Stage 3 preparations underway

National lockdown ‘may be needed’

The government is making preparations to cope with a possible third-stage outbreak of the coronavirus, including a nationwide lockdown, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said.

“The third stage means disease transmission to a second person, third person and so on. Thailand remains at a controllable stage,” he said.

The number of coronavirus (Covid19) cases recorded in Thailand increased by 35 yesterday, taking the total to 212.

“Preparations cover facilities. They include arranging for beds at existing and additional facilities. These may be military hospitals, private hospitals and even hotels. They will be used as additional places for quarantine,” Gen Prayut said.

“Information must be collected and preparations must be made beforehand, starting today. If the outbreak reaches the third stage, it will be hectic and the country will be locked down,” he said.

Present disease control measures did not constitute a lockdown, just the strict scrutiny of people entering and leaving the country, Gen Prayut said.

He added that no one wanted to see a national lockdown, but if the situation warranted one, it would happen.

Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand has added 10 more countries to its list of severely infected zones, effective from tomorrow. The 10 are Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, the UK, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and the US, Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob said yesterday.

The countries and territories already on the list are South Korea, China, Italy, Iran, Macau and Hong Kong.

Travellers from these countries and territories must complete a 14-day quarantine before entering Thailand. Air operators are required to screen passengers at check-in.

Passengers must present health certificates issued in the last three days confirming they are not a coronavirus risk. Boarding will be denied to any passenger who is unable to present a health certificate.

They must also have health insurance. Air operators will hand T8 forms to passengers to fill out and submit to disease control officials upon arrival at Thai airports, as required by the Communicable Diseases Act.

Under the announcement, officials have the power to prevent anyone entering or exiting an aircraft on arrival without medical examination by disease control officials, and prevent any vehicle from approaching the aircraft.

Disease control officials also have the power to order air operators to disinfect the aircraft in order to prevent the spread of the disease, and detain the aircraft at a specified place.

They can also require passengers and crew on board the aircraft to undergo a medical examination, and may also isolate, quarantine, confine them for observation, or have them immunised at places and periods to be specified.

The air operators are responsible for the expenses incurred by these measures as well as expenses for the care, hospitalisation and prevention and control of international communicable diseases, according to the announcement.

Meanwhile, Kla Party leader Korn Chatikavanij, a former finance minister, has warned that Thailand has entered “10 dangerous days”, after the number of infection cases rose above 200 yesterday.

On his Facebook page Mr Korn cited information from a data scientist which showed alarming rates of transmission in several countries during the 10 days after the number of cases there broke 200.

During this period, Iran’s cases jumped by 6,566, Spain’s by 6,391, Germany’s by 4,585, South Korea’s by 4,335, Italy’s by 3,858, France’s by 3,678, the United States’ by 3,499, Switzerland’s by 2,200, the UK’s by 1,960, and Japan’s by 502.

“This is very terrifying,” he said, adding that it was important to take strict control measures for the next 14 days, which could yield positive results similar to those seen in Japan.

Deputy Bangkok governor Pol Lt Gen Sophon Phuttipong said that eateries in metropolitan Bangkok were permitted to remain open over the next two weeks unless they sold alcohol, put on music and dance performances or karaoke.

Malaysia crossings shut: Page 2 China sees virus aftermath: Page 4 Commentary: Page 9

Call to ease truck limits: Page B1