Thailand Expands Curfew and Other Restrictions to 16 More Provinces

The Thai government announced on Sunday that the 9pm to 4am curfew which was already in place in 13 provinces will be expanded to 16 more provinces for a further two weeks from 3 August, and most likely until the end of August 2021.

The country is experiencing its deadliest wave of COVID19 since the pandemic began. On Monday, 2 August, the Kingdom reported 17,970 new cases and 178 more deaths, bringing the overall total to 633,284 and 5,168, respectively.

The 16 provinces being added to what is called the "Maximum and Strict Control Area" include: Ang Thong, Kanchanaburi, Lopburi, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Ratchasima, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi, Prachinburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Samut Songkhram, Saraburi, Singburi, Suphanburi and Tak.

They join the 13 provinces which were already in the strictest zone: Ayutthaya, Bangkok, Chachoengsao, Chonburi, Nakhon Pathom, Narathiwat, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Pattani, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Songkhla and Yala.

The restrictions for the 29 provinces include not just the curfew, but also other measures designed to stop the spread of the virus. These include intra-provincial travel restrictions and transportation, limits on the amount of people who can gather together, closure of schools, entertainment venues and shops except for supermarkets and pharmacies.

Restaurants in shopping malls will once again be allowed to offer their food and drinks as take away, but customers will not be allowed to consume such items on the premises. They must also close at 8pm so that staff and customers can adhere to the curfew.

Airlines such as Nok Air, Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air and Thai Smile are all expected to extend their suspension of some, if not all domestic flights, until mid to end-August, depending on how the situation evolves and what restrictions are in place.

In addition to the "Maximum and Strict Control Area", Thailand also has the "Maximum Control Area" and the "Control Area". The difference between the areas is the number and severity of the restrictions in place.

In this latest update, the country decreased the "Maximum Control Areas" from 53 provinces to 37, and increased the number of provinces under the "Control Area" setting from 10 to 11.

Provinces within the "Maximum Control Areas" are: Amnat Charoen, Buriram, Chainat, Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chumphon, Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Khon Kaen, Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Maha Sarakham, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Phatthalung, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Ranong, Roi-Et, Sa Kaeo, Sakhon Nakhon, Satun, Sisaket, Sukhothai, Surin, Trang, Trat, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit and Yasothon.

Provinces within the "Control Areas" are: Bueng Kan, Krabi, Mae Hong Son, Mukdahan, Nakhon Phanom, Nan, Phang Nga, Phayao, Phrae, Phuket and Surat Thani.

The situation within the country will be reassessed on 18 August 2021, though it is very likely that the restrictions outlined above will be extended to the end of the month, if not beyond.

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