Hundreds wait hours for permission to leave Chonburi
Hundreds of locals wait hours for permission to leave Chonburi Province. The permission slip to leave the province is only valid for 1 day, meaning that many locals who have to leave the province for work come to ask for permission every morning. The line is long with a lot of people crowded into each other, considering the province’s Covid-19 situation the amount of people waiting is definitely not ideal. The province is currently waiting for the governor to increase the permission duration from 1 day to 1 week.
The Khaosod News Team visited the Chonburi City District Office at 8 am on 7 January 2020. The office was busy full of people lining up to get the permission slip. In order to leave Chonburi to a different Province, you must go to the office for a permission slip that is valid for 1 day. This is due to the Covid-19 situation in Chonburi, authorities are now requiring everyone who needs to travel into a different province do so with permission only. This is a safety regulation as an attempt to control the spread of the virus.
As morning arrives at the district office, people start lining up with hopes to get the permission slip in time for work. There is no social distancing as people line up to apply for the permission slip. Prakasit Sueksongkram the Deputy Chief of Chonburi stated that the office will set up a table 24/7 to service the people until there is a change in orders. Locals must bring their ID card to apply for a permission slip to leave the province with appropriate reasoning to why they need to do so.
A local stated to the news team that she works in Samut Prakan Province everyday. She arrived at the office at 6 am and waited in line. After 8.30 am she is still waiting for the permission slip. She travels back into Chonburi in the evening and visits the office again in the morning. The local states she feels like it is a waste of time. Administrative officials in the office stated the permission slip is only valid for 1 day but this may change in the future depending on the Covid-19 situation.
Hundreds wait hours for permission to leave Chonburi.
