Bangkok –
The Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has announced some Covid-19 measures of relaxation, including provincial color-rezoning, immigration measures, and Songkran preventive measures, today, March 18th.
Firstly, CCSA spokesperson Taweesilp Visanuyothin mentioned the change of color zoning in some provinces. The controlled area, or the Orange Zone, had reduced from 44 to 20 provinces. Most of them were moved to the high surveillance area, or the Yellow Zone, adding 47 provinces in total. Alcohol drinking is still prohibited in the Orange Zone but is extended until 11:00 PM. in the Yellow Zone provinces.
Phetchaburi and Chiang Mai are now joining other 8 provinces in the pilot tourist zone or the Blue (Business, Leisure, Ultimate Experience) Zone. All of the color-coding changes are effective today, March 18th. The full list of the provinces and zoning can be seen in the picture below.
Secondly, the CCSA also announced the cancellation of the RT-PCR test 72 hours prior to the arrival for all traveling routes (air, land, and sea), starting April 1st. All arrivals applied for “Test&Go” and “Sandbox” schemes are only required to conduct an RT-PCR test once they arrived at the Kingdom (Day 0) and a self-ATK (rapid test) on Day 5. All of them must register for the “Thailand Pass” and fill out their information before departure. Visitors applying for the “Sandbox” program are required to stay at the designated area for at least five days before being allowed to travel elsewhere.
More borders and international airports are also allowed to operate and welcome potential tourists, including the Malaysia-Thailand border in Satun, the pier in Surat Thani, and Hat Yai International Airport.
Regarding the preventive measures during the upcoming Songkran festival, Dr. Taweesilp stated that the traditional activities, such as water-pouring ceremonies to pay respect to the elders and Buddha statues, can be done in line with the Covid-19 preventive measures and traveling restriction will not be implemented. However, everyone should conduct self-assessments whether they are having suspicious symptoms or engaging in the risk areas and should conduct a self-ATK test prior to traveling to reduce the risk of the spread, especially among the elderly.
Organizing activities and events (concerts, festivals, religious gatherings, etc) must be authorized and approved by the provincial communicable disease and must strictly comply with a COVID Free Setting at all times. Fun activities like water/foam partying, alcohol drinking, water splashing in public, etc. are still strongly prohibited for Songkran this year. Water splashing at approved, organized events under Covid-19 free measures, like ATK checks and being fully vaccinated, may be allowed if approved by provincial authorities, but public water play will not be.
The spokesperson also mentioned the Public Health Ministry’s four-month plan of treating Covid-19 as an endemic that the plan would require a fatality rate of not more than 0.1 percent and vaccine booster program to be significantly accelerated, especially in the elderly and vulnerable in the ‘608’ group. He also stressed that the public is still required to follow government measures, which may be relaxed from time to time, after the plan completion on July 1st.
Mask mandates, including outdoors and even alone, remain for now.
The emergency decree will be proposed to be extended to the end of May (April 1st-May 31st, which will be over the two-year mark. After cabinet approval, etc, this will be official.
No legal opening of bars, clubs, pubs, etc. at this time. They will be allowed to convert to restaurants under current temporary rules. This will be looked at on a regular basis over the next few months as they look to move to treat Covid-19 as endemic in four months (by July). No change in the current 11:00 P.M. cutoff for alcohol sales in yellow and blue zones.
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