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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  • Paxlovid deal allows generics of Covid-19 treatment for 95 countries

    Paxlovid deal allows generics of Covid-19 treatment for 95 countries

    Pfizer struck a deal with Medicines Patent Pool to allow generic drug manufacturers to produce its new Paxlovid antiviral Covid-19 pills cheaply for less wealthy countries. The deal was announced yesterday and will bring down the cost of the Covid-19 treatment course for 95 countries that are considered low and middle-income. The access covers about 53% of the world population.…

  • RT-LAMP test could reduce time and cost of Covid-19 testing

    RT-LAMP test could reduce time and cost of Covid-19 testing

    A new style of Covid-19 test has been created in Thailand by a team at Chulalongkorn University and is said to be accurate, easy, and cheap. The 3-gene RT-LAMP method test was developed by the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Science, the Department of Chemistry, the Department of Microbiology, and the Innovation Hub of Chulalongkorn University. The Covid-19 test…

  • Wednesday Covid Update: 6,524 new cases; provincial totals

    Wednesday Covid Update: 6,524 new cases; provincial totals

    56 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 20,199 with 20,105 of those fatalities during the latest wave, which was first recorded on April 1. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 6,524 new Covid-19 cases and 7,191 recoveries. There are now 91,382 people in Thailand being…

  • Bangkok officials say 100% of residents will be fully vaccinated by end of the year

    Bangkok officials say 100% of residents will be fully vaccinated by end of the year

    Bangkok’s entire population will be fully vaccinated by the end of the year, according to Governor Aswin Kwanmuang. He says the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has set a goal of vaccinating 100% of residents by the end of 2021. According to a Thai PBS World report, 8,734,534 people have now received their first dose and 7,512,946 their second. 85% of high-risk…

  • Officials call for Pattaya restaurant patrons to get Covid-19 tested

    Officials call for Pattaya restaurant patrons to get Covid-19 tested

    A new warning calls on anyone who attended a Pattaya restaurant to get tested for Covid-19 after an outbreak was identified. The bulletin was released yesterday by the Chon Buri Public Health Office urging anyone who has been in or eaten food from Puyai Note Wild Food Restaurant to use an antigen test kit. The restaurant, located on Sukhumvit-Pattaya 54…

  • Tuesday Covid Update: 5,947 new cases; provincial totals

    Tuesday Covid Update: 5,947 new cases; provincial totals

    62 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 20,143 with 20,049 of those fatalities during the latest wave, which was first recorded on April 1. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 5,947 new Covid-19 cases and 7,943 recoveries. There are now 92,105 people in Thailand being…

  • Phuket’s Bangla Road inspected by national and local health officials

    Phuket’s Bangla Road inspected by national and local health officials

    Health officials went to Phuket’s Bangla Road, but not for a beer. The deputy director of Thailand’s Department of Health went to Phuket and inspect the famed walking street in person, reviewing Covid-19 prevention measures. While bars and nightclubs are ordered to be closed nationwide, photos from the provincial health office show bars are the street packed with people, and…

  • Health Ministry warns people to get vaccinated or face possible restrictions

    Health Ministry warns people to get vaccinated or face possible restrictions

    Thailand’s Public Health Ministry is urging people who’ve yet to be vaccinated to do so or face possible restrictions. Dr Kiatiphum Wongrajit says the ministry is ramping up vaccination in the next 2 weeks in order to achieve its target of 100 million doses administered. According to a Bangkok Post report, the figure currently stands at 85 million doses. Around…

  • Covid-19 still a concern for upcoming Loy Krathong festival

    Covid-19 still a concern for upcoming Loy Krathong festival

    The Loy Krathong festival is set to take place this Friday in Thailand. But according to a recent poll, a number of Thais are concerned that the Covid-19 measures in place are inadequate, and that another wave of infections because of the festival is possible. These concerns are making people hesitant to participate in the festivities. Last month, PM Prayut…

  • Alcohol restrictions to be eased further in Bangkok from tomorrow

    Alcohol restrictions to be eased further in Bangkok from tomorrow

    From tomorrow, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will further ease restrictions on the sale of alcohol, with more restaurants allowed to sell booze. Venues with the “Thai Stop Covid Plus” certification can join businesses with SHA certification in providing diners with alcoholic drinks until 9pm. According to a Bangkok Post report, the relaxed measures will be in place until November 30,…

  • COVID-19 SUNDAY UPDATE: Vaccinations, provincial totals

    COVID-19 SUNDAY UPDATE: Vaccinations, provincial totals

    Today, the CCSA reported 7,079 new Covid-19 infections, up 22 since yesterday, and 47 Coronavirus-related deaths, down 8 from yesterday. Since April 1, in the latest wave of the virus in Thailand, a total of 1,989,547 confirmed Covid-19 infections have been reported. In the 24 hour period since the last count, the CCSA has reported 6,917 recoveries, down 476 from…

  • Why wasn’t the Thai deputy PM allowed into Switzerland?

    Why wasn’t the Thai deputy PM allowed into Switzerland?

    Sorry, must be another misunderstanding. Poor Public Health Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul. The mercurial Thai deputy PM and leader of the Bhumjaithai political party, continues to be barred from entering Switzerland until he receives another booster Covid vaccine. But confusion surrounds his misgivings last week. He was heading to a World Health Organisation meeting at the end of November but was…

  • COVID-19 SATURDAY UPDATE: Provincial Totals

    COVID-19 SATURDAY UPDATE: Provincial Totals

    Today, the CCSA reported 7,057 new Covid-19 infections, down 248 since yesterday, and 55 Coronavirus-related deaths, up 4 from yesterday. Since April 1, in the latest wave of the virus in Thailand, a total of 1,982,458 confirmed Covid-19 infections have been reported. In the 24 hour period since the last count, the CCSA has reported 7,393 recoveries, up 507 from…

  • COVID-19 SATURDAY: 55 deaths, 7,057 new infections

    COVID-19 SATURDAY: 55 deaths, 7,057 new infections

    Today, the CCSA reported 7,057 new Covid-19 infections, down 248 since yesterday, and 55 Coronavirus-related deaths, up 4 from yesterday. Since April 1, in the latest wave of the virus in Thailand, a total of 1,982,458 confirmed Covid-19 infections have been reported. In the 24 hour period since the last count, the CCSA has reported 7,393 recoveries, up 507 from…

  • Pattaya restaurant busted serving alcohol for the fourth time

    Pattaya restaurant busted serving alcohol for the fourth time

    Fourth time’s the charm? After 3 previous raids with apparently little effect, the Pattaya Police have once again raided a restaurant near Bali Hai for breaking Covid-19 restrictions, selling alcohol and shisha. The raid took place last night and police found about 100 people at the restaurant that were not wearing masks, socially distancing, or taking any Covid-19 safety precautions.…

  • Public Health Minister barred entry to Switzerland over vaccine requirements

    Public Health Minister barred entry to Switzerland over vaccine requirements

    Switzerland barred entry to Thailand’s Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, reportedly for not meeting the country’s Covid-19 vaccination requirements, and Thai media reports that the minister missed a World Health Organisation meeting. Anutin was the first person in Thailand to be injected with a Covid-19 vaccine on February 28, kicking off the country’s mass immunisation campaign. He was injected with…

  • RT-PCR Covid-19 tests still required for international arrivals – CCSA

    RT-PCR Covid-19 tests still required for international arrivals – CCSA

    After talk of whether to replace the mandatory RT-PCR Covid-19 test for international arrivals with the rapid antigen test kit method, the CCSA decided to continue to use RT-PCR tests to screen travellers upon arrival in Thailand. The antigen test kits, or ATKs, will be used for travellers on days 6 and 7, or if they develop coronavirus symptoms, according…

  • List of provinces by the CCSA’s colour-coded zoning, in effect Tuesday

    List of provinces by the CCSA’s colour-coded zoning, in effect Tuesday

    In its general meeting chaired by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha, the CCSA decided to approved the following zoning, starting next Tuesday, November 16. The “dark red” zones have been reduced from seven provinces to six, with Chanthaburi reclassified as a “red” zone under less stringent disease control measures. A spokesperson says the nightly curfew in “dark red” zones from 11pm to…

  • Thailand to meet vaccination target a month ahead of schedule

    Thailand to meet vaccination target a month ahead of schedule

    Thailand is on course to meet its Covid-19 vaccination target by the end of November – a month ahead of schedule. Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana says over 80% of people in Bangkok and in several other provinces have now been vaccinated. On Wednesday, the Department of Disease Control distributed another 11 million vaccine doses to the provinces. According to a…

  • Thailand will give fourth vaccine for those who need it for travel

    Thailand will give fourth vaccine for those who need it for travel

    Apart from the growing evident reality of global inequality of access to vaccines, across Thailand there is still a gap where some people are struggling to get access to their first vaccine while others have had their third booster shot already. Now Thailand is beginning a round of fourth Covid-19 vaccine injections for those who require one, mainly for international…

  • Government considers easing entry rules, antigen testing may replace PCR test

    Government considers easing entry rules, antigen testing may replace PCR test

    In anticipation of more international arrivals in the coming months, the Thai government is reviewing current entry requirements. According to a Bangkok Post report, officials may replace the PCR test with antigen test kits and rules could be relaxed for people unfortunate enough to have sat near an infected passenger during their flight. Any amendment of the current rules would…

  • CCSA meeting tomorrow to revise colour zones and restrictions

    CCSA meeting tomorrow to revise colour zones and restrictions

    Tomorrow the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration will hold a general meeting to consider possible colour zone adjustments and additional disease control measures for the country. The CCSA meeting will be chaired by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha and will discuss all areas of pandemic management. According to the Government House, the 3 primary topics of tomorrows meetings will be continuing and…

  • Covid-19 medications are a boon, but don’t replace vaccines

    Covid-19 medications are a boon, but don’t replace vaccines

    The good news of several new anti-viral pills that have shown to be effective in greatly reducing Covid-19 hospitalisations and deaths, coupled with statistically rare vaccine side effects or deaths that some people latch onto, may tempt many to skip getting vaccinated and rely solely on medication once they get infected. But a Thai expert on crisis communication with the…

  • Thursday Covid Update: 7,496 new cases; provincial totals

    Thursday Covid Update: 7,496 new cases; provincial totals

    57 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 19,883 with 19,789 of those fatalities during the latest wave, which was first recorded on April 1. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 7,496 new Covid-19 cases and 7,452 recoveries. There are now 96,450 people in Thailand being…

  • Thursday Covid Update: 7,496 new cases and 57 deaths

    Thursday Covid Update: 7,496 new cases and 57 deaths

    7,496 new Covid-19 cases and 57 coronavirus-related deaths were reported today by the CCSA. In the 24-hour since the last count, the CCSA has recorded 7,452 recoveries. There are now 96,450 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. In the latest and most severe wave of the virus, first recorded on April 1, the CCSA has recorded 1,968,106 confirmed Covid-19…

  • Zero chance of zero Covid: Chinese virologist slams government strategy

    Zero chance of zero Covid: Chinese virologist slams government strategy

    One of China’s top virologists has launched a rare attack on the government, criticising its insistence on pursuing a so-called “Covid Zero” strategy. According to a Bloomberg report, Guan Yi from the University of Hong Kong says the government’s attempts to quash the virus through mass testing and harsh quarantines are doomed to fail. “We don’t stand a chance if…

  • Thammasat University vs. Foreign Affairs Ministry: 1.5 million vaccines lost

    Thammasat University vs. Foreign Affairs Ministry: 1.5 million vaccines lost

    It seems that the dust is still settling on the back and forth that pitted Thammasat University Hospital against the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a struggle to import 1.5 million free Moderna vaccines donated by Poland. Each side argues that it was the other’s failure that prevented the vaccine from being received in Thailand. The university had coordinated a…

  • Wednesday Covid Update: 6,978 new cases; provincial totals

    Wednesday Covid Update: 6,978 new cases; provincial totals

    62 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 19,826 with 19,732 of those fatalities during the latest wave, which was first recorded on April 1. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 6,978 new Covid-19 cases and 7,697 recoveries. There are now 96,463 people in Thailand being…

  • FDA warns against smuggled Johnson & Johnson vaccines

    FDA warns against smuggled Johnson & Johnson vaccines

    In Sa Kaeo province in Eastern Thailand, the Food and Drug Administration is warning people to avoid offers of Johnson & Johnson vaccines that were illegally smuggled into Thailand after a patient apparently brought in a vaccine to a private clinic and paid to have medical staff administer it. The single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been approved for use…

  • Thai government defends sale of antigen test kits banned in the EU

    Thai government defends sale of antigen test kits banned in the EU

    They’ve been banned in the EU, but the Thai government says the cheap antigen test kits from NovaGen can be used here because they’ve been approved by the Thai Food and Drug Administration. Sirikul Methivirangsan from the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation says the reason they’re banned in the EU is due to the bloc requiring some additional paperwork. According to a…