Bangkok extends COVID-19 controls until at least the end of May

The following is a press release from the Thai Tourism Authority. Their thoughts and statements are entirely their own.

Bangkok, 17 May 2021 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) would like to provide the latest that Bangkok’s temporary closure order has been extended for two more weeks, or until 31 May 2021.  The order was previously in place from 26 April – 9 May 2021, then extended to 17 May 2021.

While the existing temporary closure and relevant measures for businesses and venues remain in place, there is some relaxation for dine-in services at restaurants per the Royal Thai Government’s announcement (Thailand relaxes COVID-19 measures from 17 May 2021).

Shops selling food or beverages are now allowed to open for limited dine-in services until 21.00 Hrs., and takeaway is allowed until 23.00 Hrs. A capacity limit of 25% is in place, which means that only one person can sit at a table for four, regardless if the occupants live together or not. However, consumption of alcoholic beverages while dining in continues to be prohibited nationwide.

The rest of the restrictions remain in effect, which includes:

The mask mandate requiring everyone in Bangkok to ‘always correctly and properly wear sanitary or fabric face masks outside their residence or accommodation. Violators are liable to a fine not exceeding 20,000 Baht.

The temporary closure order involves the following businesses and venues:

  1. Buildings and places of schools, tutorial schools, and all types of educational institutes;
  2. Entertainment venues, any establishments providing similar services to those of entertainment venues, amusement places, pubs, bars, karaoke shops, or other similar venues;
  3. Massage parlors;
  4. Establishments for bath services and establishments for a steam bath and herbal steam;
  5. Cockfighting rings and cockfighting training rings;
  6. Bullrings, fish fighting rings, or other similar sports arenas;
  7. Cinemas, theatres, and playhouses;
  8. Water parks and amusement parks;
  9. Playgrounds and playground equipment for children;
  10. Zoos and animal display venues;
  11. Skating rings, rollerblading arenas, or other similar activities;
  12. Snooker and billiards halls;
  13. Bowling alleys and game machine arcades;
  14. Gaming centers and Internet cafes;
  15. Public swimming pools or other similar businesses;
  16. Fitness centers;
  17. Exhibition halls, trade fair centers, and convention centers;
  18. Museums, national museums, local museums, and those similar museums, learning centers, science centers for education, science parks, science and cultural centers, historical sites, ancient monuments, and galleries;
  19. Public libraries, community libraries, private libraries, and book houses;
  20. Nurseries (except those operated in hospitals with admission for an overnight stay as a regularity), early childhood development centers, and preschool child development centers;
  21. Elderly care centers (except admission for an overnight stay as a regularity);
  22. Boxing stadiums and boxing training gyms;
  23. Martial arts schools (gyms);
  24. Premises for tattooing or piercing of the skin or any parts of the body, and manicure and pedicure shops;
  25. Social/ballroom dance schools and academies;
  26. Horse racing courses;
  27. Amulet and Buddha statue trading markets and centers;
  28. Weight-loss centers, aesthetic clinics, medical clinics for beauty service, and cosmetic clinics;
  29. Health-related establishments (spa shops, health massage shops, beauty massage shops), and establishments for Thai traditional massage and foot massage;
  30. All types of competition venues;
  31. Places of entertainment or places for public performances or recreation;
  32. Places providing services on meeting rooms, catering rooms, catering venues, and other those similar places;
  33. Beauty salons and barbershops (to be opened only for shampooing, cutting, layering, dressing, and service users waiting for service in shops are not allowed);
  34. Public parks, botanic gardens, and flower gardens;
  35. All types of indoor and outdoor sports venues, golf courses and driving ranges, and swimming pools for sports or marine activity in ponds.

In addition, there are integrated control measures for the following businesses and venues:

  1. Shopping malls, shopping centers, community malls, or similar establishments can open for operation by their regular time until 21.00 Hrs.
  2. Convenience stores, supermarkets, night markets, all-night markets, and walking streets can open for operation by their regular time but no later than 23.00 Hrs. Stores or venues specified above, which are regularly open for 24-hour services, can open for operation from 04.00 Hrs.
  3. Any activities prone to disease spread; such as meetings, seminars, banquets, distribution of food or things, parties, camping, film or television program production, religious activities, Dharma practice, and meetings with senior relatives, can be organized but the number of attendees must not exceed 20 people.
  4. In the case where the number of attendees exceeds 20 people but no more than 1,000 people, organizers shall request permission by submitting the working plan and disease control measures to the district office in charge of the area before organizing the said activities.
  5. In the case where the number of attendees exceeds 1,000 people, organizers shall request permission by submitting the working plan and disease control measures to the BMA’s Health Department before organizing the said activities, except those operated by government agencies or ones implemented in the venues designated as quarantine facilities. Organizers shall comply with the disease prevention and control measures for inhibiting the spread of disease.

Any persons who violate or fail to comply with this order shall be guilty of an offense under Section 52 of the Communicable Diseases Act B.E. 2558 (2015), which shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one (1) year or to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand (100,000) Baht, or to both and shall be guilty of an offense under Section 18 of the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situation B.E. 2548 (2005), which shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two (2) years or to a fine not exceeding forty thousand (40,000) Baht, or to both.

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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/