File photo for reference only

 

Thailand’s Centre for Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has confirmed the closure of entertainment venues in more than half of the country’s provinces.

 

The confirmation came via a tweet on Friday morning which said that entertainment venues in 41 provinces must close from Saturday (10 April) and was also later confirmed by CCSA spokesperson Taweesilp Visanuyothin during the daily COVID-19 briefing. 

 

Entertainment venues, which include bars, pubs and massage parlours, must close for 14 days, the tweet read.

 

No restrictions on restaurants were announced, other than being required to maintain social distancing measures.

 

However, in Chiang Mai, provincial officials have announced that the sale of alcohol in restaurants is prohibited for the next seven days.

 

At the time of publishing, bars in other areas of Thailand which also have licenses to serve food were still permitted to serve alcohol with food orders. Live music is also prohibited.

 

The CCSA’s intention to order the closure of entertainment venues in 41 provinces first surfaced  on Thursday and comes as Thailand continues to tackle a new wave of coronavirus cases and the arrival of a highly contagious variant.

 

The spike in infections also comes at a tricky time for Thailand, ahead of next week's annual Songkran festival, known for big social gatherings and notoriously crowded water fights that authorities have banned.

 

Adding to concerns, Thailand on Wednesday for the first time confirmed the presence locally of the highly transmissible coronavirus variant B.1.1.7 first identified in Britain.

 

On Friday, the CCSA reported 559 new COVID-19 cases, with a total of 37 provinces having now reported new cases, with Bangkok and Samut Prakarn accounting for the highest number of new cases. 

 

*Reuters contributed to this report.

 

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12 minutes ago, webfact said:

No restrictions on restaurants were announced

 

here we go again..

 

"10 large Leo's and a packet of crisps please!"

 

????

 

As expected, that after some 200 bars in thonglor were closed earlier on. 
But they should do it gradually, starting from bangkok and red provinces, and sometimes later including orange zones. 
In the other provinces there were only single infections. So looks like overreaction. 
 

massage clinics should still be opened, because that is health service

That is going to be very disappointing news for the bars that have been struggling to stay afloat.

I would have thought that the inter provincial travel set to go ahead for Songkran was a far higher risk especially for those provinces listed with very few cases currently.

52 minutes ago, webfact said:

However, in Chiang Mai, provincial officials have announced that the sale of alcohol in restaurants is prohibited for the next seven days.

 

 

I would love to know if there is any scientific-support for this action. 

 

 

death blow to Patong

41 provinces.  So how many does that leave where one can still go to bars, massage shops and entertainment venues?  Maybe someone could publish a list.

My family just read from online that CM has 100 CV-19 positives now. Here it comes. No alcohol at CM restaurants is only the start. I am heading out at 5 to stock up again .

I can imagine all those foreigners who've booked flights to the "Phuket Sandbox" will be trying like crazy now to get their money back, lol!

They should make a different license between upgraded decent restaurants and foodstalls and bar/food licences. IMO

56 minutes ago, holy cow cm said:

My family just read from online that CM has 100 CV-19 positives now. Here it comes. No alcohol at CM restaurants is only the start. I am heading out at 5 to stock up again .

Just reported by the Nation as breaking news in Chiang Mai, 142 new cases today alone!!

1 hour ago, internationalism said:

In the other provinces there were only single infections. So looks like overreaction. 

 

In those other provinces are the songkran travellers, coming from several red zones, arriving from Sunday onwards.

 

Maybe it's called prevention??

Until they saddle up and get serious about a realistic national vaccination roll out - just keep making merit at the nearest wat and prey Thailand doesn't actually get a REAL wave of infections.

25 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Just reported by the Nation as breaking news in Chiang Mai, 142 new cases today alone!!

 Now CM reports 148. this comes from Thai online.

Hope we are still aloud to travel in the next week with school holidays already having started, hotels booked, and kids looking forward to a food time away from home.

Recommended watching, video just released by the Nation, includes info direct from the experts here on the new wave, also mentions how the sinovac vaccine is going to be a major problem as its not so effective on the UK strain

 

Thailand’s new Covid wave ‘10 times worse’ | The Nation Thailand

 

 

5 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

Hope we are still aloud to travel in the next week with school holidays already having started, hotels booked, and kids looking forward to a food time away from home.

I would think CM will be going into a lockdown. 148 positive too fast.

1 hour ago, andersonat said:

 

 

I would love to know if there is any scientific-support for this action. 

 

 

There is a logical support for this action not to allow the sale of alcohol in restaurants. If you close bars and allow to sell alcohol in restaurants people will use the restaurants as meeting points instead of the closed bars. We had this already last year. 

 

They should let us aliens do TM30s and 90-day checks online to avoid mass gatherings 

3 minutes ago, cyril sneer said:

They should let us aliens do TM30s and 90-day checks online to avoid mass gatherings 

Phuket has it sorted, they have a drive through, just drive up to the window, hand over your passport, they check and update, 30 seconds done drive off, excellent.

1 hour ago, brewsterbudgen said:

41 provinces.  So how many does that leave where one can still go to bars, massage shops and entertainment venues?  Maybe someone could publish a list.

Yes and to spread the <deleted> to those places. we really must do that... Don´t we???

 

glegolo

7 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Phuket has it sorted, they have a drive through, just drive up to the window, hand over your passport, they check and update, 30 seconds done drive off, excellent.

You get what you pay for , that’s good to hear 

49 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

Hope we are still aloud to travel in the next week with school holidays already having started, hotels booked, and kids looking forward to a food time away from home.

Sorry,had to...."aloud" or "allowed"..."food" or "good"...know disreapect

3 hours ago, internationalism said:

As expected, that after some 200 bars in thonglor were closed earlier on. 
But they should do it gradually, starting from bangkok and red provinces, and sometimes later including orange zones. 
In the other provinces there were only single infections. So looks like overreaction. 
 

massage clinics should still be opened, because that is health service

Unfortunately this time it will not be a happy ending

23 minutes ago, glegolo said:

Yes and to spread the <deleted> to those places. we really must do that... Don´t we???

 

glegolo

 

It depends on how desperate one is to have a drink or massage!

3 hours ago, GeorgeCross said:

here we go again..

"10 large Leo's and a packet of crisps please!"

????

 

It would have to be a scotch-egg to be a meal (Brits will understand).

 

57 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

Hope we are still aloud to travel in the next week with school holidays already having started, hotels booked, and kids looking forward to a food time away from home.

The government have made it clear that there will be no national travel restrictions over Songkran, but you need to watch out for some Governors who have unilaterally issued some restrictions.  Most seem to be merely a gesture (and local politicking) as they seem to be unenforceable.

2 hours ago, andersonat said:

 

 

I would love to know if there is any scientific-support for this action. 

 

 

 

i believe its not the selling of alcohol in thats the problem but the propensity for bars to pretend to be restaurants

 

they sprung up like mushrooms last 2 times lol

 

3 hours ago, GeorgeCross said:

 

here we go again..

 

"10 large Leo's and a packet of crisps please!"

 

????

 

And a "takeaway"when u go back to ur place.I guess the streeets if full from saturday

3 hours ago, darksidedog said:

That is going to be very disappointing news for the bars that have been struggling to stay afloat.

I would have thought that the inter provincial travel set to go ahead for Songkran was a far higher risk especially for those provinces listed with very few cases currently.

Yes,the inter provincial travel is a far higher risk,but not for the reasons you imply. Far more will be killed DURING the travel process than the virus will claim. ☠️ ????