Thai Covid-19 Situation Center agrees to restore nationwide green zones, cancel Thailand Pass, eases mask mandate, and more

[webfact]

 

By Tanakorn Panyadee

 

National/Bangkok — The Center for Covid-19 Situation (CCSA) has reportedly given the green light to restore nationwide green zones, cancel Thailand Pass, ease the mask mandate in open areas, and extend legal closing hours for nightlife outlets to 2 AM.

 

Essentially, today’s measures bring to an end over two years of Covid-19 restrictions and rules, except for the emergency decree and some masking recommendations.

 

A source at the regular CCSA meeting today, June 17th, 2022, led by the director PM Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha reports that the CCSA has consented to reclassify the entire nation’s color-zoning into what they call green zones (surveillance). All Pilot Tourist Areas will be lifted as well. These changes will go into effect as soon as the official legal order in the Royal Gazette is released, and is expected to legally take effect on July 1st, 2022.

 

Moreover, the CCSA has also decided to move the legal closing hours for nightlife outlets from midnight to pre-pandemic hours or around 2 AM though the mask mandate is still “recommended” in crowded spaces but is relaxed in open/outdoor spaces.

 

However, an exact date for easing of the mask mandate has NOT been announced and is NOT set in stone as July 1st, notes the CCSA, and will depend on the upcoming Royal Gazette order.

 

Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/06/17/thai-covid-19-situation-center-agrees-to-restore-nationwide-green-zones-cancel-thailand-pass-eases-mask-mandate-and-more/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-06-17

 

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[JoePai]

Pinch me - it must be April 1st 

[Chelseafan]

<deleted>. Travelling in August. Wonder if I will get a refund on my Covid insurance from AXA ????

 

[Dmaxdan]

30 minutes ago, webfact said:

However, an exact date for easing of the mask mandate has NOT been announced and is NOT set in stone as July 1st, notes the CCSA, and will depend on the upcoming Royal Gazette order

So the easing of the mask mandate is not set in stone, just very slow drying cement?

[aussiexpat]

"However, an exact date for easing of the mask mandate has NOT been announced and is NOT set in stone as July 1st, notes the CCSA"

 

Ok, that's me still out then

[ThailandRyan]

So no Thailand Pass will be needed, wonderful for my family to visit now with no types of restrictions tikns and they can  one in on a 30 day exempt.  

[LukKrueng]

So can I remove that silly face nappy now that it's only a recommendation? I still have about 1/2 hour train ride left. Can I? Can I???

[hotandsticky]

5 minutes ago, LukKrueng said:

So can I remove that silly face nappy now that it's only a recommendation? I still have about 1/2 hour train ride left. Can I? Can I???

 

 

You are a perfect example of why Thailand thinks it needs silly rules.

[huangnon]

Quote

However, an exact date for easing of the mask mandate has NOT been announced and is NOT set in stone as July 1st, notes the CCSA, and will depend on the upcoming Royal Gazette order.

Ooh, they really are hanging on to this little nugget, aren't they?  ????

 

Anyway, baby steps..

[KhunBENQ]

More than I expected.

Whole country green zone. Stop the crazy color codes.

Let's hope some easing of mask rules will follow.

Is it too much to expect some common sense like no masks in open space or riding bike?

Don't expect that mask in shops/malls will fall soon.

Did they wear masks at the full moon party?

Suggest to watch some videos about the reality in Pattaya, Khao San rd. etc.

 

A mate comes from Germany on June 25. Of course with Thai pass/insurance.

Have just sent him the good news (not for him)

[spidermike007]

They already announced last month, that the mask mandate for outdoors would be lifted on June 15th. Then, they changed their minds. So, if this really happens, it will be HUGE. Life will be a bit more normal without having to wear face diapers everywhere we go.

 

I have already stopped wearing a mask outdoors. Enough. That is on a cowardly administration, that has deliberately chosen to NOT pay attention to, nor follow the science. I have chosen to be disobedient. They made the announcement, then they changed their small minds. That is not on me.

[KhunBENQ]

15 minutes ago, huangnon said:

Ooh, they really are hanging on to this little nugget, aren't they?  ????

Good that they never set exact rules about type of mask

I wear an alibi model with the least obstruction of breath.

In Germany they had forced "FFP2" masks.

Hell, wear them for an hour in hot climate!

 

[richard_smith237]

Always baby steps.... but there really aren’t that many steps left to take.

 

 

This could have happened back in April....   At least Thailand is moving in the right direction which sends out the message to tourists who were sitting on the fence that they can go ahead. 

 

Combined with 45 day Visa on entry (should really be 90) and temporarily no need for *TM6 at Immigration (reducing Immigration queues), things are looking better for tourists. 

 

Now Thailand only has to deal with its ‘insurance’ issues... i.e. insist all arrivals have insurance, or included an insurance in the price of the ticket, or just stop complaining about it and agree to treat emergency cases on Thailands national health system with the understanding that the additional medical costs incurred by tourists are a tiny **percentage (0.03%) of the income tourists bring to the country... 

 

 

*It seems immigration have shunted the TM6 responsibility to the airlines who submit in bulk (if I’m not mistaken), this seems like it could be the first ‘baby-step’ towards getting rid of those unnecessary pieces of paper. 

 

** In 2019 it was reported that there was THB700 Million in unpaid medical bills from tourists. 

In the same year it was reported that revenue from Tourism was US$62 Billion (THB 2.165 Trillion)

Which begs the question: Does Thailand really need to be getting upset about 0.03% cost of its tourism revenue to the medical industry ????

[simple1]

47 minutes ago, aussiexpat said:

"However, an exact date for easing of the mask mandate has NOT been announced and is NOT set in stone as July 1st, notes the CCSA"

 

Ok, that's me still out then

My wife here in Oz has been infected by Covid for the past two days. I can assure you she's having a nasty experience.

 

Unfortuneately too many people are still rather ignorant of the effects of Covid and consequences of infection.

[Thailand]

Yes, it's a definite maybe!

[Photoguy21]

1 hour ago, Chelseafan said:

<deleted>. Travelling in August. Wonder if I will get a refund on my Covid insurance from AXA ????

 

Of course you can. When you apply for it also add a unicorn with your request.

[peter zwart]

8 minutes ago, simple1 said:

My wife here in Oz has been infected by Covid for the past two days. I can assure you she's having a nasty experience.

 

Unfortuneately too many people are still rather ignorant of the effects of Covid and consequences of infection.

That is because the majority that have to deal with Corona experience a kind of flu. Feel bad for a few days and thats it. I hope your wife will feel better soon.

[ThailandRyan]

48 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

They already announced last month, that the mask mandate for outdoors would be lifted on June 15th. Then, they changed their minds. So, if this really happens, it will be HUGE. Life will be a bit more normal without having to wear face diapers everywhere we go.

 

I have already stopped wearing a mask outdoors. Enough. That is on a cowardly administration, that has deliberately chosen to NOT pay attention to, nor follow the science. I have chosen to be disobedient. They made the announcement, then they changed their small minds. That is not on me.

Saw someone today try and enter the hospital I go to for my Dental treatment, They kindly asked him at the front doors to put a mask on, when he said he did not have one they provided him with one.  So the issue now becomes one of if you go out and about and then want to enter a building or place that still requires them, then you SOL if you do not have one and they do not provide them to you.

[ThailandRyan]

36 minutes ago, simple1 said:

My wife here in Oz has been infected by Covid for the past two days. I can assure you she's having a nasty experience.

 

Unfortuneately too many people are still rather ignorant of the effects of Covid and consequences of infection.

Many are truly ignorant and believe it is minor when it in fact affects everyone differently and hits some harder.  Praying your wife has it ease of soon and that she does not loose her smell or taste like my GF and I did.

[StayinThailand2much]

10 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

So the issue now becomes one of if you go out and about and then want to enter a building or place that still requires them, then you SOL if you do not have one and they do not provide them to you.

On the skytrain in Bangkok they announce every 2 minutes that, without a mask, you could be liable for a fine of 20,000 baht. Wonder, as a private enterprise, how long they will/can keep up that regulation.

[G Rex]

Wow ! Some things may change on July 1st - but plenty of time for flip flopping between now and then…

[ThailandRyan]

44 minutes ago, Glassjaw said:

 

Well then we were not the vast majority, of course we did not need to be hospitalized, but it was a miserable 2 weeks........3 months later the GF is still loosing hair in bunches, and its hard for her to run without having deep lung issues.

[Padthaigoong]

57 minutes ago, simple1 said:

My wife here in Oz has been infected by Covid for the past two days. I can assure you she's having a nasty experience.

 

Unfortuneately too many people are still rather ignorant of the effects of Covid and consequences of infection.

Sorry to hear about your wife,

 

However, being told about the effects and consequences of Covid infection night and day by every news media on the planet for over two years was more than enough for most of us.

[kotsak]

Now let's wait for the U-turn ????

[ThailandRyan]

Just now, kotsak said:

Now let's wait for the U-turn ????

or the roundabout....

[aussiexpat]

As the linked article also says temp sensors no longer required, Thailand should be back to 'normal' fom 1 July...

 

...well except the mask rule is still up in the air. So close but no cigar ???? 

 

[spidermike007]

1 hour ago, ThailandRyan said:

Saw someone today try and enter the hospital I go to for my Dental treatment, They kindly asked him at the front doors to put a mask on, when he said he did not have one they provided him with one.  So the issue now becomes one of if you go out and about and then want to enter a building or place that still requires them, then you SOL if you do not have one and they do not provide them to you.

I did mention outdoors. I don't want to freak out the locals or scare them too much. I think by starting with not masking outdoors, it makes sense. Baby steps. 

[mikeymike100]

1 hour ago, G Rex said:

Wow ! Some things may change on July 1st - but plenty of time for flip flopping between now and then…

Yes until its in the Royal Gazette you are correct.

[smedly]

they have a brain

[simple1]

2 hours ago, peter zwart said:

That is because the majority that have to deal with Corona experience a kind of flu. Feel bad for a few days and thats it. I hope your wife will feel better soon.

A number of my wife's friends have also been infected by Covid in the last few weeks, none of them were feeling better after a few days, in fact one is still ill after twelve days. Unfortunately my wife is still very sick. Here in Oz people are being hospitalised, with a current average of approx 50 deaths a day nationally. Here in Queensland, after the borders were opened, thousands are testing positve very day.

 

If the gods are on my side I won't test positive. If positive, due to my cancer, I will required some specialised IV drugs treatment. IMO Covid is currently being underestimated, hopefully matters will significantly improve in the coming months as anti viral drug  treatment for Covid becomes more generally available, though I won't hold my breath for the low paid Thai population.