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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Health ministry begs children to ‘save parents’ and avoid Songkran visits
Songkran, the traditional Thai New Year festival, is typically a week long celebration including a mass exodus to the provinces as dutiful children visit their homes bringing best wishes to their elders. This year’s celebrations have been postponed indefinitely to prevent that exodus, for fear of spreading the Covid-19 coronavirus to the provinces and among the elderly. Now the the Department…
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Phuket reports 14 new coronavirus cases, total now 140
Phuket has reported 14 new Covid-19 coronavirus cases today (Wednesday). The island is on virtual lockdown, especially Patong, home of the Bangla Road red light area, the flashpoint of most of the island’s infections. The new number bring the island’s infections to 140. Phuket has closed off all land and sea routes and barred entry to all but essential goods vehicles,…
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Thailand’s “Wild Boar” vows to save his province
The northern province of Lampang been hit by Covid-19, despite the best efforts of its famous governor, Narongsak Osotthanakorn. Who? Narongsak was the face of the rescue mission to retrieve the 13 young men from the Tham Luang cave two years ago and was the Chiang Rai governor at the time. “When I heard of the first Covid-19 infection in…
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Boris Johnson ‘stable’ but on oxygen support as he battles coronavirus
Britain’s PM Boris Johnson spent his second night in an intensive care unit receiving supplemental oxygen, as Britain reels under the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic that’s confined its exuberant leader to a bed reserved for the sickest patients. Johnson is the first world leader to fall sick with the virus. UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is carrying out the PM’s…
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Link between Covid-19 infections and ‘smell blindness’
The Royal College of Otolaryngologists, Head and Neck Surgeons of Thailand is alerting doctors to pay special attention to signs of anosmia (loss of smell or ‘smell blindness’) with Covid-19 patients and people who are being tested for Covid-19. Anosmia was found to be more common in patients with mild symptoms of Covid-19. The chairperson of the royal college, Professor…
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More than 600 prosecuted for violating emergency decree
The national state of emergency declared on March 26 and the resultant curfews are no laughing matter, and violators are being prosecuted to the full extent of the law. More than 600 people nationwide have been prosecuted for defying the emergency decree invoked to contain the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus. A spokesman for the Office of the Attorney General says…
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Covid-19: Your questions answered
by Andrew J Wood We are living in extraordinary times. With the world forced into a complete shutdown and travel by any means frowned upon and commercial aircraft largely grounded GLOBALLY we are all in #StayAtHome so we can #TravelTomorrow mode. Our national leaders are also making televised addresses reinforcing the gravitas of the moment. No-one captured the mood of…
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Boxing fans preparing to donate blood plasma to help others with their recovery
Today, boxing fans who has fully recovered from the Covid-19 virus has announced that they are planning to donate their blood plasma to help doctor and medical officials study on ways to help others. With the donation fans are hoping that it could help with the recovery of other patients and hopefully, find a cure for the pandemic. A ring…
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Curfew violations on the rise
Despite the Emergency Decree of a nationwide curfew enforced by police checkpoints, armed soldiers, hefty fines and threats of jail time, people are still found to be violating the orders by going out. This from Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. “Not only are people ignoring the curfew, but the numbers of those caught violating…
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Thai government schools push reopening to July 1
The cabinet announced today that government schools will be permitted to reopen from July 1 instead of May 16, which was in the original school calendar. A government spokesman says the cabinet acknowledged that the first semester of the 2020 academic year will have to be adjusted and schools will be permitted to start the semester on July 1, a…
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1.9 trillion baht stimulus aims to relieve Covid-19 impacts on Thai business
Today, on the weekly meeting with the Thai Cabinet, it was concluded and approved that the third phase of the economic stimulus will commence as of today. The stimulus is valued at 1.9 trillion baht and is aimed to relieve some of the impacts of the Covid-19 outbreak. PM Prayut Chan-o-cha revealed that the third phase of economic stimulus measures…
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HRH Princess Sirindhorn sets up fund to aid Thai hospitals and health care providers
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has assigned the Chaipattana Foundation (a non-government organisation) to set up funds and raise money to help hospitals and health care providers as an aid to battle against the Covid-19 virus. The fund is to support the requirement of medical equipment and supplies for hospitals and health care providers who are currently treating…
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CP will start production of medical masks in Thailand
4 weeks ago the Charoen Pokphand Group announced plans to build a factory specifically to start the production of medical masks for medical personnel and Thai citizens. CP has now bought an automatic medical mask machine from China with the ability to produce 50,000 medical masks per day. In the past 3 weeks, the CP group has been constructing the…
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Proper use and disposal of sanitary masks
With new regulations in Phuket for the compulsory use of sanitary face masks, it is important to know how to properly use and dispose of sanitary masks. The World Health Organisation has created some instructional videos and provided recommendations to keep the mask the most effective possible while at the same time ensuring it’s proper maintenance and disposal. While the…
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Foreigners in Thailand worried about their security
Ever had the feeling you’re not wanted at the moment? As the highly infectious Covid-19 disease spreads through Bangkok’s streets, Thai PBS World reports the city’s expatriate community has multiple reasons to be nervous. The trouble began in early last month when Thailand’s mercurial Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul blasted “all farang” (a derogatory term for white-westerner), for not wearing…
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New coronavirus cases in Thailand fall to 38, 1 more death
“The lower number of daily new cases and the slower increase in accumulated patients apparently resulted from the nationwide curfew starting on April 3.” In another dramatic drop, Thailand’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration reported only 38 new Covid-19 coronavirus cases in the previous 24 hours, and one additional death in its daily press briefing today (Tuesday). The cumulative death…
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How to make a CDC-recommended face mask (without a sewing machine) – VIDEO
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the US announced they were recommending citizens wear masks in public as a way to curb the Covid-19 pandemic. “We now know from recent studies that a significant portion of individuals who are ‘coronavirus asymptomatic’ (not showing symptoms), and that even those who eventually develop symptoms, can transmit the virus to others.…
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Phuket’s new cases (Tuesday), all originating from Bangla Road area
Numbers are out for new cases in Phuket over the past 24 hours. Case 124: 23 year old Russian women Case 125: 26 year old Kazakhstan women Case 126: 28 year old Russian women All 3 new cases in Phuket had a history of visiting or staying in the Bangla Road entertainment zone for up to a month, and having…
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Phuket Governor enforces wearing of face masks
Yesterday, Phuket Governor ordered that all residents and travellers in the province (he means ‘everyone’) must wear sanitary face masks in public spaces, at all times. Violators will face up to 20,000 baht fine, the order takes effect from today until further notice. Governor Phakkhaphong Thawiphat says that the Phuket Committee for Communicable Disease has agreed to enforce the order…
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CAUTION: Sterilising machines unsafe for humans
Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration deputy secretary-general Supattra Boonserm has revealed that The World Health Oraganisation is encouraging people not to use any Covid-19 “sterilising machine services”, including UV and spray tunnels, as these are harmful to the skin and exposure to the radiation or chemicals may even cause cancer. “Most of the antiseptic used in the spray tunnels are…
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Hungarian tourist dies in Phuket after failing to reveal Bangla Road visits
Dr Chalermpong Sukhonthapol, the director of Phuket’s Vachira Hospital, has revealed details of a Hungarian tourist who recently died of Covid-19, but had earlier withheld details of his visits to the island’s red light district in Bangla Road, Patong. Bangla Road has been the island’s hotzone for new cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus. The case has resulted in more than…
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UK prime minister moved into intensive care as coronavirus symptoms worsen
The UK PM Boris Johnson is now in an intensive care unit after his condition with a bout of coronavirus symptoms “worsened.” A spokesman said he had been moved on the advice of his medical team and was receiving “excellent care”. The 55 year old prime minister was first admitted to the St Thomas’ Hospital in London on Sunday night,…
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Thai Immigration seek visa relief for stranded foreigners
Thailand’s Immigration Chief Pol Lt Gen Sompong Chingduang, is seeking cabinet approval for new measures to help foreigners in Thailand affected by the Covid-19 crisis. The proposal will be submitted to the cabinet for approval this week, he said. Cabinet meets each Tuesday. The proposals follow a difficult week for foreigners and immigration officials coping with long queues of panicking…
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Tiger in Bronx Zoo tests positive for Coronavirus
Nadia, a four year old female Malayan tiger, has tested positive for Covid-19 according to the Wildlife Conservation Society of the Bronx Zoo in the US. She, her sister Azul, two Amur tigers, and three African lions all developed a dry cough but are expected to recover. This positive Covid-19 test for the tiger was confirmed by USDA’s National Veterinary…
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Central bank gives advice on disinfecting cash
The Bank of Thailand has announced today that all Thai citizens should clean all banknotes and coins to help contain the spread of the virus and ensure that the bank notes are not contaminated with the Covid-19 virus. The BoT says notes can be disinfected by briefly soaking them in a soapy solution or a dishwashing liquid. Then the notes…
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All Nakhon Ratchasima hotels ordered closed
Today the governor of the northeastern Nakhon Ratchasima province Vichian Channothai, also chairman of the provincial communicable diseases committee, signed an order to shut down all hotels to fight the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus. The order is effective immediately and until further notice. All hotels with current guests are required to inform district health officials of their total numbers,…
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UPDATE: Ban on arriving flights lifts at midnight tonight
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand’s three day flight arrival ban will end at midnight tonight. The ban on all aircraft from entering Thailand for three days came into effect when some 152 returning Thai nationals landed at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Friday evening and refused quarantine orders, saying they had not been informed of the requirement and demanding to return…
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Interior Ministry: No 24 hour curfew, for now
The Interior Ministry has officially denied rumours that Thailand will soon enforce a 24 hour curfew. A statement from Deputy Interior Minister Niphon Bunyamanee was clear: “The ministry recently dispatched an order to provincial governors to prepare 5 measures in case the Covid-19 situation escalates. These preparations are not for a 24 hour curfew.” “The authority to announce extension or…
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Interior ministry sends new measures to provincial governors to fight coronavirus
The permanent secretary of Thailand’s interior ministry has sent an urgent communiqué to the nation’s provincial governors, telling them that the newly formed National Covid-19 Coronavirus Disease Management Centre will require new measures at the provincial level to combat the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus. These measures are issued under the national state of emergency declared last week by the…
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51 new virus cases nationwide, infections among health workers rise
New confirmed cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus in Thailand fell to only 51 today, the lowest number in weeks. Sadly, the new cases include 13 health workers. The number had trended steadily down until yesterday, when it shot back above 100. 3 additional deaths were also reported today. Total confirmed infections in the country now stand at 2,220, the cumulative…
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