The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Friday slashed the number orange-zoned Covid-control provinces and declared two more provinces tourism pilot areas where disease controls are relaxed, with immediate effect.
CCSA spokesman Taweesilp Visanuyothin said the number of control provinces (orange zones) was reduced from 44 to 20, the number of close surveillance provinces (yellow zones) consequently increased from 25 to 47. and the number of tourism pilot provinces (blue zones) went up from eight to ten.
"Most of the provinces changing from orange to yellow zones are in the Northeast and the North. The two new tourism pilot provinces are Phetchaburi and Chiang Mai," he said.
Control (orange) zones are now: Tak, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Buri Ram, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ayutthaya, Phatthalung, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Ranong, Rayong, Ratchaburi, Songkhla, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Surat Thani, Udon Thani and Uttaradit.
Close surveillance (yellow) zones are: Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Khon Kaen, Chanthaburi, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Chumphon, Chiang Rai, Trang, Trat, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Sawan, Narathiwat, Nan, Bung Kan, Prachin Buri, Pattani, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phrae, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Mae Hong Son, Yasothon, Yala, Roi Et, Lop Buri, Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Si Sa Ket, Sakon Nakhon, Satun, Samut Songkhram, Sa Kaeo, Saraburi, Sing Buri, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surin, Nong Khai, Nong Bua Lam Phu, Ang Thong, Amnat Charoen, Uthai Thani and Ubon Ratchathani.
Tourism pilot (blue) zones are: Chiang Mai, Phetchaburi, Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, Krabi, Chon Buri, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Phangnga and Phuket.
The number of provinces partially declared blue zones remains at 18.
The zoning is based on Covid-19 fatality rates, hospital bed occupancy rates and the number of patients with lung inflammation, Covid-19 clusters and infected people in provinces.
The number of participants at group activities is capped at 500 in control (orange) zones and 1,000 in close surveillance (yellow) zones. Tourism pilot zones are free of restrictions.
Entertainment places remain closed nationwide unless they are modified to function as eateries with strict disease controls.
Drinking of alcoholic is prohibited at eateries in orange zones and permitted until 11pm in other zones.
In orange zones, malls can operate open air amusement and water parks while the number of people at each meeting, trade fair or sports festival is limited at 1,000. There are no such restrictions elsewhere.
Beauty salons, tattoo shops and massage and spa parlours can open until midnight in orange zones while other zones have no such restrictions.
