A MEETING of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) executive committee chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha today (Sept. 27) extended the state of emergency till November 30, 2021 while also shortening the curfew by an hour with this to be from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. and allowing some businesses and activities to reopen from October 1, Sanook.com said.
Mr. Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, spokesman for the Prime Minister’s Office, said Gen. Prayut had mentioned that the coronavirus crisis appears to be improving but people must not be careless.
The Sandbox format will be expanded to support tourism and further reopening of the country.
Thailand is now able to vaccinate over 1 million people a day with jabs for foreigners and foreign workers to start on October 1.
The meeting allowed the following businesses and activities to reopen:
– Preschool/child development centres may operate but this must be again considered by the provincial communicable disease committee or the Bangkok Communicable Disease Committee.
– Public, community and private libraries as well as book houses can now open.
– Museums, local museums, historical or ancient sites can also open.
– Learning centres, science and education centres, science and cultural centres and art galleries allowed to reopen.
Categories two to four may reopen to a limited number of people for example one person per four square metres, or not more than 75% occupancy at a time. Face masks must be worn all the time and no eating allowed with strict public health measures in place.
– Nail salons may reopen by appointment.
– The tattoo parlours may reopen by appointment. The customer has to have completed vaccination or obtain a negative ATK or RT-PCR test result within 72 hours.
– Health establishments (massage and spa) may reopen by appointment. The service is limited to two hours per person, but steam service is not yet allowed. They are allowed to restart service using water for health, such as spas, under the Health Operations Act B.E. 2559. The customer has to have completed vaccination or obtain a negative ATK or RT-PCR test result within 72 hours.
– Movie theater or movie screening businesses may stay open till 9 p.m. However seating is reduced to around 50% and spaced out. Those coming together may sit together but everyone must wear a mask all the time and no eating allowed.
– Music may be played at restaurants but the number of musicians is limited to a maximum of five persons. Musicians have to wear face masks all the time but singers may take them off only when singing or performing. No touching other singers, musicians or customers allowed.
However, the operator must check and improve the air circulation system including making arrangements according to the Covid free setting measures.
– Exhibition and convention centres and venues are not yet allowed to reopen. The situation will be monitored for another two to four weeks. This is so because people from many areas come in and the gatherings are large.
– The 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew will remain for at least 15 days.
– Businesses and activities that may stay open till 9 p.m. include shopping centres, department stores, convenience stores, fresh and flea markets.
Outdoor or indoor sports may also be held till 9 p.m. but outdoor facilities are limited to 25% of the stadium’s capacity. Viewers have to be fully vaccinated or obtained a negative ATK or RT-PCR test result within 72 hours.
– Quarantine for those who have been fully vaccinated is reduced to seven days but for those who do not have vaccination documents it is from 10 -14 days. Quarantine for those entering the country by air is seven days and those coming in by land or sea 10 -14 days. Activities in the quarantine facilities are permitted according to the specified conditions.
The meeting also passed the following resolution:
– Opening additional tourism pilot areas during October 1-31, namely Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao in Surat Thani; Khao Lak and Koh Yao in Phang Nga; and Phi Phi Islands, Koh Ngai, Railay, Klong Muang and Tup Kaek in Krabi.
Guidelines were also set to open 10 more provinces on November 1, 2021 with these being Bangkok, Krabi, Phang Nga (the whole province), Prachuap Khiri Khan (Hua Hin and Nong Kae), Phetchaburi (Cha-am), Chonburi (Pattaya, Bang Lamung, Jomtien and Bang Saray), Ranong ( Koh Phayam), Chiang Mai (Mueang, Mae Rim, Mae Taeng and Doi Tao), Loei (Chiang Khan) and Buriram (Mueang).
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Top: Koh Samui sunset. Photo: Steve Jurvetson (CC BY 2.0)
Home Page: Tourists enjoying themselves at Koh Samui’s Lamai beach before the coronavirus started. Photo: Fabio Achilli (CC BY 2.0)
