Aswin orders ‘soft lockdown’ in capital : Supermarkets to stay open, restaurants limited to takeaway, but other closures sweeping. Starting today, shopping malls and markets in Bangkok and adjacent provinces, except those selling food and essential consumer goods, have been ordered to close for three weeks in an effort to slow the spread of Covid-19. Bangkok Post
BoT plans liquidity support funding: Measures are being launched, including a liquidity support fund valued at 70-100 billion baht, to help manage risk in the debt market made vulnerable by the intensifying coronavirus spread. Bangkok Post
Chinese tourists ready to break out : April could see mainlanders taking domestic trips before international adventures resume. Chinese tourists expect to resume their travels in April as new coronavirus infections subside, while Thai tourism officials aim to apply a safety and health administration programme to help operators upgrade their ability to deal with the pandemic. Bangkok Post
Cash handouts for informal workers: In a move to ease the suffering of Thailand’s 3 million informal workers, the government is set to hand them 5,000 baht per month in cash. Bangkok Post
Hotels face grim prospects: Most hotels in Thailand are likely to close temporarily during the outbreak as the occupancy rate plunges to near zero in at-risk areas, with few lodgings operating at a profit, according to the Thai Hotels Association (THA). Bangkok Post
BoT predicts 5.3% GDP dive in 2020 : MPC stands pat on 0.75% policy rate. The Bank of Thailand yesterday forecast the economy to shrink by 5.3% this year, the first contraction since the 2008 global financial crisis, but stayed unchanged on the policy interest rate. Bangkok Post
Ministry creates war rooms to handle essential goods : The Commerce Ministry has set up war rooms to supervise seven essential consumer goods and services sectors to curb any possible shortages and hoarding during the coronavirus outbreak. Bangkok Post
Ministry mulls higher budget for handout : Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana has affirmed that the Finance Ministry stands ready to seek cabinet approval for a higher budget if the number of selfemployed workers and temporary employees who sign up for the 5,000-baht cash handout exceeds 3 million. Bangkok Post
Panel seeks halt to SSF contributions : JSCCIB says current measures insufficient. The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) is calling on the government to suspend financial contributions to the Social Security Fund for four months for employers and workers affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Bangkok Post
Operators want B20bn in relief sped up : Tourism operators are urging financial institutions to hasten the approval process for the government’s 20-billion-baht relief package to avoid more nonperforming loans (NPLs). Bangkok Post
