Government Ban’s Unvaccinated from New Years Eve Celebrations

A recent outbreak of the Omicron variant has prompted Thailand’s health officials to require that all participants at New Years eve countdown events be fully vaccinated and test negative through an antigen test 72 hours prior to any event with 1000 participants or more.

A spokesperson for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) said the requirements, which were published in the Royal Gazette on Wednesday, relating to Section 9 of the emergency decree that was imposed to stop the spread of Covid-19.

Participants, organizers, staff, singers, and musicians at events with at least 1,000 participants must be fully vaccinated and undergo antigen testing 72 hours in advance of the event.

Vaccinations are required, and patrons must produce a negative ATK test 72 hours prior to the event, according to Dr Apisamai, adding that certain requirements will also apply to smaller events.

The official said yesterday that CCSA operation centre officials discussed new year countdown party virus containment measures, particularly in Bangkok.

Guidelines to easy-to-follow for New Years

She said the centre will work with the Department of Disease Control to issue a set of guidelines to easy-to-follow for events with less than 1,000 participants, such as family gatherings or corporate parties.

She said event organizers with more than 300 participants will have to seek permission from Bangkok’s district offices or provincial communicable disease committees in advance.

Covid-19 can still be spread at New Year’s Eve events because there are many people gathering together, so the Public Health Ministry and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration advise people to follow their advice.

In addition to the New Year’s countdown parties, Dr Apisamai said that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has asked the ministry to consider allowing ATKs to be used for screening participants at all kinds of events and social functions.

Alcohol services during New Years

CCSA officials will examine major New Years Eve celebrations, including those in Chiang Mai and Nakhon Ratchasima. Additionally, the CCSA announced on Monday that restaurants nationwide will be allowed to serve alcohol on New Year’s Eve until 1 am on January 1, only if they are open-air establishments.

The permission only applies to restaurants and eateries, not nightlife establishments such as pubs. If they violate the CCSA’s order, they will face legal action, she said.

During a daily briefing on the Covid-19 case, she also said a new cluster of infections was discovered at a construction camp in Klong Toey, Bangkok. One hundred and twenty-two workers were tested weekly for antigens, and 56 of them tested positive, so all were quarantined, she said.

In addition, Thailand recorded 41 more Covid-19 fatalities and 3,537 new cases in the previous 24 hours, according to the Ministry of Health.

Source: Bangkok Post