A National Security Council (NSC) meeting on Wednesday evaluated a broad range of proposals that may be included with the third phase of easing lockdown restrictions, due to come into effect on June 1st.
The first proposal concerned the night curfew, currently in place between 11 pm and 4 am. The committee agreed that curfew hours should be shortened by one hour and finish at 3 am instead of 4 am.
This would give more time to market traders, who begin operating early in the morning, to set up and prepare for the day ahead.
Concerning easing restrictions for businesses, the committee agreed on extending the opening hours of shopping malls. As it stands, malls must close at 8 pm.
However, under the new proposal, shopping malls would be allowed to open for another hour until 9 pm every night.
There was also a discussion about which business may reopen as part of the third phase of easing lockdown measures. Massage parlors were specifically mentioned during the meeting as more than 200,000 massage therapists have been affected by the lockdown.
The committee agreed that the 50,000 massage parlors that have been closed down by lockdown restrictions may open again on June 1st, but with strict guidelines and safety measures in place.
Other businesses that have been put forward to open again include meeting venues, convention centers, gyms, zoos, and cinemas.
However, other businesses and facilities that are considered “high-risk” will need to wait for the final easing of lockdown restrictions before reopening.
These include boxing stadiums which even if opened without fans could risk people gathering around the television to watch fights.
Finally, inter-provincial travel restrictions will also be eased as part of the next phase with provinces instructed to come up with appropriate disease control measures for travelers.
All of the above has been agreed by the NSC and forwarded to the government’s Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) for approval on Friday.
Source: Bangkok Post
