Thailand’s Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) will conduct an assessment of the enforcement of measures being imposed under the State of Emergency Executive Decree, including the night curfew, to determine whether they should be extended or whether some of measures can be eased and in which areas.
Speaking after the cabinet meeting today, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said that he is satisfied with the slowing trend in new COVID-19 infections over the past several days, saying that this will be taken into account as the CCSA assess the effects of the emergency decree, which is due to expire on April 26th.
He cautioned that, even though the infection rate has slowed, it does not mean that coronavirus has been effectively contained, warning that the contagion may resurge “if we lower our guard”.
The Prime Minister stressed that he realizes the hardships faced by people under the state of emergency and asked for them to understand the need to curb the pandemic as first priority.
“I am fully aware of the hardships. You are worried, but I am more worried because I am in the Government, which is obliged to look after the people,” said the Prime Minister.
He said that the CCSA will assess the situation and work out the most appropriate measures for the situation, including the possibility of easing some restrictions in certain areas.
He maintained, however, that easing of restrictions must be a step by step process.
Meanwhile, it is reported that about 4,000 Thais, currently in Malaysia, are due to return to Thailand after April 18th through border crossings in the four southern provinces.
Entry to Thailand is, however, limited to no more than 350 a day at the border crossings and everyone will be subject to state quarantine for 14 days.
Lt-Gen Pornsak Poonsawat, commander of the Fourth Army Region, has appealed to residents in the south not to panic or stigmatize those returning, saying that they will be quarantined until they are proven safe to re-join their families.
