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  • Covid-19 NewsChinese tourists arrested for breaking quarantine rules in Phuket

    Chinese tourists arrested for breaking quarantine rules in Phuket

    Four Chinese citizens have been arrested, after having their temperatures checked, in the Saku area, Phuket, after “defying coronavirus quarantine rules”. They spent Thursday night at Saku police station for leaving their rented accommodation without notifying authorities of their move from their previously registered address. Two of them were found at a house in Phuket Town, the other two had headed to…

  • Covid-19 NewsUS Covid-19 cases exceed 100,000 people, South Korea leads the world with testing

    US Covid-19 cases exceed 100,000 people, South Korea leads the world with testing

    The US has kicked the number of cases of Covid-19 coronavirus over 100,000 people. As testing continues to expand rapidly, the US is seeing daily spikes of 10,000+ in recent days (18,294 in the past 24 hours). On March 20 there were 19,000 active cases recorded for the US. The numbers are expected to continue to rise steadily in the coming…

  • Covid-19 NewsBritish PM Boris Johnson tests positive for Covid-19

    British PM Boris Johnson tests positive for Covid-19

    The British PM has tested positive for the coronavirus. Boris Johnson says he developed “mild symptoms over the past 24 hours”, including a cough and temperature. Mr Johnson was last seen last night, UK time, as he clapped outside his home as part of a nationwide gesture thanking National Health Service staff. 55 year old Mr Johnson maintains he is now…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today – Friday, March 27

    Thailand News Today – Friday, March 27

    91 new coronavirus cases, 1 more death in Thailand Thailand’s Department of Disease Control has confirmed a 91 new cases of the the Covid19 coronavirus at their daily press briefing this morning. There was also an additional death reported. The new numbers bring the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 1136 and deaths to 5. Of the…

  • Environment NewsChiang Mai fire spikes air pollution up to 20 times ‘safe’ levels

    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…

  • Bangkok News26 year old British man leaps to death from 13th floor in Bangkok

    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…

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

    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,…

  • Covid-19 NewsWhat are your Consulates doing to help at this time?

    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…

  • Environment NewsPotential catastrophe facing Thailand’s elephant camps

    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…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today – Thursday, March 26

    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…

  • Covid-19 NewsNew cases in Thailand – 111, pushes total over 1,000

    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…

  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket, special restrictions for locals (Thursday)

    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…

  • Covid-19 NewsThailand’s State of Emergency – INFOGRAPHIC

    Thailand’s State of Emergency – INFOGRAPHIC

    No fuss, clear, easy to read. This infographic from the Australian Embassy in Thailand lays out all the latest restrictions imposed on people living in Thailand at the moment under the current State of Emergency. The situation is likely to update daily. We will publish all the latest information at thethaiger.com. We have a social page dedicated to the Covid-19…

  • Environment NewsChiang Mai smog reaches dangerous levels – 12 x ‘safe’ levels

    Chiang Mai smog reaches dangerous levels – 12 x ‘safe’ levels

    As if the northern city doesn’t have enough to worry about with the coronavirus and scorching daily temperatures, residents are still having to face choking smoke and smog from, mostly, deliberately lit forest fires in the region. PM2.5 levels in some areas soared up to 592 micrograms per cubic metre yesterday, more than ten times the ‘safe’ level. This morning…

  • Covid-19 NewsThailand’s Prime Minister takes control as the State of Emergency is activated

    Thailand’s Prime Minister takes control as the State of Emergency is activated

    The Thai PM says he promises to do his best to lead Thailand through this Covid-19 crisis, to ensure the safety of the Thai people, and urges everyone to have faith in his leadership. Thailand’s PM Prayut Chan-o-cha spoke earnestly to the Thai people telling them to expect the worst in the next “several weeks or months” as the virus…

  • Covid-19 NewsCurfew on tourists, foreign and Thai, in Phuket

    Curfew on tourists, foreign and Thai, in Phuket

    The Phuket Governor has been forced to announce an emergency curfew to prevent a repeat of last night’s spontaneous gatherings on Patong Beach. With all the bars and entertainment venues closed Governor Phakaphong has requested that tourists, both foreign and Thai, to remain inside their accommodation from 5pm until midnight, tonight.

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today – Wednesday, March 25

    Thailand News Today – Wednesday, March 25

    107 new coronavirus cases confirmed (Wednesday) Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health and the Department of Disease Control announced 107 new confirmed cases of the Covid-19 Coronavirus in their daily press briefing this morning. This makes the total number of cases found in Thailand since the outbreak began in January 934, with 4 total deaths. Yesterday 106 confirmed cases were announced.…

  • Covid-19 NewsCovid-19 UPDATE: US records nearly 10,000 new cases, Thailand total 827 cases

    Covid-19 UPDATE: US records nearly 10,000 new cases, Thailand total 827 cases

    Today the world’s numbers of cases surge past 400,000. Two days ago the numbers were 50,000 less. The current hotspots are the US and Europe where the pandemic is still spreading swiftly. The US had the largest batch of new cases in the past 24 hours, adding nearly 10,000 new cases to its 53,609 total – 9,875 cases in the…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today – Tuesday, March 24

    Thailand News Today – Tuesday, March 24

    Thailand under a State of emergency – Prime Minister Thai PM Prime Minister 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 to deal with Covid-19. The decree means the PM will have the executive power to declare further measures to contain the virus, including…

  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket declares ‘lockdown’ of all but essential services

    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.

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

    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…

  • Covid-19 NewsCabinet will look at proposal to help with home internet

    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…

  • Covid-19 NewsCovid-19 UPDATE: Thailand’s latest cases, ‘Olympics’ decision in four weeks

    Covid-19 UPDATE: Thailand’s latest cases, ‘Olympics’ decision in four weeks

    As the world’s new cases soar past 338,000 this morning (including 9,339 new cases announced in the US over the past 24 hours), Thailand is bracing itself for a wave of cases outside of Bangkok. 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…

  • Covid-19 NewsBye bye Bangkok, 1000s of workers head home

    Bye bye Bangkok, 1000s of workers head home

    The Thai PM was asked over the weekend if there would be additional measures to tackle the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus. He replied “We’re working on it.” Bangkok’s lockdown-you-have-when-you’re-not-having-a-lockdown, is pushing 1,000s of casual and migrant workers out of the city ‘up country’ as Bangkok shutters many of its businesses. Many are heading home to Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos…

  • Covid-19 NewsOfficials concerned about people heading ‘up country’ after being put off work

    Officials concerned about people heading ‘up country’ after being put off work

    Bangkok’s next door provinces are imposing increased preventative measures to deal with Thailand’s current surge of Covid-19 cases by closing a range of retail business, starting today. The closures are set to add a wave of newly-unemployed who may decide to head home for the annual Songkran early, and that’s a problem. The provinces that have followed the lead from…

  • Covid-19 News13 cases in Phuket, official

    13 cases in Phuket, official

    13 cases of Covid-19 coronavirus have now been confirmed in the southern Thai island of Phuket. 6 new cases have been announced in the past 24 hours. On Friday the Phuket Governor admitted to five cases on the island – 2 Chinese visitors in early February and 3 current cases involving a Danish family. 188 new cases have been announced…

  • Covid-19 NewsCovid-19 UPDATE: World cases exceed 300,000, Italian hospitals overwhelmed

    Covid-19 UPDATE: World cases exceed 300,000, Italian hospitals overwhelmed

    In the past week, the number of Covid-19 coronavirus cases has nearly doubled. Same with the number of deaths. This morning (10am Thai time) more than 308,000 people are now infected with the novel coronavirus worldwide, and that’s only the people who have been tested and identified. The most worrying rises have been in the US, Spain, Italy, Germany and…

  • Covid-19 NewsMore airline cancellations as options dry up for stranded visitors

    More airline cancellations as options dry up for stranded visitors

    It is becoming increasingly difficult to fly in an out of Thailand, posing more challenges for stranded foreign visitors and tourists. Last week the Thai government estimated there were some 500,000 overseas visitors currently in Thailand. Some of the latest cancellations from local carriers… • Budget airline VietJet suspended its flights to major Southeast Asian destinations, out of Vietnam, including…

  • Covid-19 NewsBangkok closures – the details and the panic buying

    Bangkok closures – the details and the panic buying

    After today’s announcement from the BMA that the closures around the city would be ramped up, supermarkets started filling up as the shelves started becoming increasingly empty. The additions to the closure list is the latest efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19 around the Thai capital. Bangkokians have started to stock up on essential goods after the Bangkok Metropolitan…

  • Covid-19 NewsBangkok closes shopping centres and markets from tomorrow

    Bangkok closes shopping centres and markets from tomorrow

    It’s the lockdown you have when you haven’t really declared a full lockdown. Today’s announcement from the Bangkok government is a step close to a virtual close-down of most Bangkok retail. Today’s order closes all department stores and markets in the capital for three weeks. The measures are the latest attempts to stem the rise in cases of Covid-19 around…