Bangkok has been designated 'blue', a new tourist-oriented area with few Covid-19 restrictions including on alcohol, alongside Krabi, Phangnga and Phuket, starting Monday.

Taweesilp Visanuyothin of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration said on Friday that CCSA had approved changes to the zoning, which also included a drastic cut in the number of dark-red provinces for maximum and strict control to seven from 23 now.

Bangkok, currently a dark-red zone, reported 802 new cases and 12 deaths on Thursday.

Chanthaburi, Tak, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala and Songkhla will continue to be the dark-red zone.

The red zones will be Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Chachoengsao, Trang, Trat, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Prachin Buri, Ayutthaya, Phatthalung, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phetchaburi, Phetchabun, Rayong, Rayong, Ratchaburi, Lop Buri, Satun, Samut Prakan, Samut Songkhram, Samut Sakhon, Saraburi, Sa Kaeo, Suphan Buri, Surat Thani, Ang Thong, Udon Thani and Ubon Ratchathani.

The orange zones will consist of Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Buri Ram, Phayao, Phrae, Maha Sarakham, Mae Hong Son, Yasothon, Roi Et, Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Sing Buri, Sukhothai, Surin, Nong Khai, Nong Bua Lam Phu, Uttaradit, Uthai Thani, Amnat Charoen and Si Sa Ket.

Five provinces will be designated yellow - those under high surveillance - compared to none at present. They will be Nakhon Phanom, Nan, Bung Kan, Mukdahan and Sakon Nakhon which were in the northern and northeastern borders, Dr Taweesilp said.

Control measures vary depending on the zones.

Starting Monday, the 11pm-3am curfew will apply only in the dark-red provinces.

Schools can reopen and many activities can resume in the dark-red and red zones with permission from authorities. Schools can reopen as usual in other zones.

Sports facilities can open until 10pm in the dark-red provinces and 11pm in the red zones.

There will be no restriction in the blue zones.

Cinemas will limit viewers to 50% of seating capacities at air-conditioned facilities and 75% at open places in the dark-red zones and at 75% in the red zones. There will be no restrictions elsewhere.

Shopping centres can open until 10pm in the dark-red zones.

Convenience stores and markets can open until 10pm in the dark-red zones. There will not be such restrictions elsewhere.

Eateries can open until 10pm in the dark-red zones where customers will be limited at 50% of seating capacities at air-conditioned places and 75% at non-air-conditioned places. Seating limitations will be lifted elsewhere. The closing hour was set at 11pm in the red zones.

Alcohol sales and consumption will be banned in the dark-red, red and orange zones and allowed in yellow and blue zones.

Beauty salons, massage and spa parlours, beauty clinics and tattoo parlours can open until 10pm in the dark-red zones.