Thailand’s Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) will be asked to extend the state of emergency for another month, citing its necessity to protect the public against COVID-19 infection, but public assemblies will not be banned.

General Nataphol Narkpanich, deputy army commander-in-chief and deputy chair of the ad hoc committee considering the easing of lockdown restrictions, said today that, although the general pandemic situation in the country has improved substantially, with a low daily infection rate, the panel remains concerned about public safety, because many restrictions have already been eased.

He claimed that the state of emergency has not affected the livelihoods of the people adding, however, that even if the measure is to be extended for another month, public assembly will not be banned.

The current state of emergency is due to expire on August 30^th.

He also defended the need for the joint exercise between Thai and US troops, citing the presence in Thailand of about 100 US troops, whose 14-day state quarantine is due to expire today.

He said that the military has notified the CCSA about the return to Thailand next month of a 237 member Thai peace-keeping force, after the completion of their assignment in Sudan.

The returning troops, he added, will have to be quarantined for 14 days, like all other Thais returning from abroad.