Thailand approves plan to treat Covid-19 as endemic; experts believe it's the right way to improve economy

Image from The Nation Thailand/ANN

BANGKOK, March 11 (Xinhua): Thailand's health authorities this week has approved a four-step plan to support the country's transition to the COVID-19 endemic phase by July 1.

Approved at a meeting held by the National Communicable Disease Committee (NCDC), the plan aims to gradually contain the surge of new infections and deaths caused by the latest Omicron variant, and prepare the country to treat the virus as an endemic.

The decision was made to help Thailand's economy recover from the pandemic as well as protect public health by implementing strict measures accordingly, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told the press after chairing the meeting.

According to health officials, from Saturday to early April, the country will still see a further rise in infections, while from April to May, the number of cases is predicted to remain high but will start to decline.

The third stage, from late May to June, is expected to see a major reduction of daily infections to some 1,000 to 2,000 before the country enters the endemic phase, from July 1 onwards.

Thai officials highlighted that in order to achieve an endemic status, the Covid-19 driven fatality rate must not exceed 0.1 percent. Currently, this rate is close to 0.2 percent.

Thailand's Ministry of Public Health reported on Friday (March 11) there were 24,792 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 80 of whom have arrived in Thailand from abroad.

Death toll increased by 63, while 22,062 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 913,214.

The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 3,136,649 – 2,890,076 of whom have recovered, 222,998 are still in hospitals and 23,575 have died.