covid-19

  • Covid-19 NewsThailand receives 200,000 Covavax doses donated by India, partners

    Thailand receives 200,000 Covavax doses donated by India, partners

    Thailand’s health ministry has taken delivery of 200,000 protein-based Covid-19 vaccine doses and will distribute them to government hospitals around the country. The donated doses of the Covovax vaccine will be offered to the unvaccinated. According to a Bangkok Post report, the doses were donated by the Indian Embassy in Thailand, under an initiative by the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue. This…

  • World NewsCambodia reduces quarantine for unvaccinated visitors from 2 weeks to 1

    Cambodia reduces quarantine for unvaccinated visitors from 2 weeks to 1

    Starting yesterday, visitors to Cambodia, who are not fully vaccinated, will only have to quarantine for one week, and not two. Cambodia’s health ministry said air travellers not fully vaccinated must take antigen tests on their last day of quarantine. The country has eased Covid-19 restrictions in the past month, and officially stopped requiring Covid-19 tests upon entry for vaccinated…

  • Thailand News200,000 Covovax vaccines from India expected to arrive in Thailand today

    200,000 Covovax vaccines from India expected to arrive in Thailand today

    The Ministry of Public Health reports that Thailand will receive 200,000 Covovax vaccines from India today. Public Health Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, will be on call to receive the vaccine delivery personally. The Director-General of the Disease Control Department, Dr. Opas Kankawinpong says that the Covovax vaccines were donated by the QUAD, or the countries that agreed on Quadrilateral Security Dialogue…

  • Thailand NewsThursday Covid Update: 21,931 new cases; provincial totals

    Thursday Covid Update: 21,931 new cases; provincial totals

    129 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 27,392 with 5,694 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 21,931 new Covid-19 cases and 24,619 recoveries. There are now 188,926 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of the new cases recorded…

  • Thailand NewsWednesday Covid Update: 20,455 new cases; provincial totals

    Wednesday Covid Update: 20,455 new cases; provincial totals

    128 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 27,263 with 5,565 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 20,455 new Covid-19 cases and 25,933 recoveries. There are now 191,743 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of the new cases recorded…

  • Covid-19 NewsElderly Covid-19 patients in Thailand can now temporarily isolate at nursing homes

    Elderly Covid-19 patients in Thailand can now temporarily isolate at nursing homes

    Thai health officials announced yesterday that nursing homes can now be certified as temporary community isolation centres for elderly people who are infected with Covid-19, but are asymptomatic or only have mild symptoms. To pass the evaluation, the establishment must have suitable isolation rooms and adequate beds for Covid-19 patients. The director-general of the Department of Health Service Support, Dr.…

  • World NewsPilots announce end of US mask mandate mid-flight, passengers divided

    Pilots announce end of US mask mandate mid-flight, passengers divided

    Midway through a flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles on Monday night, the pilot announced the end of America’s requirement to wear face masks on public transport, including on planes. The sound of cheering resonated through the plane and around one third of passengers instantly took off their masks, according to a witness. However, some passengers were outraged and scolded…

  • Covid-19 NewsThailand removed from US ‘Do Not Travel’ list, in travel advisory reshuffle

    Thailand removed from US ‘Do Not Travel’ list, in travel advisory reshuffle

    Thailand is no longer a dangerous place to travel to — for fully vaccinated travellers. That’s according to the United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — or CDC — which removed Thailand its “Do Not Travel” list for Covid-19 on Monday. The move comes as the US reshuffles its travel advisory categories of which countries pose a risk…

  • Covid-19 NewsThailand’s Covid hotline inundated with calls over Songkran holiday period

    Thailand’s Covid hotline inundated with calls over Songkran holiday period

    The National Health Security Office says the Covid-19 1330 hotline received around 10,000 calls a day over the Songkran holiday period. According to NHSO secretary-general, Dr Jadet Thammathat-aree, many of the calls were requests for medication for Covid patients who were isolating at home. Other callers wanted to find out about treatment available under the universal healthcare scheme. The Bangkok…

  • Covid-19 NewsHalf the population has gained herd immunity, government target is 80%

    Half the population has gained herd immunity, government target is 80%

    The Department of Disease Control says around 50% of the Thai population has attained herd immunity against Covid-19, but the government’s target is 80%. According to Dr Chakkarat Pitayowonganon, around 10% of the population has contracted the virus to date. This figure, combined with the numbers who’ve received 2 doses of a Covid vaccine, followed by a booster, means around…

  • Thailand NewsBillionaire asks PM Prayut to scrap Thailand Pass and Test & Go

    Billionaire asks PM Prayut to scrap Thailand Pass and Test & Go

    An American-born Thai billionaire has written another open letter to Thailand’s PM Prayut Chan-o-cha calling for an ease in entry restrictions to help the country’s tourism industry recover. William ‘Bill’ Heinecke, founder of the huge Minor Group, says scrapping Thailand Pass and Test & Go will attract international tourists back into the kingdom. The letter, written yesterday, presents quite the…

  • Thailand NewsTuesday Covid Update: 16,891 new cases; provincial totals

    Tuesday Covid Update: 16,891 new cases; provincial totals

    129 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 27,135 with 5,437 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 16,891 new Covid-19 cases and 24,927 recoveries. There are now 197,349 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

  • World NewsUS mask mandate on public transport lifted following court ruling

    US mask mandate on public transport lifted following court ruling

    A federal judge in Florida has ruled that a mask mandate on public transport in the US is unlawful, eliminating the disease prevention measure. According to a Reuters report, the mandate was extended last week until May 3, requiring passengers on trains, planes, in taxis, and at transit hubs to wear face masks. The lifting of the mandate comes as…

  • Covid-19 NewsHealth ministry sticking to plan to declare Covid-19 endemic by July

    Health ministry sticking to plan to declare Covid-19 endemic by July

    The Public Health Ministry says it’s on track to declare Covid-19 endemic in Thailand by July 1, despite a prediction of increased deaths, particularly among the elderly. The Bangkok Post reports that Dr Chakkarat Pitayowonganon from the Department of Disease Control says it will take between 2 and 4 weeks to determine if case numbers will reach over 100,000 a…

  • Covid-19 NewsHealth ministry stockpiles medication in anticipation of Covid-19 surge

    Health ministry stockpiles medication in anticipation of Covid-19 surge

    Thailand’s health ministry has stocked up on Covid-19 treatment, in anticipation of a surge in infections following the Songkran holiday. Health minister Anutin Charnvirakul says hospitals are also standing by to treat at-risk patients, while those who are asymptomatic or only have mild symptoms can be treated at home. The Bangkok Post reports that around 110 million favipiravir pills have…

  • Thailand video newsThailand endemic on track | Good Morning Thailand

    Thailand endemic on track | Good Morning Thailand

    The Public Health Ministry is reportedly stockpiling medical supplies to ensure the country’s readiness to handle rising Covid-19 cases after the Songkran festival. It is also however keeping to its original schedule of declaring Covid-19 as endemic on July 1. Mango sticky rice as a cultural heritage item, Minister in a lot of trouble with allegations from several women and…

  • World NewsAustralia welcomes the return of cruise ships as 2-year Covid ban lifted

    Australia welcomes the return of cruise ships as 2-year Covid ban lifted

    Cruise ships are returning to Australia, following the lifting of a 2-year Covid ban, according to an AFP report. The ban was implemented in March 2020 in a bid to prevent the importation of Covid-19. It ended this morning with the arrival of the Pacific Explorer into Sydney Harbour. At the base of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, crowds gathered to…

  • Covid-19 NewsAcademic says Omicron may have peaked in Thailand already

    Academic says Omicron may have peaked in Thailand already

    Last week some Thai doctors were predicting a ‘doomsday’ scenario with up to 100,000 new Covid infections pers day post-Songkran. Now there’s a new tune being sung… A science lecturer from Chulalongkorn University says he believes Thailand has actually passed its Omicron peak, as infections continue to trend downwards. In a Facebook post over the weekend, Jessada Denduangboripant referred to…

  • Covid-19 NewsThai tourists postponing overseas travel

    Thai tourists postponing overseas travel

    The Thai Travel Agents Association says rising costs and a weak economy are affecting the number of Thai travellers taking overseas trips. TTAA boss Suthiphong Pheunphiphop says that currently, only high earners are travelling abroad, while those on lower incomes are being more conservative, due to their income and jobs being affected by the pandemic. The Bangkok Post reports that…

  • Covid-19 NewsHealth ministry advises work from home policy for 7 days after Songkran holiday

    Health ministry advises work from home policy for 7 days after Songkran holiday

    Thailand’s health ministry is advising businesses to have employees work from home for 7 days, according to Chakrarat Pittawawonganon from the Department of Disease Control. The advice is designed to prevent a surge in infections following the recent Songkran holiday. “Once the Songkran festival is over, the number of cases may increase by 20 – 30%.” According to a Bangkok…

  • Covid-19 NewsThai researchers warn, don’t take off your mask in public toilets

    Thai researchers warn, don’t take off your mask in public toilets

    A team of Thai researchers found in a study that without face masks, there was a 10% risk of being infected with Covid-19 in public toilets. Random? The team, lead by a researcher from Chulabhorn Research Institute in Bangkok, found that the risk climbed to almost 100% if the Covid-19 infected person actually coughed or sneezed in the toilet. The…

  • Thailand TravelStill unclear if visitors to Thailand will need health insurance after May 1

    Still unclear if visitors to Thailand will need health insurance after May 1

    The future of Thailand’s requirement for foreign arrivals to have medical insurance is up in the air, along with other rumours of reduced impediments to international arrivals. Right now, all foreigners ,except those with work permits, are required to have US$20,000 anti-Covid cover, including hospitalisation. The price used to be US$50,000 until the CCSA lowered it in March. Now, although…

  • Thailand NewsThailand’s Covid trend is ‘down’ as we wait for the fallout from Songkran travel

    Thailand’s Covid trend is ‘down’ as we wait for the fallout from Songkran travel

    The trend for Thailand’s daily new Covid infections is definitely heading down, for now. Despite the warnings of increased cases from some medical authorities in Thailand (up to 100,000 infections per day in one estimate), the trend over the past week has been down. The current surge hit its peak on April 1 with 28,029 new infections but has been…

  • Covid-19 NewsThailand’s daily Covid death toll breaches 100 for sixth straight day

    Thailand’s daily Covid death toll breaches 100 for sixth straight day

    As people in Thailand celebrate Songkran, the nation’s daily death toll from Covid-19 has breached the 100 mark for 6 consecutive days from Sunday to today. This morning, the Public Health Ministry reported 119 new Covid-related fatalities and nearly 20,300 new infections nationwide, besides around 9,300 positive ATK results since Thursday morning, for a total of more than 29,600 cases,…

  • Covid-19 NewsThailand’s daily Covid death toll breaches 100 for fifth straight day

    Thailand’s daily Covid death toll breaches 100 for fifth straight day

    As people in Thailand celebrate Songkran, the nation’s daily death toll from Covid-19 has breached the 100 mark for 5 consecutive days from Sunday to today. This morning, the Public Health Ministry reported 115 new Covid-related fatalities and more than 24,100 new infections nationwide. Yesterday, 106 deaths and more than 23,000 cases were reported. The ministry reported 108, 105 and…

  • Songkran NewsHave a virtual water fight on Facebook or Instagram this Songkran

    Have a virtual water fight on Facebook or Instagram this Songkran

    Everyone is disappointed that water splashing is banned for yet another year this Songkran (officially). Instead, Meta invites you to have a virtual water fight with your loved ones on Facebook and Instagram using an augmented reality effect called “Songkran Together”. The director of Facebook Thailand says the aim is to encourage Thais to celebrate the New Year with their…

  • Covid-19 NewsFDA approves protein-based Covovax vaccine for emergency use in Thailand

    FDA approves protein-based Covovax vaccine for emergency use in Thailand

    Need a Covid jab? If you’re in Thailand, you’ll have a new option. The Food and Drug Administration has approved the protein-based Covovax vaccine manufactured by Novavax for active immunisation against Covid-19. The FDA granted the vaccine emergency-use authorisation for individuals 18 years of age and older last Friday, according to a press release from Novavax. The vaccine — known…

  • Covid-19 NewsTuesday Covid Update: 19,982 new cases; provincial totals

    Tuesday Covid Update: 19,982 new cases; provincial totals

    101 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 26,289 with 4,591 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 19,982 new Covid-19 cases and 28,057 recoveries. There are now 237,399 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

  • Thailand NewsThai government plans to procure Covid-19 antibody drug for immunocompromised

    Thai government plans to procure Covid-19 antibody drug for immunocompromised

    The Thai government is planning to procure a long-acting antibody drug for people who have conditions that prevent them from getting vaccinated against Covid-19, according to a Thai government spokesperson. “Evusheld” is an injectable Covid-19 drug developed by AstraZeneca. The drug may even replace some doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in Thailand in the future, according to the Centre for…

  • Thailand NewsMonday Covid Update: 22,387 new cases; provincial totals

    Monday Covid Update: 22,387 new cases; provincial totals

    105 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 26,188 with 4,490 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 22,387 new Covid-19 cases and 27,680 recoveries. There are now 245,575 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…