Today (April 2, 2020) at 9:30 AM, at the Santimaitri Building, Government House, General Prayuth Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, chaired a meeting of the COVID-19 Situation Administration Center, emphasizing the directive for all agencies to integrate their efforts, work collaboratively, and present all measures to the Cabinet.

He also signed regulations under Section 9 of the Emergency Decree on Public Administration B.E. 2548 (No. 2) to implement various measures as necessary to address the emergency situation swiftly. This includes prohibiting anyone from leaving their homes nationwide between 10 PM and 4 AM the following day. Violators may face imprisonment of up to 2 years or a fine of up to 40,000 baht, or both. In cases where there are stricter announcements or recommendations for specific provinces, areas, or locations, those must be followed as well, except for individuals with essential travel needs, such as medical personnel, transport of medical supplies, patient transport, energy transport, and relocation of people to controlled areas.

 

        The Prime Minister discussed and directed relevant agencies to consider economic support measures comprehensively, including stock instruments, debt relief, tax systems, and tax reductions. Once the situation stabilizes, there must be measures for recovery in various investments that benefit the public. Additionally, budgetary actions must follow the constitutional procedures, which are quite detailed and time-consuming.

       Regarding medical supplies, beds, N95 masks, and PPE, the Prime Minister ordered sufficient procurement to meet demand. The importation of medical supplies has procedures in place, but import taxes have been resolved. Purchasing through G to G systems, such as with China, requires the Chinese government to certify companies for the process to proceed, which necessitates public understanding. The Ministry of Interior has reported that it is collaborating with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society to manage transportation and distribute face masks through communication systems to ensure masks reach their destinations smoothly.

The Prime Minister requested all agencies to communicate with the public regarding their operations, as there are regulations, procedures, and detailed aspects that need to be considered, as they may impact the public. Therefore, all agencies should create understanding among the public through all state communication channels, such as the Thai Koo Fah page, to prevent misinformation from becoming a social media issue.

For those who do not comply with government measures and continue to gather and drink, law enforcement agencies are urged to consider strict penalties to ensure public adherence to government regulations.

        Regarding entry into Thailand, the Prime Minister ordered a suspension of travel from abroad until April 15 to prepare State Quarantine facilities and ensure everyone undergoes thorough health assessments. Travelers must have documents filled out for entry, undergo health assessments, and possess fit-to-fly certificates. He directed the CCSA to analyze and plan carefully, as once travelers enter the country, measures must be in place to control and address issues of individuals at risk who may go missing during transit to quarantine or accommodation. For the return of students, he requested a delay as mentioned above and consideration of areas to accommodate State Quarantine, directing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to check how many students are traveling back and arrange for their gradual return to ensure sufficient space for State Quarantine.

        The Prime Minister understands the concerns of students and parents wishing to return to the country, thus he requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Public Health, and Interior to collaborate on clear support measures, preventive measures, and assistance for citizens within the country. He ordered the Ministry of Interior to control checkpoints to prevent congestion. Currently, all land checkpoints are closed, but people are still waiting to enter and exit, and strict control of responsible areas is in place. The Ministry of Interior has also reported that it is ready to create understanding among the public through news dissemination channels.