On Tuesday, the government will decide whether the self-employed, vendors and taxi drivers will be entitled to receive a 3,500-baht COVID-19 handout.
Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said the government would consider eligibility based on its existing database with a focus on those directly affected by the pandemic.
A spokesman said on Saturday that employees in the social security system, civil servants and state enterprise employees would not be considered.
Around 35-40 million people will be entitled to receive the handout, including 14 million people in vulnerable groups, according to Mr Burapachaisri.
People who had registered for government assistance earlier in the pandemic, including on the Pao Tang app, would not have to register again, he said.
Transport Minister Saksayam Chibchob said he had instructed all units under the ministry to consider assistance measures for those who use the nation’s transport network.
The measures include fare reduction and permission for people whose driver’s licences are set to expire to delay the process until the situation improves.
The Center for the COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) reported 230 new cases early on Saturday, including 83 domestic cases, 126 detected by active surveillance and 21 imported. One more death was confirmed.
CCSA spokesman Taweesilp Visanuyothin said the latest death was a 67-year-old Thai from Bangkok. He visited entertainment outlets on 21st December and 23rd December and had symptoms around 24th – 27th December. The man tested positive on 30th December and was admitted to hospital where he died on 14th January.
The patient suffered from pneumonia and acute renal failure, Dr Visanuyothin said.
The new wave of COVID-19 in Thailand has killed 10 people so far, bring the total to 70 deaths and 11,680 infections as of yesterday.
The spokesman also expressed concern over the COVID-19 situation in Bangkok as the daily number of new cases remained in double digits.
Meanwhile, last night Samut Sakhon, the epicentre of the latest outbreak, reported a further 335 cases, taking the day’s total to over 500. Travel restrictions apply in the province.
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