On May 29, 2020, the meeting of the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), chaired by Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Gen. Prayuth Chan-o-cha, approved the easing of restrictions for Phase 3 of various activities, excluding boxing stadiums and entertainment venues due to their high-risk nature.

As for mandatory measures that remain in place, travel into the kingdom by land, water, and air is still regulated, but inter-provincial movement is allowed under state-defined measures. The curfew has been adjusted from 11 PM – 4 AM to 11 PM – 3 AM.

This will take effect from June 1, 2020, onwards.

 

Gen. Somsak Rungsita, Secretary-General of the National Security Council, stated that the easing of restrictions for Phase 3 includes the following:

1. Economic Activities and Daily Life

Shopping malls, community malls, and department stores are allowed to operate until 9 PM.

Exhibition centers and conference venues are limited to a total area of no more than 20,000 square meters and can also open until 9 PM.

Amulet markets and sacred object centers must refrain from holding activities that attract large and disorderly crowds.

Beauty salons and barbershops (hair coloring included) can serve clients for no more than 2 hours and must not have waiting customers in the shop.

Child development centers for preschool children can open for staff to schedule appointments, distribute drinks and lunch, and prepare the premises according to public health standards.

 

 

2. Physical Activities, Health Care, or Recreation include:

Beauty clinics, beauty salons, tattoo or body piercing establishments.

Health establishments, spas, and traditional Thai massage businesses (steam baths, herbal saunas, and facial massages are prohibited) can provide foot massages (excluding bath and massage services).

Fitness centers are limited to group sizes and must refrain from steam baths and saunas. Sports fields for exercise or training, such as football, futsal, basketball, boxing, and volleyball, can have no more than 10 participants, excluding players.

Bowling alleys, skating rinks, or rollerblading facilities are allowed for exercise or training only.

Dance schools or dance instruction centers.

Swimming pools for sports or water activities in lakes, such as jet skiing, wakeboarding, and banana boat rides (must not be competitive and limited in participant numbers).

Cinemas, theaters, and performance venues (limited to 200 participants) will only open for traditional performances (music concerts are prohibited).

Zoos or animal exhibition venues (limited to group activities).

 

In response to questions about why the curfew cannot be lifted, Gen. Somsak stated that the law includes a ban on alcohol consumption in restaurants. This is to prevent gatherings or illegal activities, such as gambling, which can also lead to the spread of the virus. Therefore, curfew measures must remain in place.

“We understand that the curfew may cause some inconvenience to the public, but it is necessary, at least for now. We are trying to gradually reduce the hours,” Gen. Somsak said.