Covid-19 News
Thailand Covid-19 news, vaccine updates, travel restrictions, and government policies—stay informed on case numbers, safety measures, and global developments. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted source for Covid-19 updates in Thailand.
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Sponsored How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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250 Germans fly out of Phuket before airport closes on April 10
Some 250 German nationals flew out of the southern island of Phuket this morning on a special flight chartered to take them home before the airport closes on April 10. Condor Airlines flight DE8759 took off at 10:10am. Phuket has closed all its land and sea borders already, and Thailand is under a state of national emergency until at least…
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‘Pheu Thai’ pledges to work with the ruling party to fight Covid-19
Thailand’s main opposition party ‘Pheu Thai’ has pledged to work with the government in the battle against the Covid-19 outbreak. Party leader Sompon Amornvivat acknowledged that… “Thailand is now facing a crisis of immense proportions, which is affecting everyone’s daily life, with impacts on our health, income and the economy, all of which challenges our ability to weather the crisis…
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Bangkok, Phuket order convenience stores closed overnight to battle virus
To fight the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus, Bangkok’s convenience stores, food shops and stalls are to be closed from midnight to 5am, effective from now until end of April, by order of City Hall (the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, or BMA). A BMA spokesman says that all public and private parks in communities, housing estates and condos will also be…
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Thai Airways goes into hibernation until end of May, others ground fleets too
After a decade of financial struggles and corporate upheaval, Thailand’s national flag carrier, Thai Airways, with a previous reputation as one of Asia’s premier airlines, is ceasing all flights for a period of at least two months, due to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand has now allowed the suspension of all domestic and international flights.…
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Thailand confirms 104 new coronavirus cases (Thursday)
Thailand now has at total of 1,875 Covid-19 coronavirus cases, with 104 new cases confirmed over the last 24 hours and 3 more patients dying. Total deaths now stand at 15. Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman for the government’s newly formed Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, made the announcement today (Thursday). This continues a hopeful trend of new cases in Thailand overall…
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Phuket rooftop party busted, drugs seized
Police arrested 9 foreigners and 5 Thai women for partying in Patong in violation of orders against gathering in crowds, to control the spread of coronavirus disease. They were arrested on the rooftop of a rental house on Sirirat Road in tambon Patong of Kathu district last night after police received a complaint about a loud party. Those arrested included Australians,…
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Chiang Rai puts strict conditions on people entering the province
As of yesterday, the Governor of Chiang Rai Prajon Pratyakul issued an order that ‘everyone entering Chiang Rai province will have to wear a face mask and undergo screening at checkpoints’. “This order will apply to all visitors whether, on foot, private vehicles or public transport, those who cannot provide evidence of being a local resident or having a workplace…
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Phuket reports 12 new coronavirus cases, all from Patong
The southern island province of Phuket confirmed 12 new cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus today (Thursday), bringing the total on the island to 87. All appear to have originated in the island’s Patong area, most from the Bangla Road red light district. The town of Patong was placed on unofficial curfew yesterday as its governor issued a public decree urging…
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Thai banks report they can handle the impacts of the virus
As the Covid-19 coronavirus continues to spread in Thailand, authorities have temporarily shut off shopping malls, entertainment and sporting venues while allowing food stalls and restaurants to open, but only for take-out and delivery services. The measures have led to social disruption, unemployment, leave without pay and salary cuts. However, a senior official at the Bank of Thailand reports, “Thailand’s…
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Panama’s separation of the sexes to fight coronavirus
A new, rather unconventional strategy is being rolled out in the Central American nation of Panama to fight the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus. Separation of the sexes. Beginning yesterday, only women are allowed to leave their homes to buy necessities, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Men are allowed to venture outs to run errands on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.…
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70% of Thais follow social distancing guidelines, 80% or more needed
“Social distancing is a very powerful tool to fight against Covid-19 and this weapon needs the engagement of all Thais.” “Social distancing,” a new phrase for many since the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak began in January, is considered a crucial strategy to help stem the spread of the disease. And according to the latest survey conducted by the Department of Mental…
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Yala authorities fear local Muslims will ignore Friday prayer ban
Officials in Yala in Thailand’s Deep South are urgently trying to convince Muslim leaders of the need to follow orders that suspends traditional Friday prayers at all mosques. The Chularatchamontri, spirtual leader of Thailand’s many Muslims, ordered prayers suspended over worries that large gatherings may spread the Covid-19 coronavirus. Provincial governor Chaiyasit Panitpong, meanwhile, appealed to residents to contact health authorities…
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Stranded migrant workers can stay and work in Thailand, for now
Today the Thai Labour Ministy is allowing stranded workers from Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar to stay and work beyond the expiration date of their work permits, due to the recent closure of their borders. Labour Minister Mom Ratchawongse Chatumongol Sonakul says that the migrant workers are allowed to continue with their work until the borders reopen. “This decision will benefit…
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6 Covid-19 recovered patients head home to their families
The hospital director in Songkla, Dr. Supat Hasuwankit, posted on his Facebook page today, that it was a happy moment for 6 patients and their families after having been in hospital since March 17t fighting against the deadly Coronavirus, to finally go home. “The group had been to Malaysia, to attend a religious ceremony earlier this month, which is where they…
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Dead train passenger in Prachuap Khiri Khan had coronavirus
A train passenger found dead yesterday in the province of Prachuap Khiri Khan, about 240 kilometres south of Bangkok, has tested positive for Covid-19 coronavirus. The 57 year old man, who was not named, was found dead in front of a restroom after his train from Bangkok to Narathiwat in the far South stopped for a rest break, according to authorities.…
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BOT responds to temporary breakdowns for online payments
The new online payment systems, put in place to provide payments related to government stimulus packages, have suffered from temporary breakdowns in the past few days. Today users also reported problems with the Bangkok Bank’s online payment system and ATMs machines going offline. More users are also reporting problems with the governments’ website providing financial support for informal workers during…
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Thai Immigration proposes extending tourist visas until June 30
The Thai Immigration Bureau has asked the Cabinet to approve a measure extending tourist visas until June 30 for foreigners stranded in Thailand following the disruption of international flights due to the Covid-19 coronavirus. According to a report in Thaivisa, the Immigration Bureau wants foreigners who have had their travel plans disrupted by the virus, be given a visa extension…
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PM may suspend public transport over virus fears
Even though intra- and interprovincial travel has fallen by about 40%, following the declaration of a national state of emergency last week, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha said today that he might order a reduction or even a suspension of public transport if the rate of Covid-19 coronavirus infections does not show a sustained drop. The PM says he “might have to…
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Thai PM says tourists will get automatic visa extensions
Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is concerned that foreigners seeking visa extensions have been gathering in their hundreds at Thailand’s immigration offices each day, at a time when social distancing is needed due to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. This from a spokesman for the Foreign Affairs Ministry today. Deputy ministry spokesman Natapanu Nopakun announced that the cabinet has responded with a…
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15 minute coronavirus tests now on trial in Thailand – VIDEO
As promised, Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University has rolled out a new 15 minute Covid-19 coronavirus test strip, aimed at increasing the number of people that can be screened for the Covid-19 virus and easing the burden on Thailand’s health system. Virus infections rose sharply in March, with panicked citizens flocking to already stressed hospitals for coronavirus testing. The situation is expected…
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Thailand coronavirus cases rise to 1771, two more deaths
Thailand now has 1771 Covid-19 coronavirus cases, with 120 new cases confirmed over the last 24 hours and 2 more patients dying.The government’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration made the announcement this morning (April 1). The cases are divided into three groups… The first group of 51 are connected to cluster cases. One person joins the “boxing match cluster,” 11…
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Bangkok Airways cancels all domestic flights from April 7
Bangkok Airways has announced today that they will cancel all it domestic flights from April 7 – 30. The company’s vice president, Tresarum Sitakalin says the flights that are being cancelled are… Bangkok – Chiang Mai Bangkok – Phuket Bangkok – Trat Bangkok – Sukhothai Bangkok – Samui Samui – Phuket “The company had previously decreased flight frequencies on these…
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6 new coronavirus cases in Phuket (Wednesday)
Phuket has confirmed 6 new Covid-19 coronavirus cases today (Wednesday), bringing the total on in the southern province to 75 since the outbreak began in January. Phuket has effectively sealed its borders and become a virtual fortress. It will close its airport on April 10 but some flights are still leaving taking foreigners back home. All the new cases have a…
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Urgent repatriation notice for Swiss and German citizens as immigration rules tighten
An urgent repatriation notice has been issued for Swiss and citizens in Thailand. According to Richard Barrow’s Twitter feed, flights are being urgently chartered to evacuate citizens of both nations: A notice posted on the Embassy of Switzerlad’s website reads… For Swiss travellers in Thailand: Swiss charter flights from Thailand to Switzerland/update… Bangkok – Zurich – Good news: seats are…
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Thailand’s 2020 exports to fall 500 billion baht
There is no doubt Thailand’s fragile export business is gong to be hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak. Following on from the impacts of the high Thai baht value, regional competition and the fallout from the US-China trade wars, Thailand is poised for one of its worst performing export years. “Under the worst-case scenario in which the coronavirus Covid-19 crisis…
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Bangkok police arrest 6 Vietnamese in mask hoarding sting
Immigration police yesterday arrested 6 Vietnamese nationals in a sting operation, for allegedly hoarding hand sanitiser and facemasks. The items are highly prized due to the current Covid-19 coronavirus situation. They were arrested at a house in Bangkok’s Suan Luang district. Police reportedly found 142,500 face masks and 12,000 bottles of hand gels, 13 barrels of alcohol, three gel making…
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PM warns not everyone eligible for 5000 baht aid package
“About 20 million people have registered for the assistance. But this does not mean they will all get the money.” A week ago, the Thai government announced it would supply “informal workers” with 5000 baht per month for 3 months during the Covid-19 coronavirus crisis. Now it warns it will take it back from those who have registered but are…
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40 new coronavirus test clinics coming in April
Getting tested for the Covid-19 coronavirus in Thailand will soon be a lot easier, as 40 more labs are expected to be given approval to run tests nationwide within a month. A spokesman for the Department of Medical Sciences says there are currently 57 labs being certified to run tests, with 40 more awaiting assessment before they can begin testing.…
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