Month: March 2020

  • Covid-19 News

    How to request a refund for electric meter deposits – starts tomorrow

    Starting from tomorrow (March 25) the government is working with the Metropolitan Electricity Authority and Provincial Electricity Authorities to start returning refunds on electrical meter insurance and deposits to provide some aid to people affected by the Covid-19 epidemic. Who will receive the refund? Type 1, residential houses Type 2, small businesses A total of 22.17 million customers will receive…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Sharp jump in Thai coronavirus cases due to new testing methods

    Thailand’s Ministry of Public health explained today that the sharp rise in confirmed Covid-19 coronavirus cases reported in recent days is due to new testing standards. In the past, two labs have had to show a positive result before a case was confirmed, but now a positive result from one lab is considered a confirmed case. The situation was explained…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Thailand under a State of emergency – Prime Minister

    Thai PM Prayuth Chan-o-cha told a news conference today that Thailand will be under emergency decree from this Thursday (March 26) until the end of April, 2020 to deal with the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak in the Kingdom. The decree means the PM will have the executive power to declare further measures to contain the virus, including giving extra authority to…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Professor says social distancing, self-isolation are crucial to control infection

    “People must stay home and not socialise, or Thailand will become like Italy with coronavirus patients overwhelming health resources and medical personnel having to decide which patients to treat, or not.” Dr Prasit Watanapa, dean of the faculty of medicine Siriraj Hospital of Mahidol University, yesterday emphasised the need for strict social distancing on the university’s online TV channel, saying…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    PM asks cabinet for emergency decree

    PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha formally asked the Thai Cabinet this afternoon for the declaration of a national emergency to help prevent the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus in Thailand. The decree, which the Cabinet is currently discussing, will likely be enacted for a month. A decision is expected to be announced later today. The decree would allow authorities to impose curfews,…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Phuket reports 9 new coronavirus cases (Tuesday)

    Local media outlet Newshawk Phuket today reported 9 new cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus on the southern resort island of Phuket, bringing the total to 26, up from 17 yesterday. • Case 18 is a 33 year old Thai woman, a waitress at Soi Bangla in Patong district. She fell sick on March 16. • Case 19 is a 56…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Thai epidemiologist warns public to stay home to avoid virus surge

    As the number of Covid-19 coronavirus infections rises around Thailand, an epidemiologist from the Ministry of Public Health is urging the public to stay home, avoid all social interaction unless absolutely essential and practise social distancing whenever you need to go outdoors to avoid an outbreak like those in Italy and Spain. Ministry epidemiologist Walairat Chaifoo says that the total…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Thai restaurants and food chains switching to home deliveries

    A difficult time for restaurants as the government rolls out lockdowns across the country. So many of the restaurants and food chains are changing from sit in facilities to home delivery. They’re saying that they need to switch their financial strategy to stay afloat as the spread of Covid-19 becomes more serious in Thailand. So they’re becoming ‘virtual’ restaurants providing…

    Read More »
  • Việt Nam

    Bến Tre: Cách ly 1.588 người liên quan ca nhiễm Covid-19 trở về từ Malaysia

    Chủ tịch UBND tỉnh Bến Tre vừa có văn bản quyết định cách ly 480 hộ bao gồm 1.588 nhân khẩu tại ấp Thừa Lợi, xã Thừa Đức, huyện Bình Đại, tỉnh Bến Tre, sau khi xuất hiện ca dương tính Covid-19. Đây là địa phương ven biển của huyện Bình Đại được xác định nơi cô gái M.T.N. T.…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Phuket declares ‘lockdown’ of all but essential services

    A lockdown of all but essential services has been declared for Phuket, echoing the ‘lockdown’ in Bangkok and surrounding provinces over the weekend. The Thaiger has just received an English version but awaiting an internet-friendly version which we will publish ASAP. Here are the main things you need to know.

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Australian consul general in Phuket confirms letters for stranded Aussie expats

    The Australian Consulate General in Phuket says it will provide visa support letters to any Australians in Thailand who can prove long-term residency in Thailand. The Australian consul general in Phuket confirms that letters for expats caught by Non-Imm O visa requirements will be provided. “Please email Consular.Phuket@dfat.gov.au with your personal particulars page of your passport and a copy of your…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    UPDATE: Thailand confirms 106 new coronavirus cases, 3 more deaths

    UPDATE: New cases announced in Phuket (below). ORIGINAL STORY: Thailand health officials have reported 106 new Covid-19 coronavirus infections today, bringing the total to 827 in the Kingdom. The number of new cases is lower than the 122 recorded yesterday. The Ministry of Public Health has also reported 3 additional deaths from the virus in the past 24 hours, bringing…

    Read More »
  • Northern Thailand News

    Riot fears reopen ‘closed’ Thai border checkpoints as migrant workers flee

    “We must go home, or we will starve to death in Bangkok.” Some of Thailand’s recently closed border checkpoints were forced to reopen today as thousands of migrant workers, now unemployed due to the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak, flee Thailand for their homes in Myanmar and Cambodia. Their numbers and their desperation sparked fears of rioting. In Chiang Rai, the border…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Opportunities for 2020 export growth in Thailand

    Despite the whirlwind of shutdowns, lockdowns and craziness descending on Thailand at the moment, the departments are still churning out numbers and trying to forecast the way ahead. They say that, due to the Thai baht weakening and massive government interventions around the world for both monetary and fiscal policies, there is still a chance that Thailand could reduce the…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Team Thailand, hell yeah! Coming to save you from Covid-19.

    The world may be going completely bonkers but at least here in Thailand we can rely on Team Thailand. “Team Thailand”, is the patriotic term the mercurial Thai Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has come up with to describe the hand-picked panel of medical experts who will be going through daily reports and recommending the next steps to battle the…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Tourism call centre flooded with complaints over cancellations

    Thailand’s Tourism Department and its recently opened complaint centre are being flooded with complaints from would-be tourists about cancellations due to the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak. More than 2000 have filed complaints, and the department says refunds will be difficult. The outbreak has bashed global travel, resulting in Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air and Bangkok Airways, among others, temporarily stopping all…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Cabinet will look at proposal to help with home internet

    Cabinet today will look at a proposal to help people working from home with 10 Gb free internet for their smartphones, along with other subsidies. The Thai National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission will ask for cabinet approval providing mobile users with 10 free gigabytes of data usage per subscriber, per month up to June 30. The NBTS say they recognise…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Italian coronavirus strain may be more dangerous than Wuhan version

    “We are fighting an enemy which is more devastating than any weapon or army. The enemy keeps multiplying every day and gains the upper hand if we do not change our way of life. The only way to defeat this enemy is for all of us to do these simple things. Practise social distancing and avoid crowded places, and we…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Minor International pleads with Thai PM for a full lockdown

    “I believe that under your strong leadership, the message to stay home, limit personal movement and avoid interaction with others will be taken to heart and will help us overcome this crisis.” Thai hotel chain Minor International has sent a frank letter pleading with the Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha and Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang to curb public movement and activities…

    Read More »
  • Việt Nam

    Cập nhật dịch COVID-19 tại Việt Nam: Thêm 6 ca nhiễm mới tại TP HCM, Tây Ninh và Đà Nẵng

    Hai người nước ngoài, hai Việt kiều và hai người Tây Nam Bộ dương tính nCoV, đưa số bệnh nhân cả nước lên 122 người. Trong số này, ba người ở TP HCM mới được xác nhận chiều nay. Hai ca bệnh ở Tây Ninh đều mới từ Campuchia nhập cảnh về, một người quê Hà Tĩnh, từ Bangkok về…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    The Thaiger top 10 ways to cope with self-isolation

    It’s a turbulent time. With socialising discouraged and many businesses closed, things can seem a bit scary. And with the Covid-19 coronavirus sweeping the world, you will be worried about the health of family and friends, even yourself. If you’re stuck at home due to the virus you’re probably asking yourself: “Now what am I supposed to do?” But there…

    Read More »
  • Việt Nam

    TP.HCM: “Bệnh nhân 100” khiến 129 người liên quan tại Quận 8 bị cách ly

    Ban chỉ đạo phòng, chống dịch Covid-19 quận 8, TP.HCM cho biết, thêm 129 trường hợp liên quan đến bệnh nhân thứ 100 đã được đưa đi cách ly tập trung. Cụ thể, 129 trường hợp này (phường 1: 128, phường 2: 1) được Quận đưa đi cách ly tập trung tại kí túc xá ĐH Quốc gia TP.HCM do…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Chon Buri closes more businesses, asks public to avoid beaches

    Yep, this means Pattaya as well. The governor of Chon Buri province today signed an order for the closure of additional businesses “until the situation improves,” to help prevent the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus in and around the major party town of Pattaya. The order includes the closure of following: Water parks and public swimming pools (Privately owned pools…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    7-Eleven to hire 20,000 delivery staff across Thailand

    “We recommend using the 7-Eleven Delivery mobile application to shop for foods and consumer products and we will deliver them to you.” There are plenty of businesses around Thailand either closing or heavily down-scaling their operations in the current Covid-19 crisis.Now, the operator 0f 7-11 stores across Thailand, CP All, has announced that it will expand its delivery services to…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Cash handouts to be proposed tomorrow

    “Those having social security will be taken care of by the Social Security Office, while those who are not insured under the social security scheme will be taken care of by the Ministry of Finance. We are planning to use an emergency budget from fiscal 2020 of around 20 billion baht to provide cash handouts to people affected by the…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Airlines suspending flights – Thai Lion Air, Singapore Airlines

    “The airline has been seriously affected by the coronavirus situation, with passenger loads dropping so sharply that, some days, there are no passengers at all.” This is a letter addressed to the director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), Chula Sukmanop, sent from the CEO of Thai Lion Air Aswin Yongkiratikorn. Thai Lion Air has formerly notified CAAT…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Thais in Malaysia may return home, but only by air

    Today a statement was issued by the Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and has officially announced that Thais’ who wish to return home can do so by air. And only by air, if they get a flight. Thai citizens in Malaysia can request a certificate from the Embassy via e-mail, if they want to return to Thailand. Provided that…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Phuket confirms 4 new coronavirus cases, some businesses closed

    4 new Covid-19 coronavirus cases were confirmed in Phuket, southern Thailand, today. This brings the total on the resort island to 17. 26 more are in hospital awaiting test results. Provincial officials are inspecting a variety of sites for a potential “field hospital” to be set up, in case the number infections in Phuket continues to rise. The director of…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Thai manufacturers of ‘substandard’ sanitisers warned

    The ruling ‘Phalang Pracharat’ Party has given a warning that using counterfeit alcohol-based sanitisers can lead to lethal health conditions and vendors will face imprisonment. Tipanan Sirichana, a deputy spokesperson of the ruling party, posted on her Facebook account that there were several cases of patients suffering from respiratory illness, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea after using substandard sanitisers. “The chemical…

    Read More »
  • Crime News

    Pattaya motorbiker seriously wounded in early morning shooting

    A Pattaya motorbike taxi driver was seriously early this morning when he was allegedly shot by another motorbike taxi driver following a dispute over money. Police were notified of the incident at 2:30am. Officers, and emergency responders and reporters rushed to the motorbike taxi stand, where the supervisor, 52 year old Pairoj Laipueangthong, and 21 year old witness Jennapa Kaewta…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Olympics postponement may be ‘inevitable’ due to Covid-19

    Today Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe, says “postponing the Olympics over the coronavirus pandemic may become inevitable”, after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said a delay was being considered as pressure grows from athletes and sports bodies. Meanwhile Canada’s Olympic and Paralympic committees announced they will not send teams to the Games if they are held this summer, prioritising the health…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Cash handouts to Thais being proposed

    “Those Thais with social security will be taken care of by the Social Security Office, while those who are not insured under the social security scheme will be taken care of by the Ministry of Finance. We are planning to use an emergency budget from fiscal 2020 of around 20 billion baht to provide cash handouts to people affected by…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Covid-19 coronavirus questions and answers

    Everything you wanted to know which we answer to the best of our current knowledge…. 1. How does the virus/infection spread? Mostly spread through contact with an infected person through coughing, sneezing, nasal secretion and saliva. It is understood that the virus can be airborne for at least a short time. So just being in the same vicinity as an…

    Read More »
  • Việt Nam

    Cập nhật dịch COVID-19 tại Việt Nam: Bác sĩ đầu tiên bị lây nhiễm nCoV

    Nam bác sĩ 29 tuổi, là nhân viên y tế đầu tiên bị lây nhiễm nCoV trong quá trình làm việc. Bác sĩ này là một trong 3 ca dương tính được Bộ Y tế xác nhận sáng nay, đưa số bệnh nhân COVID-19 ở Việt Nam lên 116 người. Bệnh nhân 114: Nam, 19 tuổi, ở Hoàng Mai, Hà…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Four Chinese nationals arrested at Burmese border

    Four Chinese nationals have been arrested in the Mae Sot district of the lower northern province of Tak, in north west Thailand, and charged with illegal entry and violation of Covid-19 coronavirus controls. The four were arrested this morning. They were crossing from Myanmar into Thailand. They were arrested by a government patrol after crossing the Moei river from Myanmar…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Thailand confirms 122 new coronavirus cases (Monday)

    Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health and the Department of Disease control confirmed 122 new cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus in their daily press briefing today (Monday). This brings Thailand’s total to 721 since the virus was first detected in January. 7 remain in critical condition. Of the new cases, 16 have been traced to previously confirmed cases, while 4 were…

    Read More »
  • Covid-19 News

    Thailand seals borders in North, Northeast

    “All travellers should closely monitor announcements concerning the border closure to prevent misunderstandings.” Thailand’s borders are now sealed to all but freight traffic in the North and Northeastern regions. The third Thai-Lao Friendship, linking Nakhon Phanom province with Khammouane province in Laos, closed at 10pm yesterday as a precaution against the Covid-19 coronavirus. Goods vehicles are still permitted but drivers…

    Read More »