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.

  • Bangkok closures – the details and the panic buying

    Bangkok closures – the details and the panic buying

    After today’s announcement from the BMA that the closures around the city would be ramped up, supermarkets started filling up as the shelves started becoming increasingly empty. The additions to the closure list is the latest efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19 around the Thai capital. Bangkokians have started to stock up on essential goods after the Bangkok Metropolitan…

  • Bangkok closes shopping centres and markets from tomorrow

    Bangkok closes shopping centres and markets from tomorrow

    It’s the lockdown you have when you haven’t really declared a full lockdown. Today’s announcement from the Bangkok government is a step close to a virtual close-down of most Bangkok retail. Today’s order closes all department stores and markets in the capital for three weeks. The measures are the latest attempts to stem the rise in cases of Covid-19 around…

  • Man arrested for deliberately trying to contaminate Bangkok lift – VIDEO

    Man arrested for deliberately trying to contaminate Bangkok lift – VIDEO

    A 32 year old Thai man in Bangkok has been arrested after being captured on CCTV camera deliberately contaminating an elevator with his saliva and sweat. Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) staff told reporters the incident was captured on CCTV at 5:23am Friday. Footage shows the man, with a shaved head and wearing a singlet and shorts, touching his tongue,…

  • Thailand closes many of its land borders

    Thailand closes many of its land borders

    Interior Ministry, Anupong Paojinda, has given governors full authority to close all border provinces, but must leave one international checkpoint active for special circumstances. The move is the latest in Thailand’s attempts to block any arrivals to contain the Covid-19 outbreak, which has spiked sharply with new cases this past week. “The only exception will be Chiang Rai as it…

  • Thailand confirms 89 new Covid-19 cases, 411 total

    Thailand confirms 89 new Covid-19 cases, 411 total

    Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health and its Department of Disease Control has confirmed 89 new cases of the Covid19 coronavirus this morning. The total of cases in Thailand now stands at 411 since the virus first struck Thailand in January. 51 cases of the new cases are linked to previous clusters… Lumphini Boxing Gym cluster – 32 Bangkok night club…

  • Covid-19 UPDATE: 89 new cases in Thailand, Italian attempts fail to control escalation in cases

    Covid-19 UPDATE: 89 new cases in Thailand, Italian attempts fail to control escalation in cases

    Despite four weeks of ‘lockdown’ including closing borders, cancelling flights, closing schools, limiting domestic travel and closing public places, Italy’s level of new cases, and deaths, continues to rise at an alarming level. The best efforts of Italian health officials has failed to contain the spread of the disease, particularly in the north of the country. The death toll from…

  • Despite closures elsewhere, Chiang Rai’s border crossings to remain open for trade

    Despite closures elsewhere, Chiang Rai’s border crossings to remain open for trade

    “I stress that people need to cooperate with instructions from the government to reduce transmission. Please do not gather or go to other provinces.” Although the Interior Ministry has ordered most border provinces to leave only one checkpoint open as the country tries to block arrivals to contain the coronavirus outbreak, an exception has been made for Chiang Rai, which…

  • Chinese tourist packing their bags to come back to Thailand

    Chinese tourist packing their bags to come back to Thailand

    Some groups of Chinese say they’re ready to pack their bags and start travelling again. And, astonishingly, Thai tourism officials say they they’re preparing for a return of Chinese tourists! Chinese tourists groups say they expect to resume their travels in April as the novel coronavirus (Covid19) infections start to subside in China. Thai tourism officials say they are aiming…

  • 25 Covid-19 cases awaiting test results in Phuket, 5 cases confirmed yesterday

    25 Covid-19 cases awaiting test results in Phuket, 5 cases confirmed yesterday

    At a tetchy meeting of the Provincial Communicable Diseases Committee in Phuket Town yesterday, Phuket’s Govenor Phakaphong Tavipatana finally admitted to five cases of Covid-19 on the holiday island, three of them still active. After weeks of obfuscation and denying active cases of the coronavirus in Phuket, the Governor finally came clean after repeated questions from a frustrated Phuket press…

  • Grab Food launches ‘contactless delivery’

    Grab Food launches ‘contactless delivery’

    Today, GrabFood has introduced the “contactless delivery” to ensure the hygiene and health of customers during the Covid-19 crisis. Tarin Thaniyavarn of Grab Thailand says, “Grab has been closely monitoring the Covid-19 situation and is prepared to execute any necessary measures to promote safety standards for everyone involved.” GrabFood and its restaurant providers have also reevaluated safety guidelines… Drivers will…

  • Phuket immigration offers 30 day extensions for stranded foreigners

    Phuket immigration offers 30 day extensions for stranded foreigners

    “Please, any foreigners coming to the Immigration office must wear face masks. If they don’t have one, they will have to go get one first, then we can talk.” On Wednesday the Sorts and Tourism Minister said that he’d been discussing the problem of overstaying tourists and visitors, due to a lack of flights or border closures in their home…

  • Culture clash over foreigners’ refusal to wear face masks

    Culture clash over foreigners’ refusal to wear face masks

    With the rapid rise of Covid-19 coronavirus cases in Thailand, more than tripling in the space of a week, a culture clash previously seen in China, is rearing its head in the Land of Smiles. While Thais, even in areas with no infections, consider face masks obligatory and a sign of concern for the welfare of others, many visitors and…

  • Day and night – Bangkok deep cleaning phase

    Day and night – Bangkok deep cleaning phase

    Deputy Bangkok Governor Sakonthi Pattiyakul, posted on his Facebook, revealing that Bangkok is in its “deep cleaning phase” and all 50 districts will be affected. Focusing on the ground and public seating, authorities will first use disinfectant sprays to spray down everything then use a wipe with at least 70% alcohol to minimise any potential Covid-19 threats. This will continue…

  • Government House sanitised, coronavirus impact to last “at least a year”

    Government House sanitised, coronavirus impact to last “at least a year”

    “Thailand’s population will face the impact of the coronavirus for at least a year, it is the time to unite, not pointing fingers and we will go through it together.” The Government House compound in Bangkok has been ‘sanitised’ after a security officer for Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana tested positive for the Covid-19 coronavirus. Uttama himself has been in self-isolation…

  • Thailand confirms 50 new Covid-19 cases, including infant

    Thailand confirms 50 new Covid-19 cases, including infant

    Thailand today confirmed 50 new cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus, bringing the total to 322 since the virus first arrived in the Kingdom in January. Suwannachai Watthaningcharoenchai, director-general of the Department of Disease Control, made the announcement at today’s press briefing by the Ministry of Public Health. 278 patients remain hospitalised, 43 have returned home, and there has been one…

  • Army disinfects Bangkok’s Lumphini Boxing Stadium

    Army disinfects Bangkok’s Lumphini Boxing Stadium

    Bangkok’s legendary Lumphini Boxing Stadium, which became a local epicentre of many infections of the Covid-19 coronavirus, was sprayed down with disinfectants early this morning. Soldiers from the army’s Chemical Department began spraying overnight at the city’s Central Ramindra Department Store and finished at Lad Pla Khao intersection, focusing on handrails, stairs and bus stops, and any public areas which…

  • Chiang Mai orders lights out and fences up

    Chiang Mai orders lights out and fences up

    Chiang Mai provincial governor Charoenrit Sanguansat yesterday announced 2 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 374 suspected cases in the region. “We will keep most public places closed throughout this month.” The governor has ordered fences up and lights out at all walking streets, entertainment venues, spas, karaoke bars, massage parlous, gaming centres, fitness clubs, cinemas and theatres. Even the…

  • First cases of Covid-19 announced in Phuket

    First cases of Covid-19 announced in Phuket

    News sources in Phuket are widely reporting 5 cases of Covid-19 in Phuket. The ‘confirmation’ has been reported by The Southern News, Phuket People’s Voice, Phuket Andaman News and Newshawk Phuket. Before today the Phuket Governor has not confirmed any cases on the island. In a meeting at the Centres of Disease Control in Bangkok (below), officials tried to avoid…

  • PM says all air passengers must show health certificates, insurance

    PM says all air passengers must show health certificates, insurance

    How to close your borders when you’re not actually closing your borders. The Thai PM has made travelling to Thailand difficult, if not impossible, for many in his latest ‘clarification’. In an apparent contradiction of the a notice posted by Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) yesterday, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha announced that all air travellers, both Thai and foreign, must…

  • Thai Chamber of Commerce assures public, discourages panic buying

    Thai Chamber of Commerce assures public, discourages panic buying

    The Thai Chamber of Commerce yesterday reassured the public that production of food and other consumable goods is more than adequate to meet domestic demand, and that there is no danger of shortages. Many manufacturers having already ramped up their capacity to ensure there are products on shelves around the country. The Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade of…

  • Follow Covid-19 coronavirus cases in Thailand here – live tracker

    Follow Covid-19 coronavirus cases in Thailand here – live tracker

    Understandably residents in Thailand are wanting to know where the current Covid-19 Coronavirus cases are around the Kingdom. HERE’S an interactive map to follow the cases around the country. Check todays latest news on the Coronavirus cases in Thailand here…

  • Bangkok governor issues stern warning over closures

    Bangkok governor issues stern warning over closures

    Bangkok’s governor Asawin Kwanmuang is warning business owners that they face heavy fines, even jail if they disobey orders to close. And in an apparent warning to police, he said “the same applies” to those responsible for ensuring the ban is enforced. Asawin says six types of establishment have been ordered shut until the end of the month to try…

  • 60 more cases reported in Thailand, taking the total to 272

    60 more cases reported in Thailand, taking the total to 272

    Thailand’s director-general of the Department of Disease Control, has announced 60 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 coronavirus infection. 43 of the people were linked to boxing stadiums (including the ‘Lumphini cluster’ at a boxing stadium north west of the capital), entertainment venues, and religious ceremonies. The latest cases is the highest number of new cases in Thailand in 24 hours,…

  • The Infodemic – fake Covid-19 news spreading like a virus

    The Infodemic – fake Covid-19 news spreading like a virus

    Social media messages peddling fake Covid-19 cures, dire warnings of draconian lockdowns that prompt panic buying, propaganda by celebrities who should know better – all this and more in the latest viral outbreak, the Infodemic. Some popular myths about Covid-19 below Disinformation, ‘fake news’, misinformation, just plain propaganda… it’s not just harmless gossip, it can help to spread the coronavirus…

  • Army disinfecting Bangkok streets

    Army disinfecting Bangkok streets

    The Royal Thai Army this morning began spraying roads in Bangkok with disinfectant to combat the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus . the Royal Thai Army units have been deployed to carry out the daily cleaning from 1am to 5am until the end of March. A spokesman says the spraying, approved at a high-level meeting chaired by army chief Apirat…

  • World financial markets take stock of record losses

    World financial markets take stock of record losses

    Global stock and oil markets plunged around the world yesterday (Wednesday) as enormous sums of stimulus, thrown at fragile economies, failed to offset concerns that the worsening Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic will tip the global economy into recession. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was hit by more brutal losses to finish below the 20,000-point level for the first time since 2017.…

  • Thai tourism minister plans help for tourists stranded and worried about overstaying visas

    Thai tourism minister plans help for tourists stranded and worried about overstaying visas

    There are a growing number of tourists who are becoming stranded in Thailand as their home countries raise the drawbridge and lockdown their borders. Many European countries have started sealing their borders to deal with the Covid-19 coronavirus and other countries, closer to home, are starting to act as well. Last weekend Malaysia virtually locked down its borders. Thailand is…

  • QANTAS to shelve all international flights by the end of the month

    QANTAS to shelve all international flights by the end of the month

    QANTAS, Australia’s national airline announced it is halting all international flights later this month, after Australia’s other main carrier Virgin shut down overseas services due to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. But QANTAS will maintain 60% of its domestic flights and Virgin Australia around 50%. QANTAS says international flights will be suspended by the end of this month for at least…

  • 40 labs certified for coronavirus testing announced

    40 labs certified for coronavirus testing announced

    40 laboratories were named today by the Department of Medical Science of Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health as cerified to conduct testing for the Covid-19 coronavirus 15 of the labs are run by the department itself, including one under Thailand’s National Institute of Health. The rest are part of its network of affiliated institutions. The other 25 are: • Faculty…

  • Pattaya beach clean up

    Pattaya beach clean up

    Today was another of Pattaya’s “Big Cleaning Days” but considerably more serious than the usual beach cleanups. As soon as it was reported that a 67 year old Belgian tourist has been confirmed as infected with the Covid-19 coronavirus , a major scrub was undertaken in the areas he’d visited. The man arrived in Thailand on March 3, had drinks…