Coronavirus
- Covid-19 News
Resorts lower prices, offer promos for post-pandemic holidays
Hotels are ready to face off. After months of vacant rooms, prices are being cut to entice domestic tourists to book a post-pandemic holiday. Now provincial restrictions have been mostly removed Depending on the province and risk of coronavirus transmissions, some hotels were ordered to close their doors completely. Now restrictions are being lifted and domestic travel is picking up…
- Covid-19 News
Thai government still working on criteria for travel bubble arrangements
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul says he has appointed “two senior figures” to determine the criteria for “travel bubble” agreements with other countries. According to a report in Nation Thailand, the Public Health ministry’s permanent secretary Dr Supakit Sirilak, and the director-general of the Department of Disease Control, Dr. Suwanchai Wattanayingcharoenchai, will set the conditions that must be met for…
- Covid-19 News
Travel bubble idea up in the air, no foreign tourists anytime soon
Don’t get your hopes up about international travel. Tourism in and out of Thailand won’t be happening anytime soon, officials said yesterday. The idea of “travel bubbles” has floated by, but the plans are still up in the air. The public health minister says he’ll propose a solid plan next week. The Thai government is making it clear that they…
- Covid-19 News
Locals support young tourist stuck at Phrae forest retreat
A lot has happened in the past 4 months. Imagine being away from it all and staying in a forest in northern Thailand, picking mulberries. That’s what happened to an 18 year old Polish woman. She’s been stuck at a Phrae forest retreat since February. She’s secluded at the Mulberry Farm Denchai. The retreat’s Facebook page says the it’s for…
- Covid-19 News
Billions of baht thrown at domestic tourism
The coronavirus pandemic has nearly killed tourism in Thailand. Now, Thai authorities are giving some life to domestic travel by rewarding health volunteers with a free holiday as well as subsidising hotel and transportation costs. 3 stimulus packages worth 22.4 billion baht are planned to boost up the industry and are set to run from July to October. The money comes…
- Covid-19 News
Not so fast, Thailand’s international flight ban might be extended
Commercial international flights may have to wait a little longer to get back in the air. Scheduled international flights in and out of Thailand were geared to take off by July 1, but aviation authorities are wary about opening the country back up again. They say, if anything, those traveling for business will be the first group allowed to enter…
- Việt Nam
Cập nhật tình hình COVID-19 tại Việt Nam (Ngày T3 16/6): Không ghi nhận ca nhiễm nCoV mới, chỉ còn 5 bệnh nhân dương tính
Tính tới 18h ngày 16/6, Bộ Y tế không ghi nhận ca nhiễm nCoV mới. Tổng số ca nhiễm COVID-19 toàn quốc là 334 người, trong số đó, 325 người đã khỏi bệnh, 9 người đang tiếp tục điều trị. Như vậy, tính đến hết ngày 16/6, Việt Nam ghi nhận: Tổng số ca nhiễm: 334 Số ca khỏi bệnh:…
- Covid-19 News
Aviation authorities to talk about the return of international flights, business trips first
Aviation authorities will talk to international airlines today about resuming flights into Thailand. So far, business trips will be allowed first and tourists from low-risk countries while be allowed later. More details about the re-opening of Thailand’s borders will be discussed at a CCSA meeting tomorrow. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand, or CAAT, will discuss safety measures to prevent…
- Covid-19 News
Government reticent to re-open Thai entertainment after new Covid cases hit Japanese nightlife
The Thai government says it still has some concerns about reopening the country’s nightlife after a resurgence of the Covid-19 virus in Japan was linked to entertainment venues in Tokyo. The spokesman for the government’s Covid-19 task force, Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin says the Japanese outbreak, and a prior, similar outbreak in South Korea’s clubs, is the reason Thailand’s bars and…
- Expats
Travel bubbles for foreign travel to be discussed on Wednesday
More information has emerged today about the proposed travel-bubble arrangements for foreigners coming to Thailand in the short term. Travel-bubble tourism will include limits on destinations and visitor numbers. There will also be restrictions on the origins of the inbound flights. The Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has addressed the issue with media this morning. The travel bubbles would be reciprocal arrangements…
- Covid-19 News
Thailand enters Phase 4 of re-opening, curfew lifted
From today, 95% of Thailand’s businesses have been given permission to reopen as the country enters Phase 4 of the easing of Covid-19 restrictions. However, nightlife establishments such as pubs, bars and karaoke venues remain closed, and the ban on international arrivals remains in force, with exceptions for repatriated Thais. and foreigners who hold work permits. The national curfew has…
- Thailand News
Thais continue to provide for the spirits despite tough times
Spirits don’t rest in Thailand, even when there’s a nationwide lockdown and viral pandemic swirling around the world. Thai people continue to give what they can to provide for the spirits, even if it’s just a glass of water or Fanta, placing offerings by trees where spirits live, or on spirit houses which are often outside homes and businesses. One…
- Covid-19 News
Up to 1,000 foreigners per day with smart phone tracking – plan to open Thailand up to foreigners
If approved by authorities, foreigners from low-risk countries will be allowed to enter the country and travel in so-called “travel bubbles” without going through the 14 day quarantine period. They’ll be tracked through a smart phone application to make sure they stay in their “bubble.” The plan is being prepared for an approval from the Centre of Covid-19 Situation Administration…
- Covid-19 News
Fears over “second wave” as China reports new outbreak in Beijing suburb
Beijing has once again instigated tight controls as China reports 49 new cases of the Covid-19 virus, 36 of which are in the Fengtai district. Until recently, the city had gone more than 50 days without any new cases, but it has now recorded 36 new cases on two consecutive days. This is the highest number of daily cases since…
- Covid-19 News
Borders start to reopen in Europe but restrictions on free travel remain
From today, a number of European countries will tentatively open their borders to some travellers, but total freedom of movement is still a long way off. The 22 EU countries, that are members of the Schengen area, normally enjoy restriction-free border crossings, but Covid-19 has put an end to that for now, and while some are opening up strict controls…
- Việt Nam
Cập nhật tình hình COVID-19 tại Việt Nam (Ngày CN 14/6): Không ghi nhận ca nhiễm nCoV mới
Tính tới 18h ngày 14/6, Bộ Y tế không ghi nhận ca nhiễm nCoV mới. Tổng số ca nhiễm COVID-19 toàn quốc là 334 người, trong số đó, 323 người đã khỏi bệnh, 11 người đang tiếp tục điều trị. Như vậy, tính đến hết ngày 14/6, Việt Nam ghi nhận: Tổng số ca nhiễm: 334 Số ca khỏi bệnh:…
- Covid-19 News
Local Covid-19 spike shuts Beijing district
An area of Beijing is on a “wartime footing” and the city has banned tourism and travel after a cluster of Covid-19 infections centred around a major food market sparked fears of a new wave of infection. Concern is growing of a second wave of the virus, which has infected more than 7.835+ million people worldwide and killed more than…
- Covid-19 News
Crowned bats captured, studied as possible Covid-19 carriers
Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, and the Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, are researching whether Thailand’s “crowned bats” could carry or transmit the Covid-19 coronavirus. The chief of the department’s wildlife health management section says they went to a cave in in the eastern province of Chanthaburi, home to millions of the bats, to capture more…
- Việt Nam
Cập nhật tình hình COVID-19 tại Việt Nam (Ngày T7 13/6): Ghi nhận 1 ca nhiễm nCoV mới nhập cảnh từ Trung Quốc
Tính tới 18h ngày 13/6, Bộ Y tế ghi nhận 1 ca nhiễm nCoV mới. Tổng số ca nhiễm COVID-19 toàn quốc là 334 người, trong số đó, 323 người đã khỏi bệnh, 11 người đang tiếp tục điều trị. Như vậy, tính đến hết ngày 13/6, Việt Nam ghi nhận: Tổng số ca nhiễm: 334 Số ca khỏi bệnh:…
- Covid-19 News
Covid-19 update: 5 new cases, all imported (June 13)
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration today announced that 5 new Covid-19 cases were confirmed in the previous 24 hours. All 5 were imported cases of Thai students returning from Saudi Arabia. No new deaths were reported. The total number of confirmed cases since the beginning of the outbreak in Thailand now stands at 3,134. The death toll remains at…
- Covid-19 News
Thailand talking “travel bubbles” with low-risk Covid-19 countries
Thailand is considering the idea of forming “travel bubbles” with countries that have demonstrated similar success in suppressing the Covid-19 virus. The announcement comes as a number of nations, including South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, China and New Zealand have expressed interest in forming a reciprocal travel pact with Thailand. This would involve governments agreeing their citizens could travel back and…
- Covid-19 News
No foreigners at Wat Pho, Bangkok temple says Thais only
The Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha) is open, but only if you’re Thai. Foreigners are not allowed in, even if you’ve been living in Thailand for years. The famous Bangkok temple re-opened last week but are keeping foreigners over fears of the coronavirus. A sign with red letters, all capitalised “ONLY THAI PEOPLE … NOW NOT OPEN FOR…
- Phuket News
Long road to recovery for Phuket property sector
The Vice-President of the Phuket Real Estate Association says there will be no quick bounce-back for the island’s property market, saying it will take at least 2 years for things to recover from the devastating effects of Covid-19. Speaking to Bangkok Post, Boon Yongsakul, owner of Boat Lagoon, says the fall-out has been particularly severe in Phuket because the province…
- Việt Nam
Cập nhật tình hình COVID-19 tại Việt Nam (Ngày T5 11/6): Không ghi nhận ca nhiễm nCoV mới, thêm 1 bệnh nhân khỏi
Tính tới 18h ngày 11/6, Bộ Y tế không ghi nhận ca nhiễm nCoV mới. Tổng số ca nhiễm COVID-19 toàn quốc là 332 người, trong số đó, 321 người đã khỏi bệnh, 11 người đang tiếp tục điều trị. Như vậy, tính đến hết ngày 11/6, Việt Nam ghi nhận: Tổng số ca nhiễm: 332 Số ca khỏi bệnh:…
- Covid-19 News
WHO expert calls comments on asymptomatic virus transmission a “misunderstanding”
After stirring some controversy with comments about asymptomatic transmission of the virus being “very rare”, a World Health Organisation Covid-19 expert has rushed to explain herself. In a Q&A session on social media, Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, says there is no definitive answer yet as to whether or not such transmission is rare but indicated that real world data showed…
- World News
Singapore to begin human trial of potential Covid-19 prophylactic
A new drug, currently known as TY027, might be used to protect frontline healthcare workers against potential exposure to Covid-19, or travellers when they head to countries with high community transmission. Next week, 23 volunteers in Singapore will be involved in a clinical safety trial for the prophylactic antibody drug, which could be a viable treatment the disease that has already…
- Covid-19 News
Thai medic blasts World Health Organisation for face mask U-turn
A Thai doctor who specialises in respiratory conditions has slammed the World Health Organisation for doing an about-face on its policy on the use of face masks. Having originally declared there was no evidence cloth masks could help prevent the spread of Covid-19, the organisation is now advocating their use in public. Dr. Manoon Leechawengwong’s criticism comes as the WHO…
- Việt Nam
Cập nhật tình hình COVID-19 tại Việt Nam (Ngày T4 10/6): Không ghi nhận ca nhiễm nCoV mới, thêm 4 bệnh nhân khỏi
Tính tới 18h ngày 10/6, Bộ Y tế không ghi nhận ca nhiễm nCoV mới. Tổng số ca nhiễm COVID-19 toàn quốc là 332 người, trong số đó, 320 người đã khỏi bệnh, 12 người đang tiếp tục điều trị. Như vậy, tính đến hết ngày 10/6, Việt Nam ghi nhận: Tổng số ca nhiễm: 332 Số ca khỏi bệnh:…
- Covid-19 News
More masks, more problems: Covid waste pollutes oceans
Disposable face masks and plastic gloves are ending up in the oceans around the world, some calling it “Covid waste.” Conservationists and non-profits in Europe and Asia worry that the items used to protect those on land from the coronavirus are now threatening life underwater. In France, Laurent Lombard, from the non-profit Opération Mer Propre, posted a video on Facebook on a…
- Covid-19 News
Activist asks why the government wants public mobile phone data
The secretary-general of the Thai Constitution Protection Association has denounced government plans to ask phone operators for details of the public’s usage, which officials claim would only be used to prevent any resurgence of the Covid-19 virus. Srisuwan Janya plans to file a petition with the National Human Rights Commission today, calling for the Ministry of Defence and the Disease…
