Thailand’s Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has decided to ease restrictions on eateries in the Deep Red Zone, by allowing dine-in services up to 9pm, but with only one diner sat at a table which usually seats 4, and no serving of alcohol. Take-home and delivery services can still open until 11pm. Convenience stores can stay open from 4am until 11pm.
Classes in school buildings are still banned, while outdoor stadia can open until 9pm and competitions, without spectators, are permitted. Malls can open as normal up to 9pm.
CCSA Spokesman Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin said today that the easing of restrictions in the Deep Red, or Maximum Controlled and Restrictive Zone, will come into effect as of midnight tonight, at the earliest, or tomorrow.
The CCSA has also reduced the number of provinces under the Deep Red Zone to just Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan.
The number of provinces classified as Red Zones or Maximum Controlled Zone has also been reduced from 45 to 17. They are Kanchanaburi, Chon Buri, Chachoengsao, Tak, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ayutthaya, Phetchaburi, Yala, Ranong, Rayong, Ratchaburi, Samut Sakhon, Songkhla and Surat Thani.
The remaining 56 provinces, including Chiang Mai are grouped under the Orange Zone, or the zone with the fewest restrictive measures.
For the four provinces in the Deep Red Zone, Dr. Taweesin said that any activity, which gathers together more than 20 participants, is still prohibited.
In the Red Zone, the number of participants in any activity is set at a maximum of 50. Dine-in service at eateries is permissible until 11pm, but without serving alcohol. Classes are permissible,with prior approval of the provincial communicable committee. Stadia can stay open up to 9pm and competitions are possible with a limited number of spectators and players.
In the Orange Zone, which now covers 56 provinces instead of 25, eateries can operate as normal, but no serving of alcohol. Stadia can open as normal, without restrictions on spectators or players, and classes can resume as normal.
Dr. Taweesin explained that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is keen to ease restrictions on eateries, although some members of the CCSA did raise objections, out of concern over the possible spread of the disease.
He said that the prime minister met with representatives of the Thai Restaurants Association and the Thai Food Shops Association today, and asked them to make sure that their members strictly observe all required preventive measures.
