Bangkok

  • Covid-19 News300 more “little ghosts” returning from South Korea

    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…

  • Covid-19 News31 Thai returnees from Russia quarantined, 3 hospitalised with fever

    31 Thai returnees from Russia quarantined, 3 hospitalised with fever

    34 Thai nationals who have been stranded at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport, due to travel restrictions caused by the Covid-19 coronavirus, have now arrived home. They arrived at at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday by Aeroflot Airlines flight SU272 as a special repatriation flight arranged by the Thai government. Authorities at the airport’s international communicable disease control checkpoint found that 3…

  • Covid-19 NewsGovernment calling on nurses to enlist for special Covid-19 taskforce

    Government calling on nurses to enlist for special Covid-19 taskforce

    According to the Thailand Nursing Midwifery Council, it is predicted that Thailand will need at least 400 more experienced nurses to battle the growing number of Covid-19 patients in the kingdom. The president of the Council, Thassana Boonthong says, “nurses specialised in caring for patients in critical condition are in high demand as hospitals are allocating more beds for coronavirus…

  • Covid-19 NewsFacebook sues Bangkok man for ‘cloaking’ software

    Facebook sues Bangkok man for ‘cloaking’ software

    Facebook is suing a Bangkok resident for developing and marketing software that ‘cheats’ the social network’s advertising review process to enable users to post dangerous ads to other users. Facebook explained that Mr Basant Gajjar, an Indian-American software architect living in the Thai capital, developed a “cloaking” technique in software that hides the real content of advertisements, while showing the user…

  • Covid-19 NewsBangkok bans booze April 10-20

    Bangkok bans booze April 10-20

    All sales of alcohol will be banned in Bangkok starting tomorrow until April 20. Police made the announcement this afternoon at the Covid 19 Disease Management Centre in Bangkok. The stated reason for the ban is to encourage social distancing and stop the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus. However, many netizens have already commented that it follows similar moves in…

  • Covid-19 NewsCovid-19 re-infection rates increase

    Covid-19 re-infection rates increase

    A 38 year old woman from Chaiyaphum contracted the Covid-19 coronavirus for a second time after fully recovering from the virus last month. The woman returned from overseas in March and was found to be infected with the virus. She was admitted to Phyathai 2 Hospital in Bangkok and eventually had a complete recovery after which she returned to her…

  • Covid-19 NewsOver 100 arrested in Bangkok for illegal gambling

    Over 100 arrested in Bangkok for illegal gambling

    Too close and too many people. Over 100 have been arrested illegally gambling in a secret casino near the Nonthaburi Market. The Department of Provincial Administration raided a casino in the greater Bangkok Metro Area‘s Nonthaburi province and discovered 200,000 baht in cash, Hi-Low boards and two gaming machines, along with 108 people, some estimates as high as 122, taking…

  • Covid-19 NewsForeigners in Thailand worried about their security

    Foreigners in Thailand worried about their security

    Ever had the feeling you’re not wanted at the moment? As the highly infectious Covid-19 disease spreads through Bangkok’s streets, Thai PBS World reports the city’s expatriate community has multiple reasons to be nervous. The trouble began in early last month when Thailand’s mercurial Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul blasted “all farang” (a derogatory term for white-westerner), for not wearing…

  • Business NewsThe post-Covid-19 era: Radical changes in Bangkok’s property market

    The post-Covid-19 era: Radical changes in Bangkok’s property market

    Property consultants CBRE have come up with their own evaluation of the current Bangkok office market, already getting pounded by regional trends and a high baht, now suffering another challenge – the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak. They report that this situation will “create another split in our historical timeline – pre and post Covid-19” in Thailand. “At present, people are talking…

  • Covid-19 NewsOfficer who allowed 152 returnees to leave airport without quarantine has been ‘recalled’

    Officer who allowed 152 returnees to leave airport without quarantine has been ‘recalled’

    152 Thais who arrived home from the US on Friday were inexplicably allowed to return to their homes to self quarantine, rather than endure the mandatory 14 day quarantine at state facilities faced by other arrivals. As a result, the permanent secretary of the defence ministry has recalled an army major-general from Suvarnabhumi International Airport and ordered an investigation. A…

  • Covid-19 NewsUPDATE: PM vows to track down the errant passengers. Chaos at Suvarnabhumi – VIDEO

    UPDATE: PM vows to track down the errant passengers. Chaos at Suvarnabhumi – VIDEO

    UPDATE: PM orders yesterday’s BKK arrivals to report to state quarantine facilities, or be arrested. The Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has told 152 Thais who landed at Suvarnabhumi International Airport yesterday afternoon, and refused to enter the state-organised quarantine, to report themselves before 6pm tonight (Saturday) so they can start their 14 day supervised quarantine, or else. A total of…

  • Covid-19 NewsBritish businessman jumps to his death in Bangkok

    British businessman jumps to his death in Bangkok

    A British businessman is dead in an apparent suicide this morning in Bangkok. The man, whose name is being withheld pending notification of kin, jumped from the outbound Srirat expressway onto Ramkhamhaeng Road in Bangkok’s Hua Mak district. Police declared the man dead at the scene. The man had left an Izuzu D-Max pickup truck parked on the Sirat Expressway…

  • Covid-19 NewsBangkok, Phuket order convenience stores closed overnight to battle virus

    Bangkok, Phuket order convenience stores closed overnight to battle virus

    To fight the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus, Bangkok’s convenience stores, food shops and stalls are to be closed from midnight to 5am, effective from now until end of April, by order of City Hall (the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, or BMA). A BMA spokesman says that all public and private parks in communities, housing estates and condos will also be…

  • Covid-19 NewsThailand confirms 104 new coronavirus cases (Thursday)

    Thailand confirms 104 new coronavirus cases (Thursday)

    Thailand now has at total of 1,875 Covid-19 coronavirus cases, with 104 new cases confirmed over the last 24 hours and 3 more patients dying. Total deaths now stand at 15. Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman for the government’s newly formed Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, made the announcement today (Thursday). This continues a hopeful trend of new cases in Thailand overall…

  • Covid-19 NewsBangkok Airways cancels all domestic flights from April 7

    Bangkok Airways cancels all domestic flights from April 7

    Bangkok Airways has announced today that they will cancel all it domestic flights from April 7 – 30. The company’s vice president, Tresarum Sitakalin says the flights that are being cancelled are… Bangkok – Chiang Mai Bangkok – Phuket Bangkok – Trat Bangkok – Sukhothai Bangkok – Samui Samui – Phuket “The company had previously decreased flight frequencies on these…

  • Covid-19 NewsUrgent repatriation notice for Swiss and German citizens as immigration rules tighten

    Urgent repatriation notice for Swiss and German citizens as immigration rules tighten

    An urgent repatriation notice has been issued for Swiss and citizens in Thailand. According to Richard Barrow’s Twitter feed, flights are being urgently chartered to evacuate citizens of both nations: A notice posted on the Embassy of Switzerlad’s website reads… For Swiss travellers in Thailand: Swiss charter flights from Thailand to Switzerland/update… Bangkok – Zurich – Good news: seats are…

  • Covid-19 NewsCoronavirus UPDATE: Bangkok NOT being locked down, sobering forecast for US

    Coronavirus UPDATE: Bangkok NOT being locked down, sobering forecast for US

    Across the world the total number of Covid-19 cases has reached 858,000 (8am Thai time), registering 42,114 deaths and 177,141 people fully recovered. In the US, the number of cases has reached 187,729 – nearly 24,000 new cases in the past 24 hours and 726 people dying over the past day. Here is our page for all the latest Covid-19…

  • Covid-19 NewsNo more shutdown announcements in Bangkok, for now

    No more shutdown announcements in Bangkok, for now

    “Bangkok will not announce any further measures or continue to shut down the city.” This, from Taweesin Visanuyothin a spokesman of the government’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. “Due to the daily number of confirmed cases remaining at a stable level, Bangkok officials have come to an agreement that they will not announce any more measures or force people to…

  • Covid-19 NewsBangkok monks now sporting bespoke facemasks

    Bangkok monks now sporting bespoke facemasks

    Monks (well, some of them, anyway) in the nation’s capital have begun wearing custom face masks and even facial shields, as they make their daily morning alms rounds. Abbot Phra Maha Somkiat Yansuttho and his novices from Bangkok’s Wat Matchan Tikaram temple, aka. Was Noi, wore face masks while they went out to ask for alms and chat with neighbouring…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today – Monday, March 30

    Thailand News Today – Monday, March 30

    136 more virus cases confirmed in Thailand as outbreak spreads out of Bangkok A spokesman for the country’s newly formed Covid-19 Situation Administration Thailand confirmed 136 new Covid-19 coronavirus cases today. This raises the total number of infections to 1,524. Deaths in the Kingdom remain at 7. As of yesterday, 54% of Covid-19 infections were found outside Bangkok with a…

  • Covid-19 NewsBangkok City Hall closes more venues, but 3 types allowed to reopen

    Bangkok City Hall closes more venues, but 3 types allowed to reopen

    Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA or City Hall as it’s more commonly known), is closing down more public venues around the capital, effective midnight tonight (Friday) until April 30, as it steps up measures to curb the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus. Sites to remain closed are all sport arenas of both humans and animals (boxing arenas, cockfighting and fish fighting…

  • Covid-19 NewsBlue Flag grocery vehicles deployed in greater Bangkok to encourage staying home

    Blue Flag grocery vehicles deployed in greater Bangkok to encourage staying home

    With the state of emergency requiring people to stay home as much as possible and keeping their ‘social distance’ in public to fight the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus, the Ministry of Commerce has launched a fleet of Blue Flag vehicles to sell and deliver groceries and other consumer goods at affordable prices, right to people’s homes. Starting yesterday, mobile…

  • Covid-19 NewsMilitary checkpoints set up to monitor domestic travel

    Military checkpoints set up to monitor domestic travel

    Under the state of emergency which went into effect around Thailand last night, the military has set up 357 checkpoints to monitor interprovincial travel in an additional measure to fight the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus. A statement said the checkpoints are in response to the PM tasking the military command with supervising security measures. The checkpoints are manned by…

  • Covid-19 NewsBank employee tests positive for coronavirus

    Bank employee tests positive for coronavirus

    “The employee is now in hospital and his last day at work was March 23.” Siam Commerial Bank has announced that one of its temporary employees tested positive for Covid-19 coronavirus. A spokesman says that the employee worked on the 20th floor of Ari Hill Building on Phaholyothin Road in Bangkok. After notifying the Ministry of Public Health and the…

  • Covid-19 NewsMinor International pleads with Thai PM for a full lockdown

    Minor International pleads with Thai PM for a full lockdown

    “I believe that under your strong leadership, the message to stay home, limit personal movement and avoid interaction with others will be taken to heart and will help us overcome this crisis.” Thai hotel chain Minor International has sent a frank letter pleading with the Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha and Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang to curb public movement and activities…

  • Thailand Weather UpdatesHot days for the North, possible thundershowers in the South

    Hot days for the North, possible thundershowers in the South

    Thailand’s Meteorological Department says today that a low pressure system covers upper Thailand and will make for hot, dry days in the north of Thailand. Chiang Mai, Bangkok and Phuket five day forecasts below. “A westerly trough covers the upper Northeast, while southerly and southeasterly winds blow humidity from the South China Sea into the Northeast, the East, the Central…

  • Covid-19 NewsBangkok 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…

  • Covid-19 NewsBangkok 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…

  • Covid-19 NewsBangkok 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…

  • Covid-19 NewsArmy 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…