Starting Wednesday, there will be more things to do outside of home again in Bangkok – especially if you’re vaccinated.
After two months under quasi-lockdown, restaurants, salons, massage parlors and public parks will reopen to the public, though eating out will require evidence of full vaccination or recent recovery from COVID-19.
According to Apisamai Sriransan of the COVID-19 task force, dining at restaurants will be allowed under certain conditions, including 75% capacity for open-air restaurants and 50% capacity for indoor spaces. Restaurant employees must either be fully vaccinated or undergo antigen testing every three to seven days. Visitors must also show proof of vaccination.
No information concerning the sale of alcohol was provided, although it seems safe to assume it will remain off the table.
Barbers and beauty clinics will also be allowed to reopen, but only for advance booking – no walk-ins allowed. The new policy only permits people to have their hair cut for a maximum duration of one hour. The same goes for massage parlors, which can only provide foot massages for up to 60 minutes.
People will also be able to re-enter venues such as public parks and open-air sport centers, though the nighttime curfew remains in effect from 9pm to 4am.
Venues such as cinemas, gyms, spas, tutoring schools and bars will remain dark.
Thailand reported an additional 18,702 cases this morning, a number which has been trending downward since peaking mid-August. That improvement has yet to be reflected in the number of fatalities – 273 deaths were reported.
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