Thailand's Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Wednesday approved the extension of an emergency decree for 45 days to stem the spread of COVID-19.
The extension will span through the New Year festival and an international badminton tournament, CCSA spokesman Taweesin Visanuyothin confirmed.
Taweesin also said that the CCSA had also approved "in principle" a reduction of the 14-day quarantine period to 10 days.
The CCSA, chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, has agreed to extend the emergency decree for another 45 days, from Dec. 1, 2020 to Jan. 15, 2021, to facilitate the work of disease-control officials, confirmed the spokesman.
The extension of the decree was justified by the CCSA, said Taweesin, adding that should infections arise, the government can then make a swift decision under the decree to stem the outbreak.
The extension covers the New Year's holiday and the HSBC BWF World Tour, which will take place in Thailand on Jan. 12-31 next year.