Dr. Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesperson for the COVID-19 Situation Administration Center (CCSA), announced the results of the CCSA's main meeting chaired by Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-o-cha. The CCSA has decided to extend the Emergency Decree for another month, confirming that the decree will only be used for disease prevention.

Additionally, the CCSA has approved Phase 6 of the relaxation measures, allowing four groups of foreigners to enter the country to boost the economy: 1. Foreigners will be allowed to showcase products in the Kingdom, with events increasing in September, including one event with 680 participants, eight events in October with over 400 participants, four events in November with over 4,000 participants, and two international events in December with over 1,100 participants.

2. Foreign film crews will be allowed to come to Thailand for filming. The meeting approved this based on a proposal from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, along with measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Crew members must undergo testing before arrival, have a medical certificate, health insurance, and stay in quarantine with accompanying officials. The Ministry of Tourism will provide further details.
3. The Medical and Wellness Program Plus group will be allowed to enter for medical services, such as beauty treatments, infertility treatments, or dental care, and must stay in the hospital for a full 14 days to ensure they can travel anywhere in Thailand afterward.

4. Foreign workers from three nationalities: Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia, who have work permits and visas, wish to return, totaling 69,235 people. Additionally, there are 42,168 people without permits whose employers have submitted requests, making a total of 111,403 people. They will need to undergo Organizational Quarantine, where agencies or companies will provide quarantine facilities, monitored by health and security officials to ensure standards are met.

At the same time, there will be restrictions on going outside, similar to state quarantine facilities, which we are confident in. The Ministry of Labor has discussed various operational guidelines with the small CCSA, and the entry points for foreign workers will be in Sa Kaeo, Nong Khai, Mukdahan, Tak, Ranong, and Suvarnabhumi Airport.

 

These relaxation measures will begin when ready, and the responsible agencies will issue supporting measures.

Regarding the COVID-19 situation, Thailand reported 6 new cases today, bringing the total to 3,261 cases, with no new deaths, maintaining the total at 58. A total of 3,105 patients have recovered, while 98 remain hospitalized. The new cases include 4 from Egypt, 1 from the USA, and 1 from Germany.

The Immigration Bureau is ready for Phase 6 relaxation

At the Immigration Bureau, Pol. Lt. Gen. Surapong Chaiyan, Deputy Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, stated that the immigration police are prepared to support the Phase 6 relaxation measures, which are expected to allow workers from the three nationalities—Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar—with valid work documents to enter the country. Initially, it is estimated that about 400 workers will be allowed, all of whom must undergo a 14-day quarantine without exceptions.

Pol. Lt. Gen. Pornchai Kantee discussed the extension for certain foreign nationals to remain in the Kingdom during the COVID-19 outbreak, which was originally set to expire on July 31. Foreigners wishing to leave the country can do so immediately without needing to report to the Immigration Bureau. Those wishing to stay will be divided into two cases: those who are ill must present a medical certificate to request an extension, and those with compelling reasons, such as no available flights or high-risk situations in their destination countries, must present a letter from their embassy to request an additional 30-day stay from August 1 to September 26, with reporting allowed from August 1 to 31.

Signs of Recovery in the MICE Market

Mr. Paul Kanajanpas, Managing Director of Impact Exhibition Management Co., Ltd., which manages the Impact Exhibition and Convention Center in Muang Thong Thani, commented on the CCSA's decision to allow four groups of foreigners to enter Thailand. The first group includes those attending trade shows, which is directly related to Impact. This is a positive signal for the MICE business, as foreign businesspeople will have the opportunity to showcase products and negotiate business, stimulating the overall economy.

“The foreign groups attending trade shows or MICE events are scheduled to arrive on specific dates. If the government establishes procedures for entering and exiting Thailand that adhere to public health guidelines and strictly prevents the spread of COVID-19, along with providing clear information and facilitating private sector communication with international clients systematically, it will instill confidence in foreign exhibitors to travel and organize events as before,” he said.

Extension of the Emergency Decree Affects Real Estate Purchases

Mr. Kasemsak Suntharotak, Director of Sales and Marketing at Risland (Thailand), stated that the government's extension of the Emergency Decree to control the COVID-19 outbreak for another month until the end of August 2020, along with the approval of Phase 6 relaxation measures, affects consumer sentiment.

The extension of the Emergency Decree has caused uncertainty among people, leading them to delay purchasing decisions. While the Phase 6 relaxation is a positive step, the best outcome would be a complete return to normalcy, which would boost consumer confidence in spending. However, caution must still be exercised to prevent a second wave of outbreaks.

SOURCE: www.bangkokbiznews.com