The order, Phuket Provincial Order No. 30 /2565, was announced through a post online by the Phuket office of the Public relations Department at 10:52pm last night (May 31).
The new order comes into effect today (June 1).
The order was dated as signed by Governor Narong last Thursday (May 26), and repealed a previous order issued on Jan 7.
Under the latest order, exceptions to wearing a face mask while in public are when people are eating or drinking, exercising in a public area where people are more than two metres apart, and when verifying identity to a government official.
“Although COVID-19 infections are tending to decline continuously, there is still a need to watch and monitor the situation in order to control the outbreak in some areas, especially in risky places where there are groups of people or risk activities,” the new order noted.
The order noted that the face mask rule was especially required “in order that socio-economic activities can be continued in parallel with measures in public health and supporting the opening of the country”.
The order included the standard warnings that as the order is being implemented under the Emergency Decree, parties may not exercise their right to object under Section 30 paragraph two (1) of the Administrative Practices Act B.E.
Any person who violates or fails to comply with the order may be punished under Section 51 of the Communicable Diseases Act B.E. 2558, which incurs a penalty of a fine of up to B20,000, or Section 52 of the same Act, which incurs a penalty of up to one year in jail or a fine of up to B100,000, or both.
Violators may also be punished under Section 18 of the Royal Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations, which incurs a penalty of up to two years in jail or a fine of up to B40,000, or both.