TCEB Situation Update COVID-19 Virus on 1 October 2021

The COVID-19 situation in Thailand has been improving. Rate of new infection cases has been stable. The recovery cases have been on the rise. Public health and responsible agencies have evaluated the situation and reported that government agencies, private sector and general public have become experienced and prepared to a certain extent for the ongoing situation. The relaxation of certain control measures is, thus, justified, while the ones remaining in force will be exercised as long as they are necessary or fit the situation of each particular area. In this respect, the Prime Minister has issued the regulations and directives, effective since 1 October 2021, as follows:

1. Provincial zone designation in line with situation level

The provincial zone designation as made by the order number 11/2564 of the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) dated 1 August 2564 remains in force. Bangkok remains in maximum control zone with tight restrictions. 

2. Adjustment of ban on leaving residence in maximum control zone with tight restrictions 

Leaving residence between 22.00 hrs and 04.00 hrs of the next day is prohibited until 15 October 2021. Terms and conditions allowing the authorities and exempted persons to perform their duties as stated in earlier announcement remain in effect.

3. Extension of the duration of control measure enforcement in maximum control area with tight restrictions

Measures, prohibition and directives enforced in maximum control area with tight restrictions as earlier announced remain in effect, such as ban on activities posing risk of transmission, cross-provincial travel, public transport and performing of duties outside usual workplace. Measures, criteria or operational guidelines prescribed by the authorities or responsible agencies for enforcement in maximum control area with tight restrictions and not in contradiction with the regulations issued by the Prime Minister will remain in force until 15 October 2021.

4. Adjustment of integrated control measures enforced in maximum control area with tight restrictions

Provincial communicable disease committee is assigned to supervise and monitor the operation of establishments and the carrying out of activities. It is to ensure that entrepreneurs or responsible persons make preparation, examine ventilation system, taking charge of the preparation of their staff, and comply with the conditions, arrangement and established disease control measures, including any measures enforced in a specific area or matter. The details are as follows:

1) Schools and every type of educational institutes can use their buildings for teaching, examination, training or conducting activities involving a large number of participants. But the representative of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) or concerned agencies will work with the provincial communicable disease committee to take such permission into consideration and see to it that the use fits the situation and complies with disease control measures as established in the criteria of MHESI and the Ministry of Public Health.

2) Child care centres, nurseries or any children welfare - related organisations can operate normally if permitted by provincial communicable disease committee who will see to it that disease prevention measures are strictly executed and normal operation is appropriate.

3) Food or beverage outlets can allow onsite consumption but not beyond 21.00 hrs. Alcohol consumption is not yet permitted. The number of clients must be limited. Use of air-conditioned rooms must not exceed 50 per cent of seating capacity. In case of open-air area such as small-sized food outlets, hawkers, push carts, the clients must not exceed 75 per cent of usual seating capacity. Food or beverage outlets featuring musical performances or any other shows – performers must not exceed 5 persons, social distance must be practiced, performers must wear masks, mask can be taken off if woodwind instrument is used in the performance. These measures are enforced with outlets located in shopping centres, department stores, community malls or similar establishments.

4) Convenient stores, fresh markets or periodic markets can conduct selling and buying of consumer goods until 21.00 hrs. Night service of convenient stores must be closed from 21.00 hrs. until 04.00 hrs. of the next day.

5) Libraries and all types of museums, art centres, historical sites, archaeological sites, learning centres, scientific centres for learning, science parks, scientific and cultural centres or similar sites can operate. normally. But number of visitors must be limited, the criteria of which can be based on the operational directives established by the Ministry of Public Health, or 75 per cent of the usual capacity must not be exceeded. Consumption of food and drink onsite and crowd-gathering activities are prohibited, while disease control measures must be strictly practiced.

6) Cinemas can operate until 21.00 hrs. with the number of audience limited to 50 per cent of seating capacity. Seating distance must be arranged in line with the directives established by the Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Public Health. Audience must wear masks and not consume food and drink during viewing.

7) Beauty clinics or centres, beauty salons, hair salons/barbers, manicure & pedicure salons and tattoo services must operate via appointments until 21.00 hrs. The tattoo services can serve only clients showing proof of full vaccination or negative test results within 72 hours before attending. The test can be conducted by RT-PCR or ATK.

8) Health, spa or traditional Thai massage services must operate via appointments only and open until 21.00 hrs. Service time is limited to a maximum of 2 hours per client who must show proof of full vaccination or negative test results, either by RT-PCR or ATK, within 72 hours before visiting. Disease control measures must be strictly adhered to. Steaming and herbal steaming remain prohibited. 

9) Public parks, sporting squares, sport stadia, swimming pools for sporting purposes or recreational water activities or public swimming pools, outdoor sporting grounds or indoor ones with good ventilation system can operate until 21.00 hrs. Air-conditioned exercising grounds, gyms or fitness services can open until 21.00 hrs. but steaming is not permitted. Disease control measures jointly established by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Ministry of Public Health must be strictly executed.

10) Use of sporting grounds or any other sites for competition is subject to the consideration of provincial communicable disease committee whose judgement will be based on the criteria jointly established by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Ministry of Public Health. Spectators are not allowed for indoor competition, while audience of the outdoor one is limited to 25 per cent of the capacity. Audience must show proof of full vaccination or negative test results, either by RT-PCR or ATK, within 72 hours before attending.Disease control measures must be strictly executed when sporting grounds are used by national athletes for training purposes without spectators.

11) Department stores, shopping centres, community malls or similar establishments can operate until 21.00 hrs., except certain establishments or activities which remain subject to conditional opening or must remain closed.

a. Schools and tutorial schools can operate but are subject to the consideration of provincial communicable disease committee who will exercise judgement based on the conditions of their location and situation which must be in line with the criteria set up by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation and the Ministry of Public Health.

b. Cinemas can operate and must abide by the measures in (6)

c. Beauty clinics, beauty salons, manicure and pedicure services, tattoo services can operate by abiding by the measures in (7). Beauty salons, hair salons must service via appointment only and limit service duration to a maximum 2 hours per client only.

d. Health, spa or traditional Thai massage services can operate by abiding by the measures in (8).

e. Swimming pools, exercise venues, gyms and fitness services can operate by abiding by the measures in (9) and (10).

f. amusement parks, water parks, game arcades, banquet services or meetings remain prohibited.

12) Filming, television program production or similar media production can operate by abiding by the measures earlier announced.

13) Cinemas are performance theatres are subject to the consideration of provincial communicable disease committee if they are to stage musical performances, cultural performances, folk art performances or similar shows, which must end by 21.00 hrs. Number of performers and staff must not exceed 50 persons and they must wear masks all the time. Mask can be taken off while performing on stage but with no physical contact with audience. Disease control measures jointly established by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Public Health must be strictly executed.   

Bangkok still enforces closure of certain MICE establishments and imposes certain regulations for MICE venues as follows:

1. Exhibition centres, convention centres or exhibition halls remain closed.

2. Establishments providing meeting room, function room, banquet venue or similar establishments can allow only activities or events of customary practice, such as engagement ceremony but without meal service

3. Hotels are not yet allowed to host meetings, seminars or banquets, except activities or events of customary practice, such as engagement ceremony but without meal service.

5. Preparation for pilot opening of tourist destinations 

The concerned authorities, government agencies, private sector and personnel are to make preparation to drive the economy in response to the plans and guidelines of pilot opening of tourist destinations, which have been undertaken in certain areas and will be continued in the future. In so doing, the appropriateness, readiness and context of the area will be taken into account, while disease control and prevention measures will be designed for enforcement in each specific location.  

Provincial communicable disease committee will consider the appropriateness and propose disease control and prevention measures that fit the condition of each specific area which is targeted for pilot opening. Their consideration must be in line with the criteria established by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Ministry of Interior before their submission to the operation centre of the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) or the Prime Minister for consideration and approval. 

Effective since 1 October 2021.

Reference

http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2564/E/235/T_0005.PDF (TH Version)

https://www.prbangkok.com/th/covid/detail/19/4902 (TH Version)

https://www.facebook.com/thailandprd/posts/4664334930256551 

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Further information about COVID-19 outbreak from WHO

https://www.who.int/thailand/emergencies/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports

Department of Disease Control Contact Centre (Call 1422 24/7)

https://ddc.moph.go.th/viralpneumonia/index.php

Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) (Call +66 (0) 2694 6000)

https://www.businesseventsthailand.com/en/situation-update-coronavirus-covid-19 or info@tceb.or.th