Thailand to extend pandemic state of emergency until end of June

Bangkok(dpa)-Thailand will extend a state of emergency until the end of June in efforts to prevent the coronavirus from spreading, officials said. 

Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman for the government's coronavirus task force, said on Friday the emergency decree was necessary to ensure that plans to further ease restrictions do not face problems. 

The decree was enacted on March 26 and was to last until April 30, but it can legally be extended by up to three months. It was previously extended until May 31. It gives the prime minister sweeping powers to introduce and enforce regulations. 

Since late March, the government had ordered most businesses where people meet closed, but then gradually reopened those businesses this month. Restaurants, markets and parks were allowed to reopen on May 3, while shopping malls and museums reopened last Sunday. 

Taweesin said the government will allow more businesses to reopen by June 1, but added that it has not yet decided exactly which businesses. Somsak Rungsita, secretary-general of the National Security Council, said on Thursday that the emergency decree should be extended to ensure official proceedings are conducted quickly to deal with the virus which is still spreading in other countries. 

Critics of the military-aligned government have questioned whether extending the emergency decree is politically motivated. Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, a former opposition lawmaker, said on Friday that the government is acting in fear of seeing protests against the regime which had spread nationwide before the pandemic. 

Cabinet ministers are expected to approve the extension on Tuesday.