Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has denied the government commissioned an opinion poll on whether the emergency decree imposed to contain the Covid-19 pandemic should be extended.
The premier yesterday dismissed media reports that the survey was carried out on the government's orders to gauge public views on whether the decree should remain in place.
It was reported on Monday that the government has asked the National Intelligence Agency to conduct a poll on the impact of the decree to help it determine whether to lift it completely or only partially next month.
The reports came as the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) expressed concerns over a possible second wave of the Covid-19 scourge.
The country has witnessed a steady decline in the number of new infections in recent weeks which has led to some restrictions on public activities being relaxed and the reopening of some businesses.
Gen Prayut said yesterday the authority to cancel the emergency decree rests with the CCSA. That decision could also depend on how well people cooperate in maintaining anti-virus discipline, he added.
Public health issues take priority in considering whether to keep or scrap the emergency decree. Even if infections go down to zero, the country cannot afford to be complacent, the prime minister said.
Officials are out there looking at how people are responding to and the success of the first phase of relaxed restrictions, according to Gen Prayut.
"What has been reopened can also be re-closed, if people do not stick to the [health safety] rules," he said.
On May 7, CCSA spokesman Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin said a further relaxation of restrictions could begin on May 17 unless the number of new Covid-19 cases soars.
Yesterday, Gen Prayut said the CCSA would decide on Friday whether to ease restrictions further.
Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said yesterday's cabinet meeting discussed how the authorities should handle the further easing of Covid-19 rules. Revoking the decree was not discussed.
The cabinet attaches importance to disease containment measures and assesses the success of their implementation, he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Taweesilp said no decision had yet been reached on what sectors or activities the second stage of easing restrictions would cover.
He was referring to information shared in the media that claimed the shooting of films and commercials involving no more than five people could soon resume.
