Thailand’s Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has decided to lift the 11pm-3am curfew from Monday night, but to keep the country’s borders closed to all in-bound air, sea and land travel for now.
Additionally, several more business and leisure activities will be allowed to resume from Monday, as the CCSA further eases lockdown restrictions in the fourth phase. Bars, pubs and karaoke bars will remain closed.
Under this phase, restaurants, food shops and eateries in hotels will be allowed to sell alcoholic drinks and customers can drink on the premises, but the promotion of alcoholic beverages is not permitted.
Health spas, traditional massage parlors and public saunas can reopen, but each customer must be kept within a space of five square metres.
Amusement and theme parks, children’s playgrounds, public swimming pools and public parks can open, with the exception of children’s ball pits.
Aerobic classes can resume, but the number of participants in each class must not exceed 50 and each person must be reserved a space of five square metres.
All competitive sports are permitted in stadia or on exercise grounds, but spectators are not permitted.
All seats on a planes can be occupied by passengers, but they must wear face masks at all times during a flight. On buses, two people can sit together, but one seat must be left vacant and the number of passengers on each bus must not exceed 70% of its capacity.
Convention halls, conference rooms in hotels, exhibition halls and music venues can reopen, but they must not get congested, with a space of 4-5 square metres for each person.
Children’s nurseries and homes for the elderly can reopen. In nurseries, babysitters must make sure social distancing is observed among children and staff.
Location and studio based film production can resume, with a cast and crew of up to 150, but the number of spectators must not exceed 50.
CCSA spokesman Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin said that the Tourism and Sports Ministry has proposed the CCSA allows partial opening of Thailand’s borders for in-bound travelers from countries which have controlled the spread of COVID-19. Travellers, however, must buy health insurance coverage for their stay in Thailand and ensure that they are properly screened at their home countries.
He said the Prime Minister agrees with the proposal in principle, but the issue must be further considered to make sure that tourist arrivals will not lead to a second wave of infections.
