Thailand restricts operating hours for retail stores

Shopping malls in areas at risk of COVID-19 have been ordered to close by 8:00pm every day.

Thailand has imposed more restrictions to control the spread of COVID-19, with shopping malls, supermarkets and food courts, and convenience stores ordered to reduce operating hours in 18 high-risk provinces starting 2 May, IGD reported.

After a year of relatively minor outbreaks, Thailand is recording its biggest and fastest spread of COVID-19. The number of cases has jumped to 61,699, doubling the number since the start of April. There are 178 fatalities.

Thus, shopping malls were required to close by 8:00pm, supermarkets and food courts by 9:00pm, and convenience stores by 10:00pm. The changes apply in 18 red zone provinces, including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Udon Thani.

Meanwhile, entertainment places like bars, pubs, bathing houses, amusement parks are required to stay closed for 14 days. Mask wearing in both indoor and outdoor public places are now compulsory in 42 provinces.

With the new wave of infection and shortened business hours, Thailand’s economic conditions are expected to deteriorate further, the report stated.

IGD noted that vaccinations are key to Thailand’s reopening to holiday travel. The government has planned for Phuket to open as a test, after 70% of its residents have received vaccinations. This will help restart the tourism industry, which contributes to one-fifth of the economy before the pandemic.