An important meeting will be held this May 20 in Thailand, it will be a question of easing the restrictions and perhaps, ending the Thailand Pass.
The easing of restrictions on entertainment venues, such as bars and pubs, the readjustment of Covid-19 zoning and the lowering of the national alert level from level 3 to level 2, are due to be considered this Friday 20 May by the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).
Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said yesterday that as the Covid-19 situation is steadily improving, with fewer infections and deaths, the CCSA will consider easing restrictions depending on the situation.
Measures to be discussed, he said, include rezoning, lowering the alert level and easing restrictions, such as allowing pubs, bars and karaoke bars to fully reopen in some areas, especially in tourist areas.
Currently, some of these places are allowed to open as “restaurants”, as long as they meet the requirements set by the authorities.
See: Bars and nightclubs in Thailand can reopen on January 16, but as restaurants
Khathawut Thongthai, president of the Association of Entertainment Professionals, said nightclub operators hope the CCSA will make it easier to fight the virus and enable businesses to reopen.
Their representatives met on Thursday with General Supoj Malaniyom, head of the CCSA operations center, to discuss the reopening of their businesses ahead of the CCSA meeting.
General Supoj said on Thursday that the proposed reopening will be forwarded to the CCSA for consideration.
End of Thailand Pass?
Anutin Charnvirakul, the Minister of Health, had said on Wednesday May 11 that the Thailand Pass could be canceled because less than 10 visitors per day are infected.
See: Thailand to consider changing the Thailand Pass on May 20
But, a priori, this is not one of the measures that will be discussed today, even if we must not lose hope, because the relief proposed by the last meeting, in particular the end of Covid-19 tests and the Test program & Go, surprised everyone.
Decline in new cases of Covid-19
According to the Covid-19 Information Center, yesterday there were 6,305 new infections and 42 Covid-related deaths in the past 24 hours and 1,104 cases of lung inflammation still under treatment.
The daily number of Covid-19 infections in Thailand fell below 10,000 for the first time on May 2 and continues to decline gradually.
This year’s peak was 28,379 on April 1.
New areas and lower alert level
Currently, there are only two types of Covid-19 zones in operation, “tourist sandboxes” or “blue” zones and “high surveillance” zones or “yellow” zones.
The proposed redistricting would place some provinces in intermediate “green” or “surveillance” zones, which generally involve fewer Covid-19 restrictions than “yellow” zones.
Blue zone provinces are provinces or districts that have achieved at least 70% mass vaccination and are ready to welcome foreign tourists.
According to the Permanent Secretary for Public Health, Dr Kiattibhoom Vonrachit, Alert Level 2 means the public can engage in almost all activities, except for vulnerable people and those who are not fully vaccinated.
On May 9, the level was lowered from 4 to 3.
Level 5 is the highest and may involve curfews.
Unvaccinated people are advised to avoid places of entertainment, crowded places and closed places without air circulation.
Members of vulnerable groups, who are not fully vaccinated, are also advised to avoid inter-provincial public transport and overseas travel.
Source : Thai PBS World
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