The government will carefully consider the benefits and risks in deciding when to ease the current restrictions and allow some businesses to restart, a senior spokesman said on Monday.
Relaxations of the restrictions were a key agenda at meeting of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Monday, with the period of enforcement of the current emergency decree to end in 10 days.
“The emergency decree is still necessary under the present circumstances,” CCSA spokesman Taweesilp Visanuyothin said.
With the decree likely to be extended beyond April 30, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had stressed at the meeting the need for a balance between the battle against the virus and economic benefits of businesses restarting, Dr Taweesilp said.
“They have to stay in balance, and go along with each other,” the spokesman said.
The government would ease restrictions on businesses reopening only when it does not place people at a higher risk of catching the disease,
The message from the prime minister was the government would consider measures proposed both by state agencies and the business sector to contain the virus before making a decision whether they will be allowed to resume work, Dr Taweesilp said.
Places mentioned during the meeting included fresh markets and sports stadiums, he said.
Dr Taweesilp said provinces with no virus cases were high on the list to be allowed to ease restrictions.
Nine provinces remain free of reported infections - Ang Thong, Bung Kan, Chai Nat, Kamphaeng Phet, Phichit, Nan, Ranong, Sing Buri and Trat.
Businesses throughout the country were forced to shut down to contain the spread of the virus.
The country also remains under a night curfew, from 10pm to 4am, as part of the fight against the highly contagious, sometimes lethal pathogen.