BANGKOK CHASES INHEATTING COVID CAPE: LOCKDOWN CHANGES ON THE HORIZON
New Restrictions are Set to Kick In Next Week
Thailand’s authorities have announced a tighter lockdown for Bangkok and several high‑risk provinces starting next Monday, after the country logged a third consecutive day of record COVID‑19 cases.
On Sunday, 11,397 new infections and 101 deaths were added to the tally, pushing the total to 403,386 cases and 3,341 fatalities. The surge is fueled by the highly transmissible Alpha and Delta variants that have been circulating since early April.
Flights? What Flights?
- All domestic flights to and from Bangkok, plus any “high‑risk” provinces, will be suspended from Wednesday onward.
- Only medical emergencies, emergency landing aircraft, and flights linked to the tourism reopening program are exempt.
- Other local flights will operate at 50% capacity.
An Added Layer of Lockdown
General Nattapon Nakpanich, chief of the National Security Council, confirmed that tougher measures will apply from Tuesday. The goal? Keep residents in high‑risk zones mostly at home.
However, essential services such as supermarkets, banks, hospitals, and medical clinics will stay open.
Curfew & Shopping Mall Closure
- Chonburi, Ayutthaya, and Chachoengsao provinces will see a 9 pm – 4 am curfew, effective from Tuesday.
- All shopping malls in these provinces will close.
Bangkok and Nine Other Provinces Already Under Lockdown
These restrictions – the harshest in over a year – have been in place since last Monday. They serve as the country’s response to its longest and most severe outbreak to date.
Vaccine Push: More Pfizer & AstraZeneca On the Way
Health officials are stepping up vaccine procurement.
- By Monday, a deal for 20 million Pfizer doses will be finalized.
- An order for 50 million additional Pfizer doses is also being considered.
- Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul plans to request temporary limits on the export of locally manufactured AstraZeneca vaccines, though he hasn’t specified quotas.
Thailand’s AstraZeneca plant, inaugurated last June, is not just for domestic use; it’s slated to supply several Southeast Asian countries and Taiwan. AstraZeneca’s spokesperson emphasized the Thai facility’s global significance and expressed commitment to equitable vaccine distribution.
Vaccination Status
Since June, Thailand has relied primarily on Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines. Roughly 5% of the country’s 66 million residents have received the second dose.
Stay safe, stay home, and remember: a day without a lockdown is worth a thousand days without it.
