Bangkok-
The Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, or CCSA, in a meeting this morning with Prime Minister Prayut Chan O’Cha and other relevant officials, reportedly approved a proposal from the National Security Council last week to extend the emergency decree until the end of July.
The proposal will now go to the Thai Cabinet, also chaired by the Prime Minister, tomorrow afternoon for final approval. It is nearly certain to be signed off and approved by the Cabinet, however the extension of the decree would not be official before that meeting and subsequent publishing in the Royal Gazette. The extension would be until July 31, 2020, although the CCSA noted that it could be cancelled at any time if the situation with reopening of schools and entertainment venues does not see any problems or rise in Covid-19 cases.
The Emergency Decree gives the Prime Minister and Thai Government sweeping powers to control the potential spread of the Covid-19 Coronavirus in a single management type system. Proponents of the decree in the Thai government state that the extension of the decree is not political and it is needed to properly manage and observe the situation with Phase Five loosening of restrictions and regulations in July as well as schools. Government officials are concerned that by opening schools and entertainment venues that cases of covid-19, previously hidden in asymptomatic carriers, could be found and would need to be properly managed
Critics of the decree, meanwhile, have stated that it is not needed to control the current situation in the country and that existing laws on communicable disease control could resolve any problems if needed. Critics also claim that the harsh penalties of the decree, such as rules around gatherings, have been used incorrectly and inconsistently.
User Review
( votes)
