Quasi lockdown imposed in Chonburi and other COVID-19 hotspots. Anyone who needs to travel in or out of the aforementioned provinces will need to present a travel certificate issued by the local administration, photo ID (passport advised for foreigners) and documentation to show travel is essential (such as a medical appointment). - Thai Visa



Quasi lockdown imposed in Chonburi and other COVID-19 hotspots

 

 

Thailand's Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha on Wednesday signed an order banning all but essential inter-provincial travel to and from Chonburi, including Pattaya, Samut Sakhon, Trat, Rayong and Chanthaburi.

 

The order has been published in the Royal Gazette.

 

Anyone who needs to travel in or out of the aforementioned provinces will need to present a travel certificate issued by the local administration, photo ID (passport advised for foreigners) and documentation to show travel is essential (such as a medical appointment).

 

A Thai language version of the form needed for the travel certificate is available here or here (we will work on getting an English version).

 

The order encourages people to install the Mor Chana and Thai Chana (download links below) contact tracing apps that will facilitate the tracking of people who may have come into contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus.

 

The order also states that strictest possible legal action will be taken against anyone who operates or attends an illegal gambling den.

 

Those who break the rules of the order face a fine of up to 40,000 baht.

 

While the authorities have stressed this is not a lockdown, all but essential travel is seemingly no longer possible. 

 

The news comes following a day of flip-flopping by the Thai authorities regarding the implementation of travel restrictions in the provinces mentioned.

 

On Tuesday, media including Thailand's state broadcaster ThaiPBS, as well as Thaivisa, ran stories stating a lockdown had been approved for Samut Sakhon, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat.

 

However, later on Tuesday the PM said the story was not true and that the provinces were not under lockdown.

 

But less than 48 hours later, the quasi lockdown has now been implemented with Chonburi, Samut Sakhon, Trat, Rayong and Chanthaburi under the highest level of restrictions with regards to travel and free movement.

 

On Wednesday, Chonburi Governor Pakarathorn Thianchai issued an order cancelling all flights from U-Tapao airport until the end of January, as well as locking down Koh Si Chang. The passport office in Pattaya was also ordered closed.

 

Also on Wednesday, health officials in Chonburi reported 30 new COVID-19 infections, 21 of which were in Sriracha.  The total number of confirmed cases in the province is now 420.

 

Thailand's COVID-19 contact tracing apps

 

Mor Chana: 

Android

iOS

 

Thai Chana:

Website