Thai government may replace emergency decree with strict amendment to Communicable Disease Act

The Thai Public Health Minister says the government is considering repealing the emergency decree come the new year and replacing it with a tougher amendment to the Communicable Disease Control Act. Anutin Charnvirakul says the proposal was raised at a Cabinet meeting yesterday.

Addressing the Thai media, he said the amendment would allow the Disease Control Committee more authority to introduce measures such as budget approval for local and state quarantine during any new outbreaks of Covid-19. He adds that the amendment aims to create flexibility and address the needs of Thai people.

The emergency decree has been in force since late March and extended multiple times since its introduction. The last extension was on November 18 and is set to expire on January 15. Anutin says if the Covid-19 situation stabilises, it will be replaced with the Communicable Disease Act come the new year.

He adds that the government needs more time before deciding if New Year celebrations must be cancelled. Despite this, numerous local authorities around the country have already made the decision to cancel their festivities amid the latest outbreak that has spread beyond the original hotspot of Samut Sakhon.

SOURCE: The Pattaya News