Provinces remind people about wearing face masks

Individual provinces are stepping up safety measures since the roll out of Phase 3 of the lockdown relaxations. In Chanthaburi province, eastern Thailand on the Cambodian border, they’ve announced a “D-Day” against people leaving their homes without masks.

(The Thaiger predicts the authorities in Chanthaburi may not know a lot about what actually happened on D-Day.)

Authorities in Chanthaburi have noted travellers dropping their guard in terms of Covid-19 precautions, and public health officials there are urging people to keep their masks on in public, observe social distancing and avoid crowded places.

Chanthaburi’s governor lamented that locals have been seen commuting without wearing masks, posing a risk of a second wave of infections. He says the province will enforce mask-wearing stringently with a 20,000 baht fine from today.

At Phuket’s Bus Terminal 2, meanwhile, large numbers of people were seen buying tickets. The hub is practicing strict checks, including temperature screenings and enforced distancing. Sritrang Tours, which runs between Phuket and Hat Yai in the South, has reduced its bus loads from a maximum of 39 to only 19, and requires passengers to scan a QR code using the Thai Chana app before boarding. Those unable to do so will be required to fill out a form.

People traveling to Phuket are required to register on the Phuket Smart Check-in app when they enter the province. For now, that means when they cross Sarasin Bridge and go through the Tha Chatchai checkpoint.

Phang Nga Transport Terminal has similarly seen a rise in activity since restrictions on interprovincial travel were lifted on Thursday. Drivers at the terminal are required to report for temperature screenings as part of safety measures. They noted passengers have not reached their maximum yet, as only journeys to some southern areas and provinces, including Phuket, Su-ngai Golok and Betong are available.

SOURCE: NNT