Thailand has expanded its flight prohibition to avoid tourists arriving in the country until the end of the month to curb COVID-19.

The ban was initiated for the first time on 4 April and was already extended to 18 April by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand.

The country has introduced a national curfew between 10:00 pm until 4:00 am, while all shopping malls and entertainment centers are closed off.

The cases continued to increase at Phuket the " hotspot" which one of the famous tourist destinations.

The tourism industry in Thailand is in particular, a big domestic employer and foreign currency earner.

The Thai Bankers' Association forecast that Thailand's economy would lose 1,3 trillion baht (£31,8 trillion), much of which is in tourism because of the initial coronavirus effect but would expand if the crisis goes beyond the second quarter.

Elephants in all parts of the country face hunger and due to lack of tourism, many attractions are forced to close.

Most of the animals are no longer fed due to no income coming in.

Earlier this month Thailand's ministry of interior said on Saturdays that, after border shutting down in late March, Thailand will re-open borders in 21 provinces to allow Thais to return home.

The Ministry has said that up to 100 persons may enter each border inspection station daily and that a 14-day state quarantine may apply.