MANY provinces have imposed stricter measures as new cases of Covid-19 continue to grow exponentially. People in 42 provinces may face a fine of up to 20,000 baht for not wearing a mask in public, while Nonthaburi Province is now urging residents not to leave home from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m., NNT said today (April 24, 2021).
Nonthaburi Province yesterday issued a venue closure order for bullfighting and cockfighting venues, nightclubs, bars, karaoke venues, bathing and massage parlours, game centres and arcades, water parks and amusement parks including indoor parks located in shopping malls, as well as amulet centres.
The province is now mandating that every person wear a mask outside of home, including at the office and in public, or face a fine of up to 20,000 baht.
Effective today, Nonthaburi residents are now asked to stay home after 9 p.m. each night, while government agencies and private companies in the province are asked to adopt a work-from-home arrangement, and to ask their employees to refrain from dining in groups.
Forty-two provinces in Thailand have decreed the mask mandate, with failure to comply considered a violation of the Communicable Diseases Act, resulting in a potential 20,000 fine.
In the central and eastern region, the mandate has been announced in Prachin Buri, Phetchaburi, Suphan Buri, Ayutthaya, Samut Sakhon, Lopburi, Samut Prakan, Prachuab Khiri Khan, Chonburi, Saraburi, Trat, Nonthaburi, and Kanchanaburi where the rule only applies at markets, flea markets, and floating markets.
Provinces adopting the mask mandate in the southern region are Surat Thani, Trang, Nakhon Si Thammrat, Narathiwat, Pattani, Phang Nga, Phuket, Ranong, Satun, Songkhla, and Yala.
In the northern region, Sukhothai, Tak, Phetchabun, Uttaradit, and Lamphun have adopted the mandate, similar to orders in Yasothon, Nong Khai, Ubon Ratchathani, Chaiyaphum, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Sisaket, Surin, Udon Thani, Loei, Amnat Charoen, Buriram, and Nakhon Phanom in the northeastern region.