BANGKOK, April 27 — Thailand is to extend to the end of May the state of emergency imposed to contain the spread of Covid-19 but the government spokesman who made the announcement said the authorities are willing to consider easing some restrictions.
Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) spokesman Thaweesilp Wissanuyothin said Prime Minister Gen Prayuth Chan o-cha, who chaired the CCSA meeting Monday, agreed to extend the emergency that was originally scheduled to expire on April 30.
The CSSA decision is subject to the approval of the Cabinet which meets Tuesday.
Thailand Monday reported nine new Covid-19 cases that raised the tally to 2,931, and one fatality that took the death toll to 52. A total of 2,609 cases have recovered and been discharged from hospitals while 270 remain warded.
Monday’s number of new cases is the lowest since March 7 and there has been no new local transmission in Bangkok since the outbreak in January.
A 64-year-old Thai woman was the latest fatality. Five of her family members have also been infected.
Thaweesilp said the CCSA also recommended the extension to May 31 of the nationwide 10 pm-to-4 am curfew which was imposed on April 3, the extension of the travel restrictions for all foreigners entering the kingdom and inter-provincial travel, prohibition of mass gatherings as well as extension of the work-from-home policy.
He said Thailand is considering deferring four public holidays, namely Labour Day (May 1), Coronation Day (May 4), Visakha Puja Day or Wesak Day (May 6) and Royal Ploughing Ceremony (May 11).
“The deferment will be proposed to the Cabinet tomorrow. It is subject to Cabinet approval,” he said at the Covid-19 daily briefing here Monday.
Thaweesilp said the state of emergency has been effective in limiting the number of new daily cases and slowing the spread of Covid-19.
He said the CCSA meeting also discussed relaxing some restrictions and measures for businesses and public activities. However, he did not disclose any details on the changes, measures or when they will take effect.
“The National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) and relevant agencies will hold a meeting to detail the matter and propose to the weekly Cabinet meeting tomorrow,” he said.
He said the CCSA will evaluate the measures every 14 days.
Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) extended the ban on all international passenger arrivals to May 31.
In a statement, CAAT director-general Chula Sukmanop said the ban does not apply to state or military aircraft, emergency landing, technical landing without disembarkation, humanitarian, medical or relief flights, repatriation flights and cargo flights.
He said passengers who arrive on the exempted flights are subject to disease-control measures, including a 14-day quarantine and regulations under the emergency decree.
— Bernama
