After the Thai government decided to ease restrictions in dark red provinces, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) announced it would allow some businesses in the capital to reopen this month.
Under Order No. 41, Bangkok’s officials authorize some services and places to resume operations from September 1 to 30, 2021.
It applies to eateries and restaurants, including outlets located within shopping centers or similar places. They can open until 08:00 p.m., but they are banned from selling alcoholic beverages.
Additionally, air-conditioned restaurants must limit their capacity for dine-in customers to 50%, while open-air restaurants can only operate with 75% seating.
Other places authorized to reopen under the same schedule are educational institutions of all kinds, beauty and hairdressing salons, fresh markets, and flea markets.
Public parks, sports complexes, sports fields and outdoor swimming pools can open until 8:00 p.m., but they cannot organize contests or events with audiences.
Nurseries for children and elderly care facilities may reopen only for regular overnight services.
Convenience stores were also authorized to resume operations but must close at 8:00 p.m., including those opening 24 hours.
The new order also allows shopping malls, community malls, shopping centers and similar establishments to reopen but with limitations on some services. Aesthetic clinics, medical clinics for beauty services and cosmetic clinics can serve clients but only by advance appointment.
Health massage and health spa shops can only open for foot massage services also by appointment.
Hair and beauty salons can also open following the same limitations but must accept one client per hour.
Banking and financial services, pet food stores, construction supplies stores, telecommunications services, and ATMs can also resume operations.
The BMA said that tutorial schools, amusement and water parks, cinemas, gyms, swimming pools and gaming centers would remain closed. Banquet and meeting activities in shopping centers were also banned.
Entertainment venues must also remain closed until further notice.
Health officials also asked people to avoid gatherings with more than 25 people and announced that the current night-time curfew would remain in place from 09:00 p.m. to 04:00 a.m.
