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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  • Public concern prompts government to shelve 10-day quarantine plans

    Public concern prompts government to shelve 10-day quarantine plans

    The Public Health Minister says concern from members of the public have led the government to shelve plans to reduce quarantine for overseas arrivals from 14 days to 10. Anutin Charnvirakul’s statement comes after a number of infections that have left officials a bit perplexed. One involves a woman recently returned from France who tested positive for Covid-19 after she’d…

  • South Korean soldier tests positive for Covid-19 after Cobra Gold training in Thailand

    South Korean soldier tests positive for Covid-19 after Cobra Gold training in Thailand

    A South Korean soldier tested positive for Covid-19 after returning home from Thailand. The soldier was in Rayong from November 2 to 6 for Cobra Gold, Thailand’s annual military training exercise. The soldier tested positive during a mandatory screening at a South Korea airport. Thai health officials are investigating the case and are urging residents in Rayong not to panic.…

  • 3 new Covid-19 cases in quarantine, 1 patient with symptoms

    3 new Covid-19 cases in quarantine, 1 patient with symptoms

    3 new Covid-19 cases were detected in quarantine with 1 patient reporting symptoms, according to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Thailand is raised to 3,847 with 3,685 recoveries and 60 deaths. 102 people are currently receiving medical treatment for the coronavirus. A 40 year old Thai woman travelling from Turkey tested…

  • TAT says government has relaxed tourist visa criteria for European nations

    TAT says government has relaxed tourist visa criteria for European nations

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand says the government has relaxed tourist visa requirements for some countries considered, “medium-risk”, in an effort to kick-start international tourism. Thapanee Kiatphaibool says tourist visa holders can be admitted for up to 60 days, with the possibility of extending their stay to 90 days, adding that, as of November 5, 1,465 foreign nationals have been…

  • PM dismisses conflict of interest concern as Cabinet reviews golf quarantine proposal

    PM dismisses conflict of interest concern as Cabinet reviews golf quarantine proposal

    Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has dismissed concerns over a possible conflict of interest surrounding the idea of using golf resorts as alternative local state quarantine facilities. It’s understood Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul owns a golf course in the north-eastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima. The PM says using approved golf resorts as ALSQ locations is, an “interesting idea”, but the…

  • Chiang Mai health officials: 39 contacts of local Covid-19 case test negative

    Chiang Mai health officials: 39 contacts of local Covid-19 case test negative

    Health officials investigating an apparent local Covid-19 transmission say so far there are no infections linked to the recent case. The 37 year old Indian man, who resides in Koh Phi Phi, tested positive on November 4 in Krabi after travelling Phuket, Chiang Mai and Sukothai. The man then tested negative on November 6. Health officials suspect the positive result…

  • Diplomat in Thailand tests positive for Covid-19 after contact with Hungarian foreign minister

    Diplomat in Thailand tests positive for Covid-19 after contact with Hungarian foreign minister

    A Hungarian diplomat who resides in Thailand recently tested positive for Covid-19 in an apparent local transmission. The 53 year old diplomat had been in close contact with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto who tested positive for Covid-19 during a visit to Bangkok. Peter arrived in Bangkok on November 3 and left the following day after his diagnosis. The Centre…

  • Health officials declare all recent STV arrivals Covid-free – so far

    Health officials declare all recent STV arrivals Covid-free – so far

    Thai health officials say that, so far, none of the foreigners who arrived in the Kingdom on the Special Tourist Visa have tested positive for Covid-19. However, they are urging the public to continue with the safety and hygiene measures introduced at the start of the pandemic, after a number of recent asymptomatic cases tested positive outside of quarantine facilities.…

  • Another bleak milestone for the US as Covid cases top 10 million

    Another bleak milestone for the US as Covid cases top 10 million

    As scientists around the world cautiously welcome the positive news about the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, data from worldometers.info reveals that Covid-19 cases in the US have now topped the 10 million case mark. The latest figures on Worldometers show that the US has now recorded 10,421,956 cases of the virus and 244,448 deaths, both counts being the highest in the world.…

  • UPDATE: Pfizer and BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine candidate is “strongly effective”

    UPDATE: Pfizer and BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine candidate is “strongly effective”

    Pfizer is claiming that it’s current Covid-19 vaccine candidate “may be 90% effective” at preventing infection from the coronavirus. The pharmaceutical company says later this month they could be ready to file an ’emergency use’ application with US regulators. US-based Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech are claiming that their vaccine against Covid-19 was “strongly effective” and has “exceeded expectations”…

  • 3 Covid-19 cases in quarantine, 1 reported symptoms

    3 Covid-19 cases in quarantine, 1 reported symptoms

    3 new Covid-19 cases were detected in quarantine, according to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. Thailand’s total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases is raised to 3,840 with 3,661 recoveries and 60 deaths. 119 people are currently receiving medical treatment for the coronavirus. 2 people from Ethiopia, a 28 year old woman and a 38 year old man, tested positive…

  • Officials tracing 290 contacts of Krabi Covid case – 79 considered “high-risk”

    Officials tracing 290 contacts of Krabi Covid case – 79 considered “high-risk”

    Efforts are underway to trace 290 people who had contact with a Covid-19 patient in Krabi, with officials declaring 79 of them, “high-risk”. The 37 year old man, an Indian national who lives on Koh Phi Phi, tested positive for the virus while undergoing medical tests as part of a work permit application. The Bangkok Post reports that while most…

  • CCSA update: 1 local Covid case detected in Krabi, another case in ASQ in Phuket

    CCSA update: 1 local Covid case detected in Krabi, another case in ASQ in Phuket

    A 38 year old Dutch man has tested positive for Covid-19 in Phuket. The man was staying at an Alternative State Quarantine venue in Phuket. And an Indian restaurant worker in Krabi has also tested positive, this time a case of apparent local transmission. 10 other positive cases were detected today, including 8 people in quarantine and 2 Burmese truck…

  • New rapid Covid-19 tests await FDA approval

    New rapid Covid-19 tests await FDA approval

    A new rapid Covid-19 test made in Thailand is expected to cut coronavirus screening costs and provide results within a day. The tests, developed by the Medical Sciences Department in collaboration with Siam Bioscience, are waiting to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The approval process could take around a month. The test, once proven and rolled out,…

  • Retired Thai official with Covid-19 dies after returning to Thailand

    Retired Thai official with Covid-19 dies after returning to Thailand

    A 66 year old retired Thai official diagnosed with Covid-19 died yesterday following his return to Thailand from the United Kingdom, according to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. Thailand’s total number of Covid-19 related deaths is now at 60. The man flew into Thailand from the United Kingdom on October 19 and tested positive the next day while at…

  • 10 day quarantine proposal passes first stage of approval

    10 day quarantine proposal passes first stage of approval

    A health sub-committee of the government’s Covid-19 task force has approved a reduction in quarantine from 14 days to 10, for visitors arriving from “safe” countries. They would be those that are at a similar risk level to Thailand, or slightly higher. Those arriving from countries considered “high risk” will still need to carry out 14 days’ quarantine. The proposal…

  • Foreign minister meets with Phuket-based diplomats to discuss the island’s future

    Foreign minister meets with Phuket-based diplomats to discuss the island’s future

    The Thai Foreign Minister and Deputy PM, Don Pramudwinai, has met with a group of European and Asian diplomats based in Phuket to discuss the future of the southern island province. Attendees came together to talk about economic stimulus measures that could help Phuket, which has been hit hard by Covid-19 travel restrictions and the closure of Thailand’s borders. According…

  • 4 new Covid-19 cases in quarantine, 1 new case detected at Myanmar border

    4 new Covid-19 cases in quarantine, 1 new case detected at Myanmar border

    4 new Covid-19 cases were detected in quarantine and 1 new case was detected at a Myanmar border checkpoint, according to Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. The total number of confirmed Covid-19 is raised to 3,810 cases with 3,623 recoveries and 59 deaths. 128 people are currently receiving medical treatment for the coronavirus. A 73 year old Thai woman travelling…

  • Hungarian foreign minister tests positive for Covid-19 while in Bangkok

    Hungarian foreign minister tests positive for Covid-19 while in Bangkok

    Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijarto tested positive for Covid-19 while on a visit to Bangkok. He arrived in Thailand yesterday and was expected to fly back to Hungary today. Reuters says he has no symptoms while Coconuts Bangkok reports the foreign minister was admitted to the hospital this morning with flu symptoms and later tested positive for Covid-19. The Hungarian…

  • 7 new Covid-19 cases in quarantine, 2 report symptoms

    7 new Covid-19 cases in quarantine, 2 report symptoms

    7 new Covid-19 cases were detected in quarantine with 2 of the patients reporting symptoms, according to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. The total number of confirmed Covid-19 in Thailand is raised to 3,804 with 3,612 recoveries and 59 deaths. 133 people are currently receiving medical treatment for the coronavirus. A 21 year old Thai student travelling from Jordan…

  • European countries in lockdown as Covid-19 cases top 11 million

    European countries in lockdown as Covid-19 cases top 11 million

    Covid-19 cases across Europe have now topped 11 million, with Austria and Greece the latest countries to impose partial lockdowns. France, Germany, Belgium and Ireland have already done the same, introducing strict restrictions on movement and, in most cases, shutting all but non-essential services. Nearly 285,000 deaths from the virus have now been recorded across the continent. The Bangkok Post…

  • 10 new Covid-19 cases in quarantine, all asymptomatic

    10 new Covid-19 cases in quarantine, all asymptomatic

    10 new Covid-19 cases were detected in quarantine, according to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. All the cases were asymptomatic. The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases is raised to 3,797 with 3,605 recoveries and 59 deaths. 133 people are currently receiving medical treatment for the coronavirus. A 27 year old Thai woman travelling from Bahrain tested positive for…

  • Hotels reluctant to apply for ASQ status due to government’s cap on tourist arrivals

    Hotels reluctant to apply for ASQ status due to government’s cap on tourist arrivals

    With the number of foreign arrivals who can enter Thailand on the special tourist visa limited to just 1,200 a month, hotel owners say they’re reluctant to apply for alternative state quarantine status. Hoteliers say a lack of tourists in sufficient numbers, coupled with the number of quarantine facilities already in existence, means the investment required to gain ASQ approval…

  • Government to consider rescue packages for tourism businesses in South

    Government to consider rescue packages for tourism businesses in South

    The government will hold a mobile Cabinet meeting in Phuket today to consider potential rescue packages for tourism-related businesses that have been ravaged by the closure of international borders. The proposals, which include soft loans for airlines and other businesses, come after PM Prayut Chan-o-cha met with Phuket business representatives and local officials yesterday. The Bangkok Post reports that the…

  • Minister declares Phuket Airport ready to welcome STV arrivals

    Minister declares Phuket Airport ready to welcome STV arrivals

    The Thai Transport Minister has declared Phuket International Airport ready to welcome tourists arriving under the recently-launched Special Tourist Visa scheme. A similar announcement was also made in the days before the much-discussed October 8 STV tourists who never arrived. Now we wait again… Peppering all these apparent preparations is a visit from the PM and cabinet officials to Phuket.…

  • PM in 2 day visit to economically-ravaged islands of Phuket, Samui

    PM in 2 day visit to economically-ravaged islands of Phuket, Samui

    The PM and his Cabinet are visiting Phuket and Samui today and tomorrow, in order to meet with business leaders and provincial government, to discuss ways to help the decimated local economies. Since the closure of borders in late March, as the Covid-19 pandemic began its worldwide rampage, former tourist hotspots like the southern islands have borne the brunt of…

  • England heads back into lockdown for a month

    England heads back into lockdown for a month

    England is being sent back inside, a return to a national lockdown after a troublesome surge of Covid-19 cases. Yesterday another 21,915 people were registered as new cases, and 326 died across the UK. Since the start of the pandemic in the UK there have been 1,011,660 cases and 46,555 deaths, a statistical death rate of 4.5%. The BritishPM Boris…

  • Travellers to Thailand to wear “Smartband” tracking watch

    Travellers to Thailand to wear “Smartband” tracking watch

    Special Tourist Vias, 14 day quarantine, “plans”, “models” and endless red-tape. Now we’ve got the “smartband” to track foreigners when they visit Thailand. The so-called Smartband will have to be worn by any foreign travellers entering Thailand. The new wearable restriction for travellers to Thailand coincides with the Cabinet announcement this week to allow more foreign tourists and crew of…

  • 12 new Covid-19 cases in Thai quarantine

    12 new Covid-19 cases in Thai quarantine

    12 new Covid-19 cases were detected in quarantine, according to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. The total number of confirmed cases is raised to 3,775 with 3,585 recoveries and 59 deaths. 131 are currently receiving medical treatment for the coronavirus. Here’s a list of the cases identified in the past 24 hours… 4 Thai people, ages 26, 30, 42…

  • PM to visit Phuket on Monday as island’s economy lies in tatters

    PM to visit Phuket on Monday as island’s economy lies in tatters

    PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is to arrive in Phuket on Monday, where he will meet with local business leaders and discuss proposals for reviving the southern island’s devastated tourism sector. It’s understood a representative of Phuket’s Old Town area is to put forward an idea for promoting the historic centre as a tourist destination. Since borders were closed in late March,…