The Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) said on Monday that it would recommend the extension of the State of Emergency by another month until the end of July due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The SOE was introduced on March 26 and was intended to last until April 30. It was, however, extended by the CCSA to May 31 and again to June 30.
This will be the third time it has been extended.
“It will be decided by the cabinet on Tuesday,” said Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, a spokesperson at the CCSA.
Dr Taweesin says that the SOE needs to be extended because it gives the government more weapons to fight in containing the spread of the virus.
It can control the movement of people coming in and out of the country. It can also establish state quarantine measures and monitor methods to limit the spread of the virus.
The SOE also makes integration between different government agencies much easier, said Dr Taweesin.
First business travelers
Thai Enquirer understands that the government is considering allowing business travelers to enter the country from a group of select countries. Those countries, according to sources within the CCSA, are Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia.
According to TE sources, the government is holding meetings whether to enforce a 14-day mandatory quarantine for business travelers or ask them to get a health certificate and Covid test before departure.
Foreign residents and foreign spouses are already being allowed to enter the country on a case-by-case basis but are required to enter state quarantine upon arrival.
The CCSA says it will review measures that will allow more residents and family members in but it is still being discussed.
Tourists are not yet being considered although negotiations for travel bubble agreements have been discussed within the CCSA.
