The Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has decided to extend the State of Emergency for at least another month, to ensure the appropriate response to any developments in the situation.
The CCSA Spokesman Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin has elaborated on the necessity for the State of Emergency to be extended for another month, citing effective disease control operations, as the Emergency Decree gives the government a more inclusive power to enforce regulations beyond what is allowed in the Communicable Diseases Act, including international travel restrictions, contact tracing and a monitoring system development, as well as the forced closing and opening of businesses as required.
He said the State of Emergency has enabled the government and response agencies to work in unity and in a timely manner on all developments.
On the current Phase 5 easing of restrictions, the CCSA spokesman said today that all types of business are now allowed to reopen, albeit with some restrictions partially imposed under the Emergency Decree, which is only minimally imposed to avoid restricting the rights of the people, while encouraging every person to take precautionary measures against the spread of the virus.
On the reopening of Thai borders for international travel, the CCSA spokesman said no new measures or alterations have been proposed to the CCSA, with current restrictions to be continued – meaning that regular international travel is still banned, except for special pre-authorized flights.
As the COVID-19 situation in Thailand improves, the CCSA will be cutting back its daily briefing to only every Monday and Thursday. The briefings this week will however be conducted daily, with the change to be introduced later. (NNT)