[LAST UPDATED: 22 March 2020]
The Royal Thai Government’s announced several measures to limit the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), including the postponement of the Songkran holiday (usually mid-April). Provincial governors have issued orders to temporary close venues considered high-risk areas.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) issued an order for 26 types of venues including shopping malls, markets and an expanded list of sports, entertainment and service shops to be closed from today, 22 March, to 12 April, 2020. Supermarkets, pharmacies, food takeaways and deliveries, and other essential services used in daily life remain open.
The Ministry of Interior announced similar orders from the provincial governors of Bangkok’s five surrounding provinces (Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan and Samut Sakhon) for a blanket closure of similar venues throughout the same 22-day period.
Phuket province issued its order on 20 March, 2020, for fighting cock and fish venues and water parks to be closed until further notice. The order also covers six types of venues and shops to be closed until 31 March, 2020, including spas and massage shops, fitness centres and gyms, Thai boxing and martial arts schools, indoor and outdoor kid’s playgrounds, markets and weekend markets, and gaming and Internet shops.
The aforementioned orders are in addition to the Royal Thai Government’s announcement on 17 March, 2020, which includes a 14-day closure of universities, international schools and tutorial schools, from 18 to 31 March, 2020, and temporary closure of Muay Thai stadiums, sports stadiums, horse race tracks, cinemas, pubs/bars, and entertainment venues in Bangkok and the vicinity until the situation improves.
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