Five at-risk provinces put under tighter measures
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has tightened control measures at five of the most at-risk provinces, namely Chanthaburi, Chonburi, Trat, Rayong and Samut Sakhon.
Strict travel measures and stringent screening checkpoints will be set up at these provinces, while residents will be tracked via smart phone applications and will be penalised if they violate the restrictions.
These measures are in line with the emergency decree, the authorities said.
CCSA spokesman Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin said these were not lockdown measures, but just an effort to slow down the transmission of the virus.
People who absolutely need to enter the maximum-controlled area must provide official identification documents along with proof of purpose of travel. Logistics personnel will also have to provide documents clarifying origin and destination of the cargo.
Each individual in these five provinces are required to register with the MorChana app, so their movements can be traced.
Police have been instructed to arrest anybody found to be involved in illegal labour smuggling, including officials who are negligent in their duties, allow the trafficking of workers or turn a blind eye to gambling dens. This negligence has been blamed for the new clusters of Covid-19 infections.
Offenders of the new measures will face up to two years in jail and/or a fine of up to Bt40,000.