THE Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) executive committee today (Aug. 27) decided to relax some Covid-19 measures in the dark red zone from September 1 onwards with shopping malls and restaurants allowed to reopen again under strict conditions, Thai Rath and Sanook.com said.
However the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha decided to maintain the 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew in this zone as well as the work from home order for another 14 days. Universal prevention of infection will now be upgraded.
The dark red zone will continue to comprise 29 provinces with no changes made as yet.
Although department stores, community malls and restaurants will be allowed to reopen from next month onwards, strict inspection is in place with the operators and their staff as well as their clients having to be fully vaccinated and if not antigen testing is essential.
Approved for relaxation in the dark red zone are the following activities and businesses:
– People may travel from most restricted to restricted zone;
– Restaurants may reopen but maximum seating at non-air-conditioned outlets is 75% and air-conditioned ones 50%;
– Measures governing the opening of department stores, shopping centres and community malls to be adjusted;
– Certain businesses may reopen among them are beauty parlours and barber shops (only hair cut) and massage parlours but only for foot massage;
– Educational buildings allowed to be used;
– Stadiums may reopen.
Earlier the Public Health Ministry announced that there were 18,702 new Covid cases and 273 deaths over the past 24 hours with 18,360 cases being among the general public and 342 in prisons and detention centres.
The cumulative confirmed total since the start of the pandemic has now risen to 1,139,571 and in the current wave that began in April 1,110,708.
The 273 additional fatalities raised the death toll to 10,587.
Another 20,163 patients were cured, with recoveries in the current wave reaching 916,358 while 185,200 are still undergoing treatment.
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Top: A restaurant by night. Photo: Clément Chéné (CC BY 2.0)
Home Page: A graphic art image of a restaurant. Photo: Mu523 (CC BY 2.0)
