Chon Buri tightens Covid-19 restrictions, including fines for not wearing a mask

Covid-19 restrictions have tightened in Chon Buri and now people can be fined up to 20,000 baht for not wearing a mask. People are ordered to wear face masks outside. Those who violate the under a new measure, which was recently announced by the provincial governor’s office, could face the hefty fine.

Schools and venues that hold large crowds are closed under the new order. Large gatherings are banned. Restaurants can still offer dine-in services, but hours are limited.

Koh Lan, an island off Pattaya, is also under lockdown measures. Around 100 tourists were ordered to leave the island yesterday and the island will be closed off, with the expectation of essential travel, until January 20.

What’s closed:

• Entertainment venues including nightclubs and bars as well as cinemas, internet cafes and arcades.
• Schools and other educational places, both government-run and private, as well as nurseries and daycare centres.
• Massage parlors and saunas, including “soapies,” as well as spas, beauty clinics and tattoo shops. (Hair salons, barbershops and nail studios can remain open, but under tight restrictions.)
• Public swimming pools and indoor fitness centres.
• Meeting rooms, banquet hall and conference venues.
• Amusement parks are closed, but zoos can remain open.
• Courts and areas used for chicken fighting, fish fighting, bull fighting and similar gatherings are closed.

Limitations:

• 24-hour convenience stores must close from 10pm to 5am.
• Restaurants can offer dine-in service, but only from 6am to 9pm. After 9pm, food orders must be takeaway only. Customers cannot drink alcohol at the restaurants, but Pattaya News says it can still be purchased to take home.
• Department stores, retail stores and shopping centres can remain open, but must follow disease control measures.
• Hair salons, barbershops and nail studios can remain open, but each customer can only be serviced for up to 2 hours. Customers waiting to be serviced are not allowed to sit inside.
• Nursing homes and centres for the elderly allow permanent residents only.
• Hotels can remain open, but gyms, pools and conference rooms must be closed.
• Public parks, beaches, sports stadiums and outdoor gymnasiums can remain open as long as social distancing measures are followed and no large gatherings are held.

Chon Buri’s districts are classified on a colour-scale depending on the number of Covid-19 infections. Although the districts are still divided into control and surveillance zones, the restrictions are applied to all districts.

RED High control area: Bang Lamung district and Si Racha district

ORANGE Control area: Mueang Chonburi district and Sattahip district

YELLOW High surveillance area: Ban Bueang district

GREEN Surveillance area: Phan Thong district, Ban Phanat Nikhom district, Bo Thong district, Nong Yai district, Koh Chan district and Koh Si Chang district

SOURCE: Pattaya News

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