Officials in Bangkok on Tuesday began to loosen Covid-19 restrictions, allowing transit passengers at Suvarnabhumi airport and alcohol to be served in restaurants and pubs until 11pm.

Transit passengers at Suvarnabhumi had to show fit-to-fly and Covid-free certificates, as well as health insurance documents.

"Their stay at the airport is limited to 12 hours. They will be confined to a specific area in the terminal, and not be allowed to visit shops there," said Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) spokesman Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin.

Dr Taweesilp also said that visiting yacht owners had asked to be allowed to quarantine aboard their boats for 14 days, instead of having to stay on the boat for 14 days, then face another 14-day quarantine on land after disembarking.

"Yacht crews and their passengers might even be allowed to swim in the sea during their quarantine period," said Dr Taweesilp.

"The disease can't be transmitted in sea water."


The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) on Tuesday said that City Hall had agreed that entertainment venues, pubs, bars, karaoke shops and soapy massage parlours should be allowed to resume normal opening hours.

The BMA's relaxed measures came into effect on Tuesday.