Option of lifting some restrictions considered
The authorities are mulling the option of relaxing some restrictions for certain businesses, Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesperson for the government’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said on Monday (April 27).
The relaxation of the measures will be divided into four levels, 25 percent to 100 percent, with the situation reviewed every 14 days. For instance, if 100 percent of the restrictions are lifted in an area and new confirmed cases are found within 14 days, the restrictions will return.
Also, even if the restrictions are completely lifted, four measures will still be in place: control on international arrivals; 10pm to 4am curfew; ban or restricted interprovincial travel; and prohibition on social gatherings.
The Public Health Ministry, meanwhile, has come up with three scenarios:
1. Best: Where strict control on transportation is applied and new infections maintained at between 15 and 30 daily (current stage);
2. Controlled: Low-risk businesses are allowed to reopen and some international travel allowed, resulting in 40 to 70 new infections daily (bringing the total confirmed cases to around 4,661 in June which is acceptable);
3. Outbreak: No measures in place for both domestic and international travel resulting in uncontrolled transmissions with 500 to 2,000 new cases found daily (bringing the total number of confirmed cases to around 45,596 by June or July).
Separately, the private sector has suggested that business should be assessed and split into four levels depending on the risk, namely white, green, yellow and red. They also suggested that 50-per-cent of employees should be allowed to return to office while the rest should continue working from home.