Nightlife Entertainment - Advised to Follow Rules or Face Closure

Night entertainment providers and soapy massage parlours were advised by police on Wednesday to cooperate with steps to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, otherwise, their businesses will be suspended again.

Pol Lt Gen Piya Uthayo, National Police Assistant Chief, said Pol Gen Chaktip Chaijinda, National Police Chief, had ordered officers to ensure that entertainment venue operators complied with disease control legislation and that both service providers and their consumers recognized and cooperated with the new standard.

He made the statement after senior officers of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, representatives of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Health Department and more than 200 entertainment venue operators attended a meeting in which they were briefed on regulatory compliance in the fifth relaxation phase of the lockdown.

According to Pol Lt Gen Piya, entertainment establishments that neglect to follow the public protection laws will obtain a alert from the police and if they continue to obey they will be forced to cease service.

Dararat Matkham, a restaurant and karaoke operator located in Bangkok's Buddha Monthon Sai 1 district, said she was relieved that nightlife venues were able to reopen.

She said she had also introduced public health safety practices-she had supplied consumers with sanitiser spray, and microphones used for karaoke singing would be regularly cleaned, but customers would be encouraged to use their own microphones.

Her shop will position tables according to the principles of social distancing.

Somwang Chuenhathai, a soapy massage operator on New Phetchaburi Lane, said his company had made it mandatory for masseuses to wear face shields or masks when operating and that the interior of his premises should also be thoroughly cleaned before and after opening hours.

Pol Lt Gen Piya emphasized that at massage parlours no sex services would be permitted and that the rule would be strictly enforced.

Tuesday's cabinet approved the fifth step of lifting constraints on the existing companies and premises as suggested by the Covid-19 Condition Administration Centre. They have pubs and restaurants, karaoke bars and parlours for bath-sauna-massage.