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 How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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Thai Department of Corrections suspends 7,890 prison sentences in past six months
The Director-general of the Thai Department of Corrections Police Colonel Naras Savestanan, has announced that he will speed up the process to grant suspended sentences, or lessen the prison terms, for qualified inmates right across Thailand. Inmates who are facing minor offences and shown good behaviour during their incarceration are also to be included in the process. “The number of…
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NBTC seeks to reduce mobile bills by 30%
Hopefully for both prepaid and postpaid subscribers. The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission has been meeting with Thailand’s telecom operators in an effort to lower mobile phone service fees for users. The NBTC say the fee reduction proposal is for both prepaid and postpaid subscribers and seeks to reduce fees up to 30%. The initiative is aimed at helping people manage…
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PM says restrictions could be eased by April 30
The current national state of emergency is due to expire on April 30. While PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has hinted he might extend it, which he has the constitutional right to do (up to 90 days), he says that he’ll evaluate the Covid-19 situation in the last week of April to see if some restrictions can be lifted. The PM has…
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Government only has enough to pay 5,000 baht aid package for 1 month – PM
Shortly after the national state of emergency was declared in Thailand, the government of PM Prayut Chan-o-cha announced an aid package of 5,000 baht per month to “informal workers” left behind by the Covid-19 crisis. The original announcement, part of a 117 billion baht stimulus package, was for 3 months, but this was later extended to 6 months, despite the…
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30 new Covid-19 cases (Wednesday), 2 more deaths
Thai health officials today confirmed 30 new Covid-19 cases, taking the national total to 2,643. 2 new deaths raise the national tally to 43. The trend continues downward, with 54 new cases reported last Thursday, 50 on Friday, 45 on Saturday, 33 on Sunday, 28 on Monday and 34 yesterday. But a spokesman for the government’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation…
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Grocery trucks make a comeback during Covid-19 crisis
Once a familiar site in neighbourhoods throughout the country, Thai grocery trucks are making a comeback. The trucks, essentially makeshift mobile shops, are once again bringing everything from mangoes and dried chillies to fresh meat to people forced indoors by the national state of emergency declared to fight the spread of Covid-19. Such trucks were a staple of Thai life…
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Phuket’s Covid-19 new cases fall to 3
Health officials in Phuket today reported just 3 new Covid-19 cases, substantially fewer than yesterday’s 10 and the continuation of a generally encouraging downward trend. Yesterday was the first time new cases reached double digits since 10 were reported on April 5. 13 cases were reported on April 3. All yesterday’s cases were from the Bang Tao beach community. Travel…
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Stranded Thai fisherman decides to swim back from Malaysia
By March 23, Satun province had closed it’s border checkpoints with Malaysia to try to lessen the Covid-19 infections. But police have reported yesterday that a Thai fisherman was stranded in Malaysia after trying to swim across the border trying to return to his home. Police have reported finding a fisherman ,45 year old Ratanapol Pan-un, a Satun province native…
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Thai Covid 19 “Super Spreader” song goes… VIRAL
“Don’t just think of fun, or you’ll suffer from Covid If you can’t recover, you could die!” After witnessing the successful Vietnamese public service song and #EndCov campaigns educating the Vietnamese population to wash their hands and take action in the battle against the Coronavirus, the Thai government has doubled down and weaponised the power of Issan music to create…
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Computer says no. Finance ministry refuses two-thirds of stimulus applicants.
Only 9 million Thais have been considered eligible in the latest package rolled out by the Finance Ministry. About 27 million registered for the emergency aid program to provide 5,000 baht per month for at least three month. Now the two-thirds who were initially refused the package after initial computer screening are asking why and fronting up to the Finance Ministry…
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The road back to ‘normal’ – when can we get back to work?
OPINION At one stage we didn’t know a new coronavirus was about to emerge. Then we started hearing stories out of China about a mysterious pneumonia-like disease in the first week of 2020. Then we started seeing a surge of cases, outside China, and wondered if it would affect us and the way we live. Then it did. Now we’re…
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AoT, already struggling, deny investing in faltering Thai Airways
“We’ve got enough problems of our own.” Airports of Thailand is denying claims that it is interested in acquiring a stake in the financially floundering flag carrier Thai Airways, saying that they too are struggling with the sharp drop in revenue after airlines and airport shutdowns related to the Covid-19 pandemic. Thai Airways, once considered one of Asia’s most luxurious…
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Thailand Covid-19 cases rise to 34 (Tuesday), 1 more death
Thai health officials today confirmed 34 new Covid-19 cases from around the country, bringing the total to 2,613 since the beginning of the outbreak. There was one additional death, a Bangkok bus driver, raising the country’s death toll to 41. Today’s number is higher than the 28 recorded yesterday, and comes after five straight days of declines since the 111 recorded…
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Phuket Covid-19 cases jump to 10, all in Bang Tao
Health officials in Phuket today reported 10 new Covid-19 cases, the first time the number has risen back into the double digits since 10 cases were reported on April 5. 13 cases were reported on April 3. Specifically all the new cases stem from the beachside community of Bang Tao. Phuket has virtually sealed itself off, with all roads, ports, and…
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A mushroom cloud hangs over Pattaya
There is perhaps no better motivator for children than peer pressure and the threat of public humiliation. Yesterday in Pattaya, many local schoolboys woke up to their quiet Songkran, unable to play in the traditional festivities, sporting their new home-made hairstyle meant to shame them into self isolation called the “Mushoom Cloud.” Pattaya hairdresser Prasit Laokodee masterminded the idea to…
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South Asia risks becoming the next epicentre for Covid-19 pandemic
The World Bank has announced that South Asia is advancing towards its worst economic performance in 40 years. With decades of progressing in the battle against poverty, now the nations are facing problems that could bring poverty back to the front doorsteps of South Asia countries – India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. India, Pakistan, Afghanistan…
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300 more “little ghosts” returning from South Korea
Health officials announced today that 300 more Thai citizens, dubbed “phee noi” or “little ghosts” in Thai, will be repatriated from South Korea over the next two days. 135 immigration detainees, accompanied by South Korean health officials, will depart tomorrow on a Jeju Air chartered flight from South Korea at 5pm Thai time. The flight will arrive at BKK at…
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Covid-19 causes ‘Koi’ to contemplate an abortion
The Planned Parenthood Association of Thailand, under the Patronage of HRH the Princess Mother, marks their 50th anniversary tomorrow, but today more than ever, Thai women are being forced to ask the difficult question of how to manage an unplanned pregnancy during the Covid-19 global pandemic. As government policies to contain the Covid-19 virus continue to devastate Thailand’s economy, some…
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Scientist and corporations desperately fight to find a reliable vaccine for Covid-19
Researchers are working against time to develop a novel coronavirus vaccine after the virus has killed over 110,000 people throughout the world and infected over 1.8 million people. Countries like China, Italy, Spain the UK and US have been worst affected by the Covid-19 virus. But experts warn of the chance of a new wave of outbreaks (and it’s still…
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UPDATE: Thai Returnee from Indonesia commits suicide on last day of quarantine
A 51 year old Muslim man from Thailand’s deep south was set to be released from quarantine today but tragically jumped to his death from the 8th floor of a state hospital in Samut Prakan this morning. Police arrived at the scene in Bang Ya Phraek around 2.30am this morning where they found the body of a man in a pool…
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New virus cases nationwide fall to 28 (Monday)
Health officials confirmed 28 new cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus in the country today, bringing the total to 2,579 since the outbreak began in January. There were 2 additional deaths announced today, bringing the national tally to 40. Today’s new infections are fewer than yesterday’s 33, marking the fifth consecutive day of declines since a spike to 111 on April…
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China fears ‘second wave’ after six week high in new cases
China has reported the highest increase in new coronavirus cases, the highest in nearly six weeks sparking fears of a second wave of infections. 108 new cases were reported Sunday, marking the highest number of cases since a peek of 143 cases in early March. Yesterday, The National Health Commission in China confirmed 98 of the 108 new cases were “imported”…
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Thailand cannot lower its guard in the battle against Covid-19
Yesterday, Dr. Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration says, “despite the declining numbers of the Covid-19 infections, the Kingdom cannot lower its guard because our neighbouring countries are still at high risk.” “The decreased number of new infections is good news for the traditional Thai New Year (Songkran), though high numbers of new cases recorded in…
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Phuket’s new Covid-19 cases fall to 2 (Monday)
Phuket has confirmed 2 new cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus today (Monday), half of yesterday’s 4 cases and equal to Saturday’s, as the numbers continue a downward trend. Phuket has virtually sealed itself off, with all roads, ports. As of Friday even the airport officially closed. The governor announced an alcohol ban on Friday night as well, effective until further…
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Fortress Phuket: The island ‘on hold’ as it contains Covid-19
Starting today, Phuket goes into a stringent ‘lockdown’ phase which will restrict travel between all sub-districts and districts around the island. An alcohol ban is also in place until further notice. That started on Saturday, April 11. The new restriction are now in play until April 26. During this time, unless you have exceptional medical or emergency circumstances, or government…
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660,000 people in Thailand under watch as potential “high-risk” Covid-19 infections
660,000 people around Thailand have been identified as at “high-risk of contracting or spreading Covid-19. The director-general of the Health Service Support Department, Dr. Tharet Krasnairawiwong, says that over the past 2 months more than 11.8 million households around Thailand have been visited, identifying potential risk clusters and people who may have come into contact with the coronavirus. “This group of…
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Additional safety measures for Thai prisons
With curfew violations continuing to escalate, and memories of prison riots from fears of Coronavirus, the Department of Corrections stated they have further increased measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and reduce the fears of inmates. The measures, according to an announcement by the PR Department, will consist of isolating new prisoners for 14 days, cancelling the professional training…
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Thailand prepares 3,500 hotel rooms to quarantine returnees after flight ban is lifted
Thailand is anticipating an onslaught of quarantined returnees once the incoming flight ban is lifted, and the government is preparing about 3,500 private hotel rooms in Bangkok and upcountry, to house them. The ban, imposed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand, is due to expire next Saturday. Thailand’s Deputy Defence Minister and Defence Permanent Secretary met with officials today…
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Chiang Mai man caught licking handrail
Chiang Mai police have arrested a 40 year old man after footage of him licking a fence handrail went viral on Facebook. After reviewing the video of the shirtless man in Sarahpi licking a handrail, local police along with healthcare workers were able to identify the man and took him into custody. He has been transported to the Suan Prung Psychiatric…
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Fake Isaan coronavirus doctor robs the elderly
A man impersonating a doctor from the health department has been arrested in north-eastern Thailand for robbing his patients. 49 year old Isaan man Wanlachon Singthong targeted seniors in the Kamalasai District, of Kalasin Province. He told his victims he was a doctor providing free sanitation services to protect them from the Covid-19 outbreak. When the seniors welcomed him into their…
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