Disease control laws are set to take effect in Thailand this October, as the country is reportedly considering lifting its nationawide state of emergency ahead of the APEC summit in November.
The Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration advisor Dr. Udom Kachintorn said prior to today’s CCSA meeting that the Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha has agreed in principle to lift the state of emergency this October and the Communicable Diseases Act will be used to manage the pandemic once the emergency decree expires.
The meeting is expected to declare Covid-19 as a communicable disease under surveillance beginning October 1.
“Covid-19 will be announced as a communicable disease under surveillance from October 1; however, due to the lengthy process, it has not yet been deemed an endemic disease,” said Dr. Udom.
Prime Minister Prayut has also approved a plan to dissolve the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration.
Thailand first declared a state of emergency in March 2020 in an effort to contain the spread of coronavirus, and it has been renewed about twenty times.
