The Second Phase of Easing Lockdown Measures to Start from May 17
The government has confirmed the second phase of the easing of lockdown measures from May 17 to help boost the economy. The Cabinet has endorsed the proposal by the National Security Council to ease the strict rules in the second phase for businesses in the green group (moderate risk of the virus spreading). Companies that can reopen are:
Stores in department stores or communities malls, such as computers, electrical appliances, bedding, building materials, furniture, office supplies, flowers, clothes, cosmetics and sports equipment. commodities, gold and jewellery service provider; internet cafe, laundromat, repair workshop, car shops for changing tyres, repairing and cleaning credit businesses, insurance companies, drug stores, dentist clinics, nail salons, restaurants, food courts and food centres
Large retail shops, building material stores, furniture houses, large wholesale markets such as Simummuang market and Talaad Thai
Beauty clinics for body and skin-no surgeries on face
Gym and fitness centres-Only allow non-physical-contact sport with only three people in one team and no viewers, such as badminton, table tennis, yoga, fencing, squash, etc.
Partially open fitness centres for free weight training-no workouts in groups or use of exercise machines
Public pools, allowing the number of people in pool equal to lanes-at least 7-feet long and only allowing one hour of use per person.
Hotel meeting rooms and convention halls for meetings of a limited number of people
Libraries, Galleries and Museums
Film crew to start production with 50 people from all sections in the filming studio and must have space for people to eat separately.
There are no changes in the measures on transportation -- no regular international transport, and strict screening of inter-provincial traffic.
Curfew timings will be relaxed by one hour, from 11 pm to 4 am compared to 10 pm to 4 am at present.
Thailand's COVID-19 Colour Zones Explained:
Interprovincial Travel by Bus
Some bus routes are beginning operation as from Monday onward. Seating within the bus will be spaced at least 1 metre apart, following the national social distancing policy, bus interiors and facilities must be cleaned regularly, toilets and frequently exposed spots will also be cleaned before and after each service.
Also, the buses will be parked in the sun every day for at least 1-2 hours a day.
Before passengers enter the terminal, their body temperature will be measured, and if any passenger’s temperature exceeds 36.5, they will be denied access. Seating in the waiting area within the passenger terminal will be spaced out by 1 metre, and passengers must wear facemasks at all times.
A form will be given to passengers to record their travel history, answer other health questions and provide specific departure and destination points to coordinate with provincial transportation and local government organisations to prepare for passengers arriving in the provinces.
The seven northern routes and schedules are:
1. Bangkok – Chiang Mai, departure at 7:30 am.
2. Bangkok – Chiang Rai, departure at 06.30 am
3. Bangkok – Uttaradit, departure at 9.00 am
4. Bangkok – Sarachit, departure at 8:30 am
5. Bangkok – Mae Sot, departure at 9.00 am
6. Bangkok – Lom Kao, departure at 8.30 am
7. Bangkok – Khlong Lan, departure at 8.00 am
The northeast and eastern region routes and schedules are:
1. Bangkok – Nong Bua Lamphu, departure at 08.45 am
2. Bangkok – Sakon Nakhon, departure at 07.30 am
3. Bangkok, from – Chiang Khan, departure at 07.00 am
4. Bangkok – Surin, departure at 10.30 hrs. 06.50 am
5. Bangkok, – Buriram departure at 7.40 am and 12.00 pm
6. Bangkok – Kantharalak departure at 7.00 am
7 Bangkok – Sisaket, departure at 8.00 am
8. Bangkok – Rattanaburi, departure at 9.00 am
9 Bangkok – Chanthaburi, departure at 6.30 am
As for the southern bus routes, Thailand Transport Company is planning to provide 3 routes from June 1 onwards if the government gives the green light. The routes are:
1. Bangkok – Koh Samui, departure at 6.00 am,
2. Bangkok – Phuket, departure at 6.10 am,
3. Bangkok – Trang, departure at 6.15 am.