All remaining entertainment facilities to reopen from July 1. including bars, and massage establishments. Some bars in Pattaya not bothering to open.
NIGHTLIFE REOPENS CLOSES AT MIDNIGHT
June 30. 2020
All night entertainment venues, including soapy and erotic massage parlours, will open their doors again on July 1. as restrictions imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19 are further eased in the final phase. The CCSA gave permission for all remaining entertainment facilities (those that have survived) to reopen which include pubs and bars, karaoke bars, and massage establishments, the sector was initially told to temporarily close on March 18. for 2 weeks. Health and physical distancing measures and monitoring will be required.
CCSA spokesman Taweesilp Visanuyothin said after the full members' meeting chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha all premises that reopen will be required to use the "Thai Chana" platform, created to alert businesses and customers to any Covid-19 outbreak.
Entertainment venues, pubs, bars, karaoke joints, beer halls and beer gardens will be allowed to open until midnight, with the enforcement of social distancing rules. Customers must use the Thai Chana app to check in and out.
Above: Annies Massage & Spa
Soapy massage parlours customers must use the Thai Chana app when checking in and out. Customers and staff must wear face masks all the time except when taking a bath.
Dr Taweesilp said that the CCSA meeting stressed the need for massage parlours to strictly follow health measures while the meeting issued a stern warning against allowing the sex trade to take place in their premises.
If there are Covid-19 infections at their premises, the owners will face punishment, Dr Taweesilp said.
The meeting on Monday also agreed to extend the use of the emergency decree until the end of July after it was due to expire June 30. The proposed extension will be submitted for cabinet approval today, Dr Taweesilp said.
Speaking after the meeting, Gen Prayut said that the emergency decree is being kept in force because it has played a key role in bringing the pandemic in the country under control.
The decree combines the power of more than 40 laws so it can deliver quick and efficient responses to the pandemic, the prime minister said while insisting that it was not a measure to silence critics.
According to the prime minister, the reason for allowing the remaining businesses which are in the highest-risk category to reopen is because the government wants to ease the plight of low-income earners who are struggling to make ends meet.
Sukhum Kanchanapimai, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, said that the latest easing of restrictions may pose a risk of new surges in infections.
Above; Soi 6 Pattaya
MANY PATTAYA BARS WILL NOT BOTHER OPENING
The reopening of the pubs and bars of Pattaya isn’t going to happen,there are several reasons for this, said Damrongkiat Phinitkarn, head of the entertainment association in the city.
Though operators are prepared to follow the rules most just won’t bother to open at all.Much of their reluctance concerns the 22 new rules about what patrons can and can’t do.
This will involve extra staffing and extra expense. They will be needed to enforce where patrons can walk, stop them singing and dancing. It will just not be worth it.
Social distancing measures alone will mean if they are to follow the rules they will be at 50% capacity. Then there is the extra cost of cleaning and health monitoring devices.
And the bottom line is that most pubs and bars and discos rely on foreign clientele. They are not in Thailand yet and until they are, many bars will just stay shut and wait.
Related Articles:
Bars Can Reopen
With Strict New Rules >
Useful Links;
MENZZOO MAGAZINE
June 2020
Bangkok
Thailand
Email: support@menzzoo.com
Phone: +66 (0) 828116642