The latest Covid restrictions

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Re: The latest Covid restrictions

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Have you been planning a holiday in Phuket since it is the first province that might reopen and now you'll be able to go to go-go bars again?

Not so fast . . .
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Phuket officials confirm that entertainment venues like bars and clubs will not open at the start of the Phuket Sandbox

By Adam Judd

10 June 2021

The “Phuket Sandbox” a test program to welcome back foreign tourists to Thailand that have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, will not be opening the island’s bars, pubs, gogos, and nightclubs at the start of July along with the rest of the island.

Patong Mayor Chalermsak Maneesri confirmed the news to Phuket press earlier today which was picked up by national media as well. The announcement is likely to be one of several changes or precautionary measures suggested by the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, or CCSA, along with the Thai Tourism Authority.

The reasoning for not opening the popular nightlife and entertainment industry was concern over prior clusters of Covid-19 that came from bars and nightclubs, according to Chalermsak. This is despite an expected 70% of the island to be vaccinated by the time the island opens to tourists, a requirement all foreign tourists are fully vaccinated and pass multiple Covid-19 tests, and domestic requirements that require all island visitors to be either vaccinated, test negative for Covid-19 or do a fourteen-day quarantine.

There is also currently a national closure order for all “entertainment venues” and a national ban on sales of alcohol in restaurants set by the CCSA. This order has been in place for roughly two months, with no sign of lifting anytime soon.

Mayor Chalermsak did not state if the ban on alcohol in restaurants would be considered to be lifted prior to the opening of Phuket, although the Phuket Governor has previously stated that an easing of rules would be considered at hotels and restaurants, but not guaranteed, also citing Covid-19 concerns.

The Patong Mayor stated that besides the national ban by the CCSA that the Phuket Governor and the Thailand Tourism Authority, or TAT, had agreed that the entertainment venues would be kept closed for the start of the Phuket Sandbox. It was not stated when they would be considered for opening.

The TAT has been focusing heavily on nature, beaches, and the restoration of the island’s environment due to a lack of tourists and traffic over the past year, hoping to draw those who wish to experience natural attractions.

The decision drew many angry comments online from both potential tourists and business owners on the island. Some bar and nightclub owners stated on social media they had their entire staff vaccinated and had been preparing for the opening and to be told they could not open, despite their sector having been arguably the hardest hit over the past year, was unacceptable. The Patong Mayor did state, however, that he would focus on providing economic assistance and support for those sectors that would not yet be allowed to open.

https://tpnnational.com/2021/06/10/phuk ... t-sandbox/
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Re: The latest Covid restrictions

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Chonburi eases some restrictions effective Monday, June 14th: Pools, foot massage, gyms, and more

By Adam Judd

11 June 2021

The Chonburi Communicable Disease Committee, chaired by the governor, released the following order effective Monday, June 14th, easing some Covid-19 restrictions.

The order noted that the situation with Covid-19 was still not resolved but the following venues and items were being eased due to, according to the Chonburi Public Health Office, not majorly being a source of Covid-19 infections.

Anything not listed in this list remains the same as before.

1. Massage shops can open for foot massage only. They must ensure proper Covid-19 measures, time spent for massages, masks must be worn.
2. Swimming pools and water parks can open, however, alcohol is prohibited.
3. Gyms, fitness centers, sports fields can be opened until 9:00 P.M. Sporting events can be held with limited spectators, there may be other rules that apply for this.
4. ANY group or organization holding an event or meeting over 50 people is forbidden or needs permission from the relevant agencies and Chonburi officials.

https://thepattayanews.com/2021/06/11/c ... -and-more/
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Re: The latest Covid restrictions

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Meanwhile, if you do have plans to go to Phuket, there are a few little hoops to jump through . . .

https://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnew ... ors-359072
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Re: The latest Covid restrictions

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Gaybutton wrote: Fri Jun 11, 2021 8:59 pm Meanwhile, if you do have plans to go to Phuket, there are a few little hoops to jump through . . .
At a quick glance, that's almost identical to the quarantine regime that was in place during the last 8 months or so. Except for the significant difference that instead of being confined to one hotel room, the visitor is confined to Phuket.

As long as they have a good choice of hotels at fair prices, it would be a much more agreeable way to start a visit to Thailand.
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Re: The latest Covid restrictions

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Pattaya foot massage, sports facilities get OK to reopen

By Pattaya Mail

June 12, 2021

Weary feet and minds will be soothed again in Chonburi Province June 14 when foot massage parlors are allowed to reopen, along with some fitness areas.

The Communicable Disease Committee issued an order June 11 to permit foot massages again under disease-control restrictions. Also allowed to reopen are swimming pools, fitness centers, sports fields and gyms.

While massage parlor and spa operators have asked for full services to resume, only feet can get a healing touch for now. Masseuses must be spaced a meter apart and wear face masks, as must customers.

Paradoxically, health officials ordered a 90-minute limit per person despite saying they wanted to limit the number of customers each masseuse sees. Shorter times, of course, means more customers are possible.

Swimming pools and water parks also must impose coronavirus protocols with the additional prohibition of not selling or allowing consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Other sports facilities must close by 9 p.m. Sports competitions must be limited to fewer than 50 people attending.

The business reopening came only days after the province again postponed the resumption of in-person classroom teaching for Chonburi schools. Students will continue with online learning.

https://www.pattayamail.com/news/pattay ... pen-359331
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Re: The latest Covid restrictions

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I'm sorry to spring this one on you, but a "prominent" Thai doctor, along with colleagues, is pushing for extending the quarantine time for tourists, even if they have been fully vaccinated, to 21 days.

It is difficult for me to imagine many tourists willing to do that, especially if the quarantine lasts longer than their holiday. And if you're under quarantine, while paying for the privilege, if you decide you've had enough and want to return home, will you be released to go to the airport? I don't think so.

No such quarantine has been put in place, and probably won't be, but this doctor's recommendations carry a lot of weight. If you have been planning a trip to Thailand, you might want to reconsider and postpone until we know whether or not a 21 day quarantine will be imposed.
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Prominent Thai doctor warns against letting in foreign tourists, even vaccinated, without 14-day quarantine, says sandbox program should be delayed

By Adam Judd

15 June 2021

A prominent Thai doctor, speaking to associated Thai press, stated this afternoon, June 15th, that he and other colleagues were adamantly against any program designed to let in foreign tourists, even vaccinated, without a strict 14-day quarantine like the current program in which visitors, even fully vaccinated, cannot leave their room for at least fourteen days.

In fact, Dr. Prasit even suggested that depending on variants and the situation the country should even be considering LONGER strict mandatory quarantines, like China with 21 days, vs. relaxed programs.

The statements were made by Dr. Prasit Wattanapha, Dean of Faculty of Medicine at Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University. He was referring to programs like the Phuket Sandbox, or Pattaya Move On, geared at letting in foreign vaccinated tourists without a strict quarantine but with some terms and conditions.

Dr. Prasit believes any such program is too soon and that the country could consider waiting until the entire Kingdom has vaccinated at least 70% of the population-something that based on current vaccination timelines could very well not be completed until well into next year. If this wasn’t possible, at the very least waiting until higher levels of the country were vaccinated, stating that although places like Phuket were rapidly approaching 70% vaccinated that he was concerned with the country as a whole, even with strict measures and precautions designed to prevent Covid-19.

Dr. Prasit stated his major concerns were “variants” of the virus, especially variants that might not yet be discovered and could possibly cause further problems. He admitted that the economy, especially in tourism-related locations, badly needed a return of tourists but stressed that health should take precedent over economic concerns.

Dr. Prasit also stated that despite his and colleagues’ concerns it seemed nearly certain that the country was going to move ahead with plans to reopen the country and that he hoped that this would not be a mistake and that there was a careful balance between “freedom” of tourists and preventative health measures.

The doctor also expressed concerns with relaxing restrictions in general too fast, stressing that there must be a very careful balance between health and the economy and that he felt some areas had already relaxed “too much” and people were becoming apathetic to Covid-19 precautions, not recognizing what he stated is the seriousness of the situation. He suggested the fastest way to reduce restrictions and restore the economy vs. the current half measures, including the valuable tourism industry, was to focus on vaccinating the population as quickly as possible against Covid-19 and to focus all major resources on this process.

https://thepattayanews.com/2021/06/15/p ... e-delayed/
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Re: The latest Covid restrictions

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Sorry, no liquor or wine with your meal just yet.
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Booze ban in Pattaya restaurants extended, pubs and bars remain closed

By Pattaya Mail

June 19, 2021

he Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has whittled down the list of Dark Red Zones to only four provinces and is to allow dining at restaurants until 11pm from June 21.

CCSA Spokesperson Dr. Taweesilp Wisanuyothin reported that the latest meeting of the center decided to leave only four provinces as Dark Red Zones in need of maximum control. The four are Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathumthani and Samut Prakan.

Eleven provinces are now considered Red Zones, namely; Chachoengsao, Chonburi (Pattaya), Trang, Nakhon Pathom, Pattani, Petchaburi, Songkla, Samut Sakhon, Saraburi, Yala and Narathiwat.

The nine Orange Zones are Chantaburi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Prachuapkirikhan, Ayuthaya, Ranong, Rayong, Ratchaburi, Sa Kaeo and Samut Songkram.

The other 53 provinces are considered Yellow Zones where high caution is to be maintained.

In Dark Red zones, gatherings of over 50 people, restaurants open past 11pm and over 50 percent capacity in air-conditioned venues will remain barred. Outdoor sports will be allowed but department stores will continue to have shut by 9pm and educational locations will not be allowed to open.

For Red zones, gatherings are restricted to 100 people, restaurants may open until 11pm, department stores and retail spaces may operate normally and educational institutions may request authorization to welcome students.

Orange zones may not allow gatherings beyond 150 people but all other operations may commence per usual.

The cap on gatherings is at 200 people in Yellow zones. All zones are to maintain a ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol in public venues while pubs, bars, karaoke, and all entertainment venues remain closed.

https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/ ... sed-360223
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Re: The latest Covid restrictions

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I hope it happens, but I'm not holding my breath.

Even if the bars are allowed to reopen, with the current travel restrictions in place, will there be enough customers?
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Pattaya nightlife operators demand July 1 bar reopening

By Pattaya Mail

June 19, 2021

Pattaya nightlife operators called on the government to reopen bars and resume alcohol sales and only close venues where coronavirus cases were found.

Prinn Panitchpakdi, deputy leader of the Democrat Party and director of the Night Entertainment Venue Operators’ Confederation, on June 18 submitted a letter to House of Representatives President Chuan Leekpai outlining the industry demands.

The confederation called for an immediate end to blanket closure orders, saying only venues to which Covid-19 cases can be traced back to should be closed and employees quarantined for 14 days. Across-the-board, blanket bans have done more economic harm than disease-prevention good, he said.

Bars, clubs and other nightlife venues should be allowed to open under strict coronavirus protocols July 1, Prinn said.

The letter also demanded that the government lift its ban on restaurants and bars selling alcohol, as health officials have failed to provide even an iota of proof connecting alcohol consumption to the spread of the coronavirus.

Lastly, the group demanded that the government hasten its Covid-19 vaccination campaign.

Damrongkiat Pinitkarn, secretary of the Pattaya Entertainment & Tourism Association, said he personally feels that bars should not reopen in provinces with high Covid-19 transmission rates, such as Bangkok.

However, in areas like Pattaya and Chonburi with low numbers of cases, venues should be allowed to reopen and closures only targeted at businesses where cases can be traced to.

He said many business owners were heartened by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s pledge this week to reopen Thailand without restrictions within 120 days, but fear that deadline will not be met if his government can’t vaccinate the public fast enough. As of Friday, less than 3 percent of the population has been fully vaccinated.

https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/ ... ing-360289
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Re: The latest Covid restrictions

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Note: This applies to Bangkok. It does not apply to Pattaya or anywhere else.
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Bangkok lifts ban on dining in non-air conditioned restaurants; alcohol prohibited

By Pattaya Mail

June 22, 2021

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has lifted restrictions on dining in non-air conditioned restaurants and increased the maximum seating limit in air conditioned venues from 21 June.

According to the latest BMA order, signed by Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang, non-air conditioned restaurants may operate at 100% capacity, while air-conditioned venues are allowed to occupy up to 50% of their seating capacity for dine-in customers.

The order also allows eateries in Bangkok to open until 11pm, up from 9pm, though the ban on alcohol consumption on restaurant premises remains in place.

In addition to easing restrictions on dining out, the order allows swimming pools and other water-sports facilities to reopen, along with education centers and science parks, and public and private libraries. Sporting events without spectators are now allowed.

https://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnew ... ted-360583
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Re: The latest Covid restrictions

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Note: This applies to Chiang Mai. It does not apply to Bangkok, Pattaya or anywhere else.
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Alcohol back on menu in Chiang Mai but pubs stay closed

By : The Nation

June 22, 2021

Chiang Mai’s ban on serving alcohol in restaurants was lifted on Monday, though night venues were not permitted to reopen.

According to the latest order, alcohol can be served until 9pm and tattoo and piercing shops are allowed to reopen. Shopping complexes and community malls can also resume normal operating times.

Venues ordered to remain closed include pubs, bars, nightclubs, massage parlours, snooker and bowling clubs, gaming centres and internet cafés.

Those caught violating will be fined up to THB20,000.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002316
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