covid-19

  • EventsChiang Mai New Year countdown events still on

    Chiang Mai New Year countdown events still on

    New Year countdown events in Chiang Mai are still on, despite Thailand’s record spike in Covid-19 cases. Cancelling the celebrations would hurt the already battered economy and local officials decided not to ban the events due to the economic impact, according to director of the Public Health Promotion Division Chiang Mai municipality, Danai Sarapruek. Danai says measures are in place…

  • World NewsThai government urged to offer amnesty to illegal migrants and their employers

    Thai government urged to offer amnesty to illegal migrants and their employers

    The Thai government is being urged to grant amnesty to undocumented migrant workers in the Kingdom and to extend the reprieve to their employers. The call has been picked up by a number of Thai media outlets, as well as Thai citizens concerned about the latest Covid-19 outbreak. Those calling for the amnesty say it would stop workers fleeing quarantine…

  • World NewsOfficials on the hunt for corrupt border guards blamed for Covid spread

    Officials on the hunt for corrupt border guards blamed for Covid spread

    The Thai PM, Prayut Chan-o-cha, has put the Deputy Defence Minister in charge of hunting down crooked border officials whose corruption is thought to be behind the latest Covid-19 outbreak. With most of the new infections detected in Burmese migrant workers in the central province of Samut Sakhon, it’s believed many have been smuggled into Thailand illegally, bypassing mandatory quarantine.…

  • Covid-19 NewsBangkok schools, nurseries, close for 12 days in bid to curtail Covid spread

    Bangkok schools, nurseries, close for 12 days in bid to curtail Covid spread

    The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has closed all 437 municipal schools and 292 nurseries in the capital, amid confirmation of an additional 121 cases of Covid-19 in Samut Sakhon. The central province has become a hotspot of local transmission, with infection primarily concentrated on its migrant worker population. BMA spokesman Pongsakorn Kwanmuang adds that most city officials have been ordered to…

  • Covid-19 NewsNew Covid-19 cases in 17 provinces, CCSA spokesperson says to view migrants as “family”

    New Covid-19 cases in 17 provinces, CCSA spokesperson says to view migrants as “family”

    With Covid-19 cases spreading in Thailand and many concerned with the migrant population after the outbreak at a Samut Sakhon seafood market, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration spokesperson Taweesin Visanuyothin says to view the migrant workers as family. “When family members are sick, we have to take care of them.” 46 new Covid-19 cases were confirmed today in the…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket’s Covid High Season Crisis | VIDEO

    Phuket’s Covid High Season Crisis | VIDEO

    https://youtu.be/hK_j52xMwnU We visited Phuket 3 months ago and found the west coast tourist towns empty and devoid of people. Businesses had closed, vendors headed back to their home towns, shops shuttered and streets very, very quiet. The island’s east coast was still busy with the locals and many expats getting on with their daily lives, getting used to the ‘new…

  • Covid-19 News7 month old baby in Suphan Buri tests positive for Covid-19, health officials mull lockdown

    7 month old baby in Suphan Buri tests positive for Covid-19, health officials mull lockdown

    A 7 month old baby girl tested positive for Covid-19 in Suphan Buri, northwest of Bangkok. With 7 confirmed coronavirus cases now in the province, local disease control officials are discussing whether to impose coronavirus prevention measures, according to the provincial governor Natthaphat Suwanprateep. Reports do not mention if the girl’s mother was tested for the coronavirus. On December 17,…

  • Covid-19 NewsSamut Sakhon vendor tests positive for Covid-19 in Nakhon Si Thammarat

    Samut Sakhon vendor tests positive for Covid-19 in Nakhon Si Thammarat

    A new Covid-19 case confirmed in the Southern province Nakhon Si Thammarat, the provincial governor announced today. The 42 year old woman sold curry in Samut Sakhon, a province just southwest of Bangkok where more than 1,000 people have tested positive for the virus. Most cases are concentrated around a seafood market in tambon Mahachai in the Muang district. The…

  • Thailand NewsSamut Sakhon employer allegedly “dumps” migrant workers at a highway outside Bangkok

    Samut Sakhon employer allegedly “dumps” migrant workers at a highway outside Bangkok

    A group of Burmese migrant workers ended up on the side of a highway near Bangkok after their employer allegedly told them to get in a van to go get tested for Covid-19. The incident caught media attention as many coronavirus prevention measures focused on migrant workers were recently imposed after hundreds of workers at a seafood market in Samut…

  • Visa InformationThailand extends short-stay visas by 15 days to allow for quarantine period

    Thailand extends short-stay visas by 15 days to allow for quarantine period

    A proposal to extend short-stay visas by 15 days, to make up for time spent in quarantine, has been approved by the Thai Cabinet. The proposal was originally put forward by the Interior Ministry, who pointed out that foreigners entering the Kingdom on 30-day visas or visa exemptions, would lose 14 days as a result of mandatory quarantine. The 30-day…

  • Phuket NewsHealth officials confirm Phuket’s first case of local transmission in months

    Health officials confirm Phuket’s first case of local transmission in months

    Phuket officials have confirmed a case of Covid-19 in the province and given a timeline of the new infection. The patient is a 40 year old Thai man from the Kathu district, who recently returned from a “big bike” event on Koh Lanta, in Krabi province. The man belongs to a “big bike” afficionados’ group and travelled to an event…

  • Pattaya NewsSeveral migrant workers flee Samut Sakhon detention, 3 re-captured in Chon Buri

    Several migrant workers flee Samut Sakhon detention, 3 re-captured in Chon Buri

    A group of Burmese workers managed to flee a detention area in the Covid-19 hotspot of Samut Sakhon yesterday, with 3 later re-captured in the eastern province of Chon Buri. The Pattaya News reports that photos showing a broken wall went viral on social media, with claims that several migrant workers had smashed the wall and torn down wire fences…

  • Covid-19 NewsThai PM calls for unity in latest Covid fight, hints at further restrictions

    Thai PM calls for unity in latest Covid fight, hints at further restrictions

    The Thai PM, Prayut Chan-o-cha, has called on all citizens to unite in the fight against Covid-19, while implying further restrictions may be introduced. In a televised address to the nation, he said the virus outbreak in the central province of Samut Sakhon has now resulted in over 1,000 infections but is being dealt with through strict measures. He added…

  • Covid-19 NewsThai government may replace emergency decree with strict amendment to Communicable Disease Act

    Thai government may replace emergency decree with strict amendment to Communicable Disease Act

    The Thai Public Health Minister says the government is considering repealing the emergency decree come the new year and replacing it with a tougher amendment to the Communicable Disease Control Act. Anutin Charnvirakul says the proposal was raised at a Cabinet meeting yesterday. Addressing the Thai media, he said the amendment would allow the Disease Control Committee more authority to…

  • Covid-19 NewsThailand News Today | 427 new C19 infections, Pattaya countdown cancelled, Elite Visa update | Dec 22

    Thailand News Today | 427 new C19 infections, Pattaya countdown cancelled, Elite Visa update | Dec 22

    Plenty of talk around today about future lockdowns, but NOTHING IS CONFIRMED at this stage. The Thaiger will keep you up to date with the latest. Possibility of an “end of year travel boost” has been shattered As if things weren’t already bad enough for Thailand’s tourism sector, the events in Samut Sakhon in the past week have just made…

  • Covid-19 NewsSomething fishy about the Samut Sakhon Covid outbreak – who’s responsible?

    Something fishy about the Samut Sakhon Covid outbreak – who’s responsible?

    Here are 2 resources for the above story… https://thethaiger.com/news/national/… http://www.rapid-asia.com/blog/forced… Until the weekend many people would have never heard of Samut Sakhon, a province just south west of Greater Bangkok and sharing a provincial border with the capital. The province is best known as a major hub for Thailand’s shrimp and fishing industry, packed with markets around the coastal tributaries…

  • Covid-19 News5 people in Bangkok among 427 new Covid-19 cases

    5 people in Bangkok among 427 new Covid-19 cases

    5 people in Bangkok are among 427 new Covid-19 cases reported today by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. 397 of the new cases are migrant workers while 14 of the new cases were detected in quarantine from people arriving to Thailand from overseas. Many of the local cases link to seafood market in Samut Sakhon, just southwest of Bangkok,…

  • Covid-19 NewsHealth officials release list of “high risk” areas in 10 provinces

    Health officials release list of “high risk” areas in 10 provinces

    Health officials have released a list of areas at “high risk” of Covid-19 infections. Those who have recently visited any of the places listed are advised to monitor for coronavirus symptoms and check their body temperature. Bangkok Nuanchan Market in Bueng Kum district The residential area near Prachachuen Road in Bang Sue district Samut Sakhon The Central Shrimp Market Mahachai…

  • Covid-19 NewsUPDATE: Thai PM says lockdown could become unavoidable

    UPDATE: Thai PM says lockdown could become unavoidable

    Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is warning that another lockdown could prove unavoidable, should Covid-19 figures escalate out of control. Today, 427 new Covid-19 cases were reported by the Centre Covid-19 Situation Administration, 397 of which are migrant workers. Yesterday, the CCSA reported 382 new cases, 360 of which are in migrant workers. Spokesperson Dr. Taweesilp Visanuyothin says 14 local cases…

  • Covid-19 NewsUPDATE: 1,000+ Samut Sakhon Covid-19 cases

    UPDATE: 1,000+ Samut Sakhon Covid-19 cases

    More than 1,000 Covid-19 cases are linked to the outbreak in Samut Sakhon, just southwest of Bangkok, according to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. 242 cases were reported today, adding to the 821 previously confirmed cases, tallying up to 1,063. Since the surge of infections over the weekend, hitting a record high in daily cases, health officials have rolled…

  • Covid-19 NewsOfficial says Thailand can handle rise in demand for face masks

    Official says Thailand can handle rise in demand for face masks

    The director-general of the Internal Trade Department says there will be sufficient face masks to meet a spike in demand as a result of the outbreak in Samut Sakhon. Wattanasak Sur-iam says he’s asked manufacturers to step up production from a current combined capacity of 5 million masks a day. He adds that the retail price of surgical masks will…

  • Economy News30 property developers expected to sign up to Elite visa incentive scheme

    30 property developers expected to sign up to Elite visa incentive scheme

    The president of Thailand Privilege Card, which runs the Elite Visa scheme, says around 30 real-estate developers have expressed interest in offering foreign buyers 5-year visas in return for investing at least 10 million baht in Thai property. Somchai Sungsawang says the scheme, known as the Elite Flexible One launches on January 1, with cards valid for 2 years. Nation…

  • Covid-19 NewsCovid-19 fears after hundreds of migrants infected, Thai Army says they can’t stop border breaches

    Covid-19 fears after hundreds of migrants infected, Thai Army says they can’t stop border breaches

    With fingers pointing at Burmese workers after the recent Covid-19 infection cluster at a Samut Sakhon shrimp market, the Royal Thai Army says there’s no way to completely seal Thailand’s borders and keep migrants from crossing illegally. Out of the 821 positive cases linked to the market, 788 are migrant workers and 33 are Thais, raising fears with Thai officials…

  • Covid-19 NewsWHO calls for calm over new coronavirus variant

    WHO calls for calm over new coronavirus variant

    The World Health Organisation is calling for calm over the emergence of a new strain of Covid-19 in countries including Britain and South Africa. WHO emergencies chief Mike Ryan says virus mutation is to be expected and is not a cause for major alarm. His comments come as a growing number of countries impose travel bans on passengers from the…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today | 800+ cases in Samut Sakhon, Countries block UK travel | Dec 21

    Thailand News Today | 800+ cases in Samut Sakhon, Countries block UK travel | Dec 21

    Back in Bangkok for this week’s Thailand News Today, wondering if we’re going to be locked down again? All the latest news at thethaiger.com More than 800 Covid-19 cases now linked to seafood market More than 800 Covid-19 cases are now linked to the Samut Sakhon province seafood market outbreak. Up to the weekend the largest number of cases reported…

  • Covid-19 NewsUPDATE: Latest news from the Samut Sakhon Covid-19 outbreak

    UPDATE: Latest news from the Samut Sakhon Covid-19 outbreak

    More than 800 Covid-19 cases linked to a seafood market in Samut Sakhon have been reported, and numbers are expected to increase as health officials roll out mass testing on over 10,000 people. 2 more Covid-19 cases were reported in Bangkok today from people who both recently went to the Central Shrimp Market in Samut Sakhon, adding to the city’s…

  • Covid-19 NewsMore than 800 Covid-19 cases now linked to seafood market

    More than 800 Covid-19 cases now linked to seafood market

    More than 800 Covid-19 cases are now linked to the Samut Sakhon province seafood market outbreak. With the largest increase in daily cases reported by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration yesterday, health officials say they are now conducting mass testing to contain the virus. As of this morning, 723 Covid-19 cases are linked to the Mahachai Market in Samut…

  • Bangkok NewsBangkok’s commercial property market struggles through 2020

    Bangkok’s commercial property market struggles through 2020

    This year Thailand’s developers had to work around the effects of government lockdowns and restrictions because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Indeed significant changes have occurred to the commercial property market in Thailand. CBRE Research reports that the Bangkok office market suffered a significant change in the net up-take, whilst the retail market consumer confidence index fell and the hotel market…

  • Covid-19 NewsSamut Sakhon update: PM urges calm, BMA issues restrictions for Bangkok

    Samut Sakhon update: PM urges calm, BMA issues restrictions for Bangkok

    The Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is urging Thai people not to panic over the “new wave” of Covid-19 infections that have swept through Samut Sakhon, south west of Bangkok, and to keep themselves informed with updates. In a Facebook post today, the PM urged people “not to lower their guard and to wear face masks at all times while outdoors,…

  • Covid-19 NewsSamut Sakhon outbreak reaches 689 cases, spreads to Bangkok and Samut Prakan

    Samut Sakhon outbreak reaches 689 cases, spreads to Bangkok and Samut Prakan

    There’s been an update in Covid-19 cases stemming from the Samut Sakhon outbreak. Thailand’s Public Health Ministry have now upgraded the provincial cluster, including mostly Burmese migrant worker, to 689 cases, all identified through contact tracing. Most worked in and around the provinces coastal fishing market according to the Department of Disease Control. Some traced cases have been located in…