Covid-19: Thailand emergency begins on Thursday

Thailand is declaring a state of emergency from Thursday (March 26) with tougher measures to curb Covid-19 pandemic in the kingdom.

Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan o-cha said the cabinet today agreed to enforce a month-long state of emergency starting Thursday.

He said details of the measures will be announced later.

"We hope the announcement will not affect people’s daily life as it is necessary to contain the outbreak. Public health is the government’s top priority.

"However, if the situation does not improve, there will be a total lockdown," he told a press conference after chairing the weekly cabinet meeting here today.

Prayuth who is also the Defence Minister assured the people that all measures will be carried out in stages to battle the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Stay put and do not return to your home province," he said adding that checkpoints will be set up to stop local travelling to hometown.

To date, Thailand reported 827 Covid-19 cases with four fatalities.

- Bernama