COVID-19: Thailand proposes emergency extended another month

As Thailand continues to record low numbers in new COVID-19 cases, NSC secretary-general Gen Somsak Rungsita said the measure is necessary to prevent a second wave of outbreak in the kingdom which has recorded 3,307 COVID-19 cases and 56 fatalities it first hit in January.

Somsak who chaired a meeting on easing COVID-19 restrictions and measures today said the committee recommended to extend the state of emergency which will be due on May 31 for another month.

"The COVID-19 situation in Thailand has improved, however, the situation across the globe remain a concern as the number of confirmed cases continues to increase.

"To prevent a second wave of COVID-19 outbreak, the third and fourth phase of easing restrictions and measures in June will better curb the pandemic," he said at a press conference here today.

Somsak said Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan o-cha who will chair the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) meeting tomorrow to decide before forwarding to the cabinet for approval next Tuesday.

Thailand first declared a state of emergency from March 26 to April 30 and extended it to May 31 to combat COVID-19.

Thailand began its first phase of relaxation on May 3 in which six types of businesses and venues were reopened while the second phase started on May 17.

Meanwhile, Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) spokesman Thaweesilp Wissanuyothin said Thailand reported three new COVID-19 cases and zero fatality over the last 24 hours, bringing its tally to 3,037 cases with the death toll remaining at 56.

He said the three new cases - a 42-year-old German man who visited his wife in a northern province of Chaiyaphum and two Thais - a 72-year-old Thai man in Bangkok who had history visiting a hospital and a barbershop and a 25-year-old Thai woman who returned from the Philippines.

COVID-THAILAND 3 (LAST) BANGKOK

Of 3,037 COVID-19 cases, a total of 2,897 patients have recovered and were discharged from hospitals while 84 remain warded.

Meanwhile, Thaweesilp said selected luxury hotels and resorts in the kingdom are offering quarantine facilities for foreign visitors who are willing to pay for the facilities.

He said hotels, resorts and hospitals will cooperate to provide foreigners who are allowed to enter the kingdom under the Emergency Decree and to undergo a 14-day quarantine.

"This will lighten the financial burden of the government," he added.