Thailand announces fifth phase for relaxing of restrictions beginning 1 July

The Thai cabinet approved the extension of the Emergency Decree nationwide for another month, until 31 July, 2020, citing the COVID-19 pandemic remains at serious levels in many parts of the world.

Bangkok, 01 July, 2020, at 10.00 Hrs. – The Royal Thai Government has approved the fifth phase for relaxing business and activity restrictions, effective from today.

Published in the Royal Thai Government Gazette on 30 June, 2020, the directives include:

The extension of the Emergency Decree nationwide until 31 July, 2020. According to the directives, this is the third extension of the Decree, which was first invoked on 26 March, with the aim to enable authorities to enforce measures on communicable disease control and allow the public to return to daily life with the new normal.

The green light for all remaining entertainment businesses and activities to resume normal operations, beginning today, 1 July, 2020, in addition to those that have already been allowed in phase one from 3 May, phase two from 17 May, phase three from 1 June, and phase four from 15 June, include:

Shopping malls, department stores, community malls, convention and exhibition facilities, can resume normal operating hours, but no later than 22.00 Hrs.

Convenience stores, supermarkets and similar businesses can resume normal operating hours.

Pubs, bars, karaoke bars can reopen until midnight, but sales promotional activities remain prohibited.

The sale of food and beverages in restaurants, food parks and hotels, is allowed past midnight, but the sale of alcoholic beverages is not allowed outside of the specified hours (11.00-14.00 Hrs. and 17.00-midnight).

Gaming and Internet cafes can resume normal operating hours, but services must be limited at specified hours.

Bath-sauna-massage establishments can return to normal operating hours as specified by the law.

All businesses and activities that resume normal operations must be subject to the government’s disease control measures. Both the business operators and customers must follow the social distancing rules and must use the Thai Chana online platform when checking in and out.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) would like to remind all to continue to adhere to health and safety routines to protect themselves, as well as others from the COVID-19 infection. These include keeping social distancing, wearing a mask or cloth mask, and frequently washing hands. Avoid close contact with other persons, no hugging, especially with vulnerable groups like the elderly, or those who have underlying conditions because it can increase the infection rate and potentially lead to severe disease more easily than in other groups.

People can greet via a Wai (Thai greeting) from a distance of 1 or 2 metres. When staying together, people must wear masks, use personal utensils or serving spoons, or eat a la carte servings to protect themselves and loved ones from getting the disease.

TAT is constantly providing updates on the tourism-related COVID-19 situation in Thailand at the TAT Newsroom (https://www.tatnews.org/). For additional information and assistance relating to Thailand’s tourism, contact the TAT Contact Centre 1672 or Tourist Police 1155.

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