Thailand’s emergency decree to combat COVID-19 did not include a curfew in March 2020
- This article is more than one year old.
- Published on March 31, 2020 at 06:30
- 1 min read
- By AFP Thailand
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The claim was published on Facebook here on March 24, 2020. The post has been shared more than 4,700 times.
Part of the post’s Thai-language text graphic translates to English as:
“Emergency Decree Announcement, don’t panic, please follow these guidelines:
*Don’t leave the house between 8pm-5am
*Between 5am-8pm, can’t travel across provinces except for medical staff”
Below is a screenshot of the misleading post:
A similar claim was also shared on Facebook here, here, here and on Twitter here, here and here.
The claim is false.
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha’s announcement on March 25, 2020, filmed by national broadcaster ThaiPBS, did not include a curfew.
The full decree, seen here on the official website of the Royal Gazette, did not mention a nationwide curfew. The decree did, however, issue 16 directives, including closing points of entry into the kingdom and prohibiting the hoarding of goods. The decree went into effect on March 26, 2020.
The Thai government also released an official statement here clarifying that no curfew was imposed under the emergency decree.
“The government has explained the details and rules of the Emergency Decree on Government Administration from March 26 - April 30, 2020. No curfews have been announced,” part of the statement reads in English.
Below is a screenshot of the government’s release:
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