Thailand is set to further ease Covid-19 restrictions by allowing the resumption of entertainment businesses.
According to a report by The Nation quoting the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), restaurants, pubs, and bars would begin serving alcohol until 11 p.m. by March 1 in all areas of the country except for Samut Sakhon.
The committee, chaired by no other than Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, said that while the entertainment industry would be allowed, opening hours will differ in the red, yellow, and orange Covid-19 control zones.
Areas classified in the red zone are those in maximum control, while those in the orange zone are controlled. Meanwhile, those in the yellow zone are in high surveillance.
Under the new rules, restaurants in the red zone can open until 9 p.m. but alcohol must not be served while entertainment venues, pubs, and bars remain shut.
Shopping centers may open until 9 p.m. but are not allowed to conduct any promotion.
Fitness centers, gyms, and outdoor exercise facilities remain closed.
Meanwhile, restaurants, entertainment venues, pubs, and bars in provinces under the orange zone can already serve customers until 11 p.m.
Shopping centers may also reopen but promotions remained prohibited.
Educational institutions can be back as usual, while gyms, fitness centers, and outdoor exercise facilities can open as normal.
Under the yellow zone, entertainment businesses would be allowed to open until midnight.
Other businesses can open normally but promotions remained banned.
Areas in the green zone, the most relaxed classification, can already open businesses as usual.
The CCSA said that easing of restrictions would support economic recovery, but it urged people to keep wearing masks, maintain social distancing, wash their hands and check their temperature regularly.
The committee also urged citizens to check in to venues with the ThaiChana or MorChana applications.
Photo by Werner Bayer/Flickr
