JUST hours after Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) issued a Covid-19 regulation forbidding dining at restaurants in the capital from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. starting tomorrow, Jan. 5, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha ordered that this regulation be cancelled and the curb start after 9 p.m., Sanook.com reported late afternoon.
Gen. Prayut said he had received a proposal from the Restaurant Association and issued this order after studying it because the government did not want business to be impacted.
However restaurants have to follow measures previously in place including limiting the number of diners, maintaining social distance, which the head of the association assured restaurants would follow.
However the Prime Minister’s action is fairly confusing for both the general public and entrepreneurs because earlier in the day BMA’s spokesman Pol. Capt. Pongsakorn Kwanmuang had announced that the Bangkok Communicable Disease Committee meeting had passed a resolution that all types of restaurants only offer take-away service from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. starting tomorrow.
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Top: Prime Minister Prayut announcing his decision today. Thai headline says, “Doesn’t want business to be affected.” Photo: Sanook.com
