The Chonburi Governor has issued a new legal order this afternoon (December 16th) dealing with Covid-19 restrictions which apply for the whole province and is effective from now until further notice.

 

These highlighted rules apply to the whole province. We have also added some analysis and statements in italics next to some of the orders for clarity, but no opinions:

 

-All of Chonburi is a blue zone effective today as announced previously by the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). (Blue stands for Business, Leisure, and Ultimate Experience. In essence, this means that the province qualifies as a sandbox area for tourists who do not qualify for test-and-go to enter Thailand and travel where they wish immediately as well as extra privileges and permissions for the province, such as the ongoing festivals in Banglamung and Pattaya. These permissions may vary from province to province.)

 

-Bars, pubs, karaokes, nightclubs, entertainment venues, soapies, essentially the entire nighttime economy is still legally and officially closed. (Earlier this week, as we reported, a meeting was held in Pattaya around legally allowing bars and entertainment venues to open and was submitted to the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, or CCSA, for further approval. As of this order, however, no legal permission has been granted officially. Contrary to belief, bars and entertainment venues remain legally closed nationally and have been since April 10th of this year, with the CCSA stating they will be “considered” by mid-January for legal opening but no guarantees.)

 

-Restaurants of all types can only sell alcohol if they are SHA+ (Safety and Health Administration, which requires forms and certificates to fill out and submit to the government online) and a Covid-free setting (Another certificate/set of guidelines and rules, see below). Hours are 11:00AM to 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM. The certifications must be placed VERY prominently in the shop for inspection and for customers to see. (There have been some mixed messages on the 11:00 PM serving time. In essence, it appears that serving should stop at this hour, and all customers and staff should be out with the venue completely closed by midnight. This message has led to confusion, notes TPN media, but serving and bins should be closed by 11:00 PM.)

 

-SHA+ restaurants can serve alcohol till 1:00 AM on New Year’s Eve, December 31st, but must be open air/an open environment. (There has been some confusion on this as well or if it means closed restaurants cannot serve until this hour. The main concern here seems to be events/parties and large events.)

 

-Places like cockfighting stadiums, boxing stadiums, etc. where gambling (unofficially) often takes place must apply for a Covid-free setting certification like a restaurant that wants to serve alcohol.

 

Covid-19 measurement/Covid-free setting rules/guidelines for business operators 

 

1. Satffers in restaurants with a Covid-free setting MUST have 100 percent completed their Covid -19 vaccinations or have been infected not more then 3 months prior with proof of documentation. (Morprom, the doctor mobile app, is the main preferred proof). Staff that is eligible should register for a booster, especially if they have taken Sinovac or Sinopharm previously.

 

2. Staffers in restaurants must take an ATK (Rapid antigen test) every week.

 

3. Covid-Free restaurants MUST clearly show messaging to let customers know about numbers one and two. (A sign should be placed in the business informing customers that the staff is 100% vaccinated and staff are regularly tested in a prominent, visible location.)

 

Full Story: https://thepattayanews.com/2021/12/16/chonburi-governor-releases-new-provincial-orders-around-covid-19-restrictions-before-the-new-year-festival/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2021-12-16

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Cool, cane it between 11 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon, sleep it off and restart at 5pm. Nothing dumb about that.......

 

 

This really is a confusing piece to read.  I see all around bars open, but the governor says, "no."  Does this mean the governor  has no real power or authority?  I mean he signs an order, and its published, but every where there are these bars that are supposed to be closed.   I think its brilliant  that so many are opening  in protest.   I never thought I would see such unity.  Greeds a hell of a thing.

And then all these pr1cks wonder why tourists go to Senegal, Dominican Republic, Sri Lanka and other nice, sunny places with beaches, holiday beers and the works.

Congratulations to all those bureaucratic dinosaurs sitting in all those offices splurging incompetence on the go! Another "high" "season" gone down the toilet. Maybe Khon Thai will start to realize that their biggest enemy is sitting in all those government caves of self-importance! 

Oh yes. Thailand sure seems open for international tourists.  I am so glad that I am waiting for

December 2022, have fun, trying to have fun, all you brave travelers and expats.