Thailand’s Public Health Ministry announced that they will be planning to declare Covid-19 an endemic disease by the end of the year.
Kiattiphum Wongrajit, the permanent secretary of health, made the announcement following a meeting of the country’s National Communicable Disease Committee last week.
Own criteria
Kiattiphum said that they are planning to declare the endemic on their own academically acceptable criteria of no more than 10,000 cases per day, a fatality rate not exceeding 0.1% and a fully vaccinated percentage of 80% for those at risk.
Kiattiphum said that after 2 years, trends have shown that the disease is under control and not too severe.
He said:
“In principle, the disease could spread but is not severe. The fatality rate is acceptable. There can be waves of the disease. But importantly, people must have adequate immunity. People must be vaccinated, and treatment systems efficient.”
“After these criteria have been met for a while, this disease can be declared endemic in Thailand.”
“When the situation is promising and the criteria fulfilled, the ministry will make an announcement.”
Kattiphum also added that the government will be taking action to hasten the process rather than wait for the coronavirus to naturally become an endemic by itself.