Eateries warned over not closing
Police are warning businesses to comply with closure orders after local authorities in Nonthaburi arrested several restaurant operators in Muang district on Sunday for offering dine-in service to patrons.
Pol Col Kritsana Pattanacharoen, deputy police spokesman, said police are working with provincial authorities to make sure businesses adhere to the restrictions.
The deputy spokesman added that immigration police will step up surveillance at border crossings in the North and Northeast, now that they are closed to people traffic. Authorities are concerned the closure might cause some people to try and sneak into or out of the country, he said.
Although freight transport is still permitted through the checkpoints, no more than two people are allowed inside each vehicle, said Pol Col Kritsana. Immigration police will intensify inspections of goods transport vehicles to prevent stowaways, he said.
Despite the provincial authorities’ order for restaurants to serve take-outs only, a restaurant in Nonthaburi’s Muang district was found serving customers on its premises.
A 27-year-old restaurant operator, identified only as Pawinee, was arrested for allowing customers to eat at a table at her restaurant. Ms Pawinee was apprehended after Muang district chief, Kraithawat Tinsom, saw customers dining at her premises.
Earlier, officials in Muang district and police from Rattanathibet police station arrested the operator of another restaurant on Liang Muang-Sanam Bin Nam road for defying the order.
Violators face a jail term of up to one year and a maximum fine of 100,000 baht, said Pol Col Kritsana.
Nonthaburi is among the five provinces which has ordered the temporary closure of 26 types of establishments until April 12, in order to contain the spread of Covid-19 in Thailand. Supermarkets and convenience stores are exempted, while restaurants have been told to offer take-outs only.
Chiang Mai and Nakhon Ratchasima have also ordered the temporary closure of all entertainment venues for 14 days to prevent Covid-19 from spreading further.