Chon Buri eases Covid-19 restrictions – what’s allowed now?
Easing of Covid-19 regulations has been announced by the governor of Chon Buri, going into effect today, with many businesses allowed to reopen. According to a Facebook post on the province’s Public Relations page, the new less restrictive rules are in line with the revisions enacted by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration across the country.
While the curfew in Pattaya and the surrounding province has not been lifted and is still mandatory, it has been moved to 10 pm to 4 am, allowing businesses to stay open an extra hour from 8 pm to 9 pm. Convenience stores will still be allowed to open, but will have to close between 9 pm and 4 am.
Restaurants are allowed to open until 9 pm in a similar fashion to the new Covid-19 rules in Phuket, with occupancy at 50% for air-conditioned indoor eateries and 75% for outdoor or open-air businesses. Live music will be permitted again, but all musicians except the singer must be masked and are not allowed to mix with patrons. Unlike Phuket that allows 3 bandmembers maximum, Chon Buri allows 5.
More importantly, unlike Phuket, the sale of alcohol at restaurants is still strictly forbidden. In fact, consuming alcohol is still basically prohibited in public and only allowed at home and not in groups.
Gatherings are limited to 25 people maximum and, like everything else, must end by 9 pm at the latest. After many headline-grabbing police raids, a birthday party could be like that of a child – small, without booze, and over by 9 pm.
Some of the venues and businesses allowed to reopen under the revised Covid-19 rules, along with what restrictions are in place:
| CATEGORY | RESTRICTIONS |
| Nurseries, preschools, early childhood centres | With local authority permission, mostly for teacher use as public school is not in session now. |
| Malls and shopping centres | Arcades, gaming shops, etc. not allowed to open |
| Gyms and fitness centres | No steam rooms or saunas |
| Beauty salons, barbers, clinics | No waiting – appointments must be scheduled in advance. |
| Massage parlours | Restrictions on treatments involving steam and water. (see below) |
| Spa/Massage with water or steam treatments | Only customers who are fully vaccinated or have a negative Covid-19 test within 72 hours are permitted. |
| Tattoo parlours | Only customers who are fully vaccinated or have a negative Covid-19 test within 72 hours are permitted. |
| Beaches, parks, seaside areas, reservoirs, outdoor areas | Allowed until 9 pm only, no alcohol permitted. |
| Sporting events, arenas, stadiums | Outdoor only, 25% capacity of fully vaccinated fans or those testing negative for Covid-19 within 72 hours. Training for national athletes cannot be attended by fans. |
| Libraries, science centres, etc. | 75% capacity, no food or drink allowed. |
| Museums, art galleries, cultural centres, architectural sites, etc. | 75% capacity, no food or drink allowed. |
| Movie theatres | 50% capacity, masked the whole time, can only sit next to someone in your group, otherwise socially distanced seating. |
| Cultural, historical, folk or similar shows in theatres | 50 people maximum. Performers on stage can remove masks. No interaction or mingling with the audience. |
Nightlife is still not allowed to open with the new Covid-19 rules as well as some daytime activities. All bars, nightclubs, karaoke, go-go bars, and gentlemen clubs must strictly remain closed. By day, amusement parks, water parks, arcades, pool halls, and snooker halls are not permitted to open. And any alcohol-related activity is still strictly banned.
SOURCE: The Pattaya News
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