Health ministry to propose easing Covid restrictions, in line with other countries

Thailand’s health officials plan to propose the easing of some Covid-19 restrictions in a bid to move away from imposing lockdowns when outbreaks are reported. Opas Karnkawinpong from the Department of Disease Control says other countries are relaxing some curbs and Thailand is ready to follow suit. However, according to a Bangkok Post report, he did not specify what restrictions might be eased.

“The global situation of Covid-19 seems to be moving in the same direction. Many countries have started to ease measures despite spikes in daily infections.”

It’s understood the government wants to move away from imposing lockdowns during Covid outbreaks, with Opas saying the virus will soon reach endemic status. He adds that the daily new infection rate in Thailand is considered safe and despite the Omicron variant being classified as highly contagious, it results in less severe illness than its predecessor, the Delta variant.

“We need to get people to understand that the number of daily new cases is nothing to worry about. We’ve lived with the disease for 2 years already, so it’s about time to move on together.”

According to Opas, allowing patients with mild or no symptoms to isolate at home has helped free up hospital beds for those who are severely ill with Covid. He says the most recent deaths from the virus were in people considered high-risk, including those over the age of 60, people with underlying health conditions, and pregnant women, some of whom had not yet received their booster vaccine dose.

Despite the possibility of restrictions being eased and health officials encouraging a move towards “living with” the virus, things are being done a little differently in Maha Sarakham. The Bangkok Post reports that on Saturday, officials in the north-eastern province ordered a ban on all large dining events, including weddings, meetings, ordinations, and funerals.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post