covid-19
- Covid-19 News
576 cases in one day – Latest test results from Samut Sakhon Covid outbreak
UPDATE: The number of cases linked to the Samut Sakhon outbreak has risen to 576. Earlier the figure was published as 516 cases. Thailand’s CCSA has announced more than 500 Covid-19 cases among migrant workers at the centre of its seafood industry, on an enormous 1-day rise in a country that had gone into mild panic after just 1 or…
- Covid-19 News
516 cases in one day – Samut Sakhon, Thailand’s new Covid-19 hotspot
UPDATE: Some publications are announcing Saturday’s daily total in Thailand as 576. We will update the precise number as more information becomes available. Thailand’s CCSA has announced more than 500 Covid-19 cases among migrant workers at the centre of its seafood industry, on an enormous 1-day rise in a country that had gone into mild panic after just 1 or…
- Covid-19 News
Health Ministry to confirm list of “quarantine” golf resorts
The director-general of the Department of Health Service Support says officials will name the golf resorts that have been approved as alternative state quarantine facilities next week. Tares Krassanairawiwong says those who enjoy a game of golf will be able to indulge their passion while in quarantine – provided they come from a “low-risk” country, that is. Quarantining golfers are…
- Covid-19 News
Health Minister points to migrant workers as likely source of virus in Samut Sakhon
Thai Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul says migrant workers are likely to be the reason behind a small Covid-19 outbreak in the central province of Samut Sakhon. After a 67 year old woman with no international travel history was found to be infected with Covid-19, 3 of her family members have also tested positive. According to a Bangkok Post report,…
- Economy News
Deputy PM says pandemic exposed problems in Thai economy, time to improve
As the Covid-19 pandemic hit economies all over the world with business closures and travel bans, issues with Thailand’s economy were exposed, according to Deputy PM Supattanapong Punmeechaow. The country cannot go back to the way it was before the global outbreak, he says. Thailand’s large tourism industry was battered by the lack of foreign visitors. Small and medium businesses…
- Covid-19 News
Thailand’s top epidemiologist warns against shortening quarantine
Thailand’s top epidemiologist has repeatedly warned against opening Thailand back up to tourism. Now that health officials have started a 1-month study to determine if the mandatory quarantine period can be cut down to 10 days, the doctor is once again warning health officials. Thira Woratanarat, from the Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine, wrote on his Facebook page saying health…
- Covid-19 News
Covid-19 measures strengthened in Samut Sakhon after local case confirmed
The central province of Samut Sakhon is tightening restrictions following the confirmation of a Covid-19 infection in a local woman with no international travel history. According to a Nation Thailand report, Governor Weerasak Wijitsaengsri says the 67 year old woman runs a seafood business and was tested at a local hospital after exhibiting symptoms. “The patient is a 67 year…
- Covid-19 News
Sydney Covid outbreak sparks border clampdowns in other Australian states
A spate of Covid-19 cases on Sydney’s northern beaches has prompted other Australian states to impose strict restrictions on arrivals from the region. With 28 new cases confirmed along the city’s northern beaches, and fears that number will grow, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian is calling for vigilance. “Everyone in greater Sydney needs to be on high alert.” Thai…
- Tourism News
Thailand to ease travel restrictions for some countries
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration has confirmed the government intends to ease travel restrictions for arrivals from some countries, but the 14 day quarantine remains in place for now. Spokesman Taweesilp Visanuyothin says the easing of restrictions will be applied to 56 countries, including Australia, the US and France, whose nationals will not require visas to enter Thailand. However,…
- Thailand News
End-of-quarantine party for 28 Thais who returned from Myanmar
An end-of-quarantine party was held for 28 Thais who were just released from quarantine after returning to Chiang Rai from Myanmar. Not many details were reported about the event, just that it was a ceremony at a riverside resort with the provincial governor Prajon Prachsakul… Definitely a lot different than the parties just across the border in Tachileik. Many Thai…
- Thailand News
Thailand News Today | New Year Covid style, Currency manipulation?, SCB scam | Dec 17
Thailand News Today, coming from Phuket for the next few days. Mosquito-borne virus spreads in Pattaya If you’re in Pattaya, light the coils and get out the bug repellant. There’s been a report of an increase in chikungunya fever infections, that’s a mosquito-borne virus, similar to Dengue but can be quite painful and serious in some patients. The city’s mayor…
- Covid-19 News
CCSA starts study to determine if quarantine should be shortened
Covid-19 testing during the mandatory quarantine period for arrivals has been increased from twice to thrice in an effort to determine if quarantine can be shortened from 14 to 10 days. The study will last until January 15, according to spokesperson for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, Thaweesilp Visanuyothin. Travellers were typically tested around 3 to 5 days after…
- Covid-19 News
Covid-19 found on doorknobs at quarantine facility where health workers tested positive
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration has confirmed that traces of the virus have been found on doorknobs at an alternative state quarantine facility, where a number of healthcare workers tested positive. CCSA spokesman Taweesin Wissanuyothin has called on cleaning staff in the facility to disinfect door handles and not just floors. Yesterday, Thailand reported 15 new cases in quarantine,…
- Covid-19 News
Covid-19 task force to meet today for discussions on New Year festivities
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration meets today to discuss how New Year celebrations will be handled, with the possibility that they may be split into smaller groups. Officials are to consider a suggestion from PM Prayut Chan-o-cha that countdown gatherings be split into zones, with numbers limited. The PM is concerned that large crowds would make it impossible to…
- Thailand News
Hundreds of tourism operators face fraud charges for allegedly cheating subsidy scheme
Hundreds of tourism operators face fraud charges for allegedly cheating the government’s “We Travel Together” subsidy scheme which was intended to help tourism businesses financially hit by the coronavirus pandemic and stimulate travel. Instead of lowering prices to draw in more travellers, some hoteliers and restaurateurs allegedly raised their prices to get more subsidies. The scheme paid 40% of room…
- Covid-19 News
15 new Covid-19 cases detected in quarantine
15 new Covid-19 cases were detected in quarantine including 3 women who worked at entertainment venues in Myanmar, according to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases is raised to 4,261 with 3,977 recoveries and 60 deaths. 224 people are currently receiving medical treatment for the coronavirus. 3 Thai women, ages 24, 33 and…
- Thailand News
Thailand News Today | Herbal Covid vaccine, HM answers questions, Thailand goes to moon | Dec 15
Thai Covid-19 experimental vaccine to proceed to human testing from April 2021 A Thai start-up developing a herbal Covid-19 vaccine has reported that they’re making good progress, with the candidate passing the first phase of testing. ใบยาไฟโตฟาร์ม, a Thai firm developing a vaccine from plant leaves, is to sign an agreement to begin production for use in human trials. The…
- Covid-19 News
9 new Covid-19 cases detected in quarantine
9 new Covid-19 cases were detected in quarantine including a 6 month old boy, according to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. Thailand’s total number of confirmed cases is raised to 4,246 with 3,949 recoveries and 60 deaths. 237 people are currently receiving medical treatment for the coronavirus. A 6 month old British boy travelling from the United Kingdom tested…
- Covid-19 News
Thai Covid-19 experimental vaccine to proceed to human testing from April 2021
A Thai start-up developing an experimental Covid-19 vaccine is said to be making good progress, with the candidate passing testing on laboratory animals. Baiya Phytopharm, a Thai firm developing a vaccine from plant leaves, is to sign an agreement to begin production for use in human trials. Thewin Wongwanich, from the State Enterprise Development Planning Subcommittee, says the firm is…
- Northern Thailand News
Festival-goers claim event shut down over pro-democracy content, not Covid-19
Social media users are accusing officials of shutting down a music festival in the north-eastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima due to its pro-democracy content. The claims follow a statement from governor Wichian Chantaranothai, who says the festival was terminated early due to Covid-19 risks. He accuses organisers of failing to implement adequate preventative measures, saying there was no limit on…
- Thailand News
Thailand News Today | Bangkok air pollution, 28 Covid cases, Lao dam protest | December 14
Bangkok starts the new week with ‘unhealthy’ air quality Waking up in Bangkok today you would have been surprised that the sun had disappeared to be replaced by a grey sky and views across the city limited to less than a kilometre. Across the city the air quality readings for most of the day have been aver the 150 mark…
- Economy News
Covid-19 cases could lead to a drop in revenue for New Years, economist says
A rise in local Covid-19 infections could discourage many people from travelling and going out for New Years celebrations, costing Thailand’s tourism industry 14 billion baht to more than 16 billion baht, according to economist Anusorn Tamajai. Recently, 17 Thais tested positive for Covid-19 after returning from the Myanmar border town Tachileik, crossing the border illegally and dodging the mandatory…
- Covid-19 News
27 new Covid-19 cases in quarantine, 1 health worker infected by patient
1 local Covid-19 transmission was reported today and 27 new Covid-19 cases were detected in quarantine, according to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. It’s the largest daily rise in cases since April. The total number of Covid-19 cases in Thailand is raised to 4,237 with 3,940 recoveries and 60 deaths. 237 people are currently receiving medical treatment for the…
- Phuket News
Cheaper flights to Phuket a possibility to help revive the tourism industry
Some say cheaper flights to Phuket will entice people to visit the island and get the once booming tourist destination back on its feet. Along with talk of lowering the price of tickets, those at a stakeholder meeting at the Thai Airways International headquarters in Bangkok say more direct international flights to the island also need to be reinstated. The…
- Covid-19 News
US approves Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine
The US has approved the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, a situation that now permits the rollout of the new mRNA coronavirus vaccine. President Donald Trump promised the first immunisations will now take place “in less than 24 hours”, hailing the development. “Through our partnership with FedEx and UPS, we have already begun shipping the vaccine to every state and zip code…
- World News
Thai border officials capture 14 illegal Burmese migrants at Tak border areas
The Thai military has captured 14 illegal migrants from Myanmar, in 2 operations in the northern province of Tak yesterday. The first occurred in the district of Mae Sot, when officials arrested 11 Burmese nationals, 1 male and 10 females, who were in the process of crossing the Mei River into Thailand. All 11 have been sent to a Tak…
- World News
Health officials say all Covid patients in Thailand have been accounted for
The head of Thailand’s Disease Control Department says all Covid-19 cases across 7 provinces where infected returnees from Myanmar travelled, have now been accounted for. Opas Karnkawinpong says Thailand now has a total of 49 cases linked to Thai nationals who crossed illegally from Myanmar, bypassing health checks and quarantine. “So far, 49 cases have been found to be related…
- Covid-19 News
11 new Covid-19 cases detected in quarantine
11 new Covid-19 cases were detected in quarantine, according to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases is raised to 4,180 with 3,903 recoveries and 60 deaths. 217 people are currently receiving medical treatment for the coronavirus. 2 Thai women, ages 34 and 16, travelling from Saudi Arabia tested positive for Covid-19. 2 Thai…
- Transport News
Thai Airways delays resumption of domestic flights due to local Covid-19 cases
Thai Airways flights to Phuket and Chiang Mai were supposed to start back up on Christmas day, but the recent Covid-19 local transmissions have led the airline to push the relaunch date back. Now the flights from Bangkok will take off on January 1, but if the virus continues to spread, the airline might decide to delay the flights indefinitely.…
- Covid-19 News
Bangkok officials relay additional info on infected healthcare workers
With the announcement of a sixth Bangkok nurse testing positive for Covid-19, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration have provided more details of the timelines around the first 5 infections. All of the patients are healthcare workers at alternative state quarantine facilities. Pongsakorn Kwanmuang from the BMA says it’s believed they became infected in the course of their work, adding that their…
