COVID

  • Covid-19 News

    Thailand reports second Omicron-related death, Covid fatality toll on a downward slope

    The second death related to the Omicron Covid-19 variant in Thailand was reported today by the CCSA. Both deaths were elderly women with serious pre-existing health conditions who contracted the virus from infected family members. While cases involving the highly transmissible Omicron variant are on the rise in Thailand, the strain has proven to be less severe and the country’s…

  • World News

    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…

  • South Thailand News

    Thailand’s first Omicron variant Covid-19 death in Hat Yai

    An official from the Ministry of Public Health announced that today Thailand had its first reported death from the Omicron variant of Covid-19. The death recorded in Songkhla province in the south of Thailand was an 86 year old woman from Hat Yai. She had Alzheimer’s and was bedridden. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Health said the elderly…

  • Covid-19 News

    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 News

    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 News

    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 News

    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…

  • Phuket News

    A second Russian man with Covid-19 missing from Phuket hotel

    A Russian man who tested positive for Covid-19 is being sought after disappearing from his hotel room and not returning yet. Wait! Don’t click away! This isn’t a story about the Russian man who was the subject of a manhunt Thursday and Friday. This is another very similar incident and police are still searching for the missing Covid-infected man. Anton…

  • Covid-19 News

    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 News

    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 News

    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 News

    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…

  • Covid-19 News

    Molnupiravir, the Covid-19 pill, to be developed in Thailand

    The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation is planning to partner with Chulabhorn Research Institute to develop a domestic version of Molnupiravir, the Covid-19 antiviral pill. The announcement was made by Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul in response to the rising Omicron variant outbreak proliferating across Thailand, sending daily infection rates soaring again. Molnupiravir was developed in the US by a joint…

  • Phuket News

    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 News

    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 News

    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 News

    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 News

    5 criteria set for hospitalising Covid-19 patients in Bangkok

    In Bangkok, officials are attempting to take some of the guesswork out of dealing with Covid-19 infected patients while also streamlining the process when someone tests positive for the virus. New guidelines were set forth to assess the level of symptoms and infection and route people either to a hospital or other medical facility or refer them to home isolation.…

  • Covid-19 News

    Gene that doubles risk of severe Covid-19 found by Polish researchers

    There may be a new method to determine who is most vulnerable during the pandemic, as a gene has been identified by Polish scientists that more than doubles the risk of serious Covid-19 infection. The scientists behind the discovery hope that being able to identify people who are a great risk might prompt them to get vaccinated if they have…

  • Tourism News

    Thailand continues pushing for tourism revenue despite Covid-19

    PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has urged all government agencies to get behind the “Amazing Thailand New Chapter” tourism campaign being readied for launch by the end of January. According to a government spokesperson, the administration is pushing forward with tourism plans that the floundering economy so desperately needs, despite the growing spread of the Omicron variant and Covid-19 infections across the…

  • Covid-19 News

    Thursday Covid Update: 8,167 new cases; provincial totals

    14 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 21,883 with 185 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 8,167 new Covid-19 cases and 3,845 recoveries. There are now 70,594 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

  • Covid-19 News

    Authorities say children with Covid-19 will be treated, beds available

    After stories online of children being turned away from Covid-19 treatment, the director of the Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health assurance that there are plenty of beds available for any kids that become infected with the virus. Despite anecdotal posts online, the director says the occupancy of children’s beds, as well as the infection rates of children, have…

  • Covid-19 News

    Study: Sinovac with a Pfizer booster more effective than AstraZeneca

    New studies show that between Sinovac and AstraZeneca combined with Pfizer, the most effective vaccine cocktail combination is 2 doses of Sinovac followed by a full dose of Pfizer as a booster shot. The studies have been collected by Siriraj Clinical Research Centre in Bangkok, and directly contradicts a study at Yale University last week that said the Sinovac-Pfizer combination…

  • Phuket News

    Phuket immigration confirms vaccination not needed for extension

    In order to combat rumours swirling online and amongst nervous anti-vax foreigners, the Phuket Immigration Office reassured people that vaccination is not required in order to get an extension of their stay in Thailand. The office in Phuket Town made the announcement via their Facebook page, though they did not address well several other complaints and issues that have been…

  • Covid-19 News

    Thailand’s updated Covid guidelines: What to do if you test positive or have symptoms

    Following the surge in Covid-19 cases over the past two weeks, the government has announced an update on guidelines on the treatment and management of Covid-19 patients. Cases involving the highly contagious Omicron variant is on the rise, but Thai health officials say that luckily most patients have mild to no symptoms and do not need to undergo treatment at…

  • Pattaya News

    Half of Chon Buri’s new Covid-19 cases today reported in Pattaya and Bang Saen

    Around half of the 873 new Covid-19 cases in Chon Buri were found in Pattaya and Bang Saen. Reports say around 400 cases were from clusters at restaurants serving alcoholic beverages. According to the Chon Buri Provincial Public Health Office, the areas with the highest number of cases and clusters are Three Town Might Market and Soi Bua Khao, which…

  • Thailand News

    Wednesday Covid Update: 7,681 new cases; provincial totals

    19 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 21,869 with 171 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 7,681 new Covid-19 cases and 3,350 recoveries. There are now 66,286 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

  • Covid-19 News

    Koh Phangan Countdown partygoers share positive Covid test results on TikTok

    Did you go to the Full Moon Countdown on Koh Phangan? Take a test for Covid-19, if you haven’t already. Some people who went to the countdown event have made posts and comments on social media saying they tested positive for Covid-19. Several others say they got sick after the party. One foreigner is in the spotlight after she posted…

  • Covid-19 News

    Pattaya Karaoke bar raided afterhours for violating Covid-19 rules

    A karaoke bar in Pattaya flagrantly ignoring all Covid-19 regulations was raided by police last night as more than 50 people drank and partied inside. Police raided Jacky Karaoke around 11:30 pm last night after receiving an anonymous tip from someone reported to be worried about the illegal venue spreading Covid-19 in their area. The karaoke bar, located on Soi…

  • Thailand News

    Facebook post seeking Thai escort to infect client with Covid-19 goes viral

    A post on Facebook looking for an escort in Thailand, but the client has a special request… He wants the woman to be infected with Covid-19. The post reads “Infected only. Work starts at 10pm. The client wants to be positive.” It says the client has a budget of 3,000 baht to 5,000 baht with a 600 baht commission for…

  • Covid-19 News

    GPO to sell ATKs at 35 baht amid increased testing demand

    The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation is working to make available millions of cheap antigen test kits as some areas in the country are reporting shortages amid Covid-19 infection surges and Omicron fears. The GPO just announced a deal to sell 3.5 million ATKs at 35 baht per kit, the lowest price seen in Thailand. A new deal signed by the GPO…

  • Covid-19 News

    No VIP isolation beds at field hospitals, better facilities through health insurance

    When it comes to a stay at a Thailand field hospital, there’s no VIP section, according to the country’s Public Health Minister. For some who are not eligible for home isolation, it’s either a field hospital, where the stay is free, but the beds are made of cardboard, or a hospital, which can be expensive. Along with cardboard beds, some…

  • Covid-19 News

    Tuesday Covid Update: 7,133 new cases; provincial totals

    12 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 21,850 with 152 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 7,133 new Covid-19 cases and 3,306 recoveries. There are now 61,974 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

  • Covid-19 News

    Hospitals must urgently admit children infected with Covid, have proper medication on hand

    After reports that an 8 month old sick with Covid-19 had to wait in a queue before being treated at a hospital, the government is instructing all hospitals in Thailand to admit child Covid-19 patients immediately, adding that no child infected with the virus should be turned down and staff must have the appropriate medication on hand to treat them. The…

  • Phuket News

    Phuket Immigration officers to visit quarantine hotels to help with visa extensions

    Immigration authorities are reportedly visiting each centre, hotel and resort in Phuket approved for Covid-19 isolation and quarantine to assist foreign Covid-19 patients who need to extend their visa, but cannot visit the Immigration Bureau Office because they isolating or receiving medical treatment for the coronavirus. Yesterday the authorities visit Patong Resort to bring documents for foreign visitors who need…

  • Covid-19 News

    Monday Covid Update: 7,926 new cases; provincial totals

    13 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 21,838 with 21,744 of those fatalities during the latest wave, which was first recorded on April 1. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 7,926 new Covid-19 cases and 3,612 recoveries. There are now 58,159 people in Thailand being…

  • Thailand News

    NIDA Poll: No optimism about pandemic, economy, and politics

    A new NIDA Poll asked people about their thoughts on 2022, asking about politics, the economy, and the Covid-19 pandemic, with the majority of respondents not having a particularly positive outlook on the coming year. They were asked if the economy will improve, if the pandemic will subside, and also if PM Prayut Chan-o-cha will remain in power or what…