TCEB Situation Update COVID-19 virus on 15 July 2021 New Designation of Targeted Control Areas and Enforcement of Stringent Control Measures



TCEB Situation Update

COVID-19 virus on 15 July 2021

New Designation of Targeted Control Areas and Enforcement of Stringent Control Measures

To improve COVID-19 control, the Thai government agreed to increase the intensity of measures and stringency of enforcement to effectively and rapidly solve the current situation. This has resulted in a new grouping of infection provinces. The ten-province group, comprising Bangkok, five surrounding provinces and the four southernmost provinces, is declared maximum and tightly restricted area, where business closure and night curfew are enforced. The regulations are as follow: 

1. Adjustment of targeted control areas

The Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has redesigned targeted control areas and implemented the stringent control measures in particular areas, according to the directive number 24, dated 12 June 2021, and the directive number 25, dated 26 June 2021. Regarding any contradictions, this announcement shall be applied. The adjustment of targeted control areas is as follows:

            •  Maximum and tightly restricted area: 10 provinces, including Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Narathiwat, Pattani, Songkhla, and Yala

            •  Maximum controlled area: 24 provinces, including Ang Thong, Chachoengsao, Chainat, Chonburi, Kanchanaburi, Krabi, Lopburi, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phetchaburi, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Prachin Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Samut Songkhram, Saraburi, Singburi, Suphan Buri, Tak, and Uthai Thani

            •  Controlled area: 25 provinces, including Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Khon Kaen, Chantaburi, Chaiyaphum, Chumphon, Trang, Trat, Buriram, Phatthalung, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phetchabun, Roi Et Maha Sarakham, Loei, Sisaket, Satun, Sa Kaeo, Sukhothai, Surat Thani, Surin, Nong Bua Lamphu, Udon Thani, and Ubon Ratchathani

            •  Surveillance area: 18 provinces, including Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Phanom, Nan, Bueng Kan, Phayao, Phrae, Phang Nga, Phuket, Mukdahan, Mae Hong Son, Yasothon, Lampang, Lamphun, Sakhon Nakhon, Nong Khai, Amnat Charoen, and Uttaradit

2. Prohibition against leaving residence

Residents in the maximum and tightly restricted area: Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, and the southern provinces, comprising Narathiwat, Pattani, Songkhla, and Yala, must remain at home from 21:00-04:00 hrs. of the next day for at least 14 days. This is effective from 12 July 2021 onwards. Violators are subject to Article 18 of the Emergency Decree on Public Administration, B.E. 2548, except the persons who are permitted by the authorities or individuals classified in number 4.

3. Execution of duty by the authorities 

The authorities, assistants or any personnel legally assigned to perform the duties, police, soldiers or civilians are in charge of the targeted areas, as stated in number 2. They shall be responsible for emergency in order to provide assistance to the public and suppress wrongdoers or law violators. 

4. Exempted persons 

The prohibition against leaving residence in maximum and tightly restricted area shall be imposed. Persons in the following sectors are, however, the exemption: 

            1)  Public health: doctors, nurses, medical personnel, officials involved in the duty of public health service or individuals in need to meet doctor, or seeking medical treatment, including their accompanying persons

            2)  Merchandise shipment: logistics workers handling consumer goods, agricultural produce pharmaceutical products, medical supplies and equipment, newspapers, fuel, post, products bound for export and imported goods.

            3)  Public transport: personnel in public transport service, drivers and individuals heading to or from airports or transport station, carrier, persons who have to travel to an isolated place for quarantine in accordance with communicable disease law, and cross-provincial passengers and travelers.

            4)  Public services or facilitation: those assisting the disadvantageous groups, elderly, homeless, victims, providers of merchandise and food delivery service, inspectors or maintenance staff of public utilities, drainage, oil and natural gas pipelines, garbage collectors, maintenance staff of communication network and system, emergency & rescue staff, banking, capital market, and insurance personnel, and individuals who are in charge of accident handling or need to deal with administrative officers, inquiry officials, or the authorities.

            5)  Jobs qualifying for exemption: rotating schedule workers or workers scheduled to work at particular time of public or private sector or those working in factory, construction site, maintenance or related work undertaken with permission, security, agriculture, fishery, livestock, animal care.

            6)  For other cases permitted by the authorities: persons in number 1 to 5 must present to the authorities their identity cards along with supporting documents, such as goods delivery, travel services. They must strictly follow disease prevention measures established by the officials and show evidences of travel necessity to the authorities in the area, such as village headman, district chief, police chief or persons designated the authorities in charge.

5. Additional exceptions

Exception cases, apart from number 4, must be submitted to the operation centre of CCSA by Bangkok governor or the provincial governors before its submission to the Prime Minister for his consideration and approval as an exception, which must be appropriate and respond to the actual situation.

6. Field operation measures

Head of government agencies and any public sector located in Bangkok and surrounding provinces shall execute their field operation duties at full capacity. Public service providers, related agencies involved in public utilities and security, or other jobs with fixed schedules or appointment, such as medical treatment or contact with justice-related agencies, can operate as deemed fit and necessary. Business owners, entrepreneurs, responsible persons of the establishments should consider adjusting their operation to fit the situation, and reduce workers’ travel and risk of cluster infection. 

7. Urgent integrated control measures in Bangkok and surrounding provinces

The operation of establishments, enterprises and services must abide by more stringent terms, duration, arrangement and disease control measures as follows:

            1)  Restaurants and food and beverage outlets, including those in department stores, shopping centres, community malls, trade fair centres, convention centres, exhibition halls, hotels, airports, railway stations, bus terminals, convenience stores, supermarkets, pushcarts, hawkers, stalls, markets, flea markets, floating markets, wholesale markets, all-night markets or other similar establishments, can provide takeaway services only and must be closed by 20:00 hrs.

            2)  Shopping malls, shopping centers, community malls, or other similar establishments can operate until 20:00 hrs., However, the only permitted services are selling necessary consumer goods, medicine and medical supplies, supermarkets, tools and building materials, banking, finance and securities, telecommunication, post and parcels, repair and maintenance, services on vaccination or other medicine and public health services, and offices of the government or private sector.

            3)  Convenience stores, flea markets, all-night markets and walking streets can operate until 20:00 hrs. 24-hour convenience stores must be closed between 20:00 – 04:00 hrs. of the next day.

            4)  Public parks, sport fields, sport venues or places for exercises located in the open areas can operate until 20:00 hrs.

            5)  Thai traditional massage (including foot massage services), spas, cosmetic clinics for beauty service, and health-related establishments must be closed. Beauty salons and barbershops can operate under previously announced conditions and must strictly comply with disease prevention measures prescribed by the government.

            6)  Organising activities with over 5 attendances is prohibited: the measure must be executed in line with the prohibitions and exceptions stated in the announcement number 25, dated 26 June 2021. In this respect, government and private sectors must organise meetings, seminars, training via electronic means as stated in the guidelines of the operation centre of CCSA. Gathering activities allowed under the previous announcement, if they are to be held during this period, must seek permission from the authorities so that the reexamination and review of their disease prevention measures can be conducted to make them fit the current change of the situation as established by the operation centre of CCSA.  

            7)  Schools, educational or training institutes must comply with measures previously announced. The security authorities must conduct strict inspection in order to ensure no illegal gathering, such as gambling, alcohol consumption, drug taking or violation of regulations. They can take full legal action against such wrongdoing.


The Governor of Bangkok, with the consent of the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority’s Communicable Disease Committee, has signed the announcement number 36 dated 10 July 2021 on the temporary closure of public venues and establishments. The operation of establishments, enterprises and services must abide by more stringent terms, duration, arrangement and disease control measures where premise owners and business owners must strictly comply with the announcement number 34, dated 27 June 2021, and the announcement number 35, dated 5 July 2021. In case of any contradictions, the announcement number 36 dated 10 July 2021, where the disease control measures comply with number 7 of the directive number 27, dated 10 July 2021, must be applied. 

8. Transport measures

The Ministry of Transport or responsible agencies shall inspect and supervise the service of public transport of all means, which must operate between 04.00-21.00 hrs. only. This is to ensure the volume of services, duration of services and any arrangement are in line with disease prevention measures and the directives of the operation center of CCSA.

9. Cross-provincial travel measures

Cross-provincial travel must be refrained, except the necessary cases which may face inconvenience or become more time-consuming. Relevant authorities will impose tighter restrictions on entry and exit points between Bangkok, surrounding provinces, and the southernmost provinces, and other provinces to ensure they are in line with the directive number 25, dated 26 June 2021 and the directives of the operation centre of CCSA. Under this announcement, the Ministry of Transport and related agencies shall inspect and supervise public transport operators providing cross-provincial services from Bangkok, surrounding provinces and the southernmost provinces. Stricter enforcement, screening and arrangement of service must be in line with disease prevention measures and the directives of the operation center of CCSA. As for cross-provincial shipments of goods, the Ministry of Transport will make arrangement and appropriate directives that will lower the economic impacts.

10. Disease control and preventive measures in communities  

The authorities and disease control officials in Bangkok and surrounding provinces will work with the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), civil societies and local communities in providing support for the application of herbal or traditional Thai treatment as recommended by MOPH, enhancing access to disease detection, setting up temporary shelters and field hospitals, accelerating the process to secure shelter for separation and delivery of infected persons, increasing screening points and quickening the screening, executing vaccination for the targeted groups (elderly, those with underlying medical conditions or those with chronic diseases as specified by MOPH) and vaccination in the cluster infection area, all of which must be undertaken in accordance with the plan of CCSA. For assistance and relief for people affected by this announcement, the responsible agencies will compile the information and submit for government’s consideration. 

11. Control measure of distributing fake news in emergency situation

It is prohibited to illustrate or disseminate news through any media featuring content on the communicable disease Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) which is false or may instigate fear among the people, or to intentionally distort information which causes misunderstanding of the emergency situation to the extent that public order or good moral of the people are affected. In such cases, violators are subject to Article 9 (3) of the Emergency Decree on Public Administration, B.E. 2548.

12. Enforcement of stringent control measures

Communicable disease control officers shall inspect and enforce stringent control measures, as stated in this announcement, for at least 14 days (until 25 July 2021), except the case that assessment of the situation is conducted. The preparation of personnel, venue, and public relation to inform the public and concerned officials to be prepared must be made all the time.

Effective from 12 July 2021 onwards.

Reference: 

http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2564/E/154/T_0001.PDF (TH Version)

http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2564/E/154/T_0007.PDF (TH Version)

https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG210709203148354

https://prbangkok-eng.com/index.php/download/bma-announcement-on-temporary-closure-of-premises-no-36/


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Further information about COVID-19 outbreak from WHO

https://www.who.int/thailand/emergencies/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports

Department of Disease Control Contact Centre (Call 1422 24/7)

https://ddc.moph.go.th/viralpneumonia/index.php

Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) (Call +66 (0) 2694 6000)

https://www.businesseventsthailand.com/en/situation-update-coronavirus-covid-19 or info@tceb.or.th


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