THE Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) executive committee today (Apr. 22) changed to colour-coded Covid zones with there to be only two remaining from May 1 – yellow and blue – and restaurants allowed to serve alcohol till midnight thenceforth, Sanook.com said.
However CCSA’s spokesman Dr. Thaweesilp Wisanuyothin said the meeting, which was presided over by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, decided against allowing entertainment venues such as bars, pubs and karaoke lounges to reopen but they could apply to convert to a restaurant to serve alcoholic drinks till midnight.
The panel also changed the procedure for those at high risk of catching Covid to five plus five, that is quarantine for five days and observe their symptoms for another five days.
In addition the Covid panel changed the entry procedure for travellers with those coming in via the Thailand Pass system from May 1 onwards need only show proof of having been vaccinated and have health insurance cover of US$10,000 upon arrival. They no longer need to be tested for infection during their stay here only having to undergo treatment if they fall sick.
Unvaccinated travellers would have to be quarantined in alternate lodgings but those among them who get a negative RT-PCR test result 72 hours before their journey may also freely enter.
Dr. Thaweesilp mentioned that with the new school year reopening on May 17 elementary school children too would have to get the third booster shot while boarding schools will have other countermeasures to cope with coronavirus. Access to vaccination by children is being accelerated.
The executive panel took these steps because many countries have now started relaxing Covid measures.
This comes despite Covid mortality rate having edged up in Thailand with this now being analysed. However there are enough hospital beds for the more severe yellow- and red-level patients as bed occupancy rate has reduced with the help of the outpatient self-isolation system that has treated 1,777,974 patients so far.
Regarding the two colour-coded Covid zones that remain from May 1, the blue tourism pilot scheme zone will comprise 12 provinces, up from 10 previously, with these being Bangkok, Krabi, Kanchanaburi, Chonburi, Chiang Mai, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Phang Nga, Phetchaburi, Phuket, Rayong, Songkhla with the last two newly added to the list. However some parts of other provinces also come under this zone.
The remaining 65 provinces all come under the yellow high surveillance zone, up from the current 47 zones.
CAPTIONS:
Top: Some people enjoying a night out at a restaurant. Photo: Sam Sherratt (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Insert: Map shows the two colour-coded Covid zones from May 1 onwards. Image: Sanook.com
Home Page: Top: Two couples having fun at a restaurant. Photo: Sunny Lapin (CC BY-SA 2.0)
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