Thailand plans to ease its coronavirus lockdown in the country on May 3. The plan to ease lockdown includes the reopening of some business sectors as well as socializing the preventive measures for possible second wave outbreak.
Dr Thaweesilp Wisanuyothin of Thailand’s Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) informed that there will be six business who may continue operation during the partial relaxation.
Those six businesses are markets, eateries outside department stores, retailers, sports and recreational activities, hair salons and barbershops, as well as pet grooming and boarding businesses.
Upon the relaxation, the government will give approximately 14 days. However, if the number of infection significantly increases during the 14 days, the government shall implement lockdown back once more.
Also, during the relaxation, the 10pm-to-4am nationwide curfew will still be in effect. Government also issues guidelines for business reopening and plans to issue a guideline for second wave outbreak’s preventive measures.
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Thailand Lockdown: Millions to Potentially be Unemployed
Numerous predictions on the effects of COVID-19 and its lockdown in Thailand emerge. However, recent reports by UN’s International Labor Organisation and the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce give clearer insights for the government about what they will face soon.
According to the reports, millions of people in Thailand will be unemployed due to the virus. Especially, in tourism alone, there are potentially six million people who will lose their jobs.
Tourism has always played an integral part in the country’s economy. The sector alone contributes approximately 15-18% to the country’s GDP in direct income.
Additionally, if we also count other sectors that rely on tourism to sustain, the figure becomes 21% of the GDP. Compared to its neighboring countries, tourism in Thailand has a far bigger portion to the GDP.
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