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BANGKOK: Thailand is preparing to relax some of its COVID-19 control measures across the country starting May 3, including the reopening of restaurants, cafes and markets with guidelines to prevent a second wave of infections.
Dr. Thaweesilp Wisanuyothin, spokesman for Thailand’s COVID-19 Situation Management Center (CCSA), said at a press conference on Thursday (April 30) that six types of activities and businesses will benefit from the partial relaxation.
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While the rules will be standardized by the CCSA for all areas across the country, provincial governors can adjust the regulations as they see fit as long as they are stricter and no less stringent, he added.
The six types of activities and businesses include markets, restaurants outside of department stores, retailers, sports and recreational activities, hair and grooming, as well as grooming and pet boarding businesses.
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“This morning, the CCSA director said that (the reopening) may begin on May 3 if commercial operators are ready to do so by then. Then we will spend 14 days to observe and evaluate the situation.
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“If the number of new infections remains stable, it will show that they cooperate well and know how to manage themselves, their businesses and their activities. Then we can include more businesses and activities in relaxation,” said Dr. Thaweesilp.
However, he said the government will need to reverse the relaxation if the number of new cases increases during the 14-day observation period.
A vendor sells plastic face shield as protection against the COVID-19 coronavirus at a stall in Bangkok on April 27, 2020. (Photo: AFP / Mladen Antonov)
On Thursday, Thailand reported seven new cases of COVID-19 infections, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 2,954.
So far, 2,687 people have been expelled from hospitals and 54 have died.
According to the daily count, the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand continues to improve.
On Wednesday, Bangkok released detailed guidelines for operators who will soon be able to resume business and activities.
However, the national curfew between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. it will remain until the state of emergency ends on May 31.
“The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration would like to emphasize that the situation is not yet normal. The country continues to report new cases every day, which means that COVID-19 is still spreading in places close to us and a second wave of infections is possible. It could be more serious than the first, “Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang said Wednesday.
“If the second wave of infections becomes likely, we may have to temporarily ban activities and close different locations again to control the situation.”
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