Plans drawn up for endemic Covid-19

Plans drawn up for endemic Covid-19

Thailand’s National Communicable Disease Panel (NCDC) on Wednesday approved an plan of action to manage Covid-19 that will become an endemic disease under monitoring next month.

Anutin Charnvirakul, the public health minister which chaired the NCDC meeting, said a global Covid-19 situation has improved based on declining infections and fatalities.

The high rate of vaccinated populations has also aided, Mr Anutin stated.

“The Ministry of Public Health has declared Covid-19 from being a dangerous communicable disease to an endemic condition under surveillance underneath the communicable disease law B. E. 2558 under the Royal Gazette , which will be effective on Oct 1, 2022, ” he mentioned.

Covid-19’s listing as an native to the island disease will last to September 2023, he said.

The action plan’s framework includes surveillance and preventative measures, risk communication, and also medical treatments and other steps to control the disease.

The plan also covers social, law and economic administration aspects.

“The action plan may soon be sent for the cabinet’s authorization and each province should set up its own program under the action plan’s framework, ” Mr Anutin said.

“However, each province in the kingdom must closely keep track of the Covid situation and deal with any kind of possible outbreaks according to the planning, ” Mister Anutin said.

With the Covid-19 improving situation, the general public health minister declared that measures are being modified so that people may live in a balanced manner that considers health, security, social, and economic factors.

“For individuals living with a slight or asymptomatic Covid-19 case, there is now no need to stay at home with regard to five days, inch Mr Anutin stated.

“But they must strictly follow the rules of DMHT (social distancing, mask-wearing, hand watching and ATK testing), ” he said giving an example.