Goodbye Emergency Decree and Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, an era comes to an end in Thailand

[webfact]

 

By Adam Judd

 

After over two-and-a-half-years an era that for many people was deeply unpleasant and life changing will come to an end in Thailand.

 

After today, September 30th, the emergency decree in place to control Covid-19, which came into effect in March of 2020, will be eliminated. Additionally, the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration or CCSA that handled the rules and regulations during the Covid era and centralized all administration will be dissolved.

 

Nearly all remaining Covid measures, such as random checks to see if someone is vaccinated or has covid on entering Thailand are dropped. Yes, masks are still being recommended and some venues and services based on the business may still require them but the mandate has been dropped for months and it’s mostly a personal decision now if someone wishes to wear a mask.

 

The duties of the CCSA will be moved to the Ministry of Public Health which has also downgraded Covid-19 to a disease being monitored, similar to many regularly occuring sicknesses and diseases in Thailand. In a sign of changing times even some Thai media has stopped publishing daily Covid-19 statistics, English language media, including us, in Thailand mostly stopped months ago after continued negative feedback from readers.

 

Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/09/30/goodbye-emergency-decree-and-center-for-covid-19-situation-administration-an-era-comes-to-an-end-in-thailand/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-10-01

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

 

[EVENKEEL]

This is not good news for some mask fans. You know who you are. ????

[CANSIAM]

How will the street protests be handled now if any ? I guess the Armoured Vehicle purchase recently could be mobilized.    

[daveAustin]

8 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

This is not good news for some mask fans. You know who you are. ????

Indeed. Forgot mask yesterday and was forced to buy one before entry to a mall. Very sad especially when 50% in there either weren’t wearing or were chin-strapping!

[RichardColeman]

1 hour ago, CANSIAM said:

How will the street protests be handled now if any ? I guess the Armoured Vehicle purchase recently could be mobilized.    

Exactly why the emergency decree will be back in a few weeks to curb protestors - same thing, different reason

[Bim Smith]

After two and half years I don't believe this has gone away. It's just on hold. But nice to hear some good news

 

[CANSIAM]

11 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Exactly why the emergency decree will be back in a few weeks to curb protestors - same thing, different reason

Yeah no more hiding the E Decree under the Covid 19 umbrella......

[Andycoops]

With the corrupt court decision yesterday expect it all to reappear when the demos get going in earnest.

[kotsak]

2 hours ago, CANSIAM said:

How will the street protests be handled now if any ? I guess the Armoured Vehicle purchase recently could be mobilized.    

I've heard of a new deadly variant.. ????????

[VinnieK]

16 minutes ago, kotsak said:

I've heard of a new deadly variant.. ????????

Yeah..variant 17EH45..

First discovered in Ban Moo Phet, Loei province.

Someone would question though how a health center in the boonies has such lab capabilities.

 

Just kidding obviously but a similar event happened about a year ago with one of the 'variants'

[Chosenfew]

Time to move on - climate change emergency - that’s the ticket…

[4MyEgo]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Yes, masks are still being recommended and some venues and services based on the business may still require them but the mandate has been dropped for months and it’s mostly a personal decision now if someone wishes to wear a mask.

This is somewhat confusing, one minute it says, masks are still being recommended, and some venues and services based on "business" may still require them, BUT....the mandate has been dropped for months, AND it's a personal decision, NOW if someone wishes to wear a mask.

 

So, if I rock up to Makro or Lotus or Central is some dipstick going to try and tell me that they are above the law and ask me to wear a mask  to go in ?

[Raphael Hythlodaeus]

25 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

This is somewhat confusing, one minute it says, masks are still being recommended, and some venues and services based on "business" may still require them, BUT....the mandate has been dropped for months, AND it's a personal decision, NOW if someone wishes to wear a mask.

 

So, if I rock up to Makro or Lotus or Central is some dipstick going to try and tell me that they are above the law and ask me to wear a mask  to go in ?

Obviously, private businesses may make their own decision about the matter, which is their right, but if a customer does not wish to wear a mask (like me), then they have the choice of going elsewhere.

 

Here in BKK in the large malls I've been to, there are no restrictions or requirements, and nobody has asked me to wear a mask. Of course, nearly all Thais are still using them, but that is their choice. I have no complaints, and I do not find it "confusing" at all.

[phetphet]

29 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

This is somewhat confusing, one minute it says, masks are still being recommended, and some venues and services based on "business" may still require them, BUT....the mandate has been dropped for months, AND it's a personal decision, NOW if someone wishes to wear a mask.

 

So, if I rock up to Makro or Lotus or Central is some dipstick going to try and tell me that they are above the law and ask me to wear a mask  to go in ?

I 'm all for wearing masks. but lately, with the drop off in cases, and the relaxation of rules, I hardly do so now. Yesterday I was stopped from entering K-Bank for not wearing one and had none under the motorbike seat.

No problem. Just walked away. It seems to be policy at their branches. Up to them. It's their property I am entering. 

[Ginner]

36 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

This is somewhat confusing, one minute it says, masks are still being recommended, and some venues and services based on "business" may still require them, BUT....the mandate has been dropped for months, AND it's a personal decision, NOW if someone wishes to wear a mask.

 

So, if I rock up to Makro or Lotus or Central is some dipstick going to try and tell me that they are above the law and ask me to wear a mask  to go in ?

I have seen a few Thais in Makro, Lotus and Big C not wearing masks or had them round their chin. Nothing was said to them. But I get funny looks even when I am on my motorbike, wearing a helmet with visa down, but no mask.

[4MyEgo]

33 minutes ago, Raphael Hythlodaeus said:

Obviously, private businesses may make their own decision about the matter, which is their right

I disagree that it is their right, based on what ?

 

The disease has been downgraded by the government, that is my point, in other words, what you are saying is a private business can make a decision on what it feels like, e.g. males entering stores must wear a skirt, get my point, probably not.

 

I have a right to not wear a mask and unless the government says otherwise, private businesses should follow the governments instructions, otherwise they are deemed to be acting to be above the law IMO.

 

.  

[kotsak]

1 hour ago, Chosenfew said:

Time to move on - climate change emergency - that’s the ticket…

No, actually it would be "aliens" ????

[Raphael Hythlodaeus]

41 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

I disagree that it is their right, based on what ?

 

The disease has been downgraded by the government, that is my point, in other words, what you are saying is a private business can make a decision on what it feels like, e.g. males entering stores must wear a skirt, get my point, probably not.

 

I have a right to not wear a mask and unless the government says otherwise, private businesses should follow the governments instructions, otherwise they are deemed to be acting to be above the law IMO.

 

.  

Example. If somebody owns a private hotel but wishes not to allow guests with pets, as a private business the owner has every right to refuse guests with pets. Same with masks, skirts  or anything else -- not withstanding the American woke brigade. Go to another place if you don't like it.

[AhFarangJa]

57 minutes ago, Ginner said:

I have seen a few Thais in Makro, Lotus and Big C not wearing masks or had them round their chin. Nothing was said to them. But I get funny looks even when I am on my motorbike, wearing a helmet with visa down, but no mask.

Nothing to do with the mask, it was the fact you were wearing a helmet that confused them......

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

After over two-and-a-half-years an era that for many people was deeply unpleasant and life changing will come to an end in Thailand.

8 years of Prayut has not come to an end.. and with the constitution courts appalling decision more suffering to continue.

[vandeventer]

2 hours ago, kotsak said:

I've heard of a new deadly variant.. ????????

Is it called the no-mask variant?

[4MyEgo]

33 minutes ago, Raphael Hythlodaeus said:

Go to another place if you don't like it.

Unlike some who bend over, I tend to like to challenge things when they are not right and 99% of the times, they bend, perhaps it's too hard for some, easier for others who know right from wrong and aren't prepared to bend, obviously that depends on the situation, e.g. if the process is going to be too long and hard, then one can decide to drop the ball before he catches it.

 

You see, unlike you, I would walk in, what are they going to do arrest me, and if they did, what would the charge be, your honour he refused to wear a mask in our store....LOL, your honour my client is triple vaxed, and has had the virus, yeh I can see the judges the face on this one, waste of the courts time.

 

Some get it, some don't, I take it you don't.

 

[BusyB]

1 hour ago, 4MyEgo said:

I disagree that it is their right, based on what ?

 

The disease has been downgraded by the government, that is my point, in other words, what you are saying is a private business can make a decision on what it feels like, e.g. males entering stores must wear a skirt, get my point, probably not.

 

I have a right to not wear a mask and unless the government says otherwise, private businesses should follow the governments instructions, otherwise they are deemed to be acting to be above the law IMO.

 

.  

If they insist that entry is conditional upon wearing a Burger King paper crown they are perfectly within their rights. If you try to get in in any other way it's a simple case of trespass. It''s their property, and as long as they don't contravene any laws they can lay down whatever conditions they feel like.

 

You of course can always go elsewhere or come back later with a Burger King crown atop your head on which you have written the words 'Freedom Fighter'.

[metisdead]

Some off topic posts have been removed.

[Skeptic7]

7 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Indeed. Forgot mask yesterday and was forced to buy one before entry to a mall. Very sad especially when 50% in there either weren’t wearing or were chin-strapping!

Which mall? To be sure NEVER to spend my money there. Went to Terminal 21 Pattaya 2 weeks ago and no masks required. 

[redwood1]

The only way loads of Thais will quit wearing masks is under threat of arrest....Many Thais are now married to the masks until death do them part....

[redwood1]

Why are the T.V newscasters still wearing the masks? Come on its time to take the stupid things off..

[LetsGoJoe]

The lone rice farmer I seen on his tractor in the middle of his paddy, and still wearing a mask.....must of missed the memo. ????

[Jaybott]

5 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

a private business can make a decision on what it feels like, e.g. males entering stores must wear a skirt

Some males do wear skirts, so they could go in.

[Walker88]

5 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

Unlike some who bend over, I tend to like to challenge things when they are not right and 99% of the times, they bend, perhaps it's too hard for some, easier for others who know right from wrong and aren't prepared to bend, obviously that depends on the situation, e.g. if the process is going to be too long and hard, then one can decide to drop the ball before he catches it.

 

You see, unlike you, I would walk in, what are they going to do arrest me, and if they did, what would the charge be, your honour he refused to wear a mask in our store....LOL, your honour my client is triple vaxed, and has had the virus, yeh I can see the judges the face on this one, waste of the courts time.

 

Some get it, some don't, I take it you don't.

 

Actually you are wrong. Your freedom ends where a private business begins.

 

Have you ever been to a restaurant where jackets are required on men?

 

Ever seen a sign, "No shirt, no shoes? No service"?

 

On the other hand, if you enter a kaiseki restaurant in Japan, you are not allowed to walk on the tatami mats wearing shoes.

 

Obviously there is no law against not wearing a jacket or no wearing shoes in public places, but private businesses are free to set the rules by which customers use their services.

 

Some agogos have signs warning customers of a "5000 to 10000 baht fine" for taking photos or videos. Some restaurants have a No Smoking rule.

 

As a customer entering a private business, you have two choices: abide by the rules the business has set, or go elsewhere. Ignoring their requests has a term that is slang for the end of the alimentary canal.