Thai government considers lowering Covid-19 alert to Level 2
As the overall pandemic situation continues to improve, the Thai health ministry is considering lowering the country’s Covid alert level to Level 2. Chakrarat Pittayawonganon from the Department of Disease Control says the alert could be reduced from Level 3, while keeping the focus on protecting high-risk groups and ensuring they have received booster vaccine doses. Thailand’s high-risk groups include those over the age of 60, people with underlying health conditions, and pregnant women.
According to a Bangkok Post report, Chakrarat says it’s likely the Level 2 alert would apply to some provinces only. He adds that the number of seriously ill patients, including those with pneumonia or on ventilators, is falling slowly, as is the number of Covid-related deaths. Most Covid fatalities now occur in those over the age of 70, with over half of those unvaccinated.
Following the re-opening of Thailand’s schools on May 17, new Covid case numbers remain low, but Chakrarat is calling for vaccination of students to be accelerated. He says Thailand will also revise how it reports Covid-19 data, with a focus on severe cases and deaths, which will continue to be updated daily.
“The overall situation in Thailand is starting to ease. Therefore, Thailand will revise its report on daily infection numbers accordingly. From June 1, the daily report will shift to the number of symptomatic patients in hospital, seriously ill patients, and patients on ventilators.”
As nightlife in the green and blue zones prepares to re-open from tomorrow, Chakrarat says staff at such venues will need to take antigen tests on a weekly basis. However, other businesses and private companies will no longer be required to carry out weekly antigen testing of their employees. Instead, only workers who show symptoms should be tested.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
