Month: March 2020

  • Covid-19 News

    Phuket reports 7 new coronvirus cases (Friday March 27)

    7 new Covid-19 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Phuket, bringing the total confirmed cases on the southern resort island to 41. All appear to originate from the Soi Bangla walking street entertainment area of Patong district. None of the cases is considered critical at this stage. The new cases comprise… • Case 35: A 22 year old Thai woman…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    People ‘strongly advised’ to stay home for 7 days

    “People nationwide are strongly urged to stay home and stop socialising for 7 days, starting this weekend, as the government steps up efforts to stem the coronavirus.” Reported, Chief of Defence Forces General Pornpipat Benyasri, who is also in charge of security affairs and has full authority of the anti-virus measures under the emergency decree that PM Prayut Chan-o-cha ordered.…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Human Rights Watch blasts the arrest of Phuket artist over online comments

    A local artist and art gallery owner in Phuket, Danai Ussama, better known as “Mr Zen”, was arrested at his home on the island this week, on the day before Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha announced a state of emergency would soon go into effect (which happened on Thursday, March 26). The 42 year old street artist was arrested Monday afternoon and…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    NBTC sets aside 1 billion baht to help battle virus

    “The assistance will only be given for tasks in the fight against the outbreak and the recipients cannot spend the money on other purposes.” The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission(NBTC) has announced a reserve of 1 billion Baht for medical facilities and public health agencies in the fight against the Covid-19 outbreak. This is due to 130 state hospitals seeking…

    Read More »
  • Environment News

    Chiang Mai fire spikes air pollution up to 20 times ‘safe’ levels

    A bushfire roaring away in the Doi Suthep-Pui National Park in Chiang Mai is causing continued concerns for Chiang Mai residents because of the dangers to nearby villages and the smoke filling the skies of the city. 500 local officials and soldiers from the 3rd Army Region were called in to fight the blaze and spent 14 hours bringing it under…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    US surpasses China with most coronavirus cases

    The United States has overtaken China and now has the highest number of cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus in the world, with 85,505 at 9:10am (Thai time). That number is expected to spike. China has 81,782 cases, and Italy 80,589. But the death toll in the US lags behind China’s 3,291 and Italy’s 8,215. The turning point comes as US…

    Read More »
  • Bangkok News

    26 year old British man leaps to death from 13th floor in Bangkok

    A British man, working in Bangkok as an English tutor, jumped from a 13th floor residence, in an alleged suicide. A neighbour discovered the man’s body while dumping rubbish on Thursday morning outside the apartment building in Bangkok’s Din Daeng district. Police report that they were told the 26 year old was depressed and worried because his income had evaporated…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Anutin misspoke again, later apologises, again

    “We’re not happy with some health personnel who do not take good care of themselves. They should have set an example for others.” Thailand’s volatile Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul yesterday criticised medical personnel infected with the Covid-19 coronavirus , drawing furious responses on social media until he apologised, again. The deputy PM and Bhumjaithai Party leader originally told reporters…

    Read More »
  • Việt Nam

    Covid-19: Hà Nội vắng tanh sau lệnh đóng cửa hàng dịch vụ

    Sau quyết định của Chủ tịch UBND TP Hà Nội nhằm ngăn chặn Covid-19, hàng loạt hàng quán, từ các bar, karaoke, đến cafe, trung tâm thể thao… đều đóng cửa, dừng hoạt động đến hết ngày 5/4, khiến phố phường vắng tanh. Dọc phố Đinh Tiên Hoàng song song với Hồ Hoàn Kiếm: tất cả cửa hàng đóng cửa,…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Defence chief: Stay home for the sake of the nation, or curfew is inevitable

    “We should control ourselves instead of being forced to by the state.” Under the state of emergency that went into effect yesterday, the head of Thailand’s defence forces Pornpipat Benyasri has urged people to stay in their homes today and the weekend or face an enforced curfew to fight the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus. Pornpipat, who under the emergency…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Lies, damn lies and statistics – reporting the ‘stats’ of Covid-19

    The world pushed through the half a million new cases today, along with 24,000+ deaths, as authorities around the globe struggle to contain the Covid-19 virus as it continues to spread. Today there are 532,000+ active cases, and growing quickly, some 60,000 more identified cases than there were just two days ago. The USA is now the leader in cases,…

    Read More »
  • Việt Nam

    Tình hình COVID-19 tại Việt Nam: Ổ dịch sau buổi tiệc tại Buddha Bar & Grill

    Ít nhất có 14 người dương tính với virus corona sau 14 ngày dự tiệc tại Buddha Bar & Grill, quận 2, buộc TP HCM gấp rút cắt chuỗi lây lan từ ổ dịch này. COVID-19 tại Việt Nam Địa phương khởi bệnh Số ca (153) Khỏi bệnh (20) Tử vong (0) Hà Nội 52 TP. Hồ Chí Minh 40…

    Read More »
  • Việt Nam

    Cập nhật COVID-19 tại Việt Nam (Tối 26/3): Tổng số ca nhiễm nCoV lên tới 153 bệnh nhân

    Đến tối hôm nay (26/3), Việt Nam ghi nhận thêm 5 trường hợp nhiễm COVID-19, nâng tổng số ca lên 153. Trong 5 bệnh nhân mới, có 4 người ở TP HCM, 1 người Hà Nội ghi nhận tại Quảng Ninh. Hai trong số những trường hợp mới là từ nước ngoài về Việt Nam từ ngày 21/3 tới 23/3,…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    What are your Consulates doing to help at this time?

    Australia’s Consul-General in Phuket Matthew Barclay says he understands many people want to know what Australia’s government representatives are doing to help during this time. Matt gives The Thaiger a quick perspective about the services available from your country’s consular representatives during this crazy time. The services provided by Matt in Phuket are much the same as you can expect…

    Read More »
  • Việt Nam

    Tình hình dịch Covid-19: Hơn 21.000 người chết vì nCoV toàn cầu

    Số người tử vong vì Covid-19 tiếp tục tăng mạnh ở châu Âu, nâng số ca tử vong toàn cầu lên 21.174 trong tổng số 467.520 ca nhiễm. Đại dịch Covid-19 đã xuất hiện ở gần 200 quốc gia và vùng lãnh thổ. Trong đó, Ý và Tây Ban Nha là những nước có số ca tử vong trong một…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Sitting down is the new smoking – exercise in a Covid-19 world

    Now the world is in lock down because of the Coronavirus I bet you will be spending most of your time sitting down watching TV or working on the computer, only to then later sit down some more and watch some more TV… or like me just playing computer games all day. But I bet you didn’t know that sitting…

    Read More »
  • Environment News

    Potential catastrophe facing Thailand’s elephant camps

    Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, along with many other camps in Thailand, have been forced to close their doors due to the current Coronavirus situation in Thailand. Apart from resulting in hardship for the elephants, it will seriously hurt Thailand’s tourism industry in the future if no support is forthcoming soon. And whilst we’re hunkering down in our homes…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    7 Thai cabinet members are ‘high risk’ personnel and should be isolated

    One of the directives under the state of emergency decree is a measure for certain types of people who are asked to stay home due to being in a high risk category if they contract the virus. The 3 groups are… Seniors aged 70 years and above People with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cerebrovascular diseases, respiratory…

    Read More »
  • Thailand News

    Thailand News Today – Thursday, March 26

    New cases in Thailand – 111, pushes total over 1,000 Thursday’s total for new cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus is out as announced today by the Public Health Department. The number of newly confirmed Covid-19 cases in Thailand is now over 1,000. 111 new cases were announced to the media today by spokesperson from the Ministry of Public Health. At…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Blue Flag grocery vehicles deployed in greater Bangkok to encourage staying home

    With the state of emergency requiring people to stay home as much as possible and keeping their ‘social distance’ in public to fight the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus, the Ministry of Commerce has launched a fleet of Blue Flag vehicles to sell and deliver groceries and other consumer goods at affordable prices, right to people’s homes. Starting yesterday, mobile…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Thailand’s chicken egg exports banned for 7 days

    “The 7 day ban is a trial period, if the situation does not improve by next week, we may consider extending the ban.” Deputy PMr and Minister of Commerce Jurin Laksanawisit says… “Currently domestic production capacity averages 40 million eggs per day, while Thailand’s daily consumption is 39 million, and 2 million were exported. To deal with the problem, the…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    ‘Boxing Stadium Cluster’ investigation over banned March 6 event

    The head of the Royal Thai Army, General Apirat Kongsompong today ordered the creation of a committee to track down those responsible for holding a competition in Lumphini Boxing Stadium on March 6, days after it was ordered closed. The stadium, which is under the management of the army, has been a major hotzone for the spread of the Covid-19…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    5 new coronavirus cases reported in Phuket, first in Koh Samui

    Phuket Newshawk reports 5 new Covid-19 coronavirus cases on the southern island of Phuket. The details of the new cases are… A 64 year old Swiss businessman A British man, aged 20, who is a caretaker of yachts A 43 year old Thai woman, a masseuse in Patong A 41 year old Thai man, concierge in a Patong hotel A…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    20,000 expected to apply for unemployment in Chiang Mai

    With thousands of businesses shuttered and public spaces closed to fight the spread of the Covid-19 coroavirus, Chiang Mai’s social security office expects some 20,000 laid-off workers to register for unemployment benefits. “People started registering on Tuesday and we’re getting at least 1,000 a day on average. And they’re not just Chiang Mai people, but also from other provinces.” Registration…

    Read More »
  • Crime News

    “Comply or I’ll tear it down myself” Pattaya mayor tells encroaching resort

    Pattaya’s mayor Sontaya Khunpluem yesterday ordered his staff to post notices at Ban Sukhawadee, or “Sukhawadee House” as it’s known in English, a luxury beachfront property and tourist attraction on a total of 80 rai in the Bang Lamung district, that encompasses Pattaya. The company that runs the resort, HealthFood International, has two weeks to comply with a judgment relating…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    No public transport bus tickets until at least April 30

    “We cannot provide additional buses and all available buses have been used. Complying with the social distancing policy halves the number of passengers per bus.” Due to the state of emergency declared by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha to fight the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus, the president of state enterprise Transport Company, Jirasak Yaovatsakul, announced today that ticket sales for all…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    One MRT station closed after confirmed Covid-19 case

    An employee has confirmed positive with Covid-19 who worked at the Nonthaburi Civil Centre MRT station run by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRT). So the MRT has suspended all services at the Nonthaburi Civil Centre station this morning from 8:40 am. The Nonthaburi Civic Centre will go through a deep clean and sterilisation today, in line with the…

    Read More »
  • Việt Nam

    Cập nhật COVID-19 tại Việt Nam (26/3): Số ca nhiễm nCoV lên 148 người

    Sáng 26/3, Bộ Y tế công bố thêm 7 ca nhiễm COVID-19 mới, gồm 4 người ở TP HCM, 2 tại Hà Nội, 1 người quê Nghệ An, nâng tổng số ca COVID-19 toàn quốc lên 148 bệnh nhân. Trong 24 giờ qua, Việt Nam ghi nhận thêm 14 trường hợp mắc mới. Trong đó, 10 ca được cách ly…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Escaped coronavirus patient nabbed in Krabi, faces charges

    A patient who fled isolation and treatment for the Covid-19 coronavirus in the southern province of Krabi has been nabbed at a checkpoint last night and returned to hospital. The 25 year old faces criminal charges for violating the Communicable Disease Act. The director of Krabi Hospital says the patient had been at the hospital since Saturday but escaped on…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    New cases in Thailand – 111, pushes total over 1,000

    Thursday’s total for new cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus is out. The number of newly confirmed Covid-19 cases in Thailand is now over 1,000. 111 new cases were announced to the media today a spokesperson from the Ministry of Public Health. The official number of infections in Thailand, at the time of publication (1pm Thai time) is 1,045. The ministry…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Immigration Bureau asks people to file reports online, avoid their offices

    A spokesman for the Immigration Bureau says that foreigners living in Thailand are now requested to process their 90 day residence reports via an online platform or by post only. Applicants are usually required to report in person to complete the procedure. The change comes as one metre social distancing has been virtually impossible at immigration offices. One IB office…

    Read More »
  • Việt Nam

    Nhà hoạt động môi trường thiếu niên Greta Thunberg nghi ngờ nhiễm Covid-19

    Cô bé Greta Thunberg, nhà hoạt động tuổi teen được Tạp chí TIME bầu chọn là nhân vật của năm 2019, vừa chia sẻ trên Instagram cá nhân rằng cô bắt đầu có những “triệu chứng” giống người nhiễm virus corona (Covid-19), nhưng vẫn chưa được xét nghiệm vì Thụy Điển thiếu phương tiện. Gần đây, vào giữa tháng 3,…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Phuket, special restrictions for locals (Thursday)

    Additional measures are being rolled out in Phuket as the Provincial Office refines the local needs to restrict the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Some public offices are being closed, or services restricted, including at the Land Transport Office (most expats’ favourite place!). Dental clinics will be closed but dental clinics within hospitals will remain open. Finally, the notice lists…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Military checkpoints set up to monitor domestic travel

    Under the state of emergency which went into effect around Thailand last night, the military has set up 357 checkpoints to monitor interprovincial travel in an additional measure to fight the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus. A statement said the checkpoints are in response to the PM tasking the military command with supervising security measures. The checkpoints are manned by…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Thai government reassures public: No food shortages

    “There will be no shortage of food and goods for domestic consumption, even if a lockdown is implemented, be it for three months, six months or a year.” The Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic has prompted some outbreaks of panic buying for staple items, but the Thai government is assuring the public there will be no shortages of food. The Office of…

    Read More »
  • Northern Thailand News

    1000 kilograms of marijuana seized in northeastern Thailand

    More than a tonne of marijuana has been been recovered in Thailand’s Bung Kan province, in the far north east on the Laos border. The stash was discovered in fertiliser sacks by a security patrol boat along the Mekong river. Authorities say a longtail boat with 4 to 5 men on board was spotted pulling up to the river bank,…

    Read More »
  • Economy News

    BOT predicts 5.3% contraction in Thai economy for 2020

    Even the Thai economy, which was still maintaining respectable growth before January, is now spluttering under the siege of the Covid-19 virus. Now the Bank of Thailand has crunched some numbers and believes the Thai economy will sharply contract by 5.3% this year as the virus continues to weigh on global financial markets, the local economy and people. GDP growth…

    Read More »