Bangkok, May 26 (RHC)-- Thailand will maintain its state of emergency over the coronavirus until the end of June, its COVID-19 task force said, in an effort to keep infections under control as the government prepares to ease restrictions further.

Shopping malls and department stores reopened over the weekend after almost two months of closure as the number of cases slowed, but bars, nightclubs, cinemas, playgrounds and some sports remain off-limits.

The government's Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration proposed the extension in response to developments with the global pandemic and to allow time to prepare for further easing at the start of next month.