Thailand's famous resort island of Koh Samui on lockdown to contain COVID-19

Thailand's popular tourist island of Koh Samui in the Southern Province of Surat Thani on Monday announced that it will impose a ban on people entering the resort island from Tuesday until the end of the month, all in a bid to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. Koh Samui mayor Ramnet Jaikwang on Monday declared the three-week entry ban, effective from Tuesday, in line with the emergency decree declared earlier by Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha which ends on April 30.

"No one will be allowed to enter into Koh Samui unless they have a health certificate from a public hospital issued within the previous 72 hours confirming that they are not infected with COVID-19," said Ramnet.

However, those working in sectors such as essential goods, energy, finance, consumer products, postal services and public health will be allowed to enter the island.

The Koh Samui mayor warned that violators will be liable to a fine of up to 20,000 baht (608 U.S. dollars).

Surat Thani province has on Monday confirmed 17 new cases of COVID-19, six of them at Koh Samui, according to the Surat Thani Provincial Public Health Office.