The latest Covid restrictions

Anything and everything about Thailand
Post Reply
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21458
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1306 times

Re: The latest Covid restrictions

Post by Gaybutton »

Lockdown extended, 16 provinces added

29 provinces are now in the dark red zone

1 Aug 2021

The government has extended lockdown measures for two more weeks from Tuesday, with another 16 provinces added to the dark red zone of maximum restrictions to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.

Apisamai Srirangson, assistant spokeswoman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), said on Sunday a curfew from 9pm-4am and other stiff measures will be imposed in Bangkok and 28 other provinces for two weeks from Tuesday.

The dark red zone will then cover 40% of the population and account for three-quarters of Thailand's gross domestic product

The CCSA will evaluate the situation again on Aug 18 and Dr Apisamai indicated that a further extension to the end of August was on the cards.

“It will be highly likely that the extension will continue until Aug 31” if the situation does not improve, she said.

The Covid-19 task force eased restrictions for restaurants in the dark red zones, allowing them to prepare take-home orders, but dining in is still banned.

Other restrictions include the closure of all stores in shopping malls at 8pm except for retailers deemed essential, such as supermarkets, chemists and those selling medical and communications equipment. No public transport is available from 9pm-4am.

The curfew and lockdown measures have been enforced in Greater Bangkok – Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Pathum Thani and Nakhon Pathom - and four southern provinces since July 12. Chon Buri, Chachoengsao and Ayutthaya were included on July 20.

The present measures will expire on Monday.

The meeting on Sunday was chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

The CCSA added 16 more provinces to the dark red zone under lockdown restrictions:

Ang Thong
Nakhon Nayok
Nakhon Ratchasima
Kanchanaburi
Lop Buri
Phetchabun
Phetchaburi
Prachuap Khiri Khan
Prachin Buri
Ratchaburi
Rayong
Samut Songkhram
Saraburi
Sing Buri
Suphan Buri
Tak

The additional 16 provinces have seen new cases surging, with new clusters in factories hampering industry and exports, the CCSA said.

Exports are now the key driver of the Thai economy following the collapse in tourism during the coronavirus pandemic.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... nces-added
_____________________________________________________________________

Thailand expands lockdown restrictions to 29 ‘dark red zone’ provinces August 3

By Pattaya Mail

August 1, 2021

The Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has decided to extend current lockdown restrictions, due to expire on Monday (Aug 2), for another 2 weeks, and to expand the COVID-19 ‘dark red zone’ provinces from the current 13 to 29 effective August 3.

The CCSA decided, however, to ease restrictions on eateries in malls and department stores by allowing them to open, but for take-away orders only.

The 16 new ‘dark red’ provinces are Tak, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Ratchasima, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Prachin Buri, Phetchaburi, Phetchabun, Rayong, Ratchaburi, Lop Buri, Sing Buri, Samut Songkhram, Saraburi, Suphan Buri, Kanchanaburi and Ang Thong.

The number of ‘red’ zone provinces has been reduced from 53 to 37 and ‘orange’ zone provinces have been increased from 10 to 11.

Restrictions in ‘dark red’ provinces include a 9pm to 4am curfew and people are asked to stay home at all times and only go out to buy food and medicine or to see doctors or to get vaccinated. Public transport is allowed to operate at only 50% of seating capacity and enforce social distancing measures.

Interprovincial travel is restricted. Sports fields, public parks, public swimming pools, botanical gardens, competition venues, art galleries meeting centres, public performance centres, learning centres, museums, day care centres, hairdressers, manicure and tattoo parlours are to remain closed.

Convenience stores, mall and department stores are to close at 8pm. (NNT)

Current 13 ‘dark-red’ provinces are Bangkok, and the five surrounding provinces – Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon and Chachoengsao, Chonburi (Pattaya City) and Ayutthaya – and four Southern Thai provinces – Narathiwat, Pattani, Songkhla, and Yala.

https://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnew ... t-3-366026
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21458
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1306 times

Re: The latest Covid restrictions

Post by Gaybutton »

These restrictions are likely to extend to at least August 31. Don't be surprised if they decide to extend it for the month of September as well, and possibly beyond that if the situation does not improve. We just don't know yet.

If you are within one of the "dark red" provinces please don't be a damned fool and violate the restrictions, especially the curfew and alcohol restrictions. The police are not playing games. A few utter morons have intentionally violated these restrictions and several have been arrested. Now they face fines, possible jail time, and your guess is as good as mine what effect there might be with their visas.

Just make sure you are indoors before 9:00pm. Not much point in being out anyway. Nearly everything closes at 8:00pm to give the employees enough time to get home before the curfew begins.

Also, if you use any of the food delivery services, don't forget that the drivers are also subject to the curfew. Order early enough so that your food can be delivered and the drivers have enough time to go home. I suggest ordering early enough so that your food arrives no later than 8:00pm.
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21458
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1306 times

Re: The latest Covid restrictions

Post by Gaybutton »

This very short announcement does not specifically tell us which provinces they are talking about, but I am guessing Chonburi, Pattaya's province, is included.

I have not found any other articles about this.
__________________________________________________

Restaurants in malls can open for delivery: Health Ministry

By : The Nation

August 03, 2021

The Public Health Ministry has given the green light for mall restaurants in 29 “Dark Red” provinces to resume their food-delivery service.

Eateries in malls can open for delivery-only until 8pm, according to a Facebook announcement by Health Department chief Suwanchai Wattana Yingcharoenchai on Tuesday.

Lifting the restriction on food delivery would help reduce the impact of lockdown measures on restaurant workers and operators, he added.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004154
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21458
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1306 times

Re: The latest Covid restrictions

Post by Gaybutton »

In my opinion, this is yet another example of ideas failing to be thought through and failing to include the businesses in the process of determining how to do this.

And, of course, since mall food courts can open for delivery and restaurants other than in malls allow for take-away, then could the reasoning behind why the mall restaurants can do delivery, but not take-away be any more lame? Do they truly believe that letting people pick up their own food will cause the malls to become over crowded?

Under this rule I could go to a mall restaurant, stand in front of the restaurant but can't order directly from the restaurant or pick up the food myself. So, I can take out my trusty smartphone, place an order from this restaurant via a food delivery service, wait for the delivery guy to show up, watch him pick up the food, and then just hand the food over to me - all without me having moved so much as an inch.

Yep, great thinking! Good call, powers-that-be. Why do I think whoever came up with this rule is unlikely to qualify for MENSA . . . ?
________________________________________________________________________________________________

Both customers and business owners not happy with mall restaurant “delivery only” rule, claim it is nonsensical

By Nop Meechukhun

4 August 2021

The government’s controversial food delivery rules for restaurants in shopping malls have triggered an outcry from customers and restaurant operators, claiming the rules overcomplicate things and do not please customers.

Restaurants in department stores and shopping malls in the maximum and strict controlled areas, currently 29 provinces in Thailand, are now back in business again as of yesterday, August 3rd, for delivery services only. This may seem to potentially help the delivery and restaurant businesses however, the order has provoked public questions about whether it was a functional preventive measure to reduce the Covid-19 outbreak.

Previously, restaurants in malls were ordered closed entirely for two weeks, although restaurants outside of malls could open for delivery and take-away.

Now, restaurants in malls are open, but ONLY for delivery, and customers are not allowed to take away themselves. Yes, even if the customer is standing directly in front of the restaurant, they must use a delivery service to process the order.

Many business owners thought that the measure did not improve their financial status as they still have to unnecessarily pay for delivery company costs. According to business owners, if they were allowed to simply let customers pick up their orders or order at the counter, this would save money on delivery company fees. Moreover, not everyone is able to easily access food delivery applications. The measure, itself, also did not meet customers’ lifestyles in the outbreak situation.

Restaurant operators also did not consider that the relaxation of food reselling for only delivery purposes would significantly ease their financial burden after being closed for dining in for months in some areas like Bangkok. Many, in fact, have decided to remain closed until rules loosen further.

One of the biggest complaints, especially on Thai social media, was that customers could not under any circumstance order themselves and take away. Instead, the customer, often standing in front of a store and unaware of the policy, would be told to order through a delivery company like GRAB and wait for the order to process, go through, the driver to arrive at the store, and then to hand to them-directly in front of the store. This would turn the process of buying a quick meal into a much longer one, and additionally add MORE people to an interaction with the addition of the delivery driver.

Despite the public outcry, the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) today, August 4th, insisted that the measures would remain unchanged, reasoning that such relaxation may cause heavy traffic in department stores and restaurants that may lead to more interactions and unnecessary traveling among customers. The CCSA stated that they were concerned if restaurants in malls were allowed to offer take-away people would gather and wander the malls.

https://thepattayanews.com/2021/08/04/b ... nsensical/
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21458
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1306 times

Re: The latest Covid restrictions

Post by Gaybutton »

Thai government approves of partial lockdown extension and banks reopening within shopping centers in maximum control areas, effective this Wednesday

By Nop Meechukhun

16 August 2021

The Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) this afternoon, August 16th, has officially approved several Public Health Ministry’s proposals of Covid-19 preventive measures, including the extension of the partial lockdown measures in the maximum strict and control areas until the end of August, according to the CCSA spokesman.

They also approved the reopening of banks and other financial institutions at shopping malls/department stores in 29 dark-red zone provinces, including Bangkok and Chonburi, according to Dr. Taweeslip Visanuyothin. This will start Wednesday, August 18th, 2021. Other than the bank reopening, most of the measures remain the same initially until the end of August. This includes widely unpopular measures like a ban on dine-in, gyms, massage shops, bars, malls, tourist attractions, recreation, and closure of beaches, pools, parks, and outdoor spaces.

Both the partial lockdown extension and the bank reopening measures will be put into effect this Wednesday, August 18th, until further notice. The CCSA plans to review the measures again at the end of the month but also continues to caution that they don’t believe the country has hit its peak yet and measures would likely stay in place for some time, without clarifying the exact timeframe.

Furthermore, the Thai government has also decided to procure about 12 million doses of Covid-19’s Sinovac vaccines, 10 million doses of Pfizer vaccine, and an additional 10 million doses from other manufacturers who were not specified to prevent the rapid spread of the Delta mutant.

The CCSA is also considering a “Thai Covid Pass” prior to the country reopening in October, according to the Prime Minister’s previous plan. The measure would mean that one should present their proof of vaccination before being allowed to enter certain indoor public and private places. This is, at this time, strictly a proposal in pre-discussion phases.

https://thepattayanews.com/2021/08/16/t ... wednesday/
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21458
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1306 times

Re: The latest Covid restrictions

Post by Gaybutton »

The proposal says restaurants might be given permission to open only to patrons who have been fully vaccinated - meaning have already received their second vaccine dose. For me, that means I won't be able to eat in a restaurant until after October 22. That's when my second dose is scheduled.

What a great proposal, considering the delays getting everyone vaccinated at all.

What will we have to do, present some sort of certificate of vaccination to be allowed to sit down and have dinner? I suppose if you can't prove you've been fully vaccinated, the restaurant will take your order, but tell you to wait outside because it can only be take-away. And what about the shopping mall food courts? Will they be allowed to reopen?

What about those little mom-and-pop places where Thais like to eat? A lot of Thais living in Pattaya are not getting vaccinated at all because they were not born in the Chonburi province.

Will restaurants desperate for money really check? Maybe they'll just take your word for it.

And what about the restaurant staff? Won't they have to be fully vaccinated too?

In my opinion, yet another brilliant idea that has not been fully thought through - which is why I think they'll go for it. We'll see.

Meanwhile, here's what happens if you enter a restaurant, but can't prove you've been fully vaccinated:

Image
_________________________________________________
Ministry to propose limited resumption of dine-in service

25 Aug, 2021

The Public Health Ministry is seeking approval from the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) to allow restaurants to reopen to fully vaccinated diners as new infections have declined in the past few days.

"The Covid-19 situation appears to be improving. Certain restrictions should therefore be lifted," said Kiattiphum Wongrajit, permanent secretary for public health, on Tuesday.

He made the remarks after Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul met with representatives from nine clusters of businesses that were ordered to close as infections across 29 provinces started to climb.

The ministry will ask the CCSA to consider allowing restaurants to offer dine-in service, with certain restrictions, Dr Kiattiphum said.

For instance, a restaurant would only be allowed fill half of its maximum capacity to enable social distancing, he said.

Other outdoor businesses, as well as fitness and sports clubs, will be next to reopen, he said.

Once reopened, restaurants, shopping malls and other businesses will be required to adopt a "Covid-free" approach in their trade. They will be required to set aside enough space on their premises to allow social distancing and ensure adequate ventilation.

They must assist their staff to get vaccinated and regularly test them for Covid-19, he said.

The Department of Disease Control is now mapping out the details of the latest Covid-19 restriction easing plan, he said.

Meanwhile, Supanavit Eiamsakulrat, a committee member of the Thai Shopping Centre Association, said the nine business clusters had asked the ministry to consider letting them reopen progressively starting from Sept 1.

In the first phase of the proposal, restaurants would resume dine-in services at 50% capacity.

Other businesses which can resume operations in the first phase include construction, furniture and home decoration shops, dental clinics, spa and massage parlours, medical clinics, beauty salons, IT and electronic shops, golf courses and other outdoor sports clubs, she said.

In the second phase, restaurants would be permitted operate at 75% capacity, while in the third phase, they will be allowed to reopen their entire dining area to customers. By then, Dr Kiattiphum said, all other businesses should be up and running.

Thailand recorded 17,165 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, said Dr Chawetsan Namwat, director of the Emergency Health Hazard and Disease Control Division. The pandemic appears to have passed its peak, which means the country can begin moving towards lifting Covid-19 restrictions while still monitoring the situation closely, he said.

Separately, Sanan Angubolkul, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the news that the supplier of the AstraZeneca vaccine has confirmed it will deliver 61 million doses to Thailand by the end of this year.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... in-service
User avatar
Trongpai
Posts: 1438
Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2010 10:21 am
Location: Bangkok, Ram Intra
Has thanked: 6 times
Been thanked: 310 times

Re: The latest Covid restrictions

Post by Trongpai »

Gaybutton wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 9:40 am What will we have to do, present some sort of certificate of vaccination to be allowed to sit down and have dinner?
After my second shot they gave me an official dated, stamped and signed Thai government certificate of vaccination. Interesting that it had a spot for a third booster shot.
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21458
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1306 times

Re: The latest Covid restrictions

Post by Gaybutton »

Trongpai wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 10:50 am After my second shot they gave me an official dated, stamped and signed Thai government certificate of vaccination.
If you're going to need it just to sit down in a restaurant and have dinner, whatever you do - don't lose it . . .
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21458
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1306 times

Re: The latest Covid restrictions

Post by Gaybutton »

Like it or not, it appears these will be the rules:
____________________________

Restaurants accept dine-in rules

Reopening needs all staff to be inoculated

by Pitsinee Jitpleecheep

26 Aug, 2021

Restaurant operators say they are receptive to Public Health Ministry plans for reopening, which involve tough Covid-19 protocols including a requirement for diners to show vaccination proof.

The so-called sandbox concept for the restaurant business, to be applicable to 29 strictly-controlled dark red provinces, is expected to be proposed by the Public Health Ministry at tomorrow's meeting of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

Under this scheme, all staff in a restaurant have to be 100% inoculated and all of them have to be tested with rapid antigen test kits every 5-7 days.

Moreover, the restaurants have to operate in ventilated places while customers have to show vaccine certificates.

Boonyong Tansakul, chief executive of Zen Corporation Public Co, the operator of Zen, AKA and On the Table brands, said the Public Health Ministry pitched the sandbox idea to restaurants during the meeting between representatives of the Thai Shopping Centre Association and Thai Restaurant Association and the Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Tuesday.

"Under the scheme, restaurants that can follow the guidelines would get signage from the government to show their restaurant's safety, and they are not subject to closure if new waves of the pandemic occur," he said. "More importantly, under the proposed guidelines, we no longer get a headache if the government's inconsistent restriction measures are introduced in the future."

Mr Boonyong said he expects the new guidelines to elicit good responses from customers and keep staff in the restaurant sector, which accounts for up to 32% of the country's total employment.

Kannika Chinprasithchai, senior marketing director at Black Canyon (Thailand) Co, the operator of the Black Canyon coffee and restaurant chain, said that she was in favour of the Public Health Ministry's proposal.

"It is a very good idea to apply the sandbox concept to the restaurant business. We are ready to put all guidelines into practice as soon as possible when this measure becomes effective,'' Mrs Kannika said.

According to Mrs Kannika, even though the sandbox concept will create more expenses and difficulties for businesses, her company is ready to embrace such protocols.

Currently, the company operates 310 Black Canyon restaurants across the country.

"We believe that consumers are ready to eat out at restaurants, although they might feel a bit inconvenienced by some guidelines,'' Mrs Kannika said.

Nath Vongphanich, president of Central Restaurants Group, said that the company also approves of the restaurant sandbox idea, since tighter measures will boost consumer confidence when visiting restaurants.

"Though the conditions may be more complicated, we believe that the tightened measures are likely to be applied for a short time and will become more flexible and lenient if the pandemic gets better,'' Mr Nath said.

Currently, according to Mr Nath, 80% of his company's staff in 29 dark red provinces were vaccinated and an average of 70% of the company's staff across the country had already got their jabs.

"If the sandbox concept is used, we are ready to gradually reopen our restaurants," he said. "It may take time to draw consumers back to our restaurants in the beginning, but we believe that our takeaway business will absolutely improve and help boost sales to the company.''

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/21 ... e-in-rules
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21458
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1306 times

Re: The latest Covid restrictions

Post by Gaybutton »

Regarding restaurants, this latest edict might allow for them to reopen September 1, but under these restrictions I wonder how many will be able to open whether they want to or not. The management and staff are required to have had both vaccine doses. At least in Pattaya, I don't think all that many have - and neither have their potential customers. I think it will be at least another month before we see many of our favorites being able to reopen. For me, it will be nearly that long before I can patronize any of those restaurants other than take-away or delivery.

One aspect of this that makes no sense to me - 75% of outdoor seating can be used for customers who have been fully vaccinated. Ok. Meanwhile, where do they think people not yet fully vaccinated who are there for take-away, also delivery service drivers, are going to wait? Maybe the middle of the street will do . . .

Part of the second article says, "customers at “high-risk venues” in maximum control zones must be fully vaccinated or test negative for Covid-19 via an Antigen Test Kit." The first article says nothing about this, so it is still confusing and it is also confusing whether this would apply to restaurants. I suppose if confusion wasn't involved, it just wouldn't be Thailand.

Anybody besides me think it won't be long before we start seeing news articles about how some restaurants were caught open, but in violation of the staff fully vaccinated requirement and/or allowing customers who have not been fully vaccinated?
_________________________________

Eateries, some shops, parks to reopen

27 Aug, 2021

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration decided on Friday to allow the reopening of eateries, some shops at malls, stadiums and public parks in dark-red zones on Sept 1, with strict disease controls.

"We must adapt to coexist safely with the disease. Strategies will change in the way that disease controls will go along with economic recovery... Business and activities will resume so that people can restore their normal life and relieve their hardship as much as possible," CCSA assistant spokeswoman Apisamai Srirangson said.

To reopen on Wednesday business premises, including restaurants, must maximise their disease control measures, with social distancing and good ventilation, and ensure that management, staff and customers are fully vaccinated or have negative results from weekly Covid-19 antigen tests.

Provincial communicable disease committees will approve the reopening of business premises which meet the criteria, Dr Apisamai said.

Convid-19 control zoning will remain the same. Dark-red zones of maximum and strict controls would still apply to 29 provinces where there were widespread Covid-19 outbreaks in communities, markets, business premises, factories, construction camps and dormitories, and Covid-19 fatalities continued, she said.

Red zone of maximum control would still apply to 37 provinces, and orange zones of disease control to 11 other provinces.

In the 29 dark-red zones, eateries can reopen. Open-air places can use 75% of seating, and 50% for air-conditioned premises.

At shopping centres, hairdressers can reopen only for hair cutting and only in one-hour sessions by appointment. Massage parlours can reopen only for foot massage. Beauty clinics can reopen only for product sales. Their closing time was set at 8pm.

The following will remain closed - tuition centres, theatres, spas, amusement and water parks, fitness clubs, swimming pools and meeting rooms.

Outside shopping centres, hairdressers and massage parlours can open as before.

Schools will remain closed, but their buildings can be used for other purposes including examinations, with approval from local education and disease control authorities on a case-by-case basis.

Stadiums without air-conditioning and public parks can reopen. Sports events at such stadiums can be organised but without spectators. Sports facilities can open until 8pm.

The work from home recommendation and 9pm-4am curfew will continue in the 29 dark-red provinces.

The CCSA asked people to minimise interprovincial travel, Dr Apisamai said. Public transport vehicles can use 75% of seating. Passengers and crew must wear face masks and must not eat.

Long-distance buses and vans must stop every 2-3 hours and ventilate their cabins.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... -to-reopen
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thailand’s Covid-19 Center approves some lockdown easing measures in maximum control provinces, effective in September

By Nop Meechukhun

27 August 2021

The Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) this afternoon, August 27th, has approved some easing of Covid-19 lockdown measures in 29 maximum control (dark red) provinces, including Bangkok and Chonburi, effective from September 1st.

Despite the fact that the color-coded zones in all provinces nationwide remain the same, there are a few lifted restrictions approved by the CCSA as well as the partial reopening in some businesses, according to assistant spokesperson Apisamai Srirangsan. These come with strict new rules, however, as explained below. TPN media notes that all the information so far comes from a review of slides and presentations given at today’s press conference by the CCSA. However, this is a developing story and some of this information could be subject to change before September 1st.

Additionally, all measures discussed will need approval from the respective provincial governors and communicable disease control committees. Governors are able to strengthen restrictions if they choose, but cannot loosen them.

Curfew from 9:00 P.M. to 4:00 A.M. and limited travel restrictions will continue to take place in the dark-red zone provinces. Public transportation will now be allowed to operate again at 75 percent of its capacity. However, the public is still highly encouraged to avoid unnecessary traveling.

Restaurants in outdoor areas with proper ventilation will be able to resume their business at 75 percent of their capacity while indoor restaurants in department stores, shopping malls, or other air-conditioned places will be allowed to resume at 50 percent of their capacity until 8:00 PM. Drinking and selling alcoholic beverages are still strongly prohibited.

Some other businesses and shops in department stores and malls can be opened. Beauty salons are allowed for a haircut with one hour of operation per customer. Massage parlors are allowed for foot massages only. Beauty clinics and institutions are only allowed for selling products.

However, customers at “high-risk venues” in maximum control zones must be fully vaccinated or test negative for Covid-19 via an Antigen Test Kit (ATK) for no more than 7 days. (Or show proof of having been recovered from Covid-19 within 90 days) They must oblige to the so-called “Universal Prevention”, including wearing 2-layer facial masks and socially distancing, to individually elevate safety measures in their daily lives at all times. Staff must also be vaccinated at high-risk venues and test regularly for Covid-19 with rapid antigen test kits. High-risk venues can provide antigen test kits for customers at their venue who can conduct the test on-premise if they choose.

Restaurants were specifically named as “high-risk” for the requirement of vaccination, although other venues like massage shops and mall stores still need further clarification as mixed information has been released. The requirement that customers be vaccinated or pass a negative test is only for “maximum control zones.”

Educational institutions, theaters, bars, nightclubs, entertainment venues, cinemas, theme parks, water parks, fitness centers, swimming pools, spas, bowling, pool, snooker, and convention halls in and out of shopping malls will remain closed until further notice, according to the CCSA.

Gathering limits are raised from 5 people to 25 people, however, gathering around “parties” or drinking is still prohibited in maximum control provinces.

Outdoor and indoor public parks and sports parks with proper ventilation will return to business in September until 8:00 PM., similar to department stores and restaurants. Practicing sports in such places can be conducted without audiences. As for beaches, this is a provincial-level governor decision and residents of provinces with beaches will need to wait for the governor’s orders, expected at a later time, to answer if these places will be able to reopen. Golf should also be clarified when the orders are released.

These restrictions are set to begin easing on September 1st, although the CCSA cautioned that if a business was not able to meet all the standards for reopening yet they would need to partner with their local provincial officials.

TPN media notes that many potential questions remain unanswered by the CCSA and it is hoped that once final orders are released, both at a national and provincial level, it will provide answers to these inquiries. We also suggest touching base with 1337 in Pattaya locally, the city call center, for specific information about your business and if it is able to operate. We will continue to provide accurate information as we get it.

https://thepattayanews.com/2021/08/27/t ... -september
Post Reply