The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) has said that Thailand can expect a drop in GDP of 0.5% to 1% if the government is able to control the new Covid-19 wave by April or May, respectively.
Despite a slight decrease of daily infections from the record-high 1,767 cases last Sunday to 1,394 new infections yesterday, the 1,000-plus infection rate per day is worrying JSCCIB as it will deal a further blow to the already reeling economy.
“The third wave will certainly have a strong impact as many businesses cannot operate normally while people who have been told to work from home are worried about spending,” said Kriengkrai Thiennukul, vice-chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).
“Both purchasing power and employment will be affected.”
The JSCCIB is scheduled to meet tomorrow and it will likely downgrade its 2021 economic…
