Year: 2021

  • Covid-19 NewsMonday Covid Update: 17,491 new cases and 242 deaths

    Monday Covid Update: 17,491 new cases and 242 deaths

    The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration recorded 17,491 new Covid-19 cases today and 242 coronavirus-related deaths. A total of 1,037,923 people have tested positive for Covid-19 since April 1, the start of the latest and most severe wave of the coronavirus in Thailand. There are now 195,454 people being treated for Covid-19. The number of active cases has been on…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket tourism operators more hopeful after Sputnik approval

    Phuket tourism operators more hopeful after Sputnik approval

    Phuket’s tourism operators are feeling slightly more confident about the last quarter of the year, following the approval of the Sputnik V vaccine. The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration has added the Russian vaccine to the list of vaccines that will be accepted when granting entry to foreign tourists arriving through the Phuket’s sandbox scheme. Thailand’s tourism sector has taken…

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  • Covid-19 NewsAge of latest Covid-19 fatalities ranges from 7 months to 101 years old

    Age of latest Covid-19 fatalities ranges from 7 months to 101 years old

    The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration has reported a wide age range in the latest Covid-related fatalities, with the youngest being a 7 month old baby. Among the 233 deaths reported yesterday, there were also 2 pregnant women, an 88 year old doctor, and a patient who was 101 years old. According to a Bangkok Post report, 155 deaths were…

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  • Koh Samui News2 Samui partygoers have Covid-19, raiding police quarantine

    2 Samui partygoers have Covid-19, raiding police quarantine

    Following the raid and breakup of a party at a luxury villa in Koh Samui 2 nights ago, it was revealed that 5 of the people in attendance at the party had previously had Covid-19, likely from the Black Bamboo Club cluster resulting from another illegal party. Now at least 2 of the party attendees have tested positive for Covid-19,…

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  • Covid-19 NewsCovid-19 violating gathering of 23 students and teachers busted

    Covid-19 violating gathering of 23 students and teachers busted

    If you have been following along, mark Nakhon Ratchasima down on your “Covid-19 restriction violating party” bingo card. Last night a group of students and teachers in the Muang district of Nakhon Ratchasima were caught gathering with an abundance of alcohol and a noticeable lack of Covid-19 safety measures. The bust is one of an increasing number of illegal parties…

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  • Pattaya NewsPattaya reopening plan for September 1 unlikely to happen

    Pattaya reopening plan for September 1 unlikely to happen

    Chiang Mai, which recently reported that, due to the Covid-19 situation and slow vaccination, they will delay their planned September reopening to October at the earliest, like many tourism areas that have seen plans to welcome back international tourists dashed by the intensity of the pandemic in Thailand. Now Pattaya has also acknowledged that their plan for reopening on September…

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  • Chiang Mai NewsCharming Chiang Mai plan to reopen pushed to October or later

    Charming Chiang Mai plan to reopen pushed to October or later

    With Covid-19 still running rampant in Thailand, several tourist locations that were anticipating reopening in August or September are revising their plans to push back until October or later. Officials say that Chiang Mai will now delay their plans to reopen to international tourists due to Covid-19 issues. The deputy governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand announced yesterday that…

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  • Koh Samui NewsKoh Samui flights resume Wednesday despite Covid-19

    Koh Samui flights resume Wednesday despite Covid-19

    The Samui Plus international reopening plan has seen a fraction of the success of the Phuket Sandbox reopening and were hampered by the grounding of nearly all domestic flights in Thailand, despite an exception for Sandbox flights. Now the province that’s home to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao will continue the Samui Plus programme and expects flights to…

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  • World NewsAll remaining Thai nationals now evacuated from Afghanistan

    All remaining Thai nationals now evacuated from Afghanistan

    When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan nearly a week ago on Monday, thousands of foreign nationals raced to the airport in hopes of assistance in fleeing the country while it was still possible. Now Thailand’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson has confirmed that all Thai nationals have left Afghanistan. The Foreign Ministry believes that there were 4 remaining Thai people in…

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  • Thailand NewsPor Tor Festival still going in Phuket, no street processions

    Por Tor Festival still going in Phuket, no street processions

    Phuket’s annual Por Tor Festival, AKA the “Hungry Ghosts Festival” is currently going on in Phuket Town. The festival is being held without street processions due to the Covid situation and will go until August 28. The annual celebration comes on the seventh lunar month in the Chinese calendar. This date is considered the time when the gates of hell…

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  • Phuket NewsGerman man found dead in apparent suicide in Phuket Hotel

    German man found dead in apparent suicide in Phuket Hotel

    A German national has been found dead with a gunshot wound to his head in a Phuket hotel room. Thai media reports that police believe the wound is self-inflicted. The apparent suicide was reported at 7:44 pm, yesterday, at the Amata Patong Hotel, says a police investigator identified only as Chompunut. Police and a doctor were called in to investigate.…

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  • Covid-19 NewsNew Covid-19 team aims to correct bad information, not censor it.

    New Covid-19 team aims to correct bad information, not censor it.

    A special media team the government created to try to tackle the epidemic of fake news regarding Covid-19 in Thailand has been met with suspicion they will serve a broader censorship role. The team denies the idea that the team will suppress free speech and dissent, claiming that their focus is on getting factual information disseminated about the public health…

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  • World NewsCzech Republic: Health care professions become fashionable

    Czech Republic: Health care professions become fashionable

    In the Czech Republic, the devastation of the coronavirus pandemic reached its peak in late 2020 and early 2021: The country of 10.5 million led the world in per-capita infections and deaths. In all, some 1.7 million Czechs became ill and to date more than 25,000 people in the EU state have died as a result of COVID-19. The only…

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  • Thailand NewsMass screenings of markets in dark red provinces planned, antigen test kits to be used

    Mass screenings of markets in dark red provinces planned, antigen test kits to be used

    The Ministry of Public Health is seeking the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration’s approval for a plan to screen up to 200,000 people who reside in and around markets that are in “dark red” provinces. The people will be tested using rapid antigen test kits. Dr Traisulee Traisoranakul, the Deputy Government Spokesperson, says that the Ministry of Public health is…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket sees third consecutive day over 100 Covid-19 infections

    Phuket sees third consecutive day over 100 Covid-19 infections

    For the third day in a row, new Covid-19 infections in Phuket had topped 100 people as 126 new local infections were identified in the province yesterday. 2 new infections were found in Phuket Sandbox travellers as well. There were no new deaths reported yesterday, and the total remains at 17 fatalities from Covid-19’s third wave. The rolling weekly total…

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  • Covid-19 NewsCovid UPDATE: 233 deaths, provincial infection numbers, vaccine update

    Covid UPDATE: 233 deaths, provincial infection numbers, vaccine update

    The Thai public health department has announced an additional 19,014 infections for Sunday along with another 233 Covid-related deaths. 20,672 patients have been released from state care, again exceeding the number of new cases over the past 24 hours. 5,239 patients remain in a serious condition and another 1,117 are on artificial respiration. The published numbers extend a general trend…

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  • Thailand NewsFood, medical allowance to be cut for Covid patients that are in isolation

    Food, medical allowance to be cut for Covid patients that are in isolation

    Covid patients that are isolating at home or in a community isolation centre are having their allowance shrunk from 1,000 baht to 600 baht per day. The allowance slashing comes from Thailand’s National Health Security Office in order to get rid of duplication of allowances and will go into effect on September 1. Dr Jadet Thamtat-aree from the National Health…

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  • Thailand NewsProtesters clash with police for over 4 hours in Bangkok, 5 officials injured

    Protesters clash with police for over 4 hours in Bangkok, 5 officials injured

    After an over 4 hour clash with protesters, 5 police officers were reportedly injured in Bangkok last night. Piya Tawichai, the Police Major General from the Metropolitan Police Bureau says the Thalu Fah pro-democracy group gathered in front of the UN building on Ratchadamnoen Road at 2 pm yesterday. He says the group peacefully protested for about 2 hours. They…

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  • Northern Thailand NewsFather and daughter drown in Mekong River in Nakhon Phanom, police suspect murder-suicide

    Father and daughter drown in Mekong River in Nakhon Phanom, police suspect murder-suicide

    A father and his 7 year old daughter jumped into the Mekong River and drowned yesterday afternoon. The incident happened in the northeastern Thai province of Nakhon Phanom. The working theory is that it was a murder-suicide, says Thai media. Jamras Srihata, from the Muang Police, says the incident happened around 6:30 pm yesterday in front of the governor’s riverside…

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  • Thailand NewsThalu Fah presents UN with letter requesting international support

    Thalu Fah presents UN with letter requesting international support

    The pro-democracy group “Thalu Fah” delivered a letter requesting international support from the Office of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific of the United Nations in Bangkok, yesterday. They then gathered outside the office for a couple of hours of protest. After delivering the letter to the United Nations, the group offered nearly 2 hours of…

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  • Crime News650 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine found off Trang’s coast

    650 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine found off Trang’s coast

    650 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine has been found off the coast of Kantang which is in the southern Thai province of Trang. Reportedly, the methamphetamine was loaded into fertiliser sacks which were then tied to barrels that floated along the sea. An unnamed marine generator vessel alerted officials to the suspicious buoy like objects that were floating between Koh Laoliang…

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  • Covid-19 NewsCovid UPDATE Sunday: 233 deaths but over 20K released from state care

    Covid UPDATE Sunday: 233 deaths but over 20K released from state care

    The Thai public health department has announced an additional 19,014 infections today along with another 233 Covid-related deaths. 20,672 patients have been released from state care, again exceeding the number of new cases over the past 24 hours. 5,239 patients remain in a serious condition and another 1,117 are on artificial respiration. The published numbers extend a general trend over…

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  • World NewsVietnam Covid-19 surges, Ho Chi Minh enters lockdown Monday

    Vietnam Covid-19 surges, Ho Chi Minh enters lockdown Monday

    With soaring Covid-19 infections, Ho Chi Minh City has issued a stay-at-home order enacting a strict lockdown that bans people from leaving their home starting Monday. The megacity of 9 million people has accounted for a full 80% of all Covid-19 deaths and 50% of Covid-19 infections in Vietnam and less harsh lockdown restrictions aren’t making headway. The deputy head…

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  • World NewsHungary vs EU: Is Orban striving for Huxit?

    Hungary vs EU: Is Orban striving for Huxit?

    Hungary’s unofficial government newspaper Magyar Nemzet (Hungarian Nation) often floats issues that Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his government would like to gauge public opinion on without addressing those issues themselves. Last weekend, it happened again. On Sunday (August 15), the paper opened debate on an issue that had previously been deemed off-limits even in Hungarian government circles: Hungary’s exit…

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  • Politics NewsMP challenges PM Prayut to kickboxing for prime ministership

    MP challenges PM Prayut to kickboxing for prime ministership

    Many people have challenged PM Prayut Chan-o-cha’s competence to lead the nation, especially through the Covid-19 pandemic. But MP Mongkolkit Suksintharanon took it one step further, challenging PM Prayut to a bare-knuckled kickboxing match for the prime ministership. The parliament member is the leader of the Thai Civilised Party and posted a message on Facebook Thursday making the challenge to…

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  • Covid-19 NewsChina eyes booster shots to hit herd immunity by year’s end

    China eyes booster shots to hit herd immunity by year’s end

    If they can achieve over 80% vaccination rate, China may reach herd immunity by the end of the year, according to the country’s top respiratory disease expert. He believed that booster shots would make up for the loss of efficacy after 6 months of vaccines from China and others used in the country. Officials in China believe that they will…

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  • Koh Samui News24 arrested at illegal party in Koh Samui luxury villa

    24 arrested at illegal party in Koh Samui luxury villa

    Perhaps people are getting fed up with Covid-19 restrictions keeping them isolated and unable to socialize and party. Or maybe the police are cracking down more on the illegal parties that often become Covid-19 clusters or superspreader events. Either way, stories of private parties in violation of Covid-19 Emergency Decree restrictions being busted seem to be cropping up more and…

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  • Covid-19 NewsCovid UPDATE: 261 Covid-related deaths, provincial totals

    Covid UPDATE: 261 Covid-related deaths, provincial totals

    This morning the Thai public health department has added a further 20,571 infections to the Covid totals. 235 of today’s infections are from Thai prisons. There’s also been 261 new deaths announced from the past 24 hours. 23,159 patients have been released from hospitals and field hospitals in the past 24 hours as well. Here are today’s provincial totals… • Thailand’s Surat…

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  • World NewsAfrica: Vaccination rollout hindered by hesitancy, low supply

    Africa: Vaccination rollout hindered by hesitancy, low supply

    A new wave of COVID-19 infections across Africa, and the inequitable distribution of vaccines, has further highlighted the multifaceted inequalities both within the continent and across the globe. While in some parts of the world, the challenge is overcoming vaccine hesitancy. In others, the problem is getting the vaccines to the needy — explains Nicholas Crips, South Africa’s Deputy Director…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket Sandbox order revises rules to cancel or modify

    Phuket Sandbox order revises rules to cancel or modify

    A new updated Phuket Provincial Order revises the international reopening scheme to include the new Sandbox 7+7 program but also slips in a revision to the parameters for cancellation or modification of the Phuket Sandbox. The order issued yesterday mostly revises the rules to include conditions for travelling to other destinations in Thailand after the first 7 days in Phuket.…

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  • World NewsFriends, enemies, neighbors? The Taliban and the Middle East

    Friends, enemies, neighbors? The Taliban and the Middle East

    A recent editorial in Al-Alam, an Iranian-owned Arabic-language publication, warned people not to trust the Americans the way the Afghan people did. The people of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and Libya “link the fate of their countries and their people with America and believe this will open a new door, through which they will enter into a bright and brilliant…

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  • Transport NewsAirlines pushing for September reopening for domestic flights

    Airlines pushing for September reopening for domestic flights

    Struggling airlines are backing a push to reopen domestic flights in September from Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport, a hub for low-cost carriers. Negotiations are in progress with the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand, and budget airlines to create travel and safety regulations to resume flights. Airlines are struggling to remain liquid as nearly all domestic…

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  • Covid-19 NewsCCSA predicts that Covid-19 infections may have peaked

    CCSA predicts that Covid-19 infections may have peaked

    Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration officials are saying that there are encouraging signs that Covid-19 infections are levelling off and have peaked. The news comes despite some doctors predicting up to 400,000 new cases, or even, as one doctor suggested, half the Thai population having or having had Covid-19 by the end of the next 100 days without mass vaccination.…

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  • Bangkok NewsPolice officers seen dining in restaurant despite Covid-19 rules

    Police officers seen dining in restaurant despite Covid-19 rules

    A picture and story have gone viral on Thai social media where people complained about the inequality in who has to follow rules and who doesn’t. The uproar was caused by 2 police officers who were spotted dining in a local restaurant in Bangkok despite continued Covid-19 restrictions prohibiting dine-in service. The police officers were identified to be from the…

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  • Phuket NewsReal estate trends across Thailand’s resort markets

    Real estate trends across Thailand’s resort markets

    Where are property investors looking in Thailand at the moment? How has Covid impacted the resort property markets of Phuket, Hua Hin, Pattaya and Koh Samui? Tim Newton speaks to Brennan Campbell, CEO of Thai proptech group FazWaz, in this rundown of current and future trends in Thailand’s most popular resort destinations. And there’s a few surprises too.  

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  • Covid-19 NewsCovid UPDATE Saturday: 261 Covid-related deaths, news briefs

    Covid UPDATE Saturday: 261 Covid-related deaths, news briefs

    This morning the Thai public health department has added a further 20,571 infections to the Covid totals. 235 of today’s infections are from Thai prisons. There’s also been 261 new deaths announced from the past 24 hours. 23,159 patients have been released from hospitals and field hospitals in the past 24 hours as well. Provincial totals will announced early this afternoon. •…

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  • Pattaya NewsPolice arrest 21 people at Pattaya party violating Covid-19 decree

    Police arrest 21 people at Pattaya party violating Covid-19 decree

    Yet another party breaking all Covid-19 restrictions was just broken up in Central Pattaya tonight, with 21 people arrested. The event was in front of the Tree Town Market area on Soi Buakhao and police raided the party just before 9 pm. Pattaya and the rest of the Chon Buri province is now a maximum control dark red zone, and…

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