Taking a look back in Pattaya this week last year as the Covid-19 shutdowns and restrictions tightened in Pattaya

Thailand-

The following is a weekly feature article, that will join our other recurring weekly features like Reader Talkback, Editorials, A look at the week ahead in news, and recaps of top national and local stories.

This new section takes a look back at news from the same period last year (and sometimes different time windows, such as six months or three months) to see how things have changed, following up on the progression of stories, as well as look at potentially broken promises or things that didn’t take place in Pattaya and Thailand.

As we publish dozens of stories a week this is a quick way for people to take a look at what the biggest stories were a year ago, as chosen by our editorial team, and how they impact us today and relate to current news. They are in no particular order of importance, however, are in order of publication. This week, we cover the LAST week of March 2020.

1. Chonburi Governor tightens restrictions as the province moves further into shutdown due to Covid-19

As the days moved on and the emergency decree officially began this time last year (and is still in place a year later) more and more businesses were ordered to close out of Covid-19 concern. Entertainment venues had been closed the previous week and this week were followed by shopping malls, islands, parks, and more.

Chonburi Governor orders additional restrictions, closes shopping malls other than food and pharmacies, closes access to Koh Larn and Koh Sichang for non residents and more

2.  Emergency Decree takes effect for the first time

The decree is still in place, but the rules around it are now much, much looser. Take a look at what it looked like when it began last year.

Emergency Decree takes effect at midnight in Thailand, some restrictions revealed including banning of most foreigners from entry

3.  Restaurants remain open but cause friction with constantly changing rules during Covid-19 crisis

Those of you here last year remember the constantly changing rules for restaurants and issues with people wanting to use them as “drinking bars” with all entertainment venues closed. At this point, restaurants were basically all that was still open (ones in malls were closed) other than non-essential services last year. A short time later, restaurants were also closed to dine-in and only allowed take-away, partly due to the number of resources being used to police social distancing rules.

Pattaya Covid-19 Center clarifies current rules for restaurants in Chonburi

4.  Please, Please, just stay home

Was the message from Pattaya City officials this week last year as many local residents wandered the beaches and open restaurants and continued to gather at markets during the initial Covid-19 crisis in Pattaya.  Eventually, nearly everything would be closed (although Pattaya never had a stay-at-home firm order) to “encourage” people to stay in.

Pattaya City Government and Pattaya City Police tell residents and foreigners in Pattaya-STAY HOME and practice social distancing to help prevent virus spread

5.  More closure orders including golf courses and overnight closures for supermarkets, 7-11’s, etc.

As the days stretched on nearly every day brought new closure orders as officials worked on finding ways to force people to stay home without making it an “order”.

Chonburi Governor announces new restrictions, changes in latest order to help prevent Covid19 spread

6.  Construction crane collapses in Naklua

Yes, there was SOME non-Covid 19 news last year.

Construction crane collapses in Naklua, injures three, damages six buildings-Video

7.  Tensions rise on mask-wearing between some foreigners and Thai nationals

At this time last year, many Western countries were still giving guidance NOT to wear masks, adding to the confusion as Thailand was requiring it from the start. This led, as expected, to confrontations between Western tourists/foreigners and local Thai residents.

Tensions rise between some foreigners who refuse to wear masks and local Thai businesses and residents

8. Nearly 20 million people crash government support application for financial assistance for “informal” workers

This is when the Thai Government truly understood their initial very low estimates of 3.5 million workers in the “grey” area of non-social security work such as bar workers, food vendors, construction workers, security guards, and many more were far, far off as millions around the country applied for financial aid of 5000 baht (About 150 USD) a month for several months. The level of demand eventually caused the reworking of the program.

Nearly 20 million people crash Thai government cash payout website for informal workers briefly during registration opening, shocking officials

9.  Pattaya proposes to use Grand Bella Hotel as a field hospital

A year later, the Grand Bella became the first true ASQ in Pattaya and led the way forward. This proposal was obviously approved and Grand Bella did so well they became a regular ASQ.

Pattaya raises proposal to use Grand Bella Hotel as temporary Covid19 medical facility for people under investigation for Covid-19

10. Rules tighten EVEN further at the very end of the month, as alcohol sales restricted and dine-in at restaurants end

Finally, the noose got tighter as alcohol sales were restricted to prevent people from drinking at night on beaches and sidewalks and the restaurant eat-in rule was ended. These rules would, as many remember, get even tighter in April. But that, however, is next week. Thank you as always for reading and looking back!

Chonburi Governor officially releases new orders including no alcohol sales from 6PM to 6AM and restaurant take out only to fight Covid-19

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Adam Judd
Mr. Adam Judd is the Co-owner of TPN Media since December 2017. He is originally from Washington D.C., America, but has also lived in Dallas, Sarasota, and Portsmouth. His background is in retail sales, HR, and operations management, and has written about news and Thailand for many years. He has lived in Pattaya for over nine years as a full-time resident, is well known locally and been visiting the country as a regular visitor for over a decade. His full contact information, including office contact information, can be found on our Contact Us page below. Stories please e-mail Editor@ThePattayanews.com About Us: https://thepattayanews.com/about-us/ Contact Us: https://thepattayanews.com/contact-us/