Thais head for movies and massage as virus lockdown eases
A therapist wearing a face shield does traditional Thai massage to a customer in a Health Land brach massage house which reopened after the Thai government eased isolation measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Bangkok, Thailand, June 1, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge Silva
Thais took in a movie and enjoyed foot massages in a welcome return on Monday to some pampering and popular pastimes as coronavirus restrictions further eased and new infection numbers remained low.
Shopping malls stayed open later, a curfew was shortened and more businesses reopened, among them fitness clubs, spas, traditional massage centres and cinemas.
A therapist wearing a face shield does traditional Thai massage to a customer in a Health Land brach massage house which reopened after the Thai government eased isolation measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Bangkok, Thailand, June 1, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge Silva
Thailand has so far recorded 3,082 confirmed cases and 57 deaths, with no local transmissions in the past seven days and many cases in recent weeks found in quarantine among Thais returning from abroad.
Thai masseuses wearing plastic face shields and masks rubbed the toes of contented customers, who relaxed in reclining chairs with large spaces in between. Plastic floor mattresses were disinfected regularly, ready for the next customer.
"I've been waiting to get a massage for a long time, so I decided to come on the first day it reopened," said Nattida Kittipongpattana, who drove one hour to get her feet rubbed.
A host wearing a protective face mask and a protective face shield poses for a picture at a VIP section inside a movie theater during its reopening after the Thai government eased isolation measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Bangkok, Thailand, June 1, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge Silva
Masseuse Suratsawadee Pokapanich said all measures were being taken to keep clients healthy.
"We avoid any massage that gets close to the neck and facial area," she added.
Cinemas reopened with strict social distancing and limits of 200 people in each theatre, and empty seats on either side of each customer and an empty row in front.
Workers wearing protective suits spray disinfectant inside a movie theater ahead of its reopening after the Thai government eased isolation measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Bangkok, Thailand, June 1, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge Silva
Staff with gloves and face shields performed temperature checks on everyone entering the theatre. After each screening, staff in full-body protective suits sprayed disinfectant along each row of seats.
Narute Jiensnong, chief marketing officer Major Cineplex, said social distancing requirements meant VIP treatment for customers.
"These measures will make people confident to come back to cinemas and we also have partitions to make it more exclusive," he said.
Seats marked with social distance measures are seen at a movie theater ahead of its reopening after the Thai government eased isolation measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Bangkok, Thailand, June 1, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge Silva
(Reporting by Jiraporn Kuhakan; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
Workers wearing protective face masks and protective face shields disinfect inside a movie theater ahead of its reopening after the Thai government eased isolation measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Bangkok, Thailand, June 1, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge SilvaA worker wearing a protective suit sprays disinfectant inside a movie theater ahead of its reopening after the Thai government eased isolation measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Bangkok, Thailand, June 1, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge SilvaWorkers wearing protective suits spray disinfectant inside a movie theater ahead of its reopening after the Thai government eased isolation measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Bangkok, Thailand, June 1, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge SilvaEmpty seats are seen at a movie theater ahead of its reopening after the Thai government eased isolation measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Bangkok, Thailand, June 1, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge SilvaPeople wearing protective face masks are seen inside a movie theater during its reopening after the Thai government eased isolation measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Bangkok, Thailand, June 1, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge SilvaPeople are seen inside a movie theater during its reopening after the Thai government eased isolation measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Bangkok, Thailand, June 1, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge SilvaA therapist wearing a face shield does traditional Thai massage to a customer in a Health Land brach massage house which reopened after the Thai government eased isolation measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Bangkok, Thailand, June 1, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge SilvaTwo customers are separated by a plastic screen as they sit together at a table in a shopping center, after the Thai government eased isolation measures, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Bangkok, Thailand, June 1, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge Silva
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
