Thailand’s government to consider Covid-19 endemic
In February 2022, Denmark’s Prime Minister officially announced that the country had lifted Covid-19 restrictions and no longer considered the virus a socially critical disease.
Such declarations mark a groundbreaking step in dealing with the Covid-19 situation, which could inspire other countries to bring back the old new normal – where our lives will no longer disrupted by the pandemic.
Here’s the update on our country’s official plans to classify Covid-19 as an endemic come 1st July 2022 in Thailand.
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Government to classify Covid-19 situation as endemic from July 2022
On 10th March 2022, Thaimoph (ไทยรู้สู้โควิด) announced on its Facebook page that Covid-19 will be classified as endemic, starting from 1st July 2022.
The announcement followed the National Communicable Disease Committee’s consensus on the Public Health Minister’s plan to end the country’s designation of Covid-19 as a pandemic during their meeting on 9th March 2022.
Image credit: ประชาชาติธุรกิจ
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said that the plan has been prepared for the next four months in a bid to recover Thailand’s economic and tourism, according to ประชาชาติธุรกิจ.
4-stage transition plan for Thailand till July 2022
The Facebook post also revealed the government’s plans are divided into four stages as follows.
From March to April, the aim is to suppress the number of Covid-19 cases.
From April to May, daily caseloads are expected to decline.
From May to June, the focus will shift towards keeping daily cases under control – around 1,000 – 2,000.
From July onwards, Covid-19 will officially be declared as endemic.
Netizens’ comments are mixed
Following the announcement, many netizens shared their comments on the issue.
Screenshot: ไทยรู้สู้โควิด
Translation: So good.
One Facebook user praised the plans, presumably for being well-prepared.
Screenshot: ไทยรู้สู้โควิด
Translation: During the Songkran Festival, the number of cases will definitely increase in Stage 2 and 3.
Another netizen speculated that the number of Covid-19 cases may go out of control during the Songkran holidays – a.k.a. Thailand’s new year festivities.
Screenshot: ไทยรู้สู้โควิด
Translation: May everyone stay safe.
This netizen simply expressed that everyone remains healthy during the next four stages as we progress into an endemic new normal.
Let’s do our best to bring back the old normal
Though these plans have already been shared, we should still do our parts to help reduce the number of Covid-19 cases within the country.
With that, we hope that we will finally be able to bring back the old normal and see a glimpse of the end of our global pandemic after more than 2 years.
Cover images adapted from (L-R): YingPook