Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) spokesman Taweesilp Visanuyothin yesterday apologised for "miscommunication" over the use of the Mor Chana position-tracking app.
In his daily press briefing on Thursday, Dr Taweesilp said people would have to install the Mor Chana app onto their mobile phones and use it together with Thai Chana, an app used for checking in and out of public places.
This mandate was meant to strictly apply to people residing in areas declared maximum-control zones who might otherwise be liable to a jail term of up to two years, a fine of up to 40,000 baht, or both, if found violating the directive, he had said.
The remark drew much flak from netizens who were confused about the order.
Dr Taweesilp, however, pointed out yesterday that he intended to say that those who are infected with Covid-19 and conceal information and are not equipped with the app will face legal action.
But this might have caused the misunderstanding that people would be punished if they did not have the app, he said.
"I apologise over what was communicated," Dr Taweesilp said. "I intended to say that the use of the Mor Chana app needs cooperation so the public can protect themselves, others and society.
"Infected people who intentionally conceal information and do not use the app will face legal punishment. This does not mean people who do not have the app will be punished."
Infected people who intentionally conceal information and do not use the app could be seen as obstructing disease control investigation and be in violation of the new regulation.
He said that that use of the app would allow quick control of Covid-19 in the virus-hit provinces of Chanthaburi, Chon Buri, Trat, Rayong and Samut Sakhon, which have the highest levels of infection.
Its use is stipulated under Regulation 17 issued under the emergency decree, imposed to control Covid-19, he added
"Records from the Mor Chana app would protect infected people against charges of concealing information in the event they cannot remember every place they have visited," Dr Taweesilp said.
The faux pas, however, boosted usage of the app, which was downloaded 1.5 million times on Tuesday, 1.65 million times on Wednesday, and 3.69 million times on Thursday.
The app effectively supported the government's disease control efforts and eased the workload of medical personnel involved in disease investigation, Dr Taweesilp said.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Thursday urged people to download and use the app.