Thailand to partially ease business lockdowns from September

BANGKOK — Thailand will ease some of its business lockdown measures from Sept. 1, allowing so-called “high-risk businesses” to reopen.

Out of 77 provinces in Thailand, 29 are currently under stringent business restrictions and a nighttime curfew to contain the spread of the delta-strain outbreaks. The measures were implemented in mid-July and were set to expire by the end of August.

The Center for the COVID-19 Situation Administration, the Thai government’s special committee for coronavirus-related policies, decided on Friday to lift some of the lockdown measures, while keeping the rest, including the nighttime curfew from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Restaurants will reopen for dine-in services, but they will have to maintain a 50% capacity limit for air-conditioned restaurants. Open-air restaurants can serve up to 75% of their seating capacity. Shopping malls, hair salons, foot massage parlors…