THAI announces winter flight schedule 2022-23. Bangkok Post

THAI announces winter flight schedule 2022-23

From Oct 30, 2022 to March 25, 2023, Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) is operating flights on 34 European, Australian and Asian routes with increased frequencies on selected routes.

Flight details are as follows:

Intercontinental routes (return flights):

1. Bangkok-London: twice daily flights.

2. Bangkok-Paris: daily flight.

3. Bangkok-Zurich: daily flight.

4. Bangkok-Frankfurt: twice daily flights.

5. Bangkok-Munich: daily flight.

6. Bangkok-Copenhagen: daily flight.

7. Bangkok-Stockholm: 5 flights per week from Bangkok on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,  Friday and Sunday (*increased to daily from Dec 1, 2022).

8. Bangkok-Sydney: daily flight.

9. Bangkok-Melbourne: daily flight.

Regional routes (return flights):

1. Bangkok-Tokyo (Narita): twice daily flights.

2. Bangkok-Tokyo (Haneda): daily flight.

3. Bangkok-Nagoya: daily flight.

4. Bangkok-Osaka: daily flight.

5. Bangkok-Fukuoka: daily flight.

6. Bangkok-Sapporo: daily flight. (*starting Dec 1, 2022)

7. Bangkok-Manila: twice daily flights.

8. Bangkok-Seoul: triple daily flights.

9. Bangkok-Taipei: daily flights. (*increased to twice daily from Jan 14, 2023)

10. Bangkok-Hong Kong: twice daily flights.

11. Bangkok-Singapore: triple daily flights.

12. Bangkok-Jakarta: twice daily flights.

13. Bangkok-Denpasar: daily flight.

14. Bangkok-Kuala Lumpur: twice daily flights.

15. Bangkok-Kolkata: daily flight. (*starting Jan 1, 2023)

16. Bangkok-Chennai: daily flight.

17. Bangkok-Hyderabad: daily flight.

18. Bangkok-Bengaluru: daily flight.

19. Bangkok-New Delhi: every day, 22 flights per week (*Flight TG335departs from Bangkok on Friday)

20. Bangkok-Mumbai: daily flight. (*increased to 11 flights per week from Jan 1, 2023) 

21. Bangkok-Dhaka: every day, 10 flights per week (*Flight TG339 departs from Bangkok on every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday)

22. Bangkok-Lahore: 5 flights per week from Bangkok on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday

23. Bangkok-Islamabad: 4 flights per week from Bangkok on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday

24. Bangkok-Karachi: daily flight.

25. Bangkok-Jeddah: 4 flights per week from Bangkok on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday (*increased to daily from Jan 1, 2023) 

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Emergency decree for Covid will be lifted while CCSA is to be dissolved on Sep 30 - Thai Enquirer Current Affairs

Emergency decree for Covid will be lifted while CCSA is to be dissolved on Sep 30

Erich ParpartSeptember 23, 2022

The emergency decree to prevent the spread of Covid-19 will be lifted on September 30 and the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) will be dissolved by then, the government decided.

The move came after the government is preparing to downgrade Covid-19 from its designation as a "dangerous communicable disease" down to "communicable disease under surveillance" by October 1 which was already announced in the Royal Gazette.

The disease will also be removed from a list of prohibited diseases for foreigners entering or having residency in Thailand.

"The meeting today decided to lift the state of emergency in all districts of the Kingdom which came into effect on March 25, 2020," said Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, CCSA's spokesman.

"This will come into effect from September 30 onwards," he said.

After the decree is lifted and the CCSA is dissolved, all of their orders will be canceled, including all the domestic restrictions and entry regulations that were ordered by the CCSA.

This means no more requirements for the Covid-19 vaccine certificate and ATK test result before entering the country and there will be no more random checks for them.

There will also be no more mandatory self-quarantine for people who tested positive for Covid.

The Ministry of Public Health said infected people who are asymptomatic or have minimal symptoms will be asked to wear a facemask for 5 days and to strictly overserved Covid prevention measures (Distancing, Mask Wearing, hand Washing and Testing or DMHT) instead.

People eligible for universal healthcare programs such as the Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients (UCEP) will continue to receive free treatment like any other disease.

The National Communicable Disease Committee (NSDC), which was recently established, and the Communicable Disease Act will be used to manage the Covid-19 situation in Thailand instead.

The CCSA said the domestic outbreak situation has been improving with less severe cases and related deaths. They also said there are already enough Covid treatment medicines and vaccines in the country to cope with the current situation.

CCSA adviser Dr Udom Kachinthorn said before its meeting that there are still around 30,000-40,000 new Covid cases per day in Thailand but most of them are not severe cases.

He said the high number of new daily Covid cases is one of the reasons why the disease might not be declared an endemic disease until next year.

Thailand's official number for daily Covid-19 cases was 752 on Friday. However, only Covid patients that have been admitted to hospitals were being counted.

This brings the total number of counted cases to 4.67 million since the pandemic began in 2020.

A total of 8,235 Covid patients were being treated at hospitals on Friday, including 523 patients with pneumonitis. Only 8.3% of hospital beds that are being reserved for Covid patients were occupied nationwide, down from 10.9% in August.

Nine people died from Covid yesterday, bringing the total number of people who died from Covid in Thailand to 32,692.  

More than 143.21 million Covid-19 vaccine doses were administered in Thailand between February 28, 2020, and September 21, 2022.

At least 57.31 million people received their first dose as of September 22, accounting for 82.4% of the eligible population.

At least 32.1 million people received their third dose, or 46.1% of the eligible population.

Dr Udom said the government is still aiming to increase the number of people who received their 3rd booster shots to 70% of the population but he did not provide the timeline.

The CCSA was also informed that more than 5.25 million foreign tourists visited Thailand between January 1 and September 21 which generated more than 211 billion Baht worth of income.

The top visitors by air were India (528,753), Singapore (285,303) and Malaysia (258,789). By land, the tops visitors were Malaysia (634,693), Laos (234,849) and Cambodia (122,575).

As for domestic travelers, there were 98.7 million Thai tourists who were traveling around the country between January 1 and September 21 and the most visited destinations were Bangkok, Chonburi, Kanchanaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Phetchaburi.

Thai tourists generated income worth more than 432 Billion baht during this period of time.



Dr Udom Kachinthorn, an adiviser for the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), said ahead of its meeting today that there are still around 30,000-40,000 new #Covid19 cases per day in #Thailand but most of them are not severe cases. Thai Enquirer

 Dr Udom Kachinthorn, an adiviser for the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), said ahead of its meeting today that there are still around 30,000-40,000 new #Covid19 cases per day in #Thailand but most of them are not severe cases.

This is why the disease might not be declared as an endemic disease until next year.

Dr Udom said if the CCSA decided to lift the emergency decree on October 1, it will be replaced with the Communicable Disease Act.

He also said the government is still aiming to increase the number of people who received 3rd booster shot from the current 30-40% to 70% of the population.

Putin’s call to arms could benefit Thai tourism - Pattaya Mail

Putin's call to arms could benefit Thai tourism

Barry KenyonSeptember 23, 2022

The effects of the Russian mobilization on Thai tourism are just beginning. (Photo: thetimes.co.uk)

President Putin's partial mobilization is underway, but the scope remains unclear. Technically, it is a draft for those with previous army experience although reports from some Russian cities, especially in the Siberian east, suggest it is more of a 100 percent policy. As many Russians try to flee the country, airlines report a lack of capacity whilst several western countries with land borders have closed their frontiers.

Russians departing by air in an emergency need flight to countries which don't require a Russian visa and are friendly to them. Popular choices have included Turkey, Dubai, Armenia and the former Soviet republics known as the Stans. Direct flights, as reported by the popular online ticket agency Aviasales, are full even though prices are escalating daily. A single, economy-class journey to Dubai has escalated beyond US$5,000.

Thailand looks attractive as Russians obtain 30 days (soon to be 45 days) visa exempt on arrival by air, whilst the Thai tourist authorities are looking to expand any and all international customers. There are currently no direct flights between Moscow and Bangkok, whilst Aeroflot's intention to restart the route to Phuket is only scheduled to begin late next month.

Russia's national airline Aeroflot is set to resume daily direct flights from Moscow to Phuket beginning October 30, 2022. (File photo – Mai Khao Beach, Phuket Airport)

Thai Airways suspended its direct Moscow route earlier in the summer, allegedly because of the lack of spare parts in Russia caused by western sanctions. There are rumors of charter flights from various Russian cities to Bangkok and U-tapao, but skyscanners say no tickets are yet available. One of the problems with charter flights is that passengers are expected to return home on the pre-arranged flight, whereas the latest Russian travellers may be looking for an extended stay. However, Thai visa rules are certainly flexible enough to create extensions at the drop of a hat.

Another looming issue is whether the Russian authorities will allow unrestricted travel. Although Aeroflot claims to be selling tickets to one and all, whilst the defence minister Sergei Shoigu says there are no limits in force, some airlines in Moscow are already notifying clients that they will stop selling tickets to any male 18-65 without a pass from the Ministry of Defence.

Officers at Chonburi Immigration say there has not yet been a significant uptake in the number of arriving Russians. A couple from Moscow told Pattaya Mail they had travelled indirectly via the Middle East to escape conscription. A Russian woman, who happened to be visiting relatives in southern China, said she had used the China-Laos rail express and crossed into Thailand via the Friendship Bridge at Vientiane. A busy agency next to Jomtien immigration bureau said there have been several enquiries from Russian arrivals asking about the Elite and 10-year residency visas.



Covid19 September 23rd. PBS World

THAI says its capital needs may be half its earlier projections as biz recover, court sets hearing date on Sept 27 - Thai Enquirer Main. September 22, 2022

THAI says its capital needs may be half its earlier projections as biz recover, court sets hearing date on Sept 27

Thai EnquirerSeptember 22, 2022

Thailand's embattled national carrier – Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) revealed that it may need lower than expected new capital needs as the situation of the airline starts to improve with the Central Bankruptcy Court now scheduling its hearing for its reworked rehabilitation structure next week.

THAI said that the improvement in the overall operations and revival of the airline industry's fortunes have prompted the airline to rework its recapitalization needs and therefore it may need half the amount of new equity injection than the previously projected 50 billion Baht.

THAI, which pre-covid outbreak, had more than 100 aircrafts of different configurations, has been battling bankruptcy proceedings and its 1^stbankruptcy proceedings were approved with plans for a cost cutting, resizing of aircraft fleet, capital injection and a debt-for-equity swap.

The new filing which includes amendments states that THAI has accumulated cash flow of more than 10 billion Baht, and this has caused it plan administrators to assess that the new capital needed to manage the business during the rehabilitation period would not be as high as 50 billion Baht that was projected earlier.

The new funding need may be as low as 25 billion Baht, causing Thai Airways to submit a new plan to the Central Bankruptcy Court.

THAI said that although there may be some creditors who may oppose the proposal to amend the business rehabilitation plans, the court has set September 27^th as the date for the hearing, a postponement from the hearing that was supposed to take place today.

The rehabilitation plan is being managed by former President and also former Energy Minister – Piyasavasti Amranand, Pornchai Thiravej, Kraisorn Baramee-Huaychai, Siri Jirapongphan and Chansin Treenuchagron.

And on July 1, 2022, the Plan Administrator submitted a request to amend the business rehabilitation plan to the officer of Debtor Rehabilitation Division, Legal Execution Department. And on September 1, 2022, the officer has already held a meeting of the Company's creditors.

The meeting of creditors passed a resolution under Section 90/46 of the Bankruptcy Act B.E. 2483 and its amendments. 78.59% of the total debt of all creditors who attended the meeting and voted to accept the proposal to amend the rehabilitation plan as submitted by the plan administrator to the officer. However, some creditors have exercised their legal rights to submit a petition opposing the proposal to amend the business rehabilitation plan. Therefore, the Central Bankruptcy Court has scheduled a hearing.



Thailand's repeat drink driving offenders will be jailed. New legislation in Thailand means that people caught drink driving more than once will go to jail. First time offenders could go to jail or get a fine. The harsher punishments are intended to act as a DUI deterrent to reduce the overall number of deaths on Thailand’s dangerous roads. | Thaiger

Thailand's repeat drink driving offenders will be jailed

By 

leah

Thursday, September 22, 2022 13:18

New legislation in Thailand means that people caught drink driving more than once will go to jail. First time offenders could go to jail or get a fine. The harsher punishments are intended to act as a DUI deterrent to reduce the overall number of deaths on Thailand's dangerous roads.

Thailand's roads are the deadliest in Southeast Asia and among the worst in the world. In the first six months of 2022, Thailand recorded 8,624 deaths as a result of road accidents, according to the Ministry of Public Health's Division of Injury Prevention. On average, 48 people every day died in road accidents between January – June.

The figures are a slight decrease from the same period last year, in which 8,967 people were killed on the roads in Thailand.

Motorcyclists account for 82.72% of road deaths, people in cars account for 9.81%, people in trucks and vans account for 4.49% and pedestrians account for 2.98%. The age group most likely to die on the roads are 15 to 24 year olds.

Drink driving continues to be one of the top causes of fatal road accidents in Thailand.

Drink driving has always been a punishable offence in Thailand, but offenders usually get off with just a fine. Due to recent amendments made to Thailand's Road Traffic Act (1979), first time offenders could go to jail and repeat offenders will go to jail…

"The first instance of drink driving is punishable by up to no more than one year imprisonment or a fine between 5,000 – 20,000 baht."

"Repeat drink driving (more than once in two years) is punishable by no more than two years imprisonment and a fine between 50,000 and 100,000 baht. Additionally, the offender's driving license will either be confiscated for one year or completely revoked."

The penalties will be increased if someone is injured as a result of drink driving and be increased further if someone is killed as a result of drink driving.

Thailand's new legislation is sending out the message to the public, "rethink before you drink and drive."

SOURCE: Daily News



Covid-19 restrictions to be lifted from October 1. Visitors to Thailand will soon be free of showing a Covid-19 vaccination or test certificate as of October 1. | Thaiger

Covid-19 restrictions to be lifted from October 1

By 

Ann Carter

Thursday, September 22, 2022 14:59

Visitors to Thailand will soon be free of showing a Covid-19 vaccination ortest certificate as of October 1. The changes were announced by Publish Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul after a meeting with the National Communicable Disease Committee today. In that meeting, it was also deemed to be unnecessary for people with mild or no symptoms of the virus to enter isolation.

Anutin says the committee decided to redefine Covid-19 as a communicable disease under surveillance. New measures would be adopted based on locals, visitors and infected people. Such measures include advising infected people to continue to use face masks, and increasing hand washing and social distancing for a period of five days. After the five days, the restriction that would normally require a Covid test has been lifted as well.

The move comes as the Department of Disease Control deputy director-general concluded that current Covid-19 symptoms are not appearing to be severe with many infected people displaying only cold-like symptoms. But, infected people may have to follow specialised disease control policies at their individual workplaces that could be more strict.

The Thai government has been planning to move to a post-pandemic era for some time with health officials describing the situation as more of an endemic, rather than a pandemic. Just two days ago, the cabinet removed the virus from a list of forbidden diseases among foreign visitors, essentially allowing foreigners to enter the Kingdom even if they are infected with the virus. But, those with "dangerous" stages of leprosy or tuberculosis, symptomatic elephantiasis, third-stage syphilis, and drug abuse-related diseases are still banned from entering. Those deemed to have chronic alcoholism are also banned from entering.

Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri says about five million tourists have arrived in Thailand this year. One million of those have arrived just this month alone. The government previously set a target of at least 10 million foreign tourists to Thailand for this year.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post /Thai PBS World



Covid19 September 22nd. PBS World

Next General Election. PBS World



Are Thai politics heading for another coup in 2023? Former premier Thaksin Shinawatra has just reminded us that he was “stabbed in the back” when the Thai military organized the 2006 coup. Then there was another one in 2014. Given that Thailand has experienced a putsch every seven years or so over the last century, academics, futurologists and soothsayers are debating if it’s time for another urgent military intervention.- Pattaya Mail

Are Thai politics heading for another coup in 2023?

Barry KenyonSeptember 21, 2022

Thailand's tanks have rolled out to support military coups, but never to fight foreign foes.

Former premier Thaksin Shinawatra has just reminded us that he was "stabbed in the back" when the Thai military organized the 2006 coup. Then there was another one in 2014. Given that Thailand has experienced a putsch every seven years or so over the last century, academics, futurologists and soothsayers are debating if it's time for another urgent military intervention.

The consensus appears to be no. Since 2014 there have been sweeping changes in the chain of command, with over 7,000 crack Bangkok troops now owing their direct allegiance to His Majesty the King and not to the head of the army. Although there have been protest movements and car mobs by the Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship and others, the opposition to the military-backed government has been plainly disunited. Fear of persecution and prosecution has certainly been a major factor. Author Lipikar Narayaun Lindman has written that coups are most likely to occur when the breakdown of law and order is the main political hot potato. That's not the case at present.

Of course, the Thai army with 1,600 generals is both rich and powerful. It is a huge landowner and has heavy investments in banking, the media, hotels and golf courses. Both the army and the navy have stakes in Thai airports and their leaders have appointed all 250 members of the unelected Senate. Yet the Thai armed forces have not been involved in significant engagement on home turf since 1945. Their tanks have been deployed exclusively as security for Thai coups, though for the first time in 2014 none were deployed. They were not deemed necessary, an indication of how strongly coup culture has become internalized in Thai politics.

The constitutional court is currently considering whether Prayut Chan-o-cha has, or has not, used up his eight years maximum time as prime minister. The issue is obviously important to the stakeholders, but it's hardly political dynamite as the current junta-backed administration is likely to survive in parliament until the general election scheduled for early next year. Although unpopular, the government has arguably been more successful in handling Covid and the Russo-Ukrainian war than many pundits predicted. International tourism is rebounding and one of the partners in government, the Bhumjaithai party, has become popular with many Thai voters because of the decriminalization of cannabis and the cash opportunities from growing the plant for medical purposes.

It is the 2023 general election which will test Thai coup culture once again. The general expectation is that the opposition, led by Thaksin-backed Pheu Thai, will win most seats. But that doesn't automatically mean that the military-backed parties will lose power or even the premiership. As happened in the last election in 2019, judges and the election commission can overturn some results on technicalities. Moreover, the unelected Senate (the upper house with all members appointed by the military coalition prior to 2019) has the power to use its 250 votes without accountability if members so decide. If matters proceed without too much pandemonium, a new government will take office in the middle of next year. If not, we are back in coup territory.



Thailand to issue COVID-19 reclassification measures this Friday | Thai PBS World

Thailand to issue COVID-19 reclassification measures this Friday

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• September 21, 2022

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The Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) is expected to announce a series of measures this Friday, in line with the reclassification of COVID-19 as an "infectious disease under watch", as Thailand officially moves into a post-pandemic era from October 1^st.

The Thai Ministry of Public Health issued two announcements on Monday to reclassify COVID-19 from a "dangerous infectious disease" to an "infectious disease under watch", effective from October 1^st, as the COVID-19 situation in the country is steadily improving, said Deputy Government Spokesperson Traisuree Traisoranakul today (Wednesday).

She said that the CCSA's measures will cover the legal, health, communication and management aspects after more than three years of living with COVID-19.

The objectives of the measures are to enable people to live safely and to pursue life as normal as possible, she added.

On Tuesday, the cabinet decided to remove COVID-19 from the list of forbidden diseases among foreign visitors, which will make it possible for infected foreign tourists to enter Thailand.

According to the country's COVID-19 Information Centre, new infections in the past 24 hours were 1,129, with 13 fatalities and 934 recoveries.

Accumulated infections so far this year are 2,452,097. The death toll this year is 10,970.



60-70% of Thais have been infected with Covid: Expert. A THAI medical expert said in a Facebook post today (Sept. 21) that blood tests previously carried out indicate that around 60-70% of the population have been infected with Covid-19, particularly the dominant Omicron subvariant, Matichon newspaper said.- Thai Newsroom

60-70% of Thais have been infected with Covid: Expert

September 21, 2022  TNR Staff

A THAI medical expert said in a Facebook post today (Sept. 21) that blood tests previously carried out indicate that around 60-70% of the population have been infected with Covid-19, particularly the dominant Omicron subvariant, Matichon newspaper said.

Dr. Yong Phuworawan, the head of the Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology at the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, said Covid infection is still widespread in the country and it is not possible to work out the real tally of patients with or without symptoms with the daily reported cases being lower than the actual total. 

This is so because many patients either have few symptoms or are asymptomatic particularly after the Omicron subvariant took hold.

A detailed study to determine the real infecton rate is starting in October with this funded by the Health Systems Research Institute (HSRI) and assisted by the Public Health Ministry's Disease Control Department and Chonburi Provincial Public Health Office. 

This study covers the population all the way from 6 months of age to the elderly with each group consisting of 1,200 people. The team will move to various provinces in all the regions of the country in carrying out antinuclear capsid antibody and anti-spike IgG tests.

The immune system consistently shows prevention and severity of infection and this data will be used to plan Covid preventive measures in the near future particularly the need for booster jabs, he said.

"The information being obtained is laboratory data and reflects the epidemiology of Thailand. It will be the first study of a large population conducted in Thailand to reflect the events over the past three years,"  Dr. Yong said.

Covid19 September 21st. PBS World

Thai cabinet approves 45-day stay for tourists entitled to visa exemption and 30 days with Visa on Arrival. The cabinet approved an edict of the Interior Ministry today (Tuesday) extending the period of stay, from 30 to 45 days, for tourists from countries and territories entitled to visa exemptions and from 15 to 30 days for those eligible for a Visa on Arrival. | Thai PBS World

Thai cabinet approves 45-day stay for tourists entitled to visa exemption and 30 days with Visa on Arrival

views  362

The cabinet approved an edict of the Interior Ministry today (Tuesday) extending the period of stay, from 30 to 45 days, for tourists from countries and territories entitled to visa exemptions and from 15 to 30 days for those eligible for a Visa on Arrival.

The extension is, however, only temporary, from October 1^st until end of March next year, to coincide with the traditionally tourism high season in Thailand, when more tourists, especially from Europe and the US, are expected to escape the cold weather and head to Thailand.

Currently, though, most foreign arrivals in Thailand are from Malaysia and India.

The extension of stays confirms the decision of the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration in late August, based on the proposal of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

The cabinet also decided to remove COVID-19 from the list of forbidden diseases among foreign visitors, making it possible for foreigners infected with COVID-19 to enter Thailand.

According to Government Spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri, about five million foreign tourists have arrived in Thailand so far this year, including about one million this month alone.

The Thai government has set a target of welcoming at least 10 million foreign arrivals this year.



Foreigners infected with COVID-19 can visit Thailand | Thai PBS World

Foreigners infected with COVID-19 can visit Thailand

views  555

Foreign visitors to Thailand who are infected with COVID-19 will no longer be barred from entering, following a decision by the cabinet today (Monday) to delete COVID-19 from a list of forbidden diseases in foreign visitors, said Deputy Government Spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek.

The new measure will take effect once it is announced in the Royal Gazette.

She said, however, that foreigners afflicted with leprosy, tuberculosis in a dangerous stage, elephantiasis with clear symptoms, third stage syphilis and diseases associated with drug abuse will still be barred from entering the country.

Foreigners who are afflicted with these diseases, or chronic alcoholism, will be forbidden from taking residence in the country.



CCSA eyes new tourism measures in light of improving Covid situation. The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) will meet on Friday to evaluate the situation and discuss measures to promote tourism now that there is a decline in confirmed Covid-19 cases. The Nation

CCSA Eyes New Tourism Measures In Light Of Improving Covid Situation

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) will meet on Friday to evaluate the situation and discuss measures to promote tourism now that there is a decline in confirmed Covid-19 cases.

Deputy government spokesperson Trisulee Trisaranakul said on Tuesday that the CCSA expects more foreign arrivals during the high season (November to March) and believes measures must be implemented as early as October to ensure all sectors are ready for the influx.

Trisulee added that the Covid-19 situation in Thailand is continuously improving, with the number of confirmed patients being below the 1,000 mark for most of last week, except for Wednesday and Thursday, which saw 1,321 and 1,125 confirmed patients respectively. Covid-related deaths too have dropped to about 10 to 15 people daily. On Tuesday, Thailand recorded 774 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 15 deaths.

Earlier, in a bid to boost tourism the CCSA had greenlighted a scheme allowing visitors to stay longer. The scheme, which lasts from October 1 to March 31, will extend visa-on-arrival for visitors from 18 countries from 15 days to 30 days. Also, visitors from 50 countries who currently get a 30-day stamp under the visa exemption scheme will be able to stay for 45 days.

"More measures will be discussed on Friday to promote tourism as well as prevent infections brought in by visitors," Traisulee said.

Back in August, then-premier General Prayut Chan-o-cha had announced that the Emergency Decree would be lifted from October 1 and the CCSA dissolved in response to the improving outbreak situation.

As of October 1, Covid-19 is expected to be officially downgraded from "dangerous communicable disease" to "communicable disease under surveillance".

The 2015 Communicable Disease Act will be the governing law to tackle the Covid-19 outbreak instead of the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations, which has been in place since March 24, 2020.