The new stricter COVID-19 containment measures announced by the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), in effect since May 1, 2021, with provincial authorities ensuring compliance with the measures, from the ban on dine-in customers at restaurants to the mask requirement, and periods of quarantine.
In Yala province on the southern border, officials from the local administration, the police, and the military, along with the public health office, have joined forces with villagers to implement strict rules affecting inter-provincial travelers, with most people complying with the new restrictions, especially the mask requirement.
To help cut down on transmissions, Yala City Municipality has closed parks, learning centers, and sports venues, with all planned events now canceled. Restaurants in the eastern seaside city of Pattaya have become deserted following the ban on dine-in customers.
Restaurant owners said they have had to adjust their operations by opening earlier to focus more on delivery orders. They say they were able to gain some income during the gap between the last and the current wave, but the number of customers has dropped significantly since the arrival of this wave.
In the northeastern province of Sakhon Nakhon, the provincial authority now requires people who have a history of exposure to a confirmed COVID-19 case in the past 14 days, as well as people with a recent travel history to Chon Buri, Chiang Mai, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, and Bangkok to report themselves to a nearby public health official for screening, testing, and 14-day quarantine.
Sakhon Nakhon’s main tourist attractions, such as Wat Tham Pha Daen and the Phaya Tao Ngoi statue, are now off-limits until the situation improves.
People arriving in Chiang Mai from other provinces are now required to input their information on the CM-Chana website or fill out arrival cards. People arriving from dark-red and red control zones must report themselves to a local disease control official and self-isolate for 14 days, during which any travel outside of home must be reported to and authorized by a disease control official, based on the level of necessity. (NNT)
