Thailand Government dimisses rumours of 24 hour curfew

Bangkok: The Thai government on Monday dismissed rumours that a 24 hour curfew would be imposed in the country replacing the current six-hour curfew due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Thaveesilp Wisanuyothin, spokesman of the government-run Center for the COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), dismissed the rumours widely circulated on social media, reports Xinhua news agency. A daily curfew between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. was imposed from April 2.

Thaveesilp commented such unconfirmed hearsay may have stemmed from a written directive recently sent from the Ministry of Interior’s Permanent Secretary Chatchai Phromlert to all provincial governors calling for “preparations to upgrade the measures and operations” against the at local levels throughout the country.

Many people may have been misled or misinterpreted the message as a step to be promptly taken in advent of curfew around the clock, according to the CCSA spokesman.

Thailand has reported 51 new cases on Monday, taking the total to 2,220, while the death toll stood at 26.

Given the number of cases reported on daily basis by the Ministry of Public Health, no such thing as a 24-hour curfew will be declared anytime soon, according to the CCSA spokesman.

Thaveesilp commented such unconfirmed rumours have merely sent panics and that those who might share untruthful, misleading content such as the 24-hour curfew could possibly be faced with severe legal penalties under current emergency rule.

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