THE Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration’s (CCSA’s) big committee meeting chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha this afternoon (April 29) placed six provinces under the highest control to rein in the current coronavirus wave, Sanook.com said.
CCSA’s spokesman Dr. Taweesilp Visanuyothin said at 4 p.m. that the six provinces are Bangkok, Chonburi, Chiang Mai, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan.
Measures reimposed or tightened in these six zones are as follows:
– Everyone must wear a surgical or cloth mask when leaving home;
– No dine-in at restaurants but takeaway allowed and they are allowed to remain open till 0 p.m. only;
– No gatherings of more than 20 people allowed;
– Convenience stores will only open from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m.;
– Quarantine period has been moved back to 14 days for all categories at risk. They are not allowed to leave their room except to get tested or receive medical treatment.
Meanwhile a group of taxi drivers drove up to the Government House today and urged Prime Minister Prayut to place them among the priority groups to get vaccinated against coronavirus, Siam Rath newspaper said.
The government has set a goal to vaccinate 50 million people by the end of the year with people most at risk, especially health care workers, at the top of the list.
Mr. Vitoon Namphanich, president of the Thai Taxi Network Trade Association who submitted the letter to the Prime Minister, said taxi, van, bus and motorcycle taxi drivers and others providing related services particularly those manning taxi cooperatives and garages are very close to the users and are at risk of catching the infection from them.
For that reason they too should be on the priority list to get vaccinated.
Vitoon said originally there were around 100,000 taxi drivers in Bangkok and nearby provinces but as the economy took a downturn with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, many returned to their provincial homes because of inadequate income.
There are now around 40,000 taxi drivers who need to be urgently vaccinated together with around 1,000 garage, maintenance and cooperative workers to build up confidence among taxi users.
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Top: Image of downtown Bangkok taken from Cloud 47 Rooftop Bar, United Center office tower, Silom road. Photo: Ninara (CC BY 2.0)
Home Page: Dr. Taweesilp announcing that the highest control has been enforced in six provinces. Thai headline says, “Tightest control of six provinces.” Photo: Sanook.com
