Thailand extends emergency for 45 days until mid-January

The Thai cabinet of ministers on Monday approved a proposal from the government-run Centre for the Covid-19 Situation Administration for the extension of the emergency decree to be enforced nationwide for a further one-month-and-a-half period, beginning from Dec 1 until Jan 15, 2021, according to officials attached to Government House.

It will be the eighth time Thailand’s emergency rule has been extended to contain the pandemic throughout the country.

Anti-pandemic and health safety measures will be strictly enforced in January when three world badminton tournaments are scheduled to be held in Bangkok, the officials said.

The approval was a formality after a meeting of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, approved it last week and submitted the proposal to the cabinet for final approval, reports the Bangkok Post.

Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman for the centre, said the 45-day extension was longer than the previous 30-day periods, so that it covered the New Year holidays where many people travel and the risk of an outbreak was high.

Thailand’s international borders will remain closed to casual travellers.

The Covid-19 state of emergency, first declared on March 26, will have been in place for nine months and 21 days when the latest extension ends next year.