Cabinet approves two-month extension of emergency decree

[snoop1130]

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - A meeting of cabinet ministers today (May 25) resolved to extend enforcement of the emergency decree for two more months, from June 1st to July 31st this year, and approved a 311-million-baht budget for COVID-19 prevention in prisons and correctional facilities nationwide.

 

Government Spokesman, Anucha Burapachasri, said today that the cabinet meeting had approved the emergency decree extension proposal, as its enforcement is still necessary to integrate the work of various agencies, carry out disease-control measures more effectively, reduce the risk of death from COVID-19 and address the shortage of public health resources. The decree will alleviate people’s hardships and help the country get back to normal.

 

The cabinet approved a budget of 311,650,300 baht for COVID-19 prevention in Thai prisons and correctional facilities. Of the total, 80 million baht will be used to acquire 100,000 rapid antigen tests, or reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT- PCR) tests. A budget of 51,967,200 baht will fund the construction of two field hospitals in greater Bangkok to accommodate critically ill patients. A budget of 92.68 million baht will fund the construction of 10 field hospitals in district-level prisons and correctional facilities. A budget of 49,835,500 baht will be spent on constructing and renovating quarantine rooms in 65 prisons and facilities, and another 37,167,600 baht will be used to purchase materials and equipment for protection against COVID-19 in these facilities. The Department of Corrections has been instructed to request favipiravir, an antiviral drug, directly from the Ministry of Public Health, to treat COVID-19 patients.

 

With COVID-19 infections being reported in a number of prisons and correctional facilities, the condition of these facilities has to be improved and resources must be sufficient to help limit its spread. Prime Minister and Defense Minister, Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, approved a proposal to allocate funds from the expenditure budget and the central budget to address these issues, and help those affected by the COVID-19 situation. The Department of Corrections is to come up with an action plan and an expenditure plan accordingly.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-05-25

 

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