No travel restrictions will be imposed when the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) meets next week to discuss measures to be introduced during the Songkran festival in mid-April, said National Security Council Secretary-General Gen. Supot Malaniyom today (Thursday).
In his capacity as the chair of the CCSA operations centre, Gen. Supot said it is expected that the ongoing surge of COVID-19 infections will stabilize within March and that, during the Songkran festival in mid-April, Thai people will be able to celebrate the traditional Thai New Year’s Day close to normal.
However, he said that it is not possible that the celebration will be normal, noting that social gatherings, parties and other high-risk activities are discouraged, but inter-provincial travels will be just fine.
The NSC chief further said that the CCSA operations centre will work out contingency plan to cope with the scenario that daily COVID-19 infections may reach the level of about 100,000 cases in which case more health facilities will be needed besides field hospitals to accommodate patients.
Thailand’s daily COVID-19 has been on the rise and reached a record high of 23,557 cases today.
Regarding the adjustment of Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients (UCEP), he said that the operations centre had been instructed by the cabinet to look into details of the scheme so the public can be informed and assured that they still have access to medical treatment.
On the proposal that infected students and those considered as high risk can sit for examinations at a special zone reserved for them at respective school, General Supot said that this will depend on whether each school whether it is possible to arrange for such facility or not.