Not very good news for Pattaya or anywhere else in Thailand. Of course, to me such a warning is a minor point at the moment considering for most traveling to Thailand for the foreseeable future is extremely difficult, perhaps impossible. And that moron who murdered that woman in Phuket for 300 baht didn't exactly help matters either.
Unfortunately, not much has improved. In Pattaya virtually everything is still closed, although I have information that some larger businesses are going to reopen Monday, August 16. We'll see. But the restaurants are still take-away only or ordering via delivery services. The pushcart food vendors seem to be in full operation, though. All entertainment venues are still closed. The beaches are still closed, but you can go along the walkways. People are encouraged, but not ordered, to remain home as much as possible. The 9:00pm-4:00am curfew is still in effect. Social gatherings of more than 5 people is still prohibited. You are allowed to buy liquor, but you have to drink at your residence - and not with anyone else, just by yourself. I have no idea how that is supposed to be enforced.
People seem to be ignoring several of the more absurd regulations and, as far as I know, few if any people are being arrested and prosecuted for such violations. However, the police
are strictly enforcing the curfew.
Still, as far as the reasons I am guessing most people reading this would have for traveling to Thailand, not much to go to Thailand for in the first place these days. Not much fun - mostly people just trying to survive.
We're all hoping for everything to reopen, but I just don't see it happening any time soon. I can't even begin to guess what the gay scene will be like once everything finally does reopen. Your guess is as good as mine. I only hope all of us live long enough to find out . . .
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US warns against travel to Thailand, other countries over Covid-19
10 Aug 2021
WASHINGTON/BANGKOK: The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned on Monday against travel to Israel, France, Thailand, Iceland and several other countries because of a rising number of Covid-19 cases in those nations.
The CDC has been adding to its highest "Level 4: Very High" Covid-19 level as cases spread around the globe. The United States added Thailand, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, along with other places, including Aruba and French Polynesia.
"Because of the current situation in Thailand, even fully vaccinated travellers may be at risk for getting and spreading Covid-19 variants," the CDC said on its website.
The list comprises more than 70 countries, including three other Southeast Asian countries -- Indonesia, Malaysia and Myanmar.
Thailand had a record high of 235 new Covid-19 fatalities and registered 19,843 new cases over the past 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry reported on Tuesday.
The US State Department also issued its parallel Level 4: Do Not Travel" advisories for Iceland and France on Monday.
In July, the CDC had raised concerns about Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, lifting its travel health notice by two levels to "Level 3: High."
The CDC also hiked alert levels to "Level 3: High" for Austria, Croatia, El Salvador, Azerbaijan, Guam, Kenya and Jamaica. The CDC says unvaccinated travellers should avoid nonessential travel to those countries.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... r-covid-19
