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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    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...

  • Phuket entry rules relaxed to allow residents to exit and return

    Phuket entry rules relaxed to allow residents to exit and return

    A slight modification to the rules for entering and exiting Phuket will now allow people who live or work in Phuket to exit and re-enter the island more freely. Phuket Vice Governor Pichet Panapong explained that a special permission letter that was previously required in order to leave Phuket and gain re-entry after would no longer be needed. With strict…

  • Over 1,000 cats abandoned by owners on Koh Phi Phi, donations needed

    Over 1,000 cats abandoned by owners on Koh Phi Phi, donations needed

    More than 1,000 cats have been abandoned on Koh Phi Phi, the small collection of islands that are part of Krabi’s province. The cats were stranded by their owners after Covid played havoc with Phi Phi’s tourism. Thai PBS says the owners worked on the island or were entrepreneurs that had to leave the islands due to Covid, under the…

  • No deaths, 2 Sandboxers with Covid-19 in Phuket

    No deaths, 2 Sandboxers with Covid-19 in Phuket

    While Thailand has begun to see a downward trend in daily infections that is hoped to continue, Phuket’s infection trend has been rising over recent weeks. A few days this week have dropped to below 200 Covid-19 but today there’s been 238 new infections reported over the past 24 hours. The province extended strict entry requirements in hopes of curbing Covid-19…

  • Thursday Covid Update: 14,956 new cases; provincial totals

    Thursday Covid Update: 14,956 new cases; provincial totals

    262 coronavirus-related deaths were reported today by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 12,103. Out of that number, 12,009 fatalities were reported during latest and most severe wave of the virus, which was first recorded on April 1. The CCSA also reported 14,956 new Covid-19 infections today, raising the total case count…

  • Thailand to prioritise vaccination of over 50s, who make up 80% of Covid deaths

    Thailand to prioritise vaccination of over 50s, who make up 80% of Covid deaths

    The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration says the vaccination of people over the age of 50 is being given urgent priority. Thai PBS World reports that the decision comes after it was revealed that 80% of Covid-related deaths or in the over 50s. According to Apisamai Srirangsan from the CCSA, the majority of those deaths are in the elderly and…

  • Thursday Covid Update: 262 deaths and 14,956 new cases

    Thursday Covid Update: 262 deaths and 14,956 new cases

    262 coronavirus-related deaths and 14,956 new Covid-19 infections were reported today by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. In the latest and most severe wave of the virus, first recorded on April 1, the CCSA has reported 1,205,624 confirmed Covid-19 cases. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA has recorded 17,936 more recoveries. There are now 163,680…

  • Pattaya officials concerned high costs of Covid tests will deter foreign tourists

    Pattaya officials concerned high costs of Covid tests will deter foreign tourists

    Tourism officials in Pattaya are concerned that the demands being made of foreign tourists, including multiple costly Covid tests, will put people off visiting. Pattaya hopes to re-open quarantine-free under a sealed route scheme, but Thanet Supornsahasrungsi from the Chon Buri Tourism Council has expressed concern about the costs involved for visitors. The Bangkok Post reports that Pattaya is eyeing…

  • Tourism Minister defends PM’s re-opening plan on day 3 of no-confidence debate

    Tourism Minister defends PM’s re-opening plan on day 3 of no-confidence debate

    Thailand’s Tourism Minister has defended the PM’s promise to re-open the country, pointing out that Bangkok and another 4 provinces should be in a position to welcome tourists from next month. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn says the re-opening of those 5 provinces will be followed by a further 21 provinces around the country. He was speaking during yesterday’s no-confidence debate against PM…

  • PM Prayut Chan-o-cha says lifting the nightly curfew is under consideration

    PM Prayut Chan-o-cha says lifting the nightly curfew is under consideration

    Ending the nightly curfew in “dark red” provinces is under consideration, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha announced today before Parliament during the second day of the censure debate against his government. 29 provinces, including Bangkok, are classified as “dark red” zones under maximum control to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, following a meeting chaired by prime…

  • National Vaccine Institute defends opting out of COVAX

    National Vaccine Institute defends opting out of COVAX

    The chief of the National Vaccine Institute spoke out defending Thailand’s decision to forego the COVAX vaccine programme as the government comes under renewed fire as part of the ongoing censure debate. He maintains that Thailand is better off without the program. PM Prayut Chan-o-cha and the members of the ruling party in the cabinet are currently facing a vote…

  • Mu variant as a Covid-19 “variant of interest” by WHO

    Mu variant as a Covid-19 “variant of interest” by WHO

    By now, news of the Delta variant, a much more contagious strain of Covid-19 that has spread around the world, is well understood. Now, ‘Mu’, a new Covid-19 variant that may be resistant to vaccines, is making headlines as a new “variant of interest” according to the World Health Organisation. The Mu variant was first identified in Colombia 8 months…

  • 2 international schools in Bangkok busted for allegedly breaking various laws

    2 international schools in Bangkok busted for allegedly breaking various laws

    2 international schools in Bangkok have been busted for breaking various laws. The Secretary of the Office of the National Primary Education Commission, Attaphol Treuktrong, said that his office is pursuing legal actions against the 2 international schools after it was determined the schools broke laws. The schools are the Foster International School in Thon Buri and the St. Mark’s…

  • 1 new death, another daily Covid-19 record in Phuket

    1 new death, another daily Covid-19 record in Phuket

    With one new death and one new Phuket Sandbox traveller infected, Phuket continues its upward climb in Covid-19 infection rates. Yesterday saw a record 257 Covid-19 infections in one day (Monday), one more than the last new record high in Phuket the day before. For Tuesday Phuket has reported 119 new infections. The death from Monday’s totals brought the total…

  • Government considering Covid-19 cards for vaccinated people and recovered patients

    Government considering Covid-19 cards for vaccinated people and recovered patients

    The Thai government is considering issuing cards that show who’s been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or who has recovered from the virus. Kiattiphum Wongrajit from the Public Health Ministry says the cards could be useful as various businesses prepare for re-opening in a Covid-19 world. The Bangkok Post reports Kiattiphum as saying fully vaccinated people could be issued with green-coloured…

  • Wednesday Covid Update: 252 deaths and 14,802 new cases

    Wednesday Covid Update: 252 deaths and 14,802 new cases

    252 coronavirus-related deaths were reported today by Thailand’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. The CCSA also 14,802 new Covid-19 cases and 18,996 recoveries in the 24-hour period since the last count, bringing the number of active cases in Thailand to 166,922. In the latest and most severe wave of the virus in Thailand, first recorded on April 1, the CCSA has reported 1,013,342…

  • Phuket officials look to vaccinated domestic visitors for tourism lifeline

    Phuket officials look to vaccinated domestic visitors for tourism lifeline

    Officials on the southern island of Phuket are pinning their hopes on vaccinated domestic tourists to revive the flagging economy. A proposal to attract vaccinated local tourists is being submitted for approval and if granted, would replace current restrictions, says deputy governor, Pichet Panapong. According to a Bangkok Post report, Pichet says the current measures on Phuket are damaging the…

  • Officials say employees are to resume work, compensated accordingly following ease on restrictions

    Officials say employees are to resume work, compensated accordingly following ease on restrictions

    With restrictions easing in “dark red” zones tomorrow, the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare has declared that employees can go back to work with their normal compensation, according to Thai media sources. The department has declared that employers are required to summon all employees back to work and pay them accordingly. If employees are not paid their wages, their…

  • Regulations for flights between “dark red” provinces set

    Regulations for flights between “dark red” provinces set

    The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand announced over the weekend that starting tomorrow airlines will be able to take passengers between the 29 “dark red” provinces. The flights must strictly adhere to disease control measures. The announcement follows the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration’s announcement on Friday that the cessation of domestic air travel will be removed. In order to…

  • Tuesday Covid Update: 14,666 new cases; provincial totals

    Tuesday Covid Update: 14,666 new cases; provincial totals

    190 coronavirus-related fatalities were reported today by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 11,589. Out of that number, 11,495 people infected with Covid-19 died during the country’s latest and most severe wave of the virus, which was first recorded on April 1. The CCSA reported 14,666 new Covid-19 cases and 19,245 recoveries in the…

  • Malaysian leader forced to quarantine after close contact with Covid-19 patient

    Malaysian leader forced to quarantine after close contact with Covid-19 patient

    The prime minister of Malaysia is in quarantine after coming into close contact with someone infected with Covid-19. Thai PBS World reports that the office of Ismail Sabri Yaakob has issued a statement to confirm the development, but did not say how long the PM would have to quarantine or if he had been tested for the virus. The Malaysian…

  • Vaccination not required for dining in at restaurants in dark red provinces

    Vaccination not required for dining in at restaurants in dark red provinces

    In a contradiction of earlier reports, patrons will not need to be fully vaccinated in order to dine in at restaurants in the dark red zones. The announcement by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration has been published in the Royal Gazette, making it official. The Bangkok Post reports that restaurant customers will not need to pass a Covid-19 test…

  • Mahidol University’s Faculty of Dentistry patents mouthwash they claim reduces chances of spreading Covid

    Mahidol University’s Faculty of Dentistry patents mouthwash they claim reduces chances of spreading Covid

    There may be a new way to reduce your risk of contracting Covid besides washing your hands, social distancing, and following Covid safe sex guidelines. Mahidol University’s Faculty of Dentistry has recently patented a mouthwash that reduces the user’s chances of spreading Covid by targeting their saliva. The mouthwash was created by researchers at Mahidol University’s Faculty of Tropical Medicine…

  • Monday Covid Update: 15,972 new cases; provincial totals

    Monday Covid Update: 15,972 new cases; provincial totals

    15,972 new Covid-19 cases and 256 coronavirus-related deaths were reported today by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. Since the start of the pandemic last year, the CCSA has reported a total of 1,190,063 confirmed Covid-19 cases. The latest and most severe wave of the virus in Thailand, first recorded on April 1, has accounted for 1,161,200 of those cases. The daily…

  • Government says rate of Covid-19 infections on the decline

    Government says rate of Covid-19 infections on the decline

    A government spokesman says there are signs the daily rate of new infections is on the decline, with recovered patients outnumbering new cases for the last 10 days. Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana says that while the Delta variant is contributing to the high infection rate, he’s confident the number of daily new cases will continue to fall. Today, Thailand has reported 15,972…

  • Monday Covid Update: 15,972 new cases and 256 deaths

    Monday Covid Update: 15,972 new cases and 256 deaths

    The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration reported 15,972 new Covid-19 cases and 256 coronavirus-related deaths today. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 17,281 recoveries. Thailand now has 176,137 active Covid-19 cases. In the latest and most severe wave of the virus in Thailand, first recorded on April 1, the CCSA has reported 1,161,200 Covid-19 cases.…

  • Rollout of Covid-19 booster doses expected to begin next month

    Rollout of Covid-19 booster doses expected to begin next month

    The rollout of Covid-19 booster shots for around 3 million Thais who’ve already received 2 doses of a Covid-19 vaccine will begin from next month. According to a Bangkok Post report, Opas Karnkawinpong from the Department of Disease Control says the administration of booster doses is expected to get underway between late September and October. “Which vaccine type will be…

  • Phuket tourism operators call for curbs to be eased despite surge in infections

    Phuket tourism operators call for curbs to be eased despite surge in infections

    Tourism operators on the southern island of Phuket say Covid-19 restrictions must be eased to help the sector recover, even with a surge in infections. The island has been recording around 200 daily new cases in recent days. However, Thanet Tantipiriyakit from the Phuket Tourism Council points out that the infections are mostly caused by local activities as opposed to…

  • Bloomberg Covid-19 Resilience list has Thailand 5th to last

    Bloomberg Covid-19 Resilience list has Thailand 5th to last

    At one point, Covid-19 seemed like it may be under control and on its way out. But then the Delta variant emerged, throwing once-stable countries into infection chaos. Bloomberg compiles a monthly Covid-19 Resilience Ranking that tracks a number of metrics to rank what countries are the best to be in to weather the pandemic, and Thailand has fallen on…

  • Thailand to get Covid-19 foreign aid from China and Korea

    Thailand to get Covid-19 foreign aid from China and Korea

    While a government spokesperson announced that Thailand expects to have 140 million Covid-19 vaccines received in the country by the end of the year, many wondered with the slow rollout so far exactly where all these vaccines are coming from. Today we received a hint as foreign aid was offer by both China and South Korea who announced donations of…

  • UK residents cancel reservations, flee Phuket, following Thailand’s inclusion on the “red list”

    UK residents cancel reservations, flee Phuket, following Thailand’s inclusion on the “red list”

    Phuket hotels are reporting a rise in cancellations from England, as well as current guests checking out early to eschew expense self-quarantining when they go back to the U.K. Last week, the country famous for James Bond and Jack the Ripper announced its plans to move Thailand from its amber list to its red list, starting tomorrow. The move is…