NEW CONTAGION MEASURES

To contain the spread of Covid-19, the Public Health Ministry will this week launch special regulations under the Communicable Disease Act 2015.

Sections 34 and 35 will give health officials and provincial governors authority over 'proscribed persons', namely infected patients, those suspected of being infected, and those with whom they have been in contact.

Penalties: Up to one year in jail and/or a fine of up to 100,000 baht.

OFFICIALS WILL BE ABLE TO:

1 Require a "proscribed person" to undergo a check-up or treatment. 2 Require a "proscribed person" to be immunised at date, time and place prescribed.

3 Confiscate bodies or carcasses of targeted persons or animals for examination or medical management. 4 Require owners and residents of an affected house to disinfect or destroy anything contaminated. 5 Require owners and residents of house to eradicate animals and insects. 6 Prohibit any persons from performing any act that may compromise hygiene.

7 Prevent any person from entering or exiting quarantine/isolation areas without permission.

8 Provincial governors can order temporary closure of markets, food vendors, factories, public meeting places, theatres, educational institutes and other public places. 9 Provincial governors can order targeted persons to temporarily cease performing their occupations. 10 Provincial governors can ban ‘proscribed persons’ from entering public places without permission.