Covid-19: Thailand set to reopen pubs, bars & karaoke on July 1, 2020

Singaporeans can wait.

Belmont Lay | June 23, 2020, 12:59 AM

Entertainment venues, including pubs, bars, and karaoke venues in Thailand will reopen on July 1.

These venues are one of the few businesses that have remained closed, even after Thailand entered the latest phase of easing lockdown restrictions earlier in June.

Representatives of nightlife venues and musicians met with General Nattapol Nakpanit, a leading figure from the Thai Government’s Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), which ended with a promise for entertainment venues to reopen.

What remains is a final endorsement from the CCSA board, which is required.

That decision is expected to be announced by Friday, June 26.

Appeal to restart

Musicians and other entertainers have appealed to the government to be allowed to work again as their continued unemployment has put them in a desperate situation.

General Nakpanit, who is also the Deputy Army Chief, said: “The fifth stage of easing restrictions will take place, with or without the extension of the emergency decree for another month. If the emergency decree is lifted, all closure orders will automatically end.”

The only uncertainty pertains to the emergency decree, where there has been mixed signals coming from leading figures in the Thai government about when the state of emergency will end.

But all signs point to entertainment venues very likely given the go-ahead to resume operations from July 1.

Plans and guidelines to prevent virus transmission in such venues have been prepared, General Nakpanit added.

Despite promising talks for bars and pubs, it remains unclear whether the CCSA will allow wet massage parlors to reopen on July 1.

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Top photo via Unsplash