COVID-19: Thailand to further ease restrictions on June 1

By Linda Khoo

BANGKOK, May 29 -- Thailand will further ease COVID-19 restrictions by reopening more businesses and shortening curfew hours in the third phase of relaxation starting on Monday.

As the COVID-19 situation continues to improve, National Security Council (NSC) secretary-general Somsak Roongsita said the 11 pm-4 am curfew will be shortened by one hour, to 11 pm to 3 am.

He said spas and massage parlours, cinemas and theatres, zoos, exhibition centres, amulet shops and playhouses will be reopened with strict social distancing regulations and limits on the numbers of visitors.

He said shopping malls will be allowed to extend their daily operations by one hour until 9 pm beginning Monday.

“The easing of restrictions, reopening of businesses and venues will help boost the country’s economy,” he said at a press conference here today.

Thailand’s National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) estimates that about 8.4 million workers in the kingdom may lose their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thailand’s GDP shrank by 1.8 per cent in Q1 2020 compared with the same period in 2019 as the COVID-19 pandemic hit the tourism sector and reduced business activities.

Somsak said football stadiums, volleyball, basketball and futsal courts will be reopened but only for training purposes and with limits on spectators.

He added that gyms and fitness clubs are fully reopening with limited users each time.                                

The ban on the entry of non-resident foreigners remains. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has extended the ban on all international passenger arrivals to June 30 to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Thailand, the first country outside China to report COVID-19 cases, closed major public places including malls, entertainment outlets and sports venues nationwide starting March 26. 

It introduced the first phase of relaxation on May 3, when six types of businesses and several venues were reopened. It started the second phase of relaxation on May 17.

Meanwhile, Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) spokesman Thaweesilp Wissanuyothin said Thailand reported 11 COVID-19 cases and no deaths over the last 24 hours, bringing the tally to 3,076 cases with the death toll at 57.

He said all the new cases were Thai nationals who returned from Kuwait and they are undergoing the mandatory 14-day quarantine at a state facility.

-- BERNAMA