Chiang Mai's governor has pressed a formal complaint against a well-known bar caught open after the permitted time stipulated by the province's virus-prevention measures -- past midnight.
The Warm Up Cafe is one of the most popular pubs in Chiang Mai and was recently linked to the Covid-19 case of a 25-year-old woman who partied at the entertainment venue on New Year's Eve.
Provincial officials filed charges against the pub on the grounds that the operator violated Covid-19 prevention laws by staying open after midnight and furthermore failed to arrange social distance measures or make it mandatory for customers to wear face masks.
In light of the Covid-19 outbreak, entertainment venues -- such as pubs, bars and karaoke cafes -- are allowed to open until midnight.
The complaint was filed on Thursday, after provincial governor Charoenrit Sanguansat instructed Chakkarin Sirintharaphum, acting Muang district chief, and Pinyo Puasriphan, chief of the Justice Enhancement group of Chiang Mai Department of Provincial Administration, to file charges against the venue for violating the infectious disease announcement and Section 9 of the emergency decree.
Evidence confirmed that the venue was open past midnight on Dec 31 last year, and that most party-goers who attended were not wearing face masks, according to Governor Charoenrit.
As punishment, the venue's licence will likely be suspended for five years, or it could be revoked.
In a related development, the provincial governor of Songkhla on Fridayordered Acoustic Plus, a well-known pub in Hat Yai, to be closed, after it was caught operating past midnight early yesterday morning.
The raid was jointly conducted by administrative officials of Hat Yai district, volunteers of the 4th Hat Yai company, national defence volunteers and Kho Hong police. Officials also arrested the pub's owner.
