The government said on Tuesday it will price control app-based delivery and and app-based food services to prevent price gouging as the applications have become extremely popular due to the coronavirus lockdown.
“Online deliver services such as Grab, Kerry, Lala Move will now be controlled goods,” said Deputy Spokeswoman Rachada Dhanadirek at a press conference after Tuesday’s cabinet meeting.
“Deputy Prime Minister Jurin [Laksanawisit] said that after the outbreak of Covid, there has been a change in purchasing behavior with many using online services more. Therefore the government has to go in and regulate the price of the service.”
The government will let Jurin and the Ministry of Commerce regulate the price.
Travel restrictions remain
Rachada and Prime Minister’s Office Spokeswoman Narumon Pinyosinwat told Thai Enquirer on Tuesday that the travel restrictions put forth by the government’s Covid response center will remain in place for the time being as the cabinet has not overruled the the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).
“As far as I know, the restrictions announced by the (CCSA) remains in place,” Narumon told Thai Enquirer. “The cabinet did not address the issue.”
According to the latest announcement by the CCSA and Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority, foreign flights entering the country will begin again starting July 1.
But those returning to Thailand are limited to:
- Thai nationals
- Those with government authorization
- Foreign spouses, parents or children of persons with Thai nationality
- Foreign residents
- Spouses of work-permit holders
- Traders of necessary goods
- International students
- Foreigners seeking medical care
- Foreign officials
Those arriving in the kingdom will have to undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days.
New holiday
The government also said, on Tuesday, that July 27 will be a holiday meaning that Thais will have four days of holidays between July 25-28. July 28 is HM King Vajiralongkorn’s birthday and already a national holiday.
(Reporting by James Wilson, Pear Maneechote, and Cod Satrusayang)
