Rolling Orders See Island Areas Contained After
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THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2020 thephuketnews thephuketnews1 thephuketnews.com Friday, April 10 – Thursday, April 16, 2020 Since 2011 / Volume X / No. 15 20 Baht STRANDED RUSSIANS RECEIVE HELP > PAGE 2 NEWS PAGE 3 Dead tourist blamed for LOCKDOWN COVID spread ROLLING ORDERS SEE ISLAND AREAS CONTAINED AFTER PATONG BLITZ TESTS LIFE PAGE 6 1,000 FOR COVID-19 Return of the real Songkran A driver heading towards Patong shows a traditions military security officer his evidence to allow him to pass the main checkpoint set up in Kathu. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot The Phuket News Chalong and Kathu came under lock- “[We] ask people in the area not bolstered by the nationwide curfew [email protected] down on Tuesday. More lockdown to leave their homes or place of issued by Prime Minister Prayut which orders were expected to be issued if residence to protect themselves came into effect last Friday (Apr 3). series of orders issued by virus infections continued to spread. from infection and [because] they The nationwide curfew bans all Phuket Governor Phakaphong The orders have been publicly may be a carrier and spread the people from being on the streets from A Tavipatana has seen the main released with very little notice for CONVID-19 virus to other people.” 10pm to 4am each night unless they island tourism and residential areas people to prepare. The orders on The orders also pointed out that have express permission. Rescue isolated after Patong was “shut down” Monday came less than two hours breach of the order would violate workers, emergency personnel, of- at midnight last Saturday night (Apr before the lockdowns came into effect. Section 52 of the Communicable ficials performing their duties and PAGE 12 4), followed by Karon, Chalong, The orders on Tuesday came after Disease Act 2015, which may incur some regular citizens, such as night- SPORT Rawai and Kathu. the orders were officially in effect. a penalty of up to one year in prison shift workers, are permitted to travel The order by the Governor People in lockdown zones are or a fine of up to B100,000, or both. or transit during the curfew – but Phuket MMA to shut down Patong was posted asked to say in their homes, and All lockdown orders are must be able to prove their cause. publicly at about 11pm last Satur- public health teams will be deployed in effect until further notice. The Phuket Provincial Office rising star Kape day, and came into effect just one to check the areas for the virus. Any On Monday (Apr 6), Governor this week repeated its warnings that heading to UFC hour later, at the stroke midnight. persons in the areas who start to ex- Phakaphong also issued an order breaking the nationwide curfew con- All non-essential travel in or out perience any symptoms of infection warning that persons anywhere stituted a breach of the Emergency of the tourism town is now banned are to report to officials immediately. in Phuket found not wearing a Decree issued by PM Pryut, and in the hope of preventing a major All municipalities respon- face mask while in a public area may be punished by up to two years outbreak of the COVID-19 corona- sible for areas under lockdown risked being fined up to B20,000. in jail or a fine of up to B100,000. virus on the island. The same applies have been ordered to ensure im- Last week Governor Phakaphong In Patong, which has become the in all other areas under “lockdown” portant public areas are santised. “kindly requested the cooperation” epicentre of infections in Phuket (see by order. Karon and Rawai came In all the official lockdown -or of all people to remain indoors from page 3), health officials randomly under official lockdown on Monday. ders, Governor Phakaphong noted, 8pm-3am. That request now remains tested 1,000 people. One officer at... CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 @thephuketnews 2 PHUKET NEWS THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2020 [email protected] 6.5mn may lose jobs in COVID-19 News fallout > p5 Stranded Russians receive help After more than a week sleeping at funeral sala, moved to resort Eakkapop Thongtub the Russian embassy of their brought the three Russians fruit [email protected] predicament, but in the mean- and other food to eat. All three time they had no money to pay of the tourists expressed their hree Russian tourists for another flight home or to deep gratitude to the generous who had been sleeping pay for any accommodation, Thai spirit. Tin an open-air building Mr Winai explained. Tourism Authority of Thai- next to the crematorium at “Our officials checked their land (TAT) Phuket Office -Di Wat Mai Khao for more than temperatures, and none of rector of Napasorn Kakai on a week as they had been unable them had a fever. They are all Monday (Apr 6) became aware to board any flights home have healthy,” Mr Winai said. of the Russians’ situation. been moved to a resort at Nai “I also gave them masks “I asked relevant officials Yang Beach. and offered them to move to to check the area for where “The owners of the resort another building, but they the foreigners could stay, and will provide free accommo- declined saying they were fine I asked for health officials dation and free meals until a where they were,” he added. check all three of the tourists plane from Russia arrives,” The Russian tourists were very Mr Winai continued to for COVID-19 just to be sure,” said Phuket Vice Governor grateful for food brought to them by check on the three tourists, while she said. Supoj Rotreuang Na Nong- local villagers. Photo: Winai Sae-iew news of their predicament made “I have also asked for local khai, who visited the Russian its way to the upper echelons officials to coordinate with the trio – Nikolai Sharov, 28; So- the exact date and time are not Baan) of Moo 4, Mai Khao. “At first local villagers of provincial administration [Russian] embassy to provide fia Sharova, 23; and Aleksei yet known,” he added. Mr Winai explained that he thought they were ghosts,” and to leading tourism officials. assistance,” she added. Galievi, 30 – at the temple last Also present at the tem- first learned that the three tour- he said. Mr Winai himself reported “Please, any tourists who Sunday (Apr 5). ple to speak with the three ists were staying at the temple The tourists explained that the situation to the Phuket need assistance, contact your “The Russian government Russians yesterday were Maj building on Mar 25, after he their flight home was cancelled Tourist Police. embassy,” Ms Napasorn con- may send a plane to pick up Ekkachai Siri of the Phuket went to investigate reports by and that they were waiting for Meanwhile, feeling sorry cluded. Russian nationals who need Tourist Police and Winai Sae- local villagers of noises coming their ticket refunds. for the tourists, local resi- Additional reporting by to get home, but at this time iew, Village Headman (Phu Yai from the building. They had already informed dents living around the temple Tanyaluk Sakoot Lockdown orders hit main Phuket areas Continued from page 1 ...the Patong Municipality Health Division confirmed that new cases of infection had been found. However, at the time of go- ing to press not all test results had been returned and the officer declined to confirm how many news cases had been confirmed. Phuket Immigration on Tuesday set up mobile units at Patong Immigration Office, at Chalong Police Station and at Karon Po- lice Station. The units are to be open from A motorcyclist is checked. 10am to 3pm workdays, and are empow- ered to issue extensions to long stay visas visit an immigration office constitutes “essential (more than 30 days), short stay visas (30 travel” and foreigners en route to or from an days or less), re-entry permits as well as immigration office in Phuket will be permitted residence notifications and 90-day reports. to pass the checkpoints set up across the island. Phuket Immigration Deputy Chief Also allowed through the check- Col Nareuwat Putthawiro confirmed to points are any persons heading to the air- The Phuket News on Tuesday that the need to port on an outbound flight home, he said. thephuketnews THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2020 THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2020 PHUKET NEWS 3 Tourist blamed for infections COVID-19 may have contributed to Hungarian tourist’s death, says doctor The Phuket News At approximately 2:40am not infected, while the rest [email protected] last Friday (Apr 3) the patient are still waiting for the result, was found as registering no he added. Hungarian tourist pulse. Doctors administered Patong has become a who died after a CPR but it transpired it was hotbed for the spread of A serious road acci- too late to revive him and the disease with 70 of 123 dent could have contracted he was pronounced dead, Dr cases officially recognised COVID-19 whilst in hospital Chalermpol said. “as confirmed” by the Phuket which may have contributed The tourist had been under Communicable Disease Com- to his death. care and close observation mittee, which is chaired by The 25-year-old male was in the hospital for a total of Phuket Governor Phakaphong involved in a serious crash 10 days. Tavipatana. in the early hours of Mar 25 Dr Chalermpong did admit However, the number of although the specifics of his that although the injuries cases being reported by of- accident were not disclosed sustained in the crash were ficials in Phuket has come un- by Vachira Phuket Hospital almost certainly the cause of der dispute in the past week.