The National Communicable Diseases Committee has started to discuss post-pandemic plans, including requirements for visitors to keep wearing face masks.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Wednesday that the panel was considering measures to control Covid-19 after it becomes endemic.

New Covid-19 cases were declining in the country and many other countries also planned to make Covid-19 endemic including India, Spain and the United States (California), he said.

New cases and fatalities had dropped faster than expected because of public cooperation and increasing vaccinations.

Steps were taken to prepare the redefinition of Covid-19 as endemic and they included the Public Health Ministry lowering its Covid-19 alert from Level 4 to Level 3 and provincial authorities asked to prepare their own action plans.

The plans would be based on universal protection, universal vaccination and the amount of hospital beds, doctors, medical supplies and vaccines. The measures would also cover the operations of entertainment venues, he said.

The Thailand Pass entry registration for arrivals could be lifted because new infections were being found in fewer than 10 visitors a day, he said.

The Department of Disease Control would plan measures to urge visitors to wear face masks to help control Covid-19.