The Thaiger spoke with some locals regarding the lockdown who said they were unaware about the news until today. One told us he’d been walking his dog on the beach this morning and didn’t run into any police officers at all. A local policeman in the town says he has been lining up for testing at Patong Hospital and that the streets are mostly deserted. Another expat said they’d heard yesterday there might be a closure of the roads on Tuesday and was surprised to wake up this morning to see the town was in official “lockdown.”

Be advised that police staffing checkpoints have been set up at all exits and entrances to Patong to enforce the lockdown measure. Violators are warned that they may face imprisonment of up to one year and or a maximum fine of 100,000 baht.

SOURCE: Thai PBS