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Thailand imposes 6-hour nightly curfew to combat virus

  • A nurse in protective clothing takes notes from a woman with symptoms of new coronavirus at a carpark that turned into a COVID-19 infection screening center at Chulalongkorn University health service center in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, April 1, 2020. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)
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    APTOPIX Virus Outbreak Thailand

    A nurse in protective clothing takes notes from a woman with symptoms of new coronavirus at a carpark that turned into a COVID-19 infection screening center at Chulalongkorn University health service center in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, April 1, 2020. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)
  • A pharmacist opens a service window through a plastic sheet covering the entrance to help practice social distancing in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, April 2, 2020. A state of emergency has been declared in the country to allow the government to impose stricter measures to control the coronavirus that has infected hundreds of people in the region. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)
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    Virus Outbreak Thailand

    A pharmacist opens a service window through a plastic sheet covering the entrance to help practice social distancing in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, April 2, 2020. A state of emergency has been declared in the country to allow the government to impose stricter measures to control the coronavirus that has infected hundreds of people in the region. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)
  • An educational visual on the prevention of the new coronavirus prevention is shown on a giant screen in a nearly-deserted intersection in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, April 2, 2020. A state of emergency has been declared in the country to allow the government to impose stricter measures to control the coronavirus that has infected hundreds of people in the region. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)
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    Virus Outbreak Thailand

    An educational visual on the prevention of the new coronavirus prevention is shown on a giant screen in a nearly-deserted intersection in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, April 2, 2020. A state of emergency has been declared in the country to allow the government to impose stricter measures to control the coronavirus that has infected hundreds of people in the region. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)
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  • A woman tryout a hat with face shield at a street vender in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, April 2, 2020. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)
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    Virus Outbreak Thailand

    A woman tryout a hat with face shield at a street vender in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, April 2, 2020. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)
  • A motorcycle and car stop at the almost deserted intersection in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, April 2, 2020. A month long state of emergency has been enforced in Thailand to allow its government to impose stricter measures to control the coronavirus that has infected hundreds of people in the Southeast Asian country. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
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    Virus Outbreak Thailand

    A motorcycle and car stop at the almost deserted intersection in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, April 2, 2020. A month long state of emergency has been enforced in Thailand to allow its government to impose stricter measures to control the coronavirus that has infected hundreds of people in the Southeast Asian country. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
  • A street vender adjusts bottles of hand sanitizers amid the outbreak of the new coronavirus in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, April 2, 2020. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)
    6/7

    Virus Outbreak Thailand

    A street vender adjusts bottles of hand sanitizers amid the outbreak of the new coronavirus in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, April 2, 2020. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)
  • Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

    Yahoo News is better in the app

    Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

  • A woman wears a protective face masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus as she crosses a pedestrian bridge in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, April 2, 2020. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
    7/7

    Virus Outbreak Thailand

    A woman wears a protective face masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus as she crosses a pedestrian bridge in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, April 2, 2020. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
A nurse in protective clothing takes notes from a woman with symptoms of new coronavirus at a carpark that turned into a COVID-19 infection screening center at Chulalongkorn University health service center in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, April 1, 2020. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)
A pharmacist opens a service window through a plastic sheet covering the entrance to help practice social distancing in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, April 2, 2020. A state of emergency has been declared in the country to allow the government to impose stricter measures to control the coronavirus that has infected hundreds of people in the region. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)
An educational visual on the prevention of the new coronavirus prevention is shown on a giant screen in a nearly-deserted intersection in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, April 2, 2020. A state of emergency has been declared in the country to allow the government to impose stricter measures to control the coronavirus that has infected hundreds of people in the region. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)
A woman tryout a hat with face shield at a street vender in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, April 2, 2020. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)
A motorcycle and car stop at the almost deserted intersection in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, April 2, 2020. A month long state of emergency has been enforced in Thailand to allow its government to impose stricter measures to control the coronavirus that has infected hundreds of people in the Southeast Asian country. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
A street vender adjusts bottles of hand sanitizers amid the outbreak of the new coronavirus in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, April 2, 2020. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)
A woman wears a protective face masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus as she crosses a pedestrian bridge in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, April 2, 2020. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Associated Press
Updated ·1-min read

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand's prime minister announced a nationwide 10 p.m.-to-4 a.m curfew starting Friday to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

The measure announced Thursday evening by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha is the latest in a slow tightening of restrictions since the country's cases began rising sharply in mid-March. Thailand announced 104 new confirmed cases of the disease on Thursday, bringing its total to 1,875.

The restrictions are still not as sweeping as in some other countries, where people have been told to stay home throughout the day except for necessary tasks.

Prayuth said exceptions under the curfew will be allowed for people who work in medicine, banking and delivery of consumable goods, crops, medicine, medical supplies and equipment, newspapers and gas; people who work shifts; people who are traveling to and from an airport; and people with permission from their district officials.

Last week, the government enacted a one-month state of emergency allowing it to impose harsh restrictions not normally allowed under law. They include the power to implement curfews, censor the media, disperse gatherings and deploy the military for enforcement.

Financial packages to aid businesses and individuals affected by the restrictions have also been approved.

Measures instituted before the state of emergency include shutting down all schools, postponing a major three-day holiday and allowing provincial governors to close any gathering spaces and closely regulate travel. Restaurants have been closed except for takeout and delivery service.

International arrivals have been tightly restricted, requiring medical clearances prior to departure and 14-day self-isolation after arrival.