From pandemic to endemic, is Thailand ready?

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) spokesperson Tawee­silp Visanuyothin said last week that the government will declare Covid-19 as endemic in October. The decision to label the infectious disease as endemic was based on the relatively limited number of severe cases and fatalities.

Under the endemic status, the prevalence of Covid-19 will be similar to influenza, and there will be new cases all year long.

Citing that Covid-19 has also toned itself down, Dr Taweesilp also said last week the present Covid-19 situation is at the green level, with 2,000 to 3,999 inpatients and 11 to 39 deaths a day and 201 to 399 inpatients dependent on ventilators, while clusters of infections are limited.

With attempts to pull the country from an economic slump and to boost tourism, coupled with other factors including Thailand hosting the…