(Photo: Xinhua)

BANGKOK, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The Thai police have established 359 checkpoints throughout the kingdom to conduct health screening and intercept smuggling of controlled goods in an attempt to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.

The establishment of checkpoints nationwide is part of Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's state of emergency measures to prevent the virus from further spreading.

Motorists will be checked for fever and on whether they follow health instructions.

While inspecting one of the checkpoints in Bangkok on Thursday, National police chief Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda said the operation might cause inconvenience to motorists but he asked for understanding, citing "Containing COVID-19 is currently Thailand's top priority."

Anyone found to have fever over 37.5 degrees Celsius would be taken for mandatory health check at hospital, he said.

Police officers at these checkpoints will be working on a 24-hour roster and will take travel records and other information from drivers and passengers.

The police checkpoints have been quickly set up after Prayut declared the state of emergency from March 26 and April 30 in order to enforce tougher measures to curb the COVID-19 outbreak.

Thailand reported another 111 cases of COVID-19 infection on Thursday, making a total of 1,045.