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 Moving with family? Here’s how to cut health costs in Thailand
Relocating to Thailand with your family brings exciting new opportunities, but it also comes with the challenge of managing healthcare costs in a new system. Thailand has both public and private healthcare options, each offering different prices and quality of...
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US Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman questions claims that Covid-19 came from Wuhan laboratory
The head of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed yesterday that it remains unknown whether the coronavirus emerged from a wet market in China, a laboratory or some other location. Army General Mark Milley reaffirmed the view of scientists and the world intelligence community “that it was probably not man-made”. “Did it come out of the virology lab in…
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Airbnb slashes 1,900 staff to ride out the travel downturn
Accommodation-sharing online disruptor, Airbnb, says it’s slashing a quarter of its workforce, nearly 2,000 workers, as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to shred the international travel industry. The company said that it plans to soften the blow for former employees with benefits, including providing 12 months of health insurance. Airbnb CEO and co-founder Brian Chesky says the cuts are needed until…
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People returning from Phuket to Krabi greeted with 14 day quarantine
Some Krabi residents, joining the exodus from Phuket after the Phuket opened its only land border at Sarasin Bridge last week, were greeted with a mandatory swab-test yesterday. 76 Krabi residents returned from Phuket yesterday, Krabi’s governor, Kitibadee Prawit, joined public health officials and Krabi Hospital’s director in overseeing collection of swab samples from a group of 76 returnees on…
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Are businesses applying the Thai government hygiene standards?
According to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), small, local restaurants are the biggest offenders when it comes to ignoring government hygiene measures to control the reduce any return of the virus. The surveys were done to provide the government with CCSA spokesperson Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin says that 9,383 businesses from all sectors nationwide had been checked by public…
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Update on Chiang Mai’s Covid-19 situation
A report of the situation in the Chiang Mai states that at this time there are still no reports of any additional Covid-19 infections being found in the northern city. The total still remains at 40 infected, 38 discharged from hospital, 1 death of a patient who died in the hospital, and 1 patient remaining in hospital receiving medical attention.…
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Thailand’s Covid-19 situation, May 5
The spokesman of the Covid-19 Coronavirus Situation Administration, Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin, announced today that only 1 new case of the Covid-19 virus had been detected across the kingdom. This is a drop from the 18 recorded cases yesterday, and was the lowest daily number since March 9. The single case is a Thai male, a 45 year old in Narathiwat…
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WHO and intelligence community awaiting evidence from US President Trump about “Wuhan lab” claims
The World Health Organisation says they’re awaiting evidence to support “speculative” claims by the US President and Secretary of State that the new coronavirus originated in a Chinese lab in Wuhan. The Five Eyes, a network involving UK, US, Australia, New Zealand and Canada intelligence officials, say they do believe that Beijing has not necessarily been transparent about how coronavirus initially spread…
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Government health official warns of near-certainty of “second wave” of Covid-19
With the easing of some restrictions put in place to slow and eventually halt the spread of the Covid-19 virus, a government health official is now warning of the rise of a “second wave” from next week is “inevitable”. Nation Thailand reports that the Director of the Division of Communicable Diseases issued his warning yesterday, saying an increase in the…
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292 Thai nationals return home from Hong Kong and The Maldives
Yesterday at around 5pm, 292 Thai nationals returned home from Hong Kong and The Maldives, all 292 passengers have been sent straight to a state-organised quarantine centre for 14 days, both city hotels that were currently empty. The first flight arrived from Hong Kong at 3:59 pm. 161 passengers were on board the plane.Upon landing all passengers passed the initial…
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Second round of tests confirm 40 Covid-19 cases in Yala were “false positives”
A second round of tests carried out on 40 people who tested positive for the Covid-19 virus in the southern province of Yala, have all come back negative. The Bangkok Post reports that the initial tests have now been confirmed as “false positives”. Now a third test is being run to remove any doubt. The spokesman for the Centre for Covid-19…
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Sponsorship in a Covid-19 era
By Paul Poole Now is not the time to run and hide. As events are being cancelled and postponed due to the effects of Covid-19, rights holders and brands are faced with unprecedented challenges and questions about how best to manage the situation. Naturally, a lot of people ask themselves what the industry will look like on the ‘other side’. Over…
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Agricultural robot modified to provide biohazard clean-ups
‘Nong Nonsi’ robot is the invention of teacher Panya Laanantana from the Department of Electrical Engineering Faculty of Engineering Kasetsart University in Bangkok. He’s re-designed the robot to reduce the potential health risks to agricultural workers being needed for spraying disinfectants and chemicals in livestock pens. The robot was originally used for spraying medicine, biological products and pesticides. The robot…
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Thailand national figures for Covid-19 patients – May 4
Today Dr. Taweesilp Visanuyothin, the spokesperson for the Centre for Covid-19 Administration has revealed the number of Covid-19 infections in the past 24 hours in Thailand. There were 18 new cases of Covid-19 patients, bringing the total to 2,987 patients. Of the 18 cases, (17 are female and 1 male) all came from the Songkhla Quarantine Centre and all cases…
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Owners of Pattaya nightlife venues discuss Covid-19 safety regulations for re-opening
The owners of entertainment establishments in Pattaya held a meeting at the city’s Hollywood Club on Saturday to exchange ideas on appropriate safety measures to implement as part of a future re-opening. For now, all bars and clubs around Thailand are closed until further notice as part of measures in place to prevent a re-ignition of new cases of the…
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“Arrivals from Phuket have been screened for virus” – Interior Ministry
Following concerns raised in a number of destination provinces, the Interior Ministry has moved to reassure people that everyone leaving the island of Phuket to head home to the provinces has been screened for the Covid-19 virus. The Bangkok Post reports that a number of citizens elsewhere in the country became concerned when seeing footage of heavy traffic and long…
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Mad dash for booze as alcohol ban lifted in most provinces – VIDEO
There was a mad dash at supermarkets around Thailand yesterday as drinkers and retailers rushed to replenish their stocks following the lifting of a national alcohol ban imposed to stop the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Shoppers just grabbed entire boxes, or multiple boxes, paid and marched happily out the door. But, for now, the ban remains in force in…
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Phuket departees “spread coronavirus to his province” – Krabi deputy governor
As thousands of non-residents left Phuket over the weekend, one of the neighbouring officials was quick to air his feelings about Phuket departees entering his province. The deputy governor of Krabi province, Somkuan Khan-ngern, claimed that “they had spread coronavirus to his province”. Later he retracted the comment and apologised to the media saying that his comments were “a thoughtless accusation,…
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More Thai airports open for special international flights
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand has opened up more airports for special international flights as of today. Now Krabi, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, Chiang Rai, Hua Hin, Surat Thani and Hat Yai have been given permission to handle international flights which are repatriating foreign nationals, or Thai citizens coming home. Scheduled, commercial flights in and out of overseas destinations, remain…
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Bangkok Governor orders 34 ‘at risk’ businesses to stay closed
Here’s 34 types of businesses that will remain closed around Bangkok until at least May 31. Bangkok’s Governor Aswin Khwanmuang ordered the temporary closure of these 34 locations that pose a risk for Covid-19 infection. This only pertains to businesses in Bangkok. 1. Theatre, cinema, playhouse 2. Pub, bar, entertainment venue 3. Water park, amusement park 4. Playground, children’s play…
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40 confirmed Covid-19 cases surface in southern Yala province
A second set of swabs from 40 asymptomatic in-patients at a hospital in Yala, southern Thailand, were sent to a laboratory in neighbouring Songkhla for analysis. Now the health office has confirmed the 40 new Covid-19 cases in Yala. The huge spike in local cases has sent health officials scurrying to trace those who had been in contact with the…
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Media, don’t be fooled by protesters – Finance secretary
Media outlets are being duped by highly visible protesters trying to attract media attention in their efforts to receive the 5,000 baht “No One Left Behind” handouts, according to Finance permanent secretary Prasong Poonthanate. He even accuses the protesters and says many have already received the subsidy cash, but are demanding more. As an example he mentioned the recent case…
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Most Thais “satisfied” with Thai government’s handling of Covid-19 outbreak
Most Thais support the mandatory 14 day quarantines imposed on repatriating Thais during the country’s Covid-19 outbreak. There’s also broad approval of the temporary ban on flights into Thailand. The latest Suan Dusit Poll surveyed 1,801 people online across the country in the last two weeks of April asking them about their attitude towards the Thai government’s handling to prevent the…
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Thousands queue outside Finance Ministry for relief cheques
People began arriving before sunrise. It was around 5am on Friday that 49 year old Bawonlak Rasameebunsrisuk from Samut Prakan, just south of Bangkok, started the queue outside the Finance Ministry. She soon gave up her spot to 71 year old Gasorn Bunin, feeling sorry for the grandmother. The Finance Ministry offices wouldn’t open until 9am. All were hoping for…
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Covid-19 update: 3 new cases, no new deaths (Sunday)
The Coronavirus Situation Administration today announced just 3 new cases of Covid-19 nationwide in Thailand in the preceding 24 hours. It’s the lowest number in months, and only half of yesterday and Friday’s 6 new cases. It’s the seventh consecutive day of single digit increases and brings the national total to 2,969. No deaths have been reported in recent days,…
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Officials give thumbs up to reopen 2 Bangkok malls today
Officials from the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, City Hall and police yesterday inspected two luxury shopping malls in Bangkok, to ensure their readiness to reopen for limited business today. The Supreme Commander of Thailand’s defence forces Pornpipat Benyasri, in his capacity as the CCSA chief, led the inspections of Siam Paragon and Central Chidlom, two of the city’s biggest…
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Those heading home to the provinces face 14 day quarantine
Those ignoring the PM’s request to travel only for essential reasons and heading to their home in the provinces for the long weekend may be in for a shock. The Interior Ministry has issued an order for people returning to the provinces to be quarantined for 14 days. The order, signed by Permanent Secretary for the Interior, is to prevent…
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Over 500 Thais returning this weekend
More than 230 Thai nationals have returned or will return to Thailand today. Yesterday’s 234 returnees include include 55 from Kazakhstan, 50 from the Netherlands, and 129 from United Arab Emirates. Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesperson for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration says 290 more Thai nationals, 45 from Spain, 175 from Singapore, and about 70 from Russia, will return today.…
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Rush for fit-to-travel documents for people leaving Phuket
Authorities announced yesterday that those who want to leave Phuket by road must register online no later than Friday, May 8, to obtain fit-to-travel certificates. While the southern province of Phuket remains closed to entry, authorities have begun allowing people to leave. Tens of thousands, both tourists and Thais from other provinces, have been trapped on the island since it…
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Phuket’s Bang Tao tambon erupts over continued restrictions
Angry villagers gathered in The Bang Tao subdistrict of the southern province of Phuket today to protest continued travel restrictions on their tambon and demand the right to travel more freely, like much of the rest of Phuket. The Muslim-majority beachside community of Bang Tao has become the island’s hotzone for Covid-19 infections since the closure of the Patong municipality…
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Quarantine awaits passengers at 5 reopened airports
It’s all in the fine print and passengers, eager to get to certain provinces, are being met with an unannounced surprise today. Yesterday 4 domestic airlines – Nok Air, Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air and VietJet Air – resumed flights to 14 provincial airports across Thailand. Now the the Department of Airports director-general Tawee Gasisam-ang says travellers landing at 5…
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