Thailand’s PM urges individuals to ‘keep residence’ to comprise COVID surge | Coronavirus pandemic Information

Prayuth Chan-ocha says the government wants to avoid a strict lockdown after country reports record daily cases.

The Thai prime minister has urged people to stay home to contain a growing coronavirus outbreak that began in a fish market and to avoid a strict lockdown.

Prayuth Chan-ocha said after health officials confirmed 745 new cases a day, the government was aware of the potential economic damage from tight containment measures.

“We don’t want to lock the whole country because we know what the problems are. So can you all lock yourselves?” he told reporters.

“It’s up to everyone,” said Prayuth. “If we don’t want to get infected, just stay home for 14 to 15 days. If you think so, things are safe; easier for screening. “

The government has made 28 provinces, including Bangkok, risk zones and asked people to work from home and not to congregate or travel across provincial lines.

Thailand, which became the first country outside of China to record a COVID-19 case, has recorded a total of 8,439 coronavirus cases and 65 deaths since the pandemic began.

Bangkok restaurants and grocery vendors have been told to stop eating indoors at 9:00 p.m. You are still allowed to offer take-away [Soe Zeya Tun/Reuters]Most of the new cases are related to a group of migrant workers that started in Samut Sakhon, a coastal province southwest of Bangkok, and that has resulted in cases in more than half of the country’s 77 provinces.

There has also been an increase in migrant workers in Singapore and Malaysia, mostly living in overcrowded dormitories, which are ideal conditions for the virus to thrive.

In Thailand, the COVID-19 Task Force has recommended that the government renew an emergency decree that gives powers to health officials and provincial governors until the end of February.

Prayuth eased demand from Bangkok city government that restaurants and grocery vendors in the capital must stop dine-in at 7:00 p.m. (12:00 p.m. GMT) so owners have an additional two hours to resume trading. Take away is allowed.

The sale of alcohol in restaurants is prohibited, while bars and nightclubs in the capital and high-risk provinces must be closed. Provincial governors were empowered to set their own restrictions.

Schools and education centers across the country have been closed for a month.