Thailand News

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  • Tuesday Covid Update: 5,947 new cases; provincial totals

    Tuesday Covid Update: 5,947 new cases; provincial totals

    62 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 20,143 with 20,049 of those fatalities during the latest wave, which was first recorded on April 1. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 5,947 new Covid-19 cases and 7,943 recoveries. There are now 92,105 people in Thailand being…

  • Royal Thai Air Force signs US3 million contract for US-made aircraft

    Royal Thai Air Force signs US$143 million contract for US-made aircraft

    The Royal Thai Air Force signed a contract on Sunday to buy a new fleet of aircraft. These will come from Textron Aviation Defense, an American aircraft manufacturer that builds planes for the US military. The US$143 million, or about 4.86 billion baht, deal was made on the first day of the Dubai Airshow. The RTAF is set to purchase…

  • Phuket’s Bangla Road inspected by national and local health officials

    Phuket’s Bangla Road inspected by national and local health officials

    Health officials went to Phuket’s Bangla Road, but not for a beer. The deputy director of Thailand’s Department of Health went to Phuket and inspect the famed walking street in person, reviewing Covid-19 prevention measures. While bars and nightclubs are ordered to be closed nationwide, photos from the provincial health office show bars are the street packed with people, and…

  • Thailand’s southernmost town Betong to reopen to tourism

    Thailand’s southernmost town Betong to reopen to tourism

    Neighboring Malaysia, Betong in southern Thailand will reopen for sightseeing tourists from December 1. The Yala provincial governor says that over 70 percent of residents are fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Several renowned tourist attractions in the region, including the Anyorweng skywalk, hot springs, historical Malayan communist tunnel, and flower fields, have been prepared to welcome guests adhering to anti-Covid measures,…

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  • Disgraced police chief Thitisan and 6 other officers indicted in murder case

    Disgraced police chief Thitisan and 6 other officers indicted in murder case

    A former police chief accused of murdering a suspect in custody has been indicted, along with 6 other former police officers. The Bangkok Post reports that public prosecutors have taken the case to the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases. Thitisan Utthanaphon is accused of torturing Chiraphong Thanapat to death by suffocating the 24 year old with plastic…

  • Police say no live ammunition was used against protesters in Bangkok yesterday

    Police say no live ammunition was used against protesters in Bangkok yesterday

    Bangkok police denied reports that live ammunition was used against pro-democracy protesters during a clash yesterday evening where at least two protesters were shot. Doctors have not made any detailed statements on the injuries, but police say only rubber bullets were fired at protesters. Officers say they are still investigating the incident. Yesterday evening, a large rally of Thai activists…

  • Monday Covid Update: 6,343 new cases; provincial totals

    Monday Covid Update: 6,343 new cases; provincial totals

    45 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 20,081 with 19,987 of those fatalities during the latest wave, which was first recorded on April 1. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 6,343 new Covid-19 cases and 7,663 recoveries. There are now 94,163 people in Thailand being…

  • Covid-19 still a concern for upcoming Loy Krathong festival

    Covid-19 still a concern for upcoming Loy Krathong festival

    The Loy Krathong festival is set to take place this Friday in Thailand. But according to a recent poll, a number of Thais are concerned that the Covid-19 measures in place are inadequate, and that another wave of infections because of the festival is possible. These concerns are making people hesitant to participate in the festivities. Last month, PM Prayut…

  • Thai PM “pleased” with increase in tourist numbers since November 1 re-opening

    Thai PM “pleased” with increase in tourist numbers since November 1 re-opening

    A government spokesman says the Thai PM is pleased with the rise in tourist numbers since the country re-opened with minimal quarantine on November 1. Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana says that since then, Thailand has welcomed 44,774 foreign visitors to the kingdom. According to a Bangkok Post report, 31,666 of those arrived under the new Test and Go scheme, open to vaccinated…

  • Supalai Oriental Sukhumvit 39 offers modern and luxurious living

    Supalai Oriental Sukhumvit 39 offers modern and luxurious living

    Sponsored Article Looking for a relaxing experience and lifestyle in the heart of the city? If yes then Supalai Oriental Sukhumvit 39 might just be what you are looking for! Supalai Oriental is a high-rise condominium located at Sukhumvit 39. There are altogether 4 towers with 1,046 units and you have the options to choose between 1 – 3 bedrooms…

  • COVID-19 SUNDAY UPDATE: Vaccinations, provincial totals

    COVID-19 SUNDAY UPDATE: Vaccinations, provincial totals

    Today, the CCSA reported 7,079 new Covid-19 infections, up 22 since yesterday, and 47 Coronavirus-related deaths, down 8 from yesterday. Since April 1, in the latest wave of the virus in Thailand, a total of 1,989,547 confirmed Covid-19 infections have been reported. In the 24 hour period since the last count, the CCSA has reported 6,917 recoveries, down 476 from…

  • Tourism in Thailand is slowly returning, still a long road ahead

    Tourism in Thailand is slowly returning, still a long road ahead

    Though the government’s expected flood of tourists entering Thailand since the reopening 2 weeks ago has been closer to a trickle, businesses are seeing a bit of an uptick in tourism. Still, they are calling on the government to loosen Covid-19 restrictions and asking for federal financial programs to be extended and expanded to help speed recovery. The president of…

  • COVID-19 SUNDAY: 47 deaths, 7,079 new infections

    COVID-19 SUNDAY: 47 deaths, 7,079 new infections

    Today, the CCSA reported 7,079 new Covid-19 infections, up 22 since yesterday, and 47 Coronavirus-related deaths, down 8 from yesterday. Since April 1, in the latest wave of the virus in Thailand, a total of 1,989,547 confirmed Covid-19 infections have been reported. In the 24 hour period since the last count, the CCSA has reported 6,917 recoveries, down 476 from…

  • Unlicensed construction may be cause of Koh Larn resort death

    Unlicensed construction may be cause of Koh Larn resort death

    A simple and tragic case of a girl who was found dead in her resort bathroom on the popular holiday island of Koh Larn has taken a twist as officials say the property had no construction license. Though the first information released about her death last week implied a night of heavy drinking led to a fatal accident, poor building…

  • COVID-19 SATURDAY UPDATE: Provincial Totals

    COVID-19 SATURDAY UPDATE: Provincial Totals

    Today, the CCSA reported 7,057 new Covid-19 infections, down 248 since yesterday, and 55 Coronavirus-related deaths, up 4 from yesterday. Since April 1, in the latest wave of the virus in Thailand, a total of 1,982,458 confirmed Covid-19 infections have been reported. In the 24 hour period since the last count, the CCSA has reported 7,393 recoveries, up 507 from…

  • First 10 days: 30,000 arrivals; 147,000 Thailand Pass applicants

    First 10 days: 30,000 arrivals; 147,000 Thailand Pass applicants

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand totalled up some data for the first 10 days of Thailand’s reopening, with over 30,000 arrivals so far and nearly 150,000 applications submitted for the Thailand Pass to gain entry to the country. The TAT’s report states that the combined total of international travellers arriving at all of Thailand’s international airports – both Bangkok airports,…

  • Thitisan ‘Joe Ferrari’ and his officers now facing death penalty

    Thitisan ‘Joe Ferrari’ and his officers now facing death penalty

    The 7 police officers including Pol Col Thitisan “Joe Ferrari” Utthanaphon, who were arrested after a video leaked of them suffocating a suspect to death during interrogation, will now face full charges as the Attorney-General has given the go-ahead to begin prosecution. The 7 will be tried for multiple charges including premeditated murder by means of torture, coercion, illegal detention,…

  • COVID-19 SATURDAY: 55 deaths, 7,057 new infections

    COVID-19 SATURDAY: 55 deaths, 7,057 new infections

    Today, the CCSA reported 7,057 new Covid-19 infections, down 248 since yesterday, and 55 Coronavirus-related deaths, up 4 from yesterday. Since April 1, in the latest wave of the virus in Thailand, a total of 1,982,458 confirmed Covid-19 infections have been reported. In the 24 hour period since the last count, the CCSA has reported 7,393 recoveries, up 507 from…

  • Public Health Minister barred entry to Switzerland over vaccine requirements

    Public Health Minister barred entry to Switzerland over vaccine requirements

    Switzerland barred entry to Thailand’s Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, reportedly for not meeting the country’s Covid-19 vaccination requirements, and Thai media reports that the minister missed a World Health Organisation meeting. Anutin was the first person in Thailand to be injected with a Covid-19 vaccine on February 28, kicking off the country’s mass immunisation campaign. He was injected with…

  • Reopening of bars and nightclubs pushed to mid-January 2022

    Reopening of bars and nightclubs pushed to mid-January 2022

    It’s going to be at least two months until you’ll be able to legally drink a beer at a bar in Thailand… The long-awaited reopening of bars and nightlife venues has been pushed to January 15, 2022. The CCSA held a general meeting chaired by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha today and decided to push back the reopening date for entertainment venues.…

  • RT-PCR Covid-19 tests still required for international arrivals – CCSA

    RT-PCR Covid-19 tests still required for international arrivals – CCSA

    After talk of whether to replace the mandatory RT-PCR Covid-19 test for international arrivals with the rapid antigen test kit method, the CCSA decided to continue to use RT-PCR tests to screen travellers upon arrival in Thailand. The antigen test kits, or ATKs, will be used for travellers on days 6 and 7, or if they develop coronavirus symptoms, according…

  • List of provinces by the CCSA’s colour-coded zoning, in effect Tuesday

    List of provinces by the CCSA’s colour-coded zoning, in effect Tuesday

    In its general meeting chaired by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha, the CCSA decided to approved the following zoning, starting next Tuesday, November 16. The “dark red” zones have been reduced from seven provinces to six, with Chanthaburi reclassified as a “red” zone under less stringent disease control measures. A spokesperson says the nightly curfew in “dark red” zones from 11pm to…

  • Modern luxury cultivated in Thai tradition

    Modern luxury cultivated in Thai tradition

    Sponsored Article The Thailand International Boat Show is delighted to have the InterContinental Phuket Resort as one of its key exhibitors and sponsors. “It is quite an achievement for the island of Phuket to stage the Thailand International Boat Show 2022 in January as soon as tourism starts to assume normalcy,” says Bjorn Courage, the general manager of the Intercontinental…

  • Dogs to help Thailand’s prisoners prepare for reintegration into society

    Dogs to help Thailand’s prisoners prepare for reintegration into society

    Dogs are going to some of Thailand’s prisons as part of a new therapy programme by the Department of Corrections to help psychologically prepare inmates for reintegration into society after release and to improve the mental health of inmates by reducing anxiety and depression. Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin also said some convicts will learn vocational skills that could potentially help…

  • Businesses call on government to accelerate return of migrant workers

    Businesses call on government to accelerate return of migrant workers

    Businesses in Thailand are urging the government to speed up the process that will allow for the legal return of migrant workers from neighbouring countries. The Labour Ministry recently confirmed its intention to sign MoUs with Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos that would permit workers from those countries to enter Thailand from December. However, according to a Bangkok Post report, Thailand’s…

  • Thailand will give fourth vaccine for those who need it for travel

    Thailand will give fourth vaccine for those who need it for travel

    Apart from the growing evident reality of global inequality of access to vaccines, across Thailand there is still a gap where some people are struggling to get access to their first vaccine while others have had their third booster shot already. Now Thailand is beginning a round of fourth Covid-19 vaccine injections for those who require one, mainly for international…

  • Government warns pro-democracy activists to behave

    Government warns pro-democracy activists to behave

    The Thai government has warned pro-democracy activists to cease any activity they see as a threat to the monarchy. Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam issued the warning in the wake of a Constitutional Court ruling that found 3 activists guilty of plotting to overthrow the monarchy. Anon Nampa, Panupong “Mike” Jadnok, and Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul all deny the accusations, insisting they…

  • CCSA meeting tomorrow to revise colour zones and restrictions

    CCSA meeting tomorrow to revise colour zones and restrictions

    Tomorrow the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration will hold a general meeting to consider possible colour zone adjustments and additional disease control measures for the country. The CCSA meeting will be chaired by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha and will discuss all areas of pandemic management. According to the Government House, the 3 primary topics of tomorrows meetings will be continuing and…

  • Covid-19 medications are a boon, but don’t replace vaccines

    Covid-19 medications are a boon, but don’t replace vaccines

    The good news of several new anti-viral pills that have shown to be effective in greatly reducing Covid-19 hospitalisations and deaths, coupled with statistically rare vaccine side effects or deaths that some people latch onto, may tempt many to skip getting vaccinated and rely solely on medication once they get infected. But a Thai expert on crisis communication with the…