Prime Minister Chan-ocha said after the cabinet meeting on Tuesday that the extension of the State of Emergency (SOE) is still under discussion.
The SOE is due to expire at the end of June.
“There is still a need to use it and the reason for our safety today is because of the State of Emergency,” he said.
“If it is needed then it is needed but the government will try to relax it as much as possible because this is the way to use the law in an integrative manner… and the decision to extend it is up to various agencies, not only up to me,” he added.
The PM said that even though the outbreak situation in Thailand may have improved, there is still a need to be wary of other countries as the total number of confirmed cases is now at nearly 10 million.
The ongoing outbreak in other countries is also why international tourism will have to wait for now, the PM added.
Anutin Charnvirakul, Public Health Minister, said on Monday that all considerations for a travel bubble at the moment are for businesspersons only.
The country is now in “business bubble” talks with China, Singapore, Japan and South Korea.
As for reopening bars and entertainments venues, the PM said businesses must propose social distancing measures to the government before they can be permitted to reopen.
For example, musical acts may have to play behind a clear partisan in the new normal, but the specifics measures that will need to be in place and the exact date for when bars and entertainments venues can reopen are all still under discussion.
The Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration has also discussed banning dancing, groups of more than five customers, audiences for sports teams and the use of single glass drinks only.
Customers must also wear mask and face shields at all times.
400 billion baht
PM Prayut has also said that they will disburse the 400 billion baht budget to stimulate the economy in July.
The government said earlier that most of the budget, which is part of the 1 trillion baht emergency loan, will be used for job creation via small government projects.
They said they will consider hiring people who have been made redundant during the pandemic.
A portion of the budget will also be used for reskilling programs to provide more opportunities for people to find jobs.
Oppositions have raised concerns over corruption in the disbursement of the budget and questioned whether the small projects will be enough to support economic recovery.
At the same time, onlookers are saying that the changes within the coalition parties and potential cabinet reshuffling are meant to ensure that the money will go into the wallets of people in power.
The PM insisted on Tuesday that transparency will be provided via an electronic disbursement system.
“Communities will be able to propose projects… and there are mechanisms and technology in place to ensure transparency,” he said.
