The Public Health Ministry is contemplating lowering its Covid-19 alert to level to two this week as new coronavirus cases continue to fall.
Dr. Chakkarat Pitayawonganon, director of the epidemiology division at the Department of Disease Control, said that as the local and international Covid-19 situations were improving, officials and academics would consider if the alert could be lowered from Level 3 to Level 2 nationwide, or at least in some provinces.
If the alert level is relaxed, high alerts will remain only with elderly people, those with underlying illnesses, pregnant women, inadequately vaccinated people and those visiting poorly ventilated and crowded venues, he said.
Chakkarat also said that from June 1, antigen tests would be necessary only for symptomatic people and those who were close to elderly people, people with underlying illnesses, pregnant women and young children who had not been fully vaccinated. Employers would not have to conduct antigen tests on all workers.
The ministry also will stop reporting positive antigen-test results as part of its daily case numbers.
However, owners of entertainment venues that fully reopen on June 1 must conduct antigen tests on their employees, get their workers fully vaccinated and comply with Covid-Free Setting measures, he said.