After being closed for more than two months due to COVID-19 pandemic, the Fine Arts Department has made an announcement to reopen all museums, historical parks, archaeological sites and national archives to the public from Friday (May 22).

The sites which are going to reopen include the Prem Tinsulanonda Archives and the Banharn Jamsai Tower in Suphanburi, which was built in honour of former PM Late Banharn Silpa-archa and his wife Jamsai.

Mr. Prateep Pengtago, the Fine Arts Department’s Director General, has informed that there will be a “Thai Chana” platform registered with every venue to get a QR code which can be used by visitors to leave their phone number as part of a contact tracing exercise as this QR code allows the staff to contact anyone in the future if it was discovered that someone with COVID-19 visited at the same time.

Moreover, all major preventive measures of COVID-19 will be implemented at every venue. All visitors have to follow the hygiene and social distancing rules at all times. Visitors have to wear masks, there will be hand sanitizing gel at all entrances, if their temperature is more than 37.5 Celsius then they cannot enter and every visitor have to maintain at least 1.5 meters distance from each other.

In addition to above, large groups with more than 10 visitors will have to contact officials in advance.

Mr. Prateep Pengtago also stated, “Related officials must inform the department every week about the COVID-19 situation in provinces where museums or historical sites are located. This information will be used to see if the venues should remain open or not.”