The Thai government approved on Tuesday a one-month relief aid for people affected by travel restrictions and curfew under the sustained COVID-19 situation.

A total of 30 billion baht (about 920.24 million U.S. dollars) will be granted to employees and business owners in Bangkok, its five neighboring provinces, and four southern provinces, according to government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri.

The government will provide each Social Security-covered employee with financial aid equal to half their monthly pay, up to 7,500 baht (about 230 U.S. dollars), and an additional 2,500 baht (about 76 U.S. dollars) on top, Anucha said.

Employees without Social Security coverage will receive 5,000 baht (about 153 U.S. dollars) from the government, he said.

The affected business operators will receive 3,000 baht (about 92 U.S. dollars) for each of their employees for a maximum of 200 headcount, he added.

Thailand on Monday imposed a semi-lockdown in Bangkok and nine provinces to curb the further spread of coronavirus, especially the variants.

With 8,685 new COVID-19 cases and 56 deaths recorded on Tuesday, the country's total number now stands at 353,712 infections and 2,847 deaths.

As of Monday, nearly 13 million doses of vaccine have been administered in Thailand.