The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has extended the ban on the wholesale and retail sale of liquor, from April 20^th until end of the month, in line with the ban imposed in most provinces of Thailand.

The ban, imposed since April 10^th, was due to expire today, but City Hall decided that the measure is still necessary in the wake of new COVID-19 infections in the city.

Meanwhile, the Energy Ministry will propose to the cabinet tomorrow further domestic electricity fee cuts, to help cushion the impact on the public of business closures and working from home.

Energy Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong said today that he will propose that households which consume less than 150 units of electricity a month, with 5 amp meters, would be exempted from electricity fees.

Households with meters exceeding 5 amps and consuming under 800 units per month will be charged 50%, and those that consume more than 3,000 units will be given a 30% discount.

Mr. Sontirat said that about 20 million households would benefit from the proposed measure, and those who have already paid their bills for the month of March will be able to ask for refund from the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA), in case of Bangkok, and the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), in the provinces.

AIS, True, DTAC, TOT and CAT mobile phone operators have also agreed to provide 100 minutes of free air time for 45 days on each network to all mobile phone subscribers.

Users can register for the free air time between May 1^st and May 15^th by dialling 170 followed by the ID card number of the subscriber followed by # and dial.  Confirmation will be sent to the subscriber via text message.

Minister for Digital Economy and Society, Mr. Puttipong Punnakanta, said that about 50 million subscribers will benefit from this scheme.

 

Thai PBS