BANGKOK (AP) – The Thai tourist city of Pattaya and the surrounding district were under blockade on Wednesday as the country continues to struggle with an intensified outbreak of coronavirus.
Health workers sprayed restaurants and other units as part of preventive measures.
The governor has ordered the closure of non-essential stores in Banglamung district in Chonburi province, which includes Pattaya, southeast of Bangkok. Restaurants are only allowed to serve food. The province also closed schools and ordered the closure of 24-hour stores between 10pm and 5am
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha visited the city on Wednesday to support health workers in quarantine centers.
The Thai press reported that it expressed concern about the effect the new restrictions will have on Pattaya’s economy, which is largely based on tourism, but said it was necessary to focus on controlling the spread of the virus.
Thai officials on Wednesday reported 250 new cases of coronavirus, including 241 local transmissions.
After months of having the COVID-19 situation under control, Thailand has seen two major clusters develop since mid-December. One has mainly infected hundreds of migrant workers in Myanmar at a seafood market near Bangkok, while in recent days another group has connected to a gambling bar in an eastern province.
Bangkok has been designated a zone 2, which means that more than 10 new cases have been confirmed there, and the number is likely to increase.
Earlier this week, Bangkok officials announced new restrictions, including the closure of entertainment facilities during the New Year holidays.
Thailand confirmed a total of 6,690 cases, including 61 deaths.