Thais head for movies and massage as virus lockdown eases

By Jiraporn Kuhakan

 

A therapist wearing a face shield does traditional Thai massage to a customer in a Health Land brach massage house which reopened after the Thai government eased isolation measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Bangkok, Thailand, June 1, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thais took in a movie and enjoyed foot massages in a welcome return on Monday to some pampering and popular pastimes as coronavirus restrictions further eased and new infection numbers remained low.

 

Shopping malls stayed open later, a curfew was shortened and more businesses reopened, among them fitness clubs, spas, traditional massage centres and cinemas.

 

Thailand has so far recorded 3,082 confirmed cases and 57 deaths, with no local transmissions in the past seven days and many cases in recent weeks found in quarantine among Thais returning from abroad.

 

Thai masseuses wearing plastic face shields and masks rubbed the toes of contented customers, who relaxed in reclining chairs with large spaces in between. Plastic floor mattresses were disinfected regularly, ready for the next customer.

 

"I've been waiting to get a massage for a long time, so I decided to come on the first day it reopened," said Nattida Kittipongpattana, who drove one hour to get her feet rubbed.

 

Masseuse Suratsawadee Pokapanich said all measures were being taken to keep clients healthy.

 

"We avoid any massage that gets close to the neck and facial area," she added.

 

Cinemas reopened with strict social distancing and limits of 200 people in each theatre, and empty seats on either side of each customer and an empty row in front.

 

Staff with gloves and face shields performed temperature checks on everyone entering the theatre. After each screening, staff in full-body protective suits sprayed disinfectant along each row of seats.

 

Narute Jiensnong, chief marketing officer Major Cineplex, said social distancing requirements meant VIP treatment for customers.

 

"These measures will make people confident to come back to cinemas and we also have partitions to make it more exclusive," he said.

 

(Reporting by Jiraporn Kuhakan; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Angus MacSwan)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-06-02

 

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19 minutes ago, webfact said:

We avoid any massage that gets close to the neck and facial area," she added.

yet dont wear  gloves,  good  job

1 hour ago, webfact said:

 

"We avoid any massage that gets close to the neck and facial area,"

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

rubbed the toes of contented customers,

Yea but what about the bit above the toes and below the neck .. 

Is Duangporn Haven in soi 16 and Lolitas in soi 8 open, fantastic massages there????????

6 hours ago, bodga said:

yet dont wear  gloves,  good  job

But if the masseuse's hands are covered with soap no problem - soap kills the virus eficiently. Now that's a thought. . . . . .

Oh no you wont be going for a massage, they have ordered them closed again.

I was looking forward to getting a massage with rubber gloves on

Info on the closure please 

1 minute ago, Almer said:

Info on the closure please 

This applies in Bangkok, not sure about elsewhere...

 

 

6 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

This applies in Bangkok, not sure about elsewhere...

 

 

Thanks for  that, that has ruined a good weekend.

The movies are open but they are playing the same movies I saw 3 months ago.

Hopefully, some new ones coming soon.

1 hour ago, hotandsticky said:

This applies in Bangkok, not sure about elsewhere...

 

 

I wasn't aware Thailand has legal bullfighting, fighting fish, and cockfighting arenas.

 

Legal forms of animal abuse and torture.

 

Pathetic.

2 minutes ago, JimmyJ said:

I wasn't aware Thailand has legal bullfighting, fighting fish, and cockfighting arenas.

 

Legal forms of animal abuse and torture.

 

Pathetic.

Just incase you was thinking about opening one

2 hours ago, George Aylesham said:

But if the masseuse's hands are covered with soap no problem - soap kills the virus eficiently. Now that's a thought. . . . . .

Thats  why my Mother keeps  washing my  mouth out!

Some massage shops in Chiang Rai are open, no masks or temperature checks.