PM DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha today (March 24) declared a state of emergency to contain the escalating Covid-19 pandemic.
The decree takes effect on March 26. The premier said the decree would be enforced for one month.
The Cabinet today approved the emergency decree on public administration in an emergency situation.
The existing Covid-19 centre will be upgraded to the centre of state emergency to tackle all Covid-19 issues. Committees will be set up under the centre to monitor results of its announcements.
On March 26, the centre will announce the government's plan to contain the outbreak and enforce regulations. Stricter measures will be imposed if the situation does not improve, the premier added.
Whether the government would order the closures of more public venues would depend on the situation at the time.
The government spokeswoman Narumon Pinyosinwat said that the curfew issue was not discussed at the cabinet meeting today.
Three Covid-19 patients died on Monday while 106 new cases were confirmed, taking Thailand's total cases past 800, Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman for the Public Health Ministry, said on Tuesday (March 24).