BANGKOK, June 25 (TNA) – State of emergency should be
extended for another month until the end of July in order to prevent a second
wave of COVID-19 infection in Thailand, the National Security Council (NSC) recommends.
The NSC made the recommendation at its meeting on
Thursday. Its proposal will be submitted
to the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) for consideration on
Monday.
NSC Secretary-General General Somsak Rungsita said the
Council viewed that the emergency decree would be essential to prevent a second
wave of outbreak when phase five of reopening became effective next month.
The Thai government has prepared for the fifth phase of
lockdown easing which will allow almost all business activities to resume.
Disease Control Act alone could not guarantee effective
response to a possible next wave of infections, Gen Somsak told reporters after
the meeting.
The emergency decree would give the government more tools to
protect vulnerable groups; the elderly and children as the new semester began
on July 1, added Gen Somsak.
He insisted that the decision was based on public health
standpoint, not politics. There would be no political implication nor it would
affect people’s livelihood, Gen Somsak said.
Since enacting the state of emergency decree late March, the
government has been criticised by the opposition parties that the decree was intended
to suppress anti-government movements. (TNA)
