Entertainment venues, including pubs, bars, and karaoke venues in Thailand, are set to open their doors again on July 1st following discussions between state agencies on Sunday.
Since Thailand entered the latest phase of easing lockdown restrictions earlier this month, entertainment venues are one of the few businesses that have remained closed.
However, talks between representatives of nightlife venues and musicians, and Nattapol Nakpanit, a leading figure from the Thai Government’s Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), ended with a promise for entertainment venues to reopen on July 1st.
Despite the promise, a final endorsement from the CCSA board is required. That decision is expected to be announced this coming Friday.
Last week, musicians and other entertainers appealed to the government to allow them to work again. They said that continued unemployment had put them in a desperate situation, and they wanted a confirmed date for when entertainment venues could reopen.
Gen Nakpanit, who is also the Deputy Army Chief, said that discussion between the groups was productive, and he would strongly recommend the reopening of bars, pubs, and karaoke venues along with strict measures to prevent the spread of covid-19. He said:
“The fifth stage of easing restrictions will take place, with or without the extension of the emergency decree for another month. If the emergency decree is lifted, all closure orders will automatically end.”
Whether or not the emergency decree will finish at the end of June is still debatable with mixed signals coming from leading figures in the Thai Government about when the state of emergency will end.
However, despite uncertainty about the emergency decree, it is now very likely that entertainment venues can resume operation from July 1st.
The Public Health Ministry has prepared plans and guidelines to prevent virus transmission in such venues, said Gen Nakpanit.
Despite promising talks for bars and pubs, it remains unclear whether the CCSA will allow wet massage parlors to reopen on July 1st.
Source: Bangkok Post
