Thailand-

The following is our weekly feature in which we take a look at the top developing stories and things to follow over the next week. We are focusing on what is happening for the first week of July, ending July 3rd, 2021.

As we publish dozens of stories a week, this allows our readers to get a quick glimpse of the most important stories taking place in Thailand and Pattaya and to monitor and follow for the week ahead, as chosen by our editorial team.

Let’s get started:

1. Bangkok and nine provinces strengthen restrictions starting Monday, June 28th, 2021 to help prevent Covid-19

Multiple provinces and areas, including Bangkok, are strengthening rules starting tomorrow, Monday, June 28th, 2021 to help prevent Covid-19.

The ten areas are Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Pathum Thani, Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala, and Songkhla.

For our local residents and readers, Chonburi, the home of Pattaya, is not included.

The new measures close construction camps and high-risk areas, in Bangkok they also close restaurants for dine-in entirely for a month. This decision has already caused much anger and frustration from the restaurant industry, you can read more about that below along with the specifics on the restrictions.

Thailand’s Royal Gazette announces strict Covid-19 preventive measures in Bangkok and its vicinity and in four Southern provinces, including construction camp closures and no dine-in at restaurants

Bangkok restaurant owners “blindsided” by restaurant dine-in closure, demand significant financial aid, joining chorus of upset businesses

2. Pattaya to continue major vaccination campaign with their own privately purchased Sinopharm

Pattaya will resume its Covid-19 vaccination campaign, paused for a few weeks due to vaccines being prioritized for Bangkok and the ongoing Covid-19 outbreaks in the capital, this week, according to Pattaya City Officials.

This is primarily being driven by the private purchase of 100,000 Sinopharm vaccines, enough for 50,000 Pattaya residents, earlier this month. The city used their own budget to purchase the vaccines, free of charge, for the area hoping to make a significant dent in terms of reaching “herd immunity” which will hopefully allow the city to re-open and resume normal business sooner vs. later. These vaccinations are, according to the city, being given to those who have previously registered with their Thai national ID card.

Unfortunately, an open program for all foreigners is still not live for the Chonburi province due to limited vaccines available, although some have been able to apply through their companies/work permits and through thailandintervac.com for people over 60 with pre-existing health conditions, although your mileage may vary for this. Chonburi and Pattaya officials have stated an open enrollment for foreigners locally, like Surat Thani, Phuket, or Chiang Mai will come “in the future.” A specific date or timeframe was not given.

Pattaya independently orders 100,000 doses of the Sinopharm Covid -19 vaccine to expediate Pattaya vaccination campaign

  3.  Phuket Sandbox officially opens on July First

The Phuket Sandbox, a topic we have covered heavily here on The Pattaya News, will officially start on July First. In theory, it allows selected vaccinated foreign tourists to visit Phuket without quarantine, although with plenty of rules and restrictions.

Widely criticized on social media, officials have been reminding people that the sandbox is a “test” and not the “grand reopening” of Thailand to widespread tourism. Due to the number of rules, including many Covid-19 tests, as well as popular attractions like nightlife still closed on the island, the program is expected to start out slow with mostly returning Thai nationals and ex-pats choosing the program over strict hotel quarantine.

This is likely what officials want as they test the program and see how it goes, hopefully loosening rules and restrictions down the road like they did with the Special Tourist Visa program last year.

Phuket’s Covid-19 Official Information Center reveals more initial information and guidelines from the “Phuket Sandbox” project

Thai Cabinet officially approves the Phuket Sandbox and three islands in Surat Thani to reopen to vaccinated foreign tourists starting next month

That is all for this week, thank you for your support, and have a safe week!