Zero new Covid-19 cases reported as Thailand moves to new phase of relaxation

Thailand reported no new coronavirus infections or deaths on Saturday, leaving the country tally at 3,025 cases and 56 deaths.

This is the second day since March 9 that the country has reported no new daily Covid-19 cases. New cases have been in the low single digits almost every day for the past three weeks.

Yesterday on Friday (May 15), Thailand reported seven new cases of Covid-19 and no deaths over the previous 24 hours, but all seven new cases had recently returned from Pakistan and were tested positive in state quarantine.

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Second phase of lockdown relaxation

Meanwhile, the government has approved the second phase of the easing of lockdown measures from May 17 to help lift the economy. It will also shorten the nighttime curfew by one hour, to 11pm to 4am, from 10pm to 4am.

The government also allowed stores in department stores or communities mall such as consumption, computers, electrical appliances, bedding, building materials, furniture, office supplies, flowers, clothes, cosmetics and sport equipment to reopen from May 17th onwards.

But restrictions on transportation – no regular international transport, and strict screening of inter-provincial transport, remain unchanged.

Phuket International Airport to remain closed

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has reverted its decision on the reopening of Phuket International Airport.

In an urgent announcement issued today, the CAAT has ordered the extension of the closure of Phuket until further notice.

The CAAT cited the advice from the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) that Phuket remained at risk for the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) despite effective surveillance, prevention, and control measures.