Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Health Minister points to migrant workers as likely source of virus in Samut Sakhon

Thai Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul says migrant workers are likely to be the reason behind a small Covid-19 outbreak in the central province of Samut Sakhon. After a 67 year old woman with no international travel history was found to be infected with Covid-19, 3 of her family members have also tested positive.
According to a Bangkok Post report, Sophon Iamsirithaworn from the Department of Disease Control says the woman initially fell ill with muscle pain and a loss of smell on December 13. On December 16, she tested positive for Covid-19 and was admitted to Samut Sakhon Hospital. The woman’s 95 year old mother, 73 year old sister, and 57 year old sister-in-law were all subsequently found to be infected.
It’s understood around 26 people are considered at high risk of infection, with health officials dividing them into 4 groups. The first consists of 7 relatives, including the 3 who have already tested positive. The second group consists of the woman’s 39 year old son and 2 Burmese nationals. All 3 worked with her at her shrimp shop in the Talad Klang Kung fish market and are waiting on their test results. The third group comprises 8 healthcare workers, all of whom have tested negative. The fourth group consists of 8 people who work at the fish market, who are awaiting test results. Sophon says there are a further 139 people who are considered to be at low risk.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Anutin says officials may have to track and test up to 10,000 people in an effort to establish the source of the original infection, although they appear to have a theory.
“The source is likely from migrant workers, according to a report from the Department of Disease Control chief.”
Anutin says he will pay a personal visit to Samut Sakhon province and has given the DDC a week to confirm the source of the infection. Meanwhile, the Talad Klang Kung fish market has been closed for 3 days for deep cleaning and disinfection. Manager Damrong Munsin says he believes it unlikely that the woman contracted the virus from Burmese workers at the market.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
Keep in contact with The Thaiger by following our Facebook page.
Never miss out on future posts by following The Thaiger.
Environment
Thailand on fire – NASA satellite website tracks the country’s farm fires

Thailand is burning. The burning off of harvested crop plantations is lighting up the agricultural areas. The truth is starkly revealed in the live NASA satellite feeds which track the fires around the world.
CHART: Fires in the past 10 days around parts of Thailand – Firms.Modaps
Concentrations of the current fires can be seen in Central Thailand, north of Bangkok, parts of Isaan, north east of Bangkok, and around Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand. Notably the concentration of fires in northern Cambodia and across the north-western border in Myanmar, is also causing plenty of problems as the foreign smoke drifts across the borders. No matter what Thai officials do to enforce the rice, sugar and corn plantation burn-offs, there is little they can do about the haze drifting across the borders.
Bangkok, so close to clusters of fires, is in for a bad air pollution day anytime the light winds of the start of the year blow from the north or the east. The lack of rain adds to the problem, the annual problem, that engulfs Thailand’s capital during days between December and April, with the worst month, statistically, being March.
The alternative method of preparing for the next harvest, mechanical removal of the refuse and waste after harvesting, is both unpopular in Thailand and economically unviable for the small farmers whose margins remain thin with the multi-national buyers of their produce pushing for lower and lower prices every year.
In Chiang Mai, from January to the end of March, the locals even call it the ‘burning season’. Coupled with the hot season, the farmers in northern Thailand burn their fields to prepare land for the next harvest and also to get rid of biowastes like corn that can’t be sold in the market. It’s officially illegal to do the burn offs but the lack of enforcement leaves the problem unresolved and the smog and haze remain as predictable as the annual wet season.
Chiang Mai also has a local geographic problem which exacerbates the bad smoke pollution. The city is in a valley, surrounded by hills, trapping in the smoke and helping block any breezes that could otherwise blow it away.
For today, Bangkok’s air pollution is better than the past two days but still registering as ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’ with city readings mostly between 140 – 170. Parts of the city, mostly south-east and south west, were registering readings above 300 in the past few days.
SOURCE: IQair.com
Watch this video for some more information about Bangkok’s smog…
Keep in contact with The Thaiger by following our Facebook page.
Never miss out on future posts by following The Thaiger.
Crime
Nonthaburi gamblers given jail sentences

Following a raid on an illegal gambling den in the central province of Nonthaburi, 41 people have been handed jail sentences at Nonthaburi Provincial Court. Somjit Hinkerd and Sorasak Janthamanee were convicted of running a gambling den in the Bang Bua Thong district and sentenced to 3 months and 15 days’ imprisonment. The other gamblers were sentenced to 15 days’ imprisonment, suspended for 1 year, and a 10,000 baht fine each.
The gamblers were all arrested during a raid on Thursday night, which caught them playing a card game known as Dragon-Tiger. Nation Thailand reports that the property is owned by Sorasak and it’s understood the gambling was organised by Somjit. The operation took the form of a “moving casino”, in that it would regularly change location to avoid being caught.
Illegal gambling dens are thought to have played a significant role in the resurgence of Covid-19 in Thailand. PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has appealed for the public’s help in identifying such operations, saying the government needs citizens’ cooperation to shut them down.
SOURCE: Nation Thailand
Keep in contact with The Thaiger by following our Facebook page.
Never miss out on future posts by following The Thaiger.
Protests
Student arrested in dormitory at night, charged with lèse majesté offences

A student at Thammasat University’s Rangsit Campus has been arrested and charged with violating Thailand’s strict lèse majesté law. Ironically, it was his calls for the law to be abolished that led to Sirichai Natueng, aka, “New”, being charged. The group, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, has confirmed the student’s arrest on its Twitter page.
After being taken into custody, the pro-democracy activist was driven to Khlong Luang police station, in the central province of Pathum Thani, just outside Bangkok. Other anti-government activists, including Parit Chiwarak, aka, “Penguin”, and Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul (“Rung”) followed, accompanied by representatives from TLHR.
Since the arrest, the hashtags #saveนิวมธ (Save New) and #ยกเลิกม112 (Cancel Section 112) have been trending on Twitter. Section 112 of Thailand’s Criminal Code is the law governing lèse majesté, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years’ imprisonment.
Sirichai, a member of the pro-democracy group United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration, has been charged with 2 lèse majesté offences. He is accused of defacing an image of the Monarchy, as well as the Rangsit campus sign, with graffiti calling for the abolition of the lèse majesté law.
SOURCE: Nation Thailand
Keep in contact with The Thaiger by following our Facebook page.
Never miss out on future posts by following The Thaiger.
- Coronavirus (Covid-19)2 days ago
Thailand threw a tourism party. No one arrived.
- Bangkok2 days ago
BTS skytrain maximum fare rate increasing to 158 baht despite backlash
- Crime23 hours ago
Australian man wanted for allegedly sexually abusing children in Thailand
- Coronavirus (Covid-19)3 days ago
Norway adjusts advice after 28 possible vaccine-related deaths of elderly people
- Coronavirus (Covid-19)2 days ago
Thailand’s PM says he won’t let Thais become vaccine “guinea pigs”
- Bangkok1 day ago
Police raid Bangkok restaurant, more than 80 people face charges for violating Emergency Decree
- Air Pollution2 days ago
Thailand on fire – NASA satellite website tracks the country’s farm fires
- Indonesia4 days ago
UPDATE: At least 34 dead and 600 injured after Indonesia earthquake
chris
Saturday, December 19, 2020 at 10:33 am
this guy is an imbecile. how is he even qualified to be in this position?
Issan John
Saturday, December 19, 2020 at 11:30 am
As well “qualified” as his opposite numbers in the US and the UK, Alex Azar and Matt Hancock ….. and he seems to have been rather less of an imbecile and more effective than both put together, not that it would be difficult …..
Peter
Saturday, December 19, 2020 at 1:05 pm
Only a total idiot like you Pauper John could spout such garbage.
Your tedious anti western racism is well documented here. Luckily, most of us made a success of our lives and can still afford to live in the West, while you tend the rice fields by day in your Isaan sh1t shack.
Your to be pitied.
Ian
Saturday, December 19, 2020 at 6:32 pm
Thiers only one imbocile on this sight with a few minions that agree with him lol.
Once again always outsiders that have covid i dont know wether to laugh or cry for Thailand so sad that we have lunatics running the asylum and some farangs allowed to knock the west day after day Thinking I’m alright jack sat in their wood shacks
Alte Ledertasche
Saturday, December 19, 2020 at 10:42 pm
100% agree
Preesy Chepuce
Saturday, December 19, 2020 at 10:55 pm
I’ve begun to realise that “Issan John” only makes sense when you read his CCP-inspired comments in the original mandarin.
Keith
Saturday, December 19, 2020 at 10:45 am
What else would you expect from this racist moron
John Brown
Saturday, December 19, 2020 at 3:05 pm
Hello? Genomic sequencing could easily and quickly determine if this came from Myanmar. Why is this not plan A?? If they are going to spend 100x the resources on 10,000 traces, why not this???
Thailand is a Land of Facepalms, I swear
James Pate
Saturday, December 19, 2020 at 9:38 pm
Excellent point. Me? I would have never known this. I’m no expert and would never pretend to be. Thanks for this.
Toby Andrews
Saturday, December 19, 2020 at 11:03 am
There only one remedy. Send the cheap labour migrants home and Thais will have to work for B500 a day.
Unfair to the Thais I know but it is the only way.
Ynwaps
Saturday, December 19, 2020 at 1:29 pm
How is it racism? It’s proven that poor people are more likely to spread the virus around in their communities because they can’t afford to social distance. Happened to the Singaporean society despite all good prevention measures.
But what can be done other than deep cleaning? The answers might be unsettling for the general public.
Alte Ledertasche
Saturday, December 19, 2020 at 10:48 pm
Good idea…this would tank the Thai economy in weeks. I personally woyld love to see that.
I remember around 3 years ago when there wasca crack down on Myanmar Labor. On Phuket construction companys contracted for governmental projects counldnt finish their jobs as they were running out of labor. The crackdown was revoked quickly.
Thailand needs foreign labor, they are the backbone of the Thai econony.
Trevor dothit
Saturday, December 19, 2020 at 2:25 pm
It’s a shame he was really born at the wrong time. 1930s germany or 1950s america would have been a wonderful opportunity for him tk really shine.
James Pate
Saturday, December 19, 2020 at 9:41 pm
They will never blame another Thai if there is a Burmese scapegoat to be found nearby.
Alte Ledertasche
Saturday, December 19, 2020 at 10:41 pm
Bob the Builder is not different from most Thai people. He is a brainless idiot.
crispy
Saturday, December 19, 2020 at 10:43 pm
I thought it was the dirty old falang.
700 per 10,000 is very high indeed. Acountry gets red-listed at 20.
Turns out getting tough on covid has been a disaster. The graphs are much the same whatever you do.
Now, there’ll interesting question.Will Thailand openup to the inoculated?or Williton carry on u til its own population is inoculated (not expected till 2025)? Or will it just be open and say why it needs to close its borders,shut down tourismand manufacturing (where Thailand ex Elland makes heaps of money)?
Patrick Kelly
Sunday, December 20, 2020 at 2:08 am
The China apologist sounds like a baby wolf warrior in the making. Wuhan Virus will be remembered for generations.
Bill Fischer
Sunday, December 20, 2020 at 11:10 am
This health minister ALWAYS points at someone else as the cause of problems in Thailand. It’s either a politically advantageous position or he’s a bit xenophobic.