PEOPLE in Nonthaburi province adjacent to Bangkok flocked to shop for essential supplies before the lockdown starts on Monday July 12 fearing goods might run out and also eager to avoid bigger crowds over the weekend, Thai Rath newspaper said this evening (July 9)
Shoppers were busy buying necessities such as rice, dried food and drinking water to keep at home after the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) this afternoon announced 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew for 14 days from Monday as well as other lockdown measures to control the coronavirus crisis after the number of daily cases soaring to 9,276 this morning with there also being 72 more deaths.
During the 14-day lockdown period only the supermarket, restaurants, pharmacies, banks, IT equipment stores and vaccination points will be allowed to stay open in shopping malls till 8 p.m.
Mrs. Busara Janpoor, who came to shop at one of the malls in Nonthaburi, said she rushed to buy goods today because it is not that crowded as it is likely these malls will be packed over the weekend.
Although she runs a grocery store at home she did not dare go to the wholesale market for fear of catching Covid-19.
Apprehensive about not have enough goods to sell in her store she bought a little more than usual, especially drinking water, which she bought 10 packs rather than the usual five to six packs because she is uncertain what will happen in future as the authorities could very well extend the lockdown.
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Shoppers at a mall in Nonthaburi. Photos: Thai Rath
