Thailand recorded 305 COVID-19 cases today (Thursday), bringing the national total to 9,636. There was also one more fatality, a bedridden 88 year old who was also suffering from cancer. He was infected by his son, who had visited a gambling den in Rayong.

His son visited the deceased on December 22nd and later tested positive for COVID-19 and was admitted to Rayong hospital. His 88 year old father tested positive on January 3rd and passed away on the morning of January 6th.

The province recording the highest number of infections in the past 24 hours is Samut Sakhon, with 146 cases, followed by Bangkok, with 40 new cases.

Of 88 cluster cases, the one stemming from a cockfighting ring has spread to five provinces, 50 in Angthong, 15 in Ayutthaya, 13 in Suphan Buri, 6 in Lopburi and 4 in Singburi.

The CCSA has ordered security officials in all 28 Red Zones to set up check points on the main routes in and out of their provinces. Village and sub-district heads and district chiefs are also to set up checkpoints on smaller roads.

The government is asking businesses to support working from home, and education institutes to use online platforms, to minimize movement, hopefully to curb the outbreak.

Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin, the CCSA spokesperson, referring to the new directive published in the Royal Gazette last night, reiterated the five important measures, which are:

1. Maintaining personal distance
2. Wearing a mask
3. Washing your hands
4. Monitoring your temperature
5. Downloading the tracing application, and complying with the quarantine restrictions in designated areas

Dr. Taweesin talked about authorization for movement between provinces, which can be from a village head, a sub-district chief, a district chief, or a letter explaining the necessity of the trip issued by an employer.

The announcement also increases the punishment for human trafficking, specifically for migrant smuggling rings, which the government regards as a cause of the latest COVID-19 outbreak. The border patrol will be more stringent and the public are asked to report illegal activities via the CCSA Hotline 1111.

As for importing vaccines, the government has no intention ofbarring anyone from importing them, but they must be approved by the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before being made available to the public, or even for presale. Presales can only be of vaccines already approved by Thailand’s FDA.