Face masks order officially eased, with immediate effect

The Phuket Info Center (PIC), operated by the Phuket office of the Ministry of Interior, posted its notice early this morning, citing the proclamation in the Government Gazette yesterday (June 23).

Under the revised order, wearing a face mask outdoors is now purely voluntary, as announced by the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) last Friday (June 17).

However, face masks are still required when attending crowded and poorly ventilated areas where appropriate spacing between people is not possible, such as public transport, and markets and concert venues.

“People at risk of developing severe symptoms if infected with COVID-19, such as “Group 608” patients and people with congenital respiratory disease, “should” wear a mask at all times to reduce the risk of infection, the PIC noted, citing the revised order.

“And in the case of a person who is infected with COVID-19 or who is exposed to a high risk of COVID-19, it is necessary to wear a mask properly at all times when with other people to reduce the risk and prevent the spread of disease,” the PIC added.

The PIC has also posted the official order signed by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha confirming that “all provinces in the whole kingdom are surveillance areas… From now on or until the order changes otherwise.”

Also confirmed by proclamation in the Government Gazette yesterday were the new entry measures to come into effect next Friday (July 1).

The order confirms that July 1 foreigners entering the country will no longer need to register through the Thailand Pass system and will no longer be required to have US$10,000 COVID health insurance, as announced by the CCSA last Friday.

However, all arrivals must show evidence of being fully vaccinated for COVID-19 as defined by the Ministry of Public Health.

Those who are not vaccinated must show evidence of a negative antigen test taken within 72 hours of arriving.

Of note, the new entry measures to come into effect on July 1 also reinstate the three-day border pass entry allowed to people entering the country via land crossing checkpoints.