CCSA panel comes up with guidelines for reopening venues

The panel has set up a manual for operators listing measures and procedures, such as allowing customers to spend no more than an hour in a venue, refrain from large gatherings, being noisy and sharing things. Operators are also required to keep their venues well ventilated, screen customers’ body temperature, insist they wear masks and clean frequently touched surfaces.
“Provinces will be categorised based on the number of new Covid-19 cases they have had – those with no new cases, limited number of local transmissions, and sustained local transmissions,” a CCSA official said.
“As of April 14, seven provinces were categorised as those with sustained local transmission, namely Bangkok, Chonburi, Phuket, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Yala and Pattani.”
The panel has also specified requirements for operators based on the risk of their venues:
Low risk: Operators will be allowed to register to reopen their venue at all local administration centres or via online;
Moderate risk: Operators must improve the hygiene standards of their venue before registering for the resumption of operation with the Municipality Office or the sub-district administration centre;
High risk: The reopening of these venues will be left up to the discretion of the Provincial Administration Organisation.
“We have also created a mobile application which allows people to evaluate operators and this data will be sent to the Local Administration Organisation and Provincial Administration Organisation to monitor,” the official said.
The official added that all Provincial Administration Organisations must make preparations before opening provincial borders, such as screening people effectively, introducing hygiene measures, evaluating the risk of infection in each venue and postponing the opening of high-risk sites such as entertainment venues, pubs, bars, karaoke places and lottery shops.
Meanwhile, Kalin Sarasin, president of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, who is chairing the working group, said the final decision on whether businesses will be allowed to open lies in the hands of the prime minister.