Additional 39 provinces have been declared as controlled areas, while the remaining 8 provinces, including Bangkok and Phuket, remain classified as blue zones, or special designated tourism zones, the health authorities announced on Friday.
In orange zone provinces, all business and non-business activities are permitted except for alcohol sales at restaurants; while in blue zone provinces, restaurants can continue to serve alcohol but only until 9.00 p.m.
The Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) also encouraged people to work from home until the end of January, urging both the private and public sectors to allow this.
The scheduled reopening of entertainment venues, bars, clubs, and karaoke on January 16 has been postponed as well. Those venues, however, can be converted into restaurants.
Meanwhile, the Test & Go quarantine exemption scheme will remain suspended, which means that travelers with an authorized Thailand Pass must enter Thailand before January 15 to avoid quarantine; after that, it is required to go under Sandbox or hotel quarantine.
Thailand reported 7,526 new coronavirus infections on Friday, bringing the country’s tally to 2,223,913 since the pandemic began.
