COVID-19: Thailand Extends State Of Emergency To June 31

BANGKOK, May 22 (Bernama) -- Thailand’s Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) today agreed to extend the state of emergency until June 30, as the government prepares to further ease restrictions and reopen more venues. At a meeting chaired by Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan o-cha, the CCSA also discussed the possibility of shortening a night-time curfew, which now runs from 11 pm to 4 am. CCSA spokesman Thaweesilp Wissanuyothin said the centre agreed to the extension as the global COVID-19 pandemic situation remains unstable. He added that the extension will enable unified and effective measures to fight COVID-19 and allow preparations for the next phase of relaxation. “The extension is subject to Cabinet approval on Tuesday,” he said at a COVID-19 daily briefing here today. Thaweesilp said a meeting will be held on May 29 to discuss the proposal of further easing restrictions and reopening more businesses. “The third phase of relaxation is expected to start on June 1,” he said. Thailand first declared a state of emergency from March 26 to April 30 and extended it to May 31 to combat COVID-19. Thailand began its first phase of relaxation on May 3, in which six types of businesses and venues were reopened while the second phase started on May 17. Meanwhile, Thaweesilp said Thailand recorded zero new COVID-19 cases and fatalities over the last 24 hours, with the tally remaining at 3,037 cases and 56 fatalities. -- BERNAMA