The National Communicable Disease Committee (NCDC) has decided to downgrade Covid-19 from October as part of the country's plan to enter a normal endemic period.

The plan was announced on Monday by Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.

Covid-19 was declared a dangerous communicable disease in late Feb 2020 by the NCDC which allowed health authorities to respond more quickly in trying to contain outbreaks.

Mr Anutin said health authorities have now been able to bring Covid-19 under control despite it still spreading, adding that the disease's severity has also been mitigated.

"This is why the NCDC has decided to downgrade the Covid-19 disease to a low level of concern from a dangerous communicable disease to a communicable disease under surveillance which will come into effect on Oct 1," Mr Anutin said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Disease Control said by designating Covid-19 as a communicable disease under surveillance, health authorities will no longer have the power to force patients to isolate themselves for 14 days.