There won't be lockdown, Prayut confirms

This morning (Dec 24, 2020), the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has confirmed that there won't be any lockdown ensuing the re-emergence of local COVID-19 cases at Samut Sakhon. However, the CCSA said that there will be the demarcation of areas in the country into four colors—red, orange, yellow, and green—according to the level of risks.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha led the meeting with the CCSA today, and reached a consensus that around 30 provinces would be categorized into four groups according to the number of cases found, as followed:

• Red Zone: the area in which a high number of cases have been found, hence the imposition of curfews, work-from-home policy, limitation of transportation into the area, and strict screening checkpoints
• Orange Zone: the area connected to the Red Zone areas or having at least 10 cases found, hence the restraint of mass gatherings, strict screening checkpoints, and the encouragement of work-from-home and online class protocols
• Yellow Zone: the area in which not more than ten cases have been found and risks are controllable
• Green Zone: the area where no cases and the possibility of the spread have been found

As of now, Samut Sakhon is the only province zoned red, while four neighboring provinces—Bangkok, Samut Songkhram, Ratchaburi, and Nakhon Pathom—are listed in the yellow zone. In the meantime, there are 25 provinces appointed in the yellow zone, namely Saraburi, Samut Prakan, Suphan Buri, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Uttaradit, Chachoengsao, Kamphaeng Phet, Phetchabun, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phuket, Petchaburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Prachin Buri, Krabi, Khon Kaen, Chai Nat, Udon Thani, Phichit, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Sawan, and Ang Thong.

Meanwhile, there's no 'green zone' province at the moment.

In order to control the outbreaks that could possibly reemerge in the upcoming festivals like New Year and Children's Day, the government has also imposed more preventive measures for each zone, as follows:

• In Red Zone, all celebratory events and mass gatherings are completely prohibited, as online events are encouraged.
• In Orange Zone, mass gatherings are strictly prohibited, but the events with the limitation of attendees can be negotiated. Online events are also highly recommended.
• In Yellow and Green Zones, events and gatherings can still be organized but recommended to scale down. Strict screening checkpoints need to be managed as well.

Read more about the second outbreak in Thailand here.