NAN: About 60 hotels shuttered under a provincial order to contain the Covid-19 outbreak can re-open now after the order has been lifted, governor Vorakitti Srithipakorn said yesterday.
Mr Vorakitti said he lifted the order yesterday, more than two months after the hotels were closed.
Other restrictions have also been relaxed to reduce economic and social impacts on people.
After re-opening, however, the hotels are required to strictly follow Public Health Ministry guidelines, including rules on the registration of all guests, he said. The governor's announcement prompted many hotels in the province begin preparing to re-open.
Chonmaphumi Saleewong, manager of the Mimia Hotel, said many people telephoned during the shutdown to make reservations but the hotel had to refuse them down in compliance with the provincial order. He said the hotel is now ready to accept guests.
This involves checking the temperature of guests when they arrive, provide them with hand sanitiser, as well as disinfecting rooms.
One room has been prepared to isolate guests with a temperature higher than 37.5C, pending the arrival of health officials to examine them, he said.
In Nakhon Ratchasima, governor Wichian Chantaranothai said yesterday that hotels ordered closed to contain the Covid-19 outbreak will likely reopen from June 1.
Mr Wichian said good cooperation from the public and private sectors meant the coronavirus situation in the province was improving satisfactorily, and life was nearing normalcy.
A number of businesses have already been allowed to re-open and some activities to resume, allowing people to relax somewhat, on condition they strictly observe disease control measures set by the Public Health Ministry.
Mr Wichian said before hotels can reopen, they must first inform provincial officials of their readiness to resume business and their willingness to comply with new health guidelines.
Activities would also be organised to promote tourism and bring the economic situation back to normal, he said.