Further reopenings scheduled for June

Boxing stadiums, massage parlours, spas, cinemas, convention venues and tutorial schools are among the moderate-risk category of businesses and activities which are expected to be reopened next month for the third stage of Covid-19 lockdown easing.

Pubs, bars, and entertainment venues for the night will remain closed though.

Tanarak Plipat, deputy general manager of the Department of Disease Control, said on Sunday that operations and businesses at moderate risk of Covid-19 transmission or the so-called "black" group are supposed to be able to reopen in the next relaxation point.

"The Covid-19 Condition Administration Center (CCSA) is scheduled to release the list on Wednesday or Thursday this coming," Dr. Tanarak said.

They involve cinemas, bowling alleys, roller rinks, karaoke bars, theme parks, aquatic parks, zoos, instructional colleges, typical Thai massage parlours, spas, workshops, meeting sites, hotel conferences, trade show centres, wellness centers and boxing stadiums, according to reports. 

During an event at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium on March 6, a cluster of infections was blamed for a surge in the number of coronavirus cases in the following days.

Secretary-General of the National Security Council Somsak Roongsita, who presides over a committee exploring measures to ease the shutdown, said the committee would meet on Wednesday to address lifting restrictions to enable more companies and operations to resume. He declined to give specific details as to which companies will be allowed to reopen, although he said they have a higher risk of spreading infection than those previously permitted to resume. 

Those businesses will now, though, have adopted environmental care policies to safeguard consumers and their employees. 

Gen Somsak said the committee would consider information from the Ministry of Public Health, business operators and the plight of people affected by the pandemic's economic impact. 

He added that the committee will seek to strike a balance between public health and safety, and keep businesses working. 

Gen Somsak also said the committee will consider whether to retain or shorten the curfew period from 11pm-4am. 

The outcome of the meeting will be forwarded to Friday's CCSA meeting for a decision on the third stage of lockdown easing that will take effect on June 1, Gen Somsak said. 

On Sunday the CCSA reported no new cases of coronavirus and no new deaths, keeping the total at 3,040 confirmed cases and 56 deaths since the outbreak began in January. 

Panprapa Yongtrakul, a CCSA spokeswoman, said Sunday was the fourth day this month that there were no new reported incidents.

Since the outbreak began a total of 2,921 patients have recovered, with 63 still in hospital. 

Over the past two weeks, the number of new infections per day has remained low in single digits with most new cases resulting from contact with previously infected ones, or from contact with people's crowds. 

Meanwhile, from 11 pm on Saturday to 4 am on Sunday, the Royal Thai Police (RTP) operation center reported that police arrested a total of 330 people defying the curfew restrictions nationwide. They will face a range of sanctions.

The government invoked the emergency decree on March 26 with the aim of limiting the movements of people and forcing them to stay at home in a bid to halt the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The imposition of a curfew and a ban on gatherings which cause public disturbance were among the directives under the decree.

Violations result in a fixed prison sentence of two years and/or a penalty of no more than 40,000 baht.