Thailand’s Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) is due to meet this Friday to consider easing restrictions, imposed nationally since the onset of the second COVID-19 outbreak in mid-December.

CCSA spokesman Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin said today that three major issues will be considered, namely reopening of schools, dining and drinking hours at entertainment venues, restaurants and street food stalls and proposed plans and guidelines for the easing of restrictions.

For in-school classes, suspended since mid-December, he said that they are expected to resume in all provinces, except Samut Sakhon, where there is a serious concern over the spread of the virus among students using public transport.

Alternate day class attendance, social distancing and online learning may still be needed in schools in the four Red Zones of Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani, he added.

Easing of restrictions will be based on separating the country into different zones, in line with the severity of the pandemic. Samut Sakhon is a maximum controlled and restricted area, maximum controlled areas include Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani, while controlled areas covers 20 provinces with maximum surveillance areas in 17 provinces and surveillance areas in 35.

In the case of Samut Sakhon, Dr. Taweesin said that the CCSA will seek to ease restrictions on shopping malls, eateries and markets, allowing them to operate until 9pm, take-away orders for eateries, on factories which meet safety standards and nurseries and care centres for the elderly.

For the maximum controlled areas, it will be proposed that pubs, Karaoke bars and eateries should be allowed to open until 11pm, with live music but no dancing.

For maximum controlled and controlled areas, the number of attendees at seminars should not exceed 100, but no dancing or music.  In maximum surveillance and surveillance areas, the number of attendees at seminars is limited to 300, with music permitted but no dancing.