On Friday, the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) announced that Bangkok and the three adjacent provinces, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, and Samut Prakan, would be defined as dark red zones of maximum and strict control as of June 21.
Another 11 provinces are red zones of maximum COVID-19 control under the new zoning.
These are Samut Sakhon (previously a dark red zone), Chon Buri, Chachoengsao, Trang, Nakhon Pathom, Pattani, Songkhla, Saraburi, Phetchaburi, Yala, and Narathiwat. Additionally, nine provinces are orange zones under COVID-19 control: Nakhon Si Thammarat, Chanthaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ayutthaya, Rayong, Sa Kaeo Ratchaburi, and Samut Songkhram.
The remaining 53 provinces have been classified as yellow zones of close COVID-19 surveillance.
According to CCSA spokesperson Taweesilp Visanuyothin, the center also relaxed some disease control measures to go into effect on Monday. Dark red zones can host activities involving no more than 50 people and air-conditioned restaurants can serve dining-in customers, working up to 50% capacity, and stay open until 11:00 p.m.
However, the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages on the premises remain prohibited.
Department stores and shopping malls in dark red areas can also open until 09:00 p.m. while outdoor sports fields and well-ventilated sports facilities were allowed to open without spectators.
But schools will remain closed until further notice, authorities said.
Besides, the red zones can organize activities as long as they do not gather more than 100 people. In those provinces, restaurants do not have limits on the number of dine-in customers and can remain open until 11:00 p.m., but alcohol sales and consumption will remain prohibited.
Shopping centers and department stores in the red zones may open as usual but are banned from organizing promotional events.
Furthermore, schools can open, and sports facilities can be used until 9:00 p.m. with a limited number of spectators. As for the orange zones, health officials said crowded activities would be allowed but are limited to 150 participants.
Restaurants can open as usual, but the sale and consumption of alcohol are banned.
Shopping centers, schools, and department stores were also authorized to operate as usual, and sports facilities can open with limited spectators. In the yellow zones, the relaxed measures allow gatherings of up to 200 people.
Restaurants, shopping centers, schools, and department stores can work as usual.
Besides, sports facilities are allowed to reopen but with limited spectators. Authorities also said that, in all areas, people must comply with the mask-wearing order outside their homes, and entertainment venues will remain closed.
