Pattaya Lockdown - Beginning Thursday, April 9

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Pattaya Lockdown - Beginning Thursday, April 9

Post by Gaybutton »

I'm not pleased about Thai officials constantly blaming foreigners for bringing the virus to Pattaya, but there it is.

The important part is about passports, your original - not a photocopy, being necessary if you wish to pass through a checkpoint.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Pattaya preparing for city closure on April 9th

By Adam Judd

Tuesday, 7 April 2020

Pattaya City is preparing for a 24 hour closure manned by multiple checkpoints on April 9.

The Banglamung District Chief Amnart Charoensri revealed this afternoon that Pattaya ( In Banglamung district ) has the top number of confirmed cases at 30 in Chonburi.

“Many of the confirmed cases in Pattaya are foreigners who were visiting Pattaya and living here. Most of our cases are imported.” The District Chief told The Pattaya News.

“We have to control the spread of the Corona virus. This is a difficult measure but we must stop people, especially foreign tourists, coming to the city at this time.” He added.

“The committee has approved to close Pattaya by setting entrance and exit check points.”

“The closing area will be from the Krating Rai Intersection before the overpass along with other additional checkpoints which will be finalized before Thursday.” The District Chief continued, showing an example but not finalized map below.

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“This approval is to be suggested to the Chonburi Governor to issue the official closing announcement from 2PM on April 9 onward.” He concluded.

The Pattaya City Mayor Sonthaya Khunplueam said, “The lockdown will last at least three weeks or 21 days.”

Specific measures for allowances for who can and cannot pass the checkpoints, which will essentially lock out the entire “Dark Side” suburbs from Pattaya were not clarified to the press at this time. Social media users showed concern on being able to visit hospitals, immigration or Supermarkets. However, in a brief statement, city officials said that essential visits, which were not clarified as what is essential, would be allowed. Medical and essential deliveries like supplies will continue. Passes may be issued and approved, an example is below.

Image

This is not a stay at home order or a lockdown, residents can move freely within the city and checkpoint boundaries outside of the national curfew, currently 10:00 PM to 4:00 AM hours.

Foreigners will need to have their original passport at all checkpoints. Thai nationals will need their ID card. Temperature checks will take place at every checkpoint, if one tests high they will be required to go to a hospital immediately. Interviews for reason and purpose of travel will take place.

Both the Mayor and the District Chief said that if one wants to avoid the checkpoints and unnecessary hassle they should stay home during this time and stay safe.

https://thepattayanews.com/2020/04/07/p ... april-9th/
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Re: Pattaya Lockdown - Beginning Thursday, April 9

Post by RichLB »

I just hope they present a map in English for all us naughty farang. I asked the boyfriend and he thinks that for those of us who live on the ocean side of Sukhumvit we will not encounter the checkpoints. I hope he's right.
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Re: Pattaya Lockdown - Beginning Thursday, April 9

Post by Undaunted »

It doesn’t seem like a big deal and it is a lot better than a 24hr curfew, I just don’t understand what are the north and south barriers.
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Re: Pattaya Lockdown - Beginning Thursday, April 9

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Re: Pattaya Lockdown - Beginning Thursday, April 9

Post by Dodger »

I don't see this effecting residents too much. Just the hassle of being stopped at road blocks to have your temperture taken.

Thaivisa News published a similar article, although the 5 checkpoints are clearly stated, and the point that this is not intended to stop residents from getting around - but keeping outsiders out is clearly explained.

As I keep saying, you have to take what you read in PattayaOne with a grain of salt...but at least it's always shock-filled and sensational.

Every time I see the name Alan Judd I cringe.
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Re: Pattaya Lockdown - Beginning Thursday, April 9

Post by Gaybutton »

Dodger wrote: Tue Apr 07, 2020 6:50 pm Every time I see the name Alan Judd I cringe.
Then you don't have to worry. There is no Alan Judd. His name is Adam Judd. And he doesn't write for PattayaOne. He writes for Pattaya News. Other than that, you were accurate.

I like his writing. I have only one objection - lack of important details, often which seems to me like it would have been easy enough to get, such as in this case a translation for the map and the pass, although painai2 managed to come up with a translation for the map. I think he also could have pressed harder for clarification of what is meant by "essential" and who gets to decide what constitutes essential reasons to get through the checkpoints. Also, does everyone who wants to get through the checkpoints need a pass or is that just for things like delivery trucks?

In any case, I see no reason to complain about Adam Judd. He usually breaks these kinds of stories before any other English language news media does - and most of those are just as bad about leaving out some of the most important details. Adam Judd broke this story. At the time of this post I have not seen one word about the Pattaya lockdown on any other English language news source. So, if Mr. Judd had not broken this story, most of us would not know about it, would not have seen it coming, and would have been unpleasantly surprised on Thursday.

So, for now at least we know there will be a lockdown, but that's really all we know. The publicity about it has left us with plenty of confusion. I'm not surprised. That always seems to happen - we get a basic story and are left with all kinds of unanswered questions - and it should have been simple for news reporters to anticipate many of those questions.
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Re: Pattaya Lockdown - Beginning Thursday, April 9

Post by Undaunted »

As I interpret the map the northern point appears to be the entrance to the motorway on Sukumvit and the southern point is Na Jomtien .
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Re: Pattaya Lockdown - Beginning Thursday, April 9

Post by Gaybutton »

Now the Pattaya Mail has published their information in the following 2 articles.

One thing new in this article is that drivers will be required to show a bottle of alcohol disinfectant gel in their vehicles.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Passports Please!

By Pattaya Mail

April 7, 2020

Expats, tourists and all other foreigners have been instructed to have their original passports with them whilst travelling around Pattaya and neighboring districts from Thursday April 9 to, provisionally, the end of the month.

Government officials from Chonburi, Pattaya and Banglamung have agreed a system of road checkpoints to be set up, especially on all routes out of Pattaya and at the principal intersections between the city and the so called Dark Side, including Soi Siam County Club and Soi Nernplabwan.

Thai nationals will need to have their ID cards with them. The process will include a temperature check (the reading should be below 37.5) and questions about the purpose of travel. It is also a requirement to wear a mask in public at all times. Drivers will also be expected to show a bottle of alcohol gel or similar disinfectant in the vehicle. Pattaya mayor Sonthaya Kunplome said that the moves were designed to reduce further the impact of the Corona virus threat.

Foreigners in a vehicle are strongly advised additionally to carry two extra documents with them, one showing their Pattaya or Chonburi address (for example a valid driving licence or the receipt for the TM30 immigration form which carries the address) and the other – if possible – illustrating the reason for travel (for example hospital appointment slip, air ticket, evidence of work address, official pass). The regulations will be in force at all times except from 10.00 pm to 4 am when a strict curfew is in operation.

Social media users have reacted to the new rules by asking if they will be allowed to travel between different areas of greater Pattaya for shopping purposes. Police sources say this is not a lockdown but all travellers must be ready to show their personal papers and be ready to explain further, if required to do so.

One principal aim is to prevent foreign and Thai tourists from coming into the area which is why proof of a personal address is important. At certain times, there is likely to be a queue of traffic awaiting the checks which, in itself, is expected to be a disincentive to move around unless absolutely necessary.

Story and photos: https://www.pattayamail.com/news/passpo ... ase-294581
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Pattaya to set up checkpoints to control entry and departure from city

April 7, 2020

Police and government officials will install checkpoints at 5 places on Pattaya’s borders to control access to city limits from Thursday, April 9, starting at 2 pm until further notice.

Banglamung District Chief Amnart Charoensri chaired an April 7 meeting to decide where the checkpoints would be set up.

In attendance were Mayor Sonthaya Kunplome, the 4 deputy mayors, heads of government officials, responsible authorities such as police from Banglamung, Pattaya, Jomtien, Nongprue, Tourist police.

The meeting decided that to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), entry and exit from Pattaya must be checked and controlled.

A barrier will be set up at the Kratinglai (flyover) intersection (before Djittabhawan Buddhist College) whereby all traffic must turn left onto Highway 36 and would be free to proceed to Rayong.

Those who wish to come into Pattaya must make a U turn and then turn left onto the railway line road where they will be checked and required to state their purpose of entry into Pattaya, which must only be done at one of the following five checkpoints.

1. Soi Chaiyapornwithee, in front of Tum Lai restaurant.
2. On Motorway No. 7, 5th section, in front of the Highway Police.
3. Soi Pornprapanimit (Siam Country Club Road) in front of Maela Pla Phao Restaurant.
4. Soi Chaiyapruek, before the railway crossing, in front of the coffee shop.
5. Sukhumvit Road before the District Prosecutor’s Office (under the flyover bridge in front of Wat Na Jomtien Temple).

All other roads leading from the railway line road will be blocked and the only entry into Sukhumvit Road will be through the aforementioned checkpoints.

The blockade commences on Thursday, April 9, 2020 at 14.00 hrs and will be in be place until the situation returns to normal.

For those who must pass through these checkpoints to work in Pattaya must show proof of their government service, proof of being an official of an organisation, and work place unit identity card to the officers at the checkpoints.

Those who do not have an ID card must request their organisation to issue them a card according to the official form stating full name, ID card number, telephone number, name of organisation, position of their work, address of organisation, with a photograph attached and must be signed by the head of the organisation.

Civilians must register their full name, stating place and times of arrival and departure and return in the log book. They must wear a face mask at all times when outside their homes.

Everyone is strictly forbidden to leave home between 22.00 hrs and 04.00 hrs.

The decision to setup check points will be submitted to the Governor of Chonburi today for him to issue and official order. (PCPR)

https://www.pattayamail.com/featured/pa ... ity-294575
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Re: Pattaya Lockdown - Beginning Thursday, April 9

Post by gera »

Thailand sees a stable reduction in a number of cases. If this information is correct , I see the locking down of Pattaya as totally redundant. it may actually create a lot of problems for Thais residing in Pattaya because their id cards probably show home addresses from other areas.
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Re: Pattaya Lockdown - Beginning Thursday, April 9

Post by Undaunted »

gera wrote: Tue Apr 07, 2020 9:49 pm Thailand sees a stable reduction in a number of cases. If this information is correct , I see the locking down of Pattaya as totally redundant. it may actually create a lot of problems for Thais residing in Pattaya because their id cards probably show home addresses from other areas.
As someone who lives in Pattaya I am pleased with the level of importance government officials are approaching the current situation with.
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