When is a curfew not a curfew? Business chief slams latest COVID-19 measures. He urged the government to reassess the situation every 3 days and not wait the standard 14 before coming up with something new. And he reiterated what countless others are saying - the only way out of the mess is to ensure that 70% of the Thai population are vaccinated by the end of the third quarter - the end of September. Thai Visa

Picture: Daily News

 

Thailand's government has been blustering for days that they will not announce a nationwide lockdown and curfew.

 

But Daily News reported that it's immaterial. The people are in lockdown and there is nothing for them to do at night anyway.

 

They based their assessment - patently obvious to anyone who lives in Thailand - on comments from the chief of the Federation of Thai Industries, Suphan Mongkhonsuthee.

 

He said yesterday that the government don't need to issue a lockdown or curfew order. The people are locked down and under curfew already.

 

People are scared to go out far more than in other waves of the virus and with bars shut, and malls and restaurants closing early there is nothing for them to do at night anyway.

 

He urged the government to reassess the situation every 3 days and not wait the standard 14 before coming up with something new. 

 

And he reiterated what countless others are saying - the only way out of the mess is to ensure that 70% of the Thai population are vaccinated by the end of the third quarter - the end of September. 

 

People have already been advised to delay returning from Songkran trips and work from home. 

 

Meanwhile the vaccine rollout has been criticized as very slow - less than 1% of the population so far - with repeated announcements that it will only get going at pace in June. 

 

Whatever the government says it is hard to get away from one inescapable conclusion, notes Thaivisa:

 

Thailand is in a state of lockdown and under curfew at night in all but name.