Pattaya-
New checkpoints and restricted zones are being finalized in Pattaya after yesterday’s first day of city wide closures caused a lot of traffic issues and local resident complaints.
The Pattaya City Mayor Sonthaya Khunpluem told The Pattaya News this afternoon, “The Pattaya lockdown cannot be cancelled but we have planned to change some areas and check points.”
“All barriers which are blocking roads in the East, also known as the Darkside locally, and by the railroad will be or have been removed.” He added.
“Roads along the railway and Sukhumwit Road will be fully opened once these are all removed and shall stay so. Checkpoints will be set before the entrance to the inner Pattaya area or as we are referring to it, the ‘Red Zone’. ”
“Those checkpoints will likely be at Dolphin roundabout, the entrance to North Pattaya (Parinya Intersection), Central Pattaya (Arunothai Intersection), South Pattaya (Kopai Intersection) and Jomtien (Jomtien Second Road). A map will be provided prior to them becoming official.”
“It is expected that these checkpoints will be ready on Tuesday, April 14.” The Mayor said.
The reason for the restriction of Central Pattaya is that the majority of confirmed Covid19 cases have come from that area in Banglamung. Of those cases, most are imported cases of foreigners who recently arrived or traveled to the area. Of the Thai cases infected in the area nearly all came from a foreigner who was a recent arrival, City Hall stated.
Once the closure is resumed it is expected that random medical testing of the estimated 2,800 foreign tourists still living in the Central Pattaya area will take place, along with other high risk groups such as close contacts of confirmed cases and domestic Thai visitors who have recently arrived. This process will take about three weeks, the city estimates.
Pattaya is currently testing about 200 high risk people under investigation a day at the Grand Bella Hotel in Pattaya which is being used as a field hospital.
