Thai authorities return curfew to contain third wave of coronavirus

Thai authorities on July 9 afternoon approved stricter measures for ten Thai provinces, including Bangkok, that will impose an overnight curfew, limit opening hours of several venues and ban gatherings of five people, Report informs referring to local media.

Effective July 12, people living in Bangkok, metropolitan areas, and four southern Thai provinces must not leave their homes between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m.

In ten provinces of the country, residents are urged to work from home unless their professions, such as healthcare, require them to leave the house. Activities that will be allowed include buying food and groceries, seeing a doctor, and getting vaccinated.

Gatherings of more than five people are not allowed.

In Bangkok and its metropolitan areas, the de-facto lockdown will see closures of shopping malls except for the supermarkets, banks, pharmacies, restaurants, and cafes within them; those are allowed to operate until 8 p.m.

Outside shopping malls, restaurants, and cafes can open until 8 p.m. They still cannot offer dining-in. Convenient stores and night markets must close from 8 p.m. through 4 a.m. Public parks can stay open until 8 p.m.

Public transport will stop running at 9 p.m. Massage parlors, spas, and nightlife venues remain closed until further notice.

These restrictions will be imposed for 14 days, starting from July 12.

Thailand on July 9 marked another new record high of COVID-19 infections and deaths with 9,276 and 72, respectively.