COVID-19 to be endemic in Thailand from July

Not only can fully vaccinated Singaporeans look forward to visiting any city in Thailand soon, there will no longer be a need to wear face masks outdoors there from July onwards. 

According to reports from several media outlets in Thailand, its Ministry of Health said COVID-19 will be labelled an endemic disease by that time, allowing people to return to a normal life. 

The decision was made to also aid in Thailand’s economic recovery since the pandemic, said Thailand’s Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said in a statement on Mar 9.

Thai officials highlighted that in order to achieve an endemic status, the COVID-19 mortality rate must not exceed 0.1 per cent of total cases nationwide, as recommended by the World Health Organisation.

To contain the predicted surge of new infections and deaths, the ministry approved a four-stage public health measure plan, with the first phase starting on Mar 12.

In the last phase that begins in July, there will be no need for tourists to use the Antigen Test Kit and no requirement to wear face masks in public, with the exception of those who are ill.

The ministry’s permanent secretary Kiattiphum Wongrajit said, “Social distancing and mask-wearing should only be done in areas of risk or at large gatherings.

“The ministry recommends people keep practising basic universal preventive measures to help curb the further spread of the disease.”