covid-19

  • Covid-19 News

    Price control on 55 items, face masks and alcohol included

    The government decided to maintain the price control list for 55 product items including face masks, raw materials for medical face mask production, alcohol (not the stuff you drink!) and alcohol-based hand sanitiser, and recyclable paper. According to the Commerce Minister Jurin Lakanawisit, price controls on 55 items for daily use will continue, especially the price for face masks. A…

  • Pattaya News

    Chon Buri announces a list of 2 Covid-19 hotspots, visitors are urged to get a virus screening

    Chon Buri Provincial Health Office is urging people who visited 27 Covid-19 hot spots in the province between December 20 and 31 to get a test at their local districts. Those who have outstanding Covid-19 symptoms after visiting the listed venues are also asked to report to the district public health offices they live in. Here’s the list… James Boy…

  • Thailand News

    Thailand News Today | Governor off respirator, sex-trafficking arrest, condo prices falling | January 14

    The Samut Sakhon governor is continuing to recover from a dangerous bout of Covid-19 and is expected to be taken off a ventilator today. The 58 year old was in “critical condition” after contracting the virus on December 27. His infection was reported just a week after the outbreak at one of the largest seafood markets in the coastal province…

  • Thailand News

    Health officials concerned with “family clusters” after baby tests positive for Covid-19

    Health officials are concerned about the increasing cluster infections among family members, friends and colleagues after a 3 month old baby in Bangkok tested positive for Covid-19 after coming in contact with an infected family friend. The baby’s mother and 7 year old brother also tested positive for Covid-19, according to the director-general of the Institute for the Prevention and…

  • Covid-19 News

    Samut Sakhon intensifies Covid-19 case finding, 35,000 factory workers to be tested

    More than 35,000 workers at 400 factories in Samut Sakhon will be tested for Covid-19 by January 24 in a mass testing campaign. The province, just southwest of Bangkok, rolled out the proactive case finding campaign after the outbreak at the Central Shrimp Market in the Mahachai area fishing hub last month. The outbreak affected hundreds of migrants who worked…

  • Covid-19 News

    CCSA Update: 271 new Covid-19 cases and 2 deaths

    271 new Covid-19 cases and 2 deaths were reported today in the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration’s daily briefing, raising Thailand’s total number of infections to 11,262 and total coronavirus-related deaths to 69. There are now 3,533 active cases in Thailand. A 72 year old British man died after contracting Covid-19, according to the CCSA. The man had pre-existing health…

  • Thailand News

    Tower of Babble – we respond to your comments | VIDEO

    ‘Tower of Babble’ is a new daily program on The Thaiger as we review your comments at our YouTube channel. Tower of Babble is where we read some of your comments to The Thaiger YouTube videos. Some are insightful, some are interesting, some need to be shared! And some are just plain funny. If you leave a comment under any…

  • Economy News

    Thailand’s rich not eligible for 3,500 baht government handout

    Thailand’s Finance Ministry has confirmed that wealthy citizens are not eligible for the government’s monthly cash handout of 3,500 baht. The Rao Chana (“We Win”) scheme consists of 2 monthly payments of 3,500 baht for those struggling with the financial fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic. Those with savings above a certain, unspecified threshold, will not qualify. The ministry has not…

  • Covid-19 News

    Food factory converted into 3-zone quarantine facility in Samut Sakhon

    The government’s Covid-19 task force says Thailand’s first factory quarantine facility is now up and running in the central province of Samut Sakhon. The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration says the Pattaya Food Group has converted its factory into a facility to house quarantined Covid-19 patients. “The factory used to manufacture canned foods under the Nautilus brand, but it is…

  • Pattaya News

    Pattaya massage shop raided for allegedly violating closure order

    A Pattaya massage shop was raided and 7 women were arrested for allegedly violating the Emergency Decree and disease control measures ordering the certain nonessential businesses to close. Police say the shop was “pretending” to be closed by pulling the shutter partly down and keeping the lights off. The owner of the massage shop on Central Pattaya Road in Nongprue,…

  • Covid-19 News

    Health Ministry requests more info on Chinese vaccine after effectiveness rate revised down

    Thailand’s Public Health Ministry has called for more information from the makers of the Chinese Covid-19 vaccine, after its effectiveness rating was revised downwards by researchers in Brazil. The Sinovac Biotech jab was originally confirmed as 78% effective in trials in the South American country, but that has now changed to just over 50%. The research team at Brazil’s Butantan…

  • Thailand News

    Thailand News Today | Chinese vaccine, Thailand ‘drug hub’, Covid update | January 13

    Confusion reigns over the effectiveness of a Chinese Covid-19 vaccine due to be rolled out in Thailand next month. Thailand has ordered 2 million doses of the Sinovac Biotech vaccine. The rollout of this particular vaccine among high-risk groups in Indonesia will start this week. However, questions now hang over the vaccine’s efficacy rate, originally reported as 78% in trials…

  • Covid-19 News

    Golf quarantine now available in 6 golf resorts

    The Tourism Ministry’s Golf Quarantine proposal has been approved by the Thai cabinet. That means foreign golfers can now stay in quarantine whilst enjoying a round of golf in 6 approved golf resorts located in Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Nayok, Phetchaburi and Chiang Mai. Foreign golfers are now allowed to spend their 2 week quarantine 14-16 days) at any of the 6…

  • Thailand News

    DDC eases concerns about cool weather affecting the spread of Covid-19

    The Department of Disease Control is easing people’s worries about the spread of Covid-19, saying that low temperature won’t make the virus more transmissible. They say disinfectants and sunlight are still effective to kill the virus. With cool weather in Central and Northern Thailand in recent days, some have been concerned that the low temperatures could impact the spread of…

  • Covid-19 News

    Trial data doesn’t “impact” Thailand’s plans to use Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine

    The recent China’s Sinovac BioTech trial data reporting 50.4% efficiency does not “impact” Thailand’s plans to receive and administer vaccines for Covid-19 next month, according to director general of the Medical and Science Department Supakit Sirilak. Questions have risen around the vaccine’s efficacy rate, which was originally reported as 78% in trails in Brazil, but recently downgraded to just over…

  • Thailand News

    Tower Of Babble – Have your say on The Thaiger| VIDEO

    Tower of Babble is where we read some of your comments to The Thaiger YouTube videos. Some are insightful, some are interesting, some need to be shared! And some are just plain funny. If you leave a comment under any of our videos it may be shared on our Tower of Babble each day.

  • Phuket News

    Phuket health chief urges “red zone” travellers to abide by quarantine measures

    With Phuket’s new disease control measures requiring those travelling from high risk areas to quarantine, the province’s public health chief is now saying those at alternative state quarantine hotels won’t be locked up in their rooms throughout their 14 day stay in isolation. He says guests can wander through certain areas of the hotel to have meals and do other…

  • World News

    Indonesia rolls out Covid-19 vaccinations, president gets first dose

    Indonesia is rolling out its mass Covid-19 vaccination campaign with President Joko Widodo as the first in the country to get jabbed with China’s Sinovac Biotech vaccine. Indonesia approved the vaccine for emergency use earlier this week. It’s the first large-scale use of the Sinovac vaccine outside of China. Thailand has also made an agreement to purchase the 2 million…

  • Thailand News

    Bangkok Covid-19 Update: 3 month old infected; market closes after vendor tests positive

    A 3 month old baby in Bangkok tested positive for Covid-19 yesterday, the youngest case in the new wave of infections, according to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. Spokesperson Taweesilp Visanuyothin says local health officials are investigating to determine how the baby was infected. A major wet market in Bangkok, Klong Toey Market, has closed for cleaning after a…

  • Covid-19 News

    CCSA Update: 157 new Covid-19 cases

    157 new Covid-19 cases were reported today in the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration’s daily briefing. There are now 3,981 active Covid-19 cases in Thailand. The CCSA has reported a total of 10,991 infections and 67 deaths since last year. 90 of the new cases are local transmissions, 42 cases were detected in proactive testing, 4 cases were detected in…

  • Covid-19 News

    Samut Sakhon to open fourth Covid field hospital on Friday

    The central province of Samut Sakhon, where Thailand’s second wave of Covid-19 originated last month, is to open a fourth field hospital by Friday. Vice governor Surasak Phonyangsong says the facility consists of 2 buildings with 350 beds to treat both asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic cases. Nation Thailand reports that it is located in the Nadee area of Muang district.…

  • Covid-19 News

    Thai travel agents call for vaccinated foreigners to be exempt from quarantine by third quarter of 2021

    The Association of Thai Travel Agents is urging the government to do away with the mandatory 14 day quarantine for vaccinated foreign arrivals by the third quarter of the year. The president of the ATTA, Vichit Prakobgosol, says 30% of 10,000 inbound tourism firms have had to close for good due to the financial devastation caused by the pandemic. He…

  • Covid-19 News

    Health Ministry says local administrations can buy Covid vaccines for roll-out in their areas

    The Public Health Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, says local administrations can use allocated funds to buy approved Covid vaccines for administration in their localities. “The government plans to provide free jabs to the public but it is alright too if a local administration wants to use state-allocated funds to launch their own vaccination drive. It is good that local administrative bodies…

  • Covid-19 News

    Chinese Covid-19 vaccine reported as just over 50% effective, down from 78%

    Confusion reigns over the exact efficacy rate of a Chinese Covid-19 vaccine due to be rolled out in Thailand next month. Thailand has ordered 2 million doses of the Sinovac Biotech vaccine, while its rollout among high-risk groups in Indonesia is expected to begin this week. However, questions now hang over the vaccine’s efficacy rate, originally reported as 78% in…

  • Thailand News

    Thailand News Today | Bangkok may ease restrictions, Phuket bar curfew, Vaccine roll out | January 12

    • Starting off in the capital today, where officials in Bangkok say they may look at lifting some restrictions, despite yesterday’s reported infections going up by another 37, to a total of 1,989. But officials say they’re optimistic about the overall situation. The BMA has announced that, provided the capital avoids any further “super-spreader” events, officials may consider lifting restrictions…

  • World News

    Malaysia PM imposes nationwide travel ban, lockdown measures due to Covid-19 spike

    As the number of Covid-19 cases continues to climb in Malaysia, PM Muhyiddin Yassin imposed a nationwide travel ban and ordered lockdown measures for Kuala Lumpur and 5 other states for the next 14 days. The country’s prime minister says “our healthcare system is at a breaking point.” Malaysia was able to keep the coronavirus at bay during the early…

  • Covid-19 News

    Mae Sot plans field hospital for Covid-19 patients fleeing from Myanmar casino outbreak

    A field hospital will be set up in Tak’s Mae Sot district bordering Myanmar to treat Thai returnees for Covid-19 as many are fleeing the neighbouring country due to an outbreak at a Myawaddy casino where around 200 to 300 Thais worked. The local communicable disease committee agreed to convert the municipality’s sports stadium into a field hospital to treat…

  • Covid-19 News

    CCSA Update: 287 new Covid-19 cases, majority in Samut Sakhon

    287 new Covid-19 cases were reported today in the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration’s daily briefing. There are 4,035 active Covid-19 cases in Thailand. Since last year, Thailand has reported a total of 10,834 Covid-19 cases and 67 deaths. Of the 287 cases reported today, 153 were local transmissions, 125 were detected through active case finding among a mostly migrant…

  • Covid-19 News

    Bangkok officials to consider easing Covid restrictions

    Officials in Bangkok say they may look at lifting some restrictions in the capital, despite yesterday’s cases going up by 37, to a total of 1,989. The Bangkok Post reports that officials are optimistic the overall situation will improve. Pongsakorn Kwanmuang, spokesman for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, says provided the capital avoids any further “super-spreader” events, officials may consider lifting…

  • Covid-19 News

    Thai health officials form vaccine rollout committee

    Health officials have formed a sub-committee to oversee the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines in Thailand. The Bangkok Post reports that the sub-committee will be headed up by Sophon Mekthon, chairman of the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation and adviser to the Public Health Minister. The team will be responsible for the overall vaccine programme, including deciding priority groups. Meanwhile, Opas Kankawinpong from…