NONTHABURI– The Public Health Ministry considers reopening some businesses and places that pose low and medium risks of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission such as barbers and hairdressers’ shops, public parks and department stores while entertainment places and boxing stadiums will remain closed.
Dr Kamnuan Ungchusak, COVID-19 advisor to the public health minister, said Deputy Prime Minister/Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul discussed the possibility of easing disease control measures with doctors from institutions. The meeting agreed to relax restrictions to restore everyday life of people and businesses.
Despite relaxation, officials would continue to screen people arriving from other countries and they would be quarantined for 14 days. Besides, COVID-19 case finding would continue in crowded areas and serious laboratory tests for COVID-19 would go on, he said.
Dr Kamnuan said people should continue to wear face masks, keep distance from one another, and refrain from gatherings to curb the number of new COVID-19 patients.
Businesses would be allowed to resume as about 7-10 million people were jobless. However, service stoppage would remain with entertainment places including pubs, bars, karaoke shops, massage parlours and boxing stadiums where people would shout. Those places proved to spread the disease, he said.
According to Dr Kamnuan, the reopening will start early next month in 32 provinces where the disease did not spread in the past two weeks. They are Nan, Kamphaeng Phet, Phichit, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Chai Nat, Bung Kan, Trat, Ranong, Chanthaburi, Phetchabun, Phrae, MahaSarakam, Mukdahan, Yasothn, Roi Et, Sukhothai, Uthai Thani, Kalasin, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Phanom, Phangnga, Sakhon Nakhon, Satun, Nong Bua Lam Phu, Amnat Charoen, Udon Thani, Phitsanulok, Mae Hong Son, Lop Buri and Saraburi.
The relaxation would follow in 38 other provinces mid next month. They are Chachoengsao, Pathum Thani, Chiang Mai, Narathiwat, Krabi, Kanchanaburi, KhonKaen, Chumphon, Chiang Rai, Trang, Tak, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nakhon Sawan, Buri Ram, Prachuap Khiri Khan, PrachinBuri, Ayutthaya, Phayao, Phatthalung, Phetchaburi, Rayong, Ratchaburi, Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Si Sa Ket, Songkhla, Samut Songkhram, Samut Sakhon, Sa Kaeo, SuphanBuri, Surat Thani, Surin, Nong Khai, Uttaradit and UbonRatchathani.
Bangkok and six other provinces will be the last group because the disease is spreading there. Reopening in the provinces could happen in early June if new infections stopped, Dr Kamnuan said. Apart from Bangkok, the provinces are Chon Buri, Nonthaburi, Phuket, Samut Prakan, Pattani and Yala.
“Reopening must be careful to prevent the second and third rounds of spreading,” Dr Kamnuan said.
Public parks could reopen first but visitors would not be allowed to exercise in groups or gather. Schools might reopen in July but those with air-conditioned classrooms would set desks apart from one another, he said.
Tables would be located apart from one another at restaurants. Customers would not be allowed to wait at barbers and hairdressers’ shops but would make appointments in advance. Department stores would limit the number of visitors at a time and refrain from promotional campaigns, he said.
Dr Kamnuan also said future lockdowns would be specific instead of across the board. (TNA)
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