covid-19

  • Covid-19 NewsDepartment of traditional medicine says it can treat Long Covid with Thai herbs

    Department of traditional medicine says it can treat Long Covid with Thai herbs

    Long Covid, the often-debilitating series of symptoms some people are left with even after recovering from Covid-19, can be treated with Thai herbs. So says the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, which is offering treatment to Long Covid sufferers. The Bangkok Post reports that practitioners of traditional and alternative therapies have launched a mobile unit offering Thai herbs…

  • Tourism NewsCCSA says Test & Go could make a comeback soon – with a few tweaks

    CCSA says Test & Go could make a comeback soon – with a few tweaks

    The government’s Covid-19 task force meets later today to discuss the fate of the Test & Go entry scheme, along with the potential easing of some restrictions. Supoj Malaniyom from the CCSA says Test & Go could make a comeback soon, but will involve stricter monitoring of foreign arrivals’ health. The Bangkok Post reports that the scheme could now require…

  • World NewsIndonesia lifts ban on international arrivals from high risk countries

    Indonesia lifts ban on international arrivals from high risk countries

    Indonesia scrapped its travel ban list and now all foreign arrivals can enter the Southeast Asian country. A seven day isolation period is still required for all travellers from overseas. The 14 countries on Indonesia’s travel ban list due to high Covid-19 infection rates have all been removed, according to the country’s Covid-19 Task Force. The measure went into effect…

  • Covid-19 NewsWednesday Covid Update: 7,122 new cases; provincial totals

    Wednesday Covid Update: 7,122 new cases; provincial totals

    12 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 21,968 with 270 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 7,122 new Covid-19 cases and 7,460 recoveries. There are now 81,602 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

  • Covid-19 NewsNearly 9.5 million child Covid infections reported in US as cases surge nationwide

    Nearly 9.5 million child Covid infections reported in US as cases surge nationwide

    Since January 13, the US has reported nearly 9.5 million Covid-19 infections in children, according to a report from the Xinhua news agency. Cases are surging across the country, with official figures confirming 9,452,491 child infections, or 17.8% of all confirmed cases. The report says cases in children in particular, have “spiked dramatically” in this latest wave, according to the…

  • Tourism NewsTourism Ministry pushing for return of Test & Go from February

    Tourism Ministry pushing for return of Test & Go from February

    Thailand’s tourism minister says he’s pushing for the return of the Test & Go entry scheme, potentially as early as next month. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn says the resumption of the scheme could mean at least 8 million international tourists this year. The CCSA meets tomorrow to discuss easing a number of restrictions and potentially rebooting Test & Go. The Omicron variant…

  • Covid-19 NewsRestrictions could be eased, Covid alert lowered after CCSA meeting tomorrow

    Restrictions could be eased, Covid alert lowered after CCSA meeting tomorrow

    As infections continue to decline in Thailand, the government meets tomorrow to discuss the easing of a number of restrictions. The CCSA is also expected to lower the country’s Covid alert, from Level 4 to 3. It was raised earlier this month amid concerns over the highly-contagious Omicron variant. The move followed the suspension of the Test & Go entry…

  • Thailand video newsThailand News Today | Possible easing of restrictions in Thailand

    Thailand News Today | Possible easing of restrictions in Thailand

    Thailand’s Public Health Minister says he’s backing the restoration of the Test & Go entry scheme as concerns about the Omicron variant subside. Test & Go was suspended around 4 weeks ago as the highly-contagious variant spread around the globe. Now, Anutin Charnvirakul says he’ll ask the CCSA to consider bringing it back, as well as easing a number of…

  • Covid-19 NewsMix & match formula for vaccines and boosters strengthens immunity against Omicron

    Mix & match formula for vaccines and boosters strengthens immunity against Omicron

    Following 2 doses of an inactivated Covid-19 vaccine with a booster mRNA dose increases immunity against the Omicron variant. Dr Supakit Sirilak from the Department of Medical Sciences says tests have shown the mix has proven effective against both the highly-contagious Omicron strain and its predecessor, the Delta variant. The Bangkok Post reports that tests carried out by the Institute…

  • Tourism NewsThe return of Test & Go? Health Minister to propose entry scheme be restored

    The return of Test & Go? Health Minister to propose entry scheme be restored

    Thailand’s Public Health Minister says he’s backing the restoration of the Test & Go entry scheme as concerns about the Omicron variant subside. Test & Go was suspended around 4 weeks ago as the highly-contagious Covid-19 variant spread around the globe. Now, Anutin Charnvirakul says he’ll ask the CCSA to consider bringing it back, as well as easing a number…

  • Covid-19 NewsSenior Thai doctor says Covid-19 could lead to long term side effects

    Senior Thai doctor says Covid-19 could lead to long term side effects

    A Covid-19 infection could cause long-term side effects in people after they have recovered, including fatigue and cognitive impairment, according to a top doctor at the Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine. The doctor, Thira Woratanarat, analysed over 80 research works of Covid survivors. These long-term side effects, known as “long Covid,” can even impact people who were never hospitalised for…

  • Covid-19 NewsMonday Covid Update: 6,929 new cases, provincial totals

    Monday Covid Update: 6,929 new cases, provincial totals

    13 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 21,938 with 240 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 6,929 new Covid-19 cases and 5,255 recoveries. There are now 82,210 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

  • Thailand NewsPandemic creates labour shortages in Thailand

    Pandemic creates labour shortages in Thailand

    The Covid-19 pandemic, in addition to an ageing population and declining birth rates, has created a labour shortage in Thailand. Over the past two years, unemployed Thais have started to leave their jobs to work as freelancers or run their own businesses. The National Economic and Social Development Council states that the number of Thais in the workforce will go…

  • Phuket NewsBack to school in Phuket as governor’s order allows return to onsite learning

    Back to school in Phuket as governor’s order allows return to onsite learning

    One of these provinces is doing its own thing… Despite central government recommending schools move to home learning until January 31, schools in Phuket have been told they can re-open. The Ministry of Education had advised Thailand’s schools to suspend in-classroom learning due to the rapidly-spreading Omicron variant, but Phuket governor Narong Woonciew has issued an order allowing schools on…

  • Tourism NewsThai airlines pin their hopes on government resuming Test & Go

    Thai airlines pin their hopes on government resuming Test & Go

    The president of the Airlines Association of Thailand says the government must allow the Test & Go entry scheme to resume as soon as possible. The scheme was recently suspended as the Omicron Covid-19 variant spread rapidly across the globe. Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, who is also the boss of Bangkok Airways, says the scheme was working well, attracting more foreign visitors…

  • World News13-day quarantine enacted for travellers from Thailand to Japan

    13-day quarantine enacted for travellers from Thailand to Japan

    Japan has announced new restrictions for travellers from Thailand entering the country, who must now undergo a 13-day quarantine on arrival. The new restriction will go into effect tomorrow and will affect travellers coming from Thailand and 4 other countries. The new restrictions follow a farther-reaching announcement on January 15 easing restrictions for the rest of the world, replacing the…

  • Covid-19 NewsCOVID-19 SUNDAY: Record low deaths, 8,077 infections

    COVID-19 SUNDAY: Record low deaths, 8,077 infections

    Today, Covid-19 deaths fell to single digits for the first time since at least the beginning of April of last year, hospitalisations have increased, but severe cases in the ICU have fallen. The CCSA reported 8,077 new Covid-19 infections (though the provincial reports say only 7795), up 284 since yesterday, and 9 Coronavirus-related deaths, down 9 from yesterday. Since April…

  • Tourism NewsCovid-19 infection rate, totals in international travellers surging

    Covid-19 infection rate, totals in international travellers surging

    While the government suspended the Test & Go scheme in order to curb the spread of the Omicron variant last month, people who are already approved are still trickling in, and many have come as part of the Sandbox programme. Despite throttling the influx of international travellers, the number of Covid-19 infections brought in from abroad has been steadily rising,…

  • Phuket NewsPolice seek Russian couple after wife tests positive for Covid-19

    Police seek Russian couple after wife tests positive for Covid-19

    After mild punishment for the first widely reported case of someone leaving their approved hotel before their quarantine period was over, it seems the floodgates are open. In Koh Chang, 6 people who tested positive for Covid-19 left their hotel and had to be tracked down. A few days ago a Russian man with Covid-19 who was supposed to be…

  • Pattaya NewsPolice raid Bang Lamung pool party in violation of Covid-19 rules

    Police raid Bang Lamung pool party in violation of Covid-19 rules

    In what has become a common occurrence, police in Pattaya raided another illegal party in violation of Covid-19 regulations, this time a pool party in Bang Lamung. Police described the venue, saying it was like a tavern or villa converted into a pool party location that was serving drinks and blasting music long after curfew with no regard for Covid-19…

  • Covid-19 NewsCOVID-19 SATURDAY: Hospitalisations double in a week, 10 million boosters

    COVID-19 SATURDAY: Hospitalisations double in a week, 10 million boosters

    Today, the CCSA reported 7,793 new Covid-19 infections, down 365 since yesterday, and 18 Coronavirus-related deaths, up 3 from yesterday. Since April 1, 2021, in the latest wave of the virus in Thailand, a total of 2,287,535 confirmed Covid-19 infections have been reported, with 21,916 total deaths from the pandemic. In the 24 hour period since the last count, the…

  • Covid-19 NewsCovid-19 exposure quarantine may be reduced to 7 days

    Covid-19 exposure quarantine may be reduced to 7 days

    As officials reevaluate the Covid-19 restrictions piled on with the outbreak of the Omicron variant, the current directive of 14-day quarantine for groups who are considered at risk with Covid-19 infections may be reduced to just 7 days. The Permanent Secretary for Public Health said that the Ministry of Public Health is considering reducing the time that people are kept…

  • Covid-19 NewsOmicron stabilising, officials consider easing Covid-19 restrictions

    Omicron stabilising, officials consider easing Covid-19 restrictions

    While infections of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 have caused a sharp rise in the daily statistics, deaths and even hospitalisations have not been as affected, causing the Ministry of Public Health to call for an easing of Covid-19 restrictions. Numbers of fatalities, as well as those on ventilators and in ICUs still remain low, says Minister of Public Health…

  • Covid-19 NewsHerbal remedy could be up to 96 percent effective against Covid-19

    Herbal remedy could be up to 96 percent effective against Covid-19

    While Thailand is developing its own version of the Covid-19 fighting Molnupiravir pill, a more traditional treatment may also prove to be useful in fighting the pandemic. Thai herbal fever medication has been found, in a laboratory environment at least, to allegedly “contain” the Covid-19 virus according to research by the Thai Department of Medical Sciences and reported in Thai…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket has surging Covid-19, but 95% of infections are mild

    Phuket has surging Covid-19, but 95% of infections are mild

    Phuket is experiencing a surge in new Covid-19 infections, with daily figures skyrocketing to some of the highest levels since the pandemic began. But, the Deputy Director of Vachira Phuket Hospital says that there is a silver lining, because about 95% of new cases are experiencing either mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. The Deputy Director said yesterday that…

  • Covid-19 NewsFirst batch of 35 baht ATKs from the GPO on sale today

    First batch of 35 baht ATKs from the GPO on sale today

    To combat the rising prices and scarcity of antigen test kits as the Omicron variant and Covid-19 fears spread throughout Thailand, the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation announced the purchase of 3.5 million ATKs to be sold at 35 baht each, with millions more in the works. This morning, the first batch of ATKs went on sale at GPO branches and were…

  • Covid-19 NewsFriday Covid Update: 8,158 new cases; provincial totals

    Friday Covid Update: 8,158 new cases; provincial totals

    15 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 21,898 with 200 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 8,158 new Covid-19 cases and 3,942 recoveries. There are now 74,795 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

  • Phuket NewsPolice find Covid-19 infected missing Russian tourist… In his own hotel room

    Police find Covid-19 infected missing Russian tourist… In his own hotel room

    After frenzied reporting on Thai news yesterday, the police manhunt for a Covid-19 positive Russian tourist thought to have escaped his Phuket Sandbox hotel is over and considered a false alarm. The police 191 hotline received notification from the Patong Parak Hotel in Phuket that the man had disappeared from his room after testing positive for Covid-19. The man was…

  • Covid-19 NewsCCSA concerned about rising Covid numbers among Thailand’s medical workers

    CCSA concerned about rising Covid numbers among Thailand’s medical workers

    The government’s Covid-19 task force says it’s worried about a rising level of infections among the country’s medical workers. Dr. Sumanee Wacharasint from the CCSA has called on all healthcare workers to come forward for a fourth vaccine dose to protect them against the virus. According to a Thai PBS World report, she says medical workers becoming infected is a…

  • Tourism NewsMajor tourism operator calls on government to restart Test & Go

    Major tourism operator calls on government to restart Test & Go

    The board chairman of Minor International has called on the Thai government to reinstate the suspended Test & Go entry scheme. Failing that, William Heinecke says they should expand the number of sandbox destinations, according to a Bangkok Post report. Minor International is based in Bangkok and its businesses include Minor Hotels, which operates 530 properties, including the Anantara, Four…