Bangkok, May 21 (IANS): Thailand's National Security Council (NSC) on Thursday called for a one-month extension to the emergency rule currently enforced against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Center for the COVID-19 Situation Administration, chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, is scheduled to consider on Friday approving the NSC-proposed extension until the end of June, reports Xinhua news agency.

The nationwide emergency rule, which features varied anti-pandemic measures and five-hour curfew, was earlier scheduled to last until the end of May.

According to NSC Secretary General Somsak Rungsita, it resolved on Thursday to have the emergency rule extended for another month on grounds that such stringent measures have been considered necessary to deter the possibilities of a second wave of the pandemic in Thailand.

He said public health officials and representatives of the private sector, who attended Thursday's NSC meeting, agreed to the emergency rule extension.

Thailand, which has confirmed 3,037 infections and 56 deaths so far, is currently in the second phase of ease in measures amid decreasing number of fresh cases.