As part of an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Bangkok and nine other Thai provinces imposed a number of COVID-19-related restrictions.

“In the 10 provinces there will be restrictions on unnecessary travel and people cannot leave their home between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m. unless necessary,” Apisamai Srirangsan, a spokesman for Thailand’s COVID-19 taskforce, said in a statement.

Last week, Thailand reported one of its highest daily infection counts, prompting government officials to restrict the number of visitors landing on the islands, reduce the size of gatherings, and other measures. On Tuesday, Thailand registered 8,685 infections and 56 deaths, out of a total of 353,712 cases and 2,847 fatalities, the majority of which occurred in the previous three months.

To slow the spread of COVID-19, malls, beauty clinics, spas, and massage parlours were shuttered on Monday in Bangkok and five adjacent provinces, while various testing facilities were added or expanded.

Inter-provincial travel is discouraged, and meetings will be limited to only five persons, according to Thai government officials.

According to the prime minister’s announcement, Thailand plans to reopen its borders to tourists in mid-October for individuals who are completely vaccinated.

Thailand’s Prime Minister, Prayuth Chan-Ocha, said, “I know this decision comes with some risk because, when we open the country, there will be an increase in infections, no matter how good our precautions. But I think when we take into consideration the economic needs of the people, the time has come for us to take that calculated risk.”

The opening date has been pushed back from the original announcement of mid-October. Thailand was set to reopen in January 2022, but the tourism industry, which is a major contributor to the country’s economy, has been devastated.