Chonburi, Thailand-
The Chonburi Governor has issued a new legal order this afternoon (December 16th) dealing with Covid-19 restrictions which apply for the whole province and is effective from now until further notice.
These highlighted rules apply to the whole province. We have also added some analysis and statements in italics next to some of the orders for clarity, but no opinions:
-All of Chonburi is a blue zone effective today as announced previously by the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). (Blue stands for Business, Leisure, and Ultimate Experience. In essence, this means that the province qualifies as a sandbox area for tourists who do not qualify for test-and-go to enter Thailand and travel where they wish immediately as well as extra privileges and permissions for the province, such as the ongoing festivals in Banglamung and Pattaya. These permissions may vary from province to province.)
-Bars, pubs, karaokes, nightclubs, entertainment venues, soapies, essentially the entire nighttime economy is still legally and officially closed. (Earlier this week, as we reported, a meeting was held in Pattaya around legally allowing bars and entertainment venues to open and was submitted to the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, or CCSA, for further approval. As of this order, however, no legal permission has been granted officially. Contrary to belief, bars and entertainment venues remain legally closed nationally and have been since April 10th of this year, with the CCSA stating they will be “considered” by mid-January for legal opening but no guarantees.)
-Restaurants of all types can only sell alcohol if they are SHA+ (Safety and Health Administration, which requires forms and certificates to fill out and submit to the government online) and a Covid-free setting (Another certificate/set of guidelines and rules, see below). Hours are 11:00AM to 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM. The certifications must be placed VERY prominently in the shop for inspection and for customers to see. (There have been some mixed messages on the 11:00 PM serving time. In essence, it appears that serving should stop at this hour, and all customers and staff should be out with the venue completely closed by midnight. This message has led to confusion, notes TPN media, but serving and bins should be closed by 11:00 PM.)
-SHA+ restaurants can serve alcohol till 1:00 AM on New Year’s Eve, December 31st, but must be open air/an open environment. (There has been some confusion on this as well or if it means closed restaurants cannot serve until this hour. The main concern here seems to be events/parties and large events.)
-Places like cockfighting stadiums, boxing stadiums, etc. where gambling (unofficially) often takes place must apply for a Covid-free setting certification like a restaurant that wants to serve alcohol.
Covid-19 measurement/Covid-free setting rules/guidelines for business operators
- Satffers in restaurants with a Covid-free setting MUST have 100 percent completed their Covid -19 vaccinations or have been infected not more then 3 months prior with proof of documentation. (Morprom, the doctor mobile app, is the main preferred proof). Staff that is eligible should register for a booster, especially if they have taken Sinovac or Sinopharm previously.
- Staffers in restaurants must take an ATK (Rapid antigen test) every week.
- Covid-Free restaurants MUST clearly show messaging to let customers know about numbers one and two. (A sign should be placed in the business informing customers that the staff is 100% vaccinated and staff are regularly tested in a prominent, visible location.)
- A restaurant in doors should not be full with more than 50% of the total number of seats, people should not sit directly opposite to each other (For instance, sit diagonally across instead), precautions like hand washing and alcohol gel should be available. If there is not room for tables to be a meter across there should be partitions.
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Restaurants with air conditioning should open the door at least once an hour for ventilation. (It did not state out how long this ventilation period should be.)
Covid -19 measurement rules for customers
- Customers SHOULD complete their Covid -19 vaccinations or have been infected not more then 3 months with proof of documentation.
- Customers SHOULD take an ATK test within 72 hours of going to covid-free settings and venues.
- Customers MUST register on the Thai Chana application before entering the venue and this check-in point should be prominent at the business.
- Each customer SHOULD be in a resturant for not more than two hours.
- Customers should not talk when not wearing a face mask in a Covid-free setting. (These five points are guidelines, but not firm orders, we note.)
For further questions or clarification we advise to call Pattaya City Hall at their 24-hour hotline at 1337.
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