covid-19

  • Covid-19 NewsCCSA to discuss Covid-19 zoning tomorrow, restrictions likely to loosen in some provinces

    CCSA to discuss Covid-19 zoning tomorrow, restrictions likely to loosen in some provinces

    Thailand’s colour-coded zoning for Covid-19 control will be discussed tomorrow by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. Some restrictions are likely to be lifted in some provinces, such as the ban on dine-in services at restaurants in “dark red” zones. The colour scale goes from green to dark red, with green provinces reporting no recent Covid-19 infections. Under the current…

  • Thailand NewsThai factory owners warned over not following disease control measures

    Thai factory owners warned over not following disease control measures

    Factory owners in Thailand are being warned to strictly adhere to disease control measures set forth by The Department of Disease Control as the risk of spreading Covid-19 is high in such densely populated buildings. The DDC director-general says the Thai Stop Covid Plus platform has surveyed 1,386 factories so far, finding that 76% of them complied with the measures.…

  • Covid-19 NewsAmerica sees an easing of mask-wearing for those fully vaccinated

    America sees an easing of mask-wearing for those fully vaccinated

    America is seeing an easing of mask wearing rules for those who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention announced the new regulation yesterday, which allows those inoculated against the coronavirus, to stop wearing masks outdoors in crowds and in most indoor settings. US President Joe Biden, who held a press conference without wearing a…

  • Bangkok NewsCovid UPDATE: 2,256 new infections and 30 deaths, provincial totals

    Covid UPDATE: 2,256 new infections and 30 deaths, provincial totals

    2,256 new Covid-19 infections and 30 coronavirus-related deaths were reported today in the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration’s daily briefing. Thailand now has 33,186 active Covid-19 cases with most patients are asymptomatic or only have mild symptoms. Since the start of the pandemic last year, the CCSA has reported a total of 96,050 Covid-19 infections and 548 coronavirus-related deaths. Out…

  • Thailand NewsBangkok uncovers 8 new Covid-19 cluster outbreaks

    Bangkok uncovers 8 new Covid-19 cluster outbreaks

    Eight clusters of Covid-19 outbreaks have been reported by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration with 4 districts slowing but 2 spreading quickly. Outbreaks in the Dusit and Din Daeng districts are showing a higher rate of infection and increasing spread, so authorities are closely monitoring the areas. Crowded communities and dense populations are causing faster transmission of the Covid-19 infections in…

  • Economy NewsBank of Thailand announcing 3rd phase case-by-case debt aid

    Bank of Thailand announcing 3rd phase case-by-case debt aid

    Today the Bank of Thailand will announce the third phase of their plan to reduce debt strain on people affected by the third wave of Covid-19. The phase is part of a continued effort to help individual borrowers cope with their debts by implementing restructuring measures. Financial aid is planned to be given to those in need after evaluation on…

  • Crime NewsInmate escapes from hospital in Rayong after Covid-19 test, arrested in Chanthaburi

    Inmate escapes from hospital in Rayong after Covid-19 test, arrested in Chanthaburi

    Still dressed in a hospital gown, a prison inmate hopped on a motorbike and fled a hospital in Rayong after being tested for Covid-19. He was arrested in the neighbouring province Chanthaburi and now faces theft charges for stealing the motorbike. The results from his Covid-19 test have not been released. Thailand has reported numerous Covid-19 outbreaks at prisons in…

  • Covid-19 NewsWalk-in vaccine centre plan limping, not ready to launch

    Walk-in vaccine centre plan limping, not ready to launch

    After proud announcements of walk-in vaccine sites launching in Bangkok and around Thailand, now there seems to be more walking back than walking in. Hospitals were flooded with calls from people looking to book a walk-in appointment to receive a Covid-19 vaccine but were told that there were no jabs currently available. PM Prayut Chan-o-cha said that this whole thing…

  • Phuket NewsUpdate on Phuket’s Covid-19 vaccination campaign

    Update on Phuket’s Covid-19 vaccination campaign

    So far, around 22% of the population in Phuket has been vaccinated against Covid-19, according to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. The island province aims to vaccinate 70% of the population by the end of June to reach “herd immunity”. Officials remain committed to the original plan to reopen to vaccinated foreign travellers by July 1, as ambitious as…

  • World NewsHong Kong budget airline HK Express puts in-flight trolleys up for sale

    Hong Kong budget airline HK Express puts in-flight trolleys up for sale

    A limited number of in-flight trolleys and galley boxes put up for sale by budget airline, HK Express, have sold out in a day. The Hong Kong carrier had advertised the items on its website, pointing out they’d be the ideal accessory for a costume party. “Each plated with our first-generation logo and a unique license plate, these trolleys are…

  • Covid-19 NewsPrison officials say activist Panusaya did not get Covid while behind bars

    Prison officials say activist Panusaya did not get Covid while behind bars

    The Corrections Department says the recently released pro-democracy activist, Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul, aka, “Rung”, did not contract Covid-19 in prison. The 22 year old protest leader confirmed she was infected earlier this week. She was released from Bangkok’s Central Women’s Correctional Institution on May 6. The Bangkok Post reports Weerakit Harnpariphan from the Corrections Department as saying Panusaya was in quarantine…

  • Covid-19 NewsModerna Covid-19 vaccine now approved in Thailand

    Moderna Covid-19 vaccine now approved in Thailand

    The Moderna Covid-19 vaccine has been approved for emergency use in Thailand. The country’s Food and Drug Administration announced the authorisation yesterday. Thailand’s vaccination started in late February. So far, only the Sinovac vaccine and the AstraZeneca vaccine have been used to vaccinate the public. The local company Siam Bioscience is now producing the AstraZeneca vaccine in Thailand. The locally-made…

  • Tourism NewsTourism authority downgrades domestic tourism forecast

    Tourism authority downgrades domestic tourism forecast

    The third wave of Covid-19 has led the Tourism Authority of Thailand to cut its forecast for domestic tourism for this year. The TAT was already forced to cut its goal at the end of April from 160 million trips to 100 – 200 million, as a result of the resurgence of the virus over the Songkran period. During the…

  • Covid-19 NewsExpat vaccination in Thailand likely to be delayed

    Expat vaccination in Thailand likely to be delayed

    An official from the Bangkok Metropolitan Association says foreigners may face a slight delay in receiving their Covid-19 vaccines. Panruedee Manomaipiboon, director of the BMA’s health department says while the Health Ministry aims to vaccinate everyone living in Thailand, foreigners may have to wait until August. “As I have said before, the Health Ministry plans to vaccinate Thais first. We…

  • Covid-19 NewsFriday Covid Update: 2,256 new infections and 30 deaths

    Friday Covid Update: 2,256 new infections and 30 deaths

    Thailand’s public health department has reported its tally for the past 24 hours from around the country. There has been 30 new Covid-related deaths and 2,256 new cases. Out of today’s new infection total, 183 of those were from the prison system. Yesterday the numbers jumped substantially because of the release of case numbers from two highly infected prisons –…

  • Covid-19 NewsCovid-19 patients with high blood pressure at high risk of death -CCSA

    Covid-19 patients with high blood pressure at high risk of death -CCSA

    Covid-19 patients with high blood pressure have the highest risk of death followed by patients infected with the coronavirus who underlying conditions of diabetes or high cholesterol, according to data from Thailand’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. Since the start of the pandemic last year, the CCSA has reported 486 coronavirus-related deaths. Out of those fatalities, 392 were reported after…

  • Covid-19 NewsThai health official dies a week after being injected with the Covid-19 vaccine

    Thai health official dies a week after being injected with the Covid-19 vaccine

    A Thai health official died a week after being injected with the Covid-19 vaccine. The woman, who worked for Public Health Ministry’s administration division, suffered from heart failure and was admitted to the Phra Nang Klao Hospital in Nonthaburi, a suburb outside of Bangkok. The woman died 7 days after being injected with the Covid-19 vaccine, according to deputy permanent…

  • Covid-19 News196 Chaeng Wattana Road construction camp workers test positive for Covid-19

    196 Chaeng Wattana Road construction camp workers test positive for Covid-19

    A construction camp off Bangkok’s Chaeng Wattana Road, which also features the Immigration Office, is reporting that 196 out of 300 workers have tested positive for Covid-19. Palang Pracharat MP Sira Jenjaka made the announcement after an inspection of the camp ended in testing many for Covid. Tomorrow, another 500 workers at the camp are scheduled to take Covid tests.…

  • Covid-19 NewsCovid UPDATE: 4,887 new cases and 32 deaths, provincial totals

    Covid UPDATE: 4,887 new cases and 32 deaths, provincial totals

    A spike in daily new Covid-19 infections was reported in Thailand today with more than half of the 4,887 infections confirmed today linked to outbreaks at 2 Bangkok prisons. Thailand now has 32,661 active Covid-19 cases, a record high in Thailand since the start of the pandemic last year. There has been a total of 93,794 Covid-19 infections since last…

  • World NewsAustralian government provides grant to cover 1 million vaccine doses in Laos

    Australian government provides grant to cover 1 million vaccine doses in Laos

    To help the mass rollout of Covid-19 vaccines in Laos, the Australian government is providing a 15.2 million AUD grant to cover around 1 million vaccine doses in the Southeast Asian country. The grant also covers training for healthcare workers on how to safely administer the vaccines. Laos reported a spike in cases over the past month, after a year…

  • Covid-19 NewsActivist who was denied bail tests positive for Covid-19 in jail

    Activist who was denied bail tests positive for Covid-19 in jail

    Activist leader Panupong Jadnok, or Mike, has tested positive for Covid-19 while remaining in jail after the Criminal Court has denied his requests for bail. The news, according to Noraset Nanongtoom, his lawyer, is that now Panupong will ask the Criminal Court to consider a bail request by video conference. If granted, he would be released and able to be…

  • Covid-19 NewsCovid-19 vaccination hub opens at Central Plaza mall in Bangkok

    Covid-19 vaccination hub opens at Central Plaza mall in Bangkok

    A Covid-19 vaccination hub opened up at the Central Plaza Lardprao in Bangkok, making it the first immunisation centre outside a hospital. Yesterday, around 1,000 people were inoculated at the new centre after registering for a vaccine on the Mor Prom mobile application. Most of those vaccinated yesterday were government officers, volunteers or those who are at a high risk…

  • Covid-19 NewsWalk-in vaccination centres planned to speed up rollout

    Walk-in vaccination centres planned to speed up rollout

    Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced plans for walk-in vaccination centres to accelerate Covid-19 vaccine distribution in Thailand. At a meeting of the National Committee on Vaccines, the decision was made to provide alternative channels to encourage more people to get the vaccine quickly. Also in the works is a plan to develop a new application…

  • Chiang Mai NewsChiang Mai hospital reports 7 new cases after patients lied about being infected

    Chiang Mai hospital reports 7 new cases after patients lied about being infected

    A hospital in the northern province of Chiang Mai has reported a new cluster of Covid-19 after 3 patients lied about being infected. The Central Chiang Mai Memorial Hospital has 7 new cases of the virus after the patients concealed the fact that they had Covid-19 and subsequently passed it to 7 healthcare workers, as well as putting at least…

  • Covid-19 NewsHuman rights group calls for transparency on Covid outbreaks in Thai prisons

    Human rights group calls for transparency on Covid outbreaks in Thai prisons

    Yesterday, Thailand’s Department of Corrections announced that thousands of inmates in Bangkok prisons have tested positive for Covid-19. 1,795 inmates at Bangkok Remand Prison are infected, along with 1,040 at the Central Women’s Correctional Institution. The announcement comes after political activist Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul, aka, “Rung”, tested positive for Covid-19 shortly after her release on bail. According to a Coconuts report,…

  • Covid-19 NewsThailand’s FDA says vaccines don’t have to have WHO approval

    Thailand’s FDA says vaccines don’t have to have WHO approval

    Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration says vaccines don’t need to be approved by the World Health Organisation before countries can register them. Paisarn Dunkum from the FDA says the vaccines that have been given WHO approval are for distribution through the Covax scheme. He adds that approval by the WHO can also be taken into consideration when vaccines apply for…

  • Phuket NewsTAT looks forward to welcoming 129,000 foreign tourists to Phuket

    TAT looks forward to welcoming 129,000 foreign tourists to Phuket

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand says it expects 129,000 tourists to arrive on the southern island of Phuket in the first 3 months of its re-opening. Officials still insist the island will re-open for quarantine-free travel for vaccinated foreign tourists from July 1. And according to the Bangkok Post, the TAT also plans to team up with airlines to offer…

  • Business NewsThailand’s airlines call for meeting with PM to discuss soft loans

    Thailand’s airlines call for meeting with PM to discuss soft loans

    The Thai Airlines Association says 7 member airlines are pushing for a meeting with PM Prayut Chan-o-cha to discuss the option of soft loans. The carriers have been seeking this financial aid for some time and have even decreased the amount being asked for, from 24 billion baht last year to 14 billion now. The Bangkok Post reports that representatives…

  • Bangkok NewsMore than 2,000 inmates in Bangkok test positive for Covid-19

    More than 2,000 inmates in Bangkok test positive for Covid-19

    More than 2,000 inmates at the Bangkok Remand Prison and at the Women’s Correctional Institution have tested positive for Covid-19. The announcement from the Department of Corrections follows the recent news that a protest leader tested positive for Covid-19 after spending 8 weeks in jail awaiting trial for lese majeste charges. Pro-democracy activist Panusya “Rung” Sithijirawattanaku made a post on…

  • Covid-19 NewsMonks gather for a special ceremony in Pattaya to pray Covid-19 away

    Monks gather for a special ceremony in Pattaya to pray Covid-19 away

    Hands placed together in the “wai” position and seated in chairs placed a safe “social distance” apart, monks in Pattaya gathered together at a local temple for a special ceremony to pray Covid-19 away. The Wat Chai by the Pattaya Walking Street was given special permission to hold the event where dozens of monks from other temples in the area…