Most travellers from Bangkok and other at-risk areas heading to their home provinces during Songkran will not have to go into quarantine, says public health minister.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who is also deputy prime minister, made his comments on Tuesday after the Public Health Ministry announced tougher restrictions on restaurants and entertainment venues in Bangkok and surrounding provinces following detection of new infection clusters there.

In light of this, the government’s Emergency Operation Centre agreed that Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan and Nakhon Pathom will be designated as red zones under maximum control.

"Although provinces have been divided into zones, designated by colours according to the infection rates, none will be locked down,” Mr Anutin said.

“People can still travel to other provinces without having to go into quarantine on arrival at their destination. Only people who have been infected with the virus, or are considered to be at high risk, will be quarantined." 

The public health minister went on to ask that people remain alert and careful, and not be too fun-loving during the Songkran holiday. It was obvious, he said, the latest cluster of infections had emerged after groups had visited entertainment venues.

However, the public health office in Buri Ram on Tuesday announced that travellers from red zone provinces -- Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, and Nakhon Pathom -- will indeed have to be quarantined for 14 days. But, if they ask for a rapid Covid-19 test and the results come back negative, they will not have to undergo quarantine.