Myanmar

  • World News

    Malaysia coast guard busts record methamphetamine shipment, possibly smuggled from Golden Triangle

    Malaysia’s coast guard made its largest bust, seizing more than 2 tonnes of crystal methamphetamine that was hidden in packets of Chinese tea. The shipment of illegal drugs, worth 105.9 million ringgit, or 789 million baht, is part of a large-scale drug trade across Southeast Asia, China and Australia. The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency director general, Mohamad Zubil Mat Som,…

  • World News

    25 Burmese arrested for allegedly crossing the Thai-Myanmar border illegally

    Military and police patrol arrested 25 Burmese people for allegedly crossing the Thai-Myanmar border illegally to Kanchanaburi’s Muang district. With Covid-19 cases rising by more than 1,000 each day in the neighbouring country, some Thais fear that migrants crossing the border illegally, avoiding the mandatory 14 day quarantine, could potentially spread the virus to people in Thailand. Covid-19 fears were…

  • Northern Thailand News

    Returnees from Myanmar account for 9 of 17 new Covid infections today

    Today, Thailand has reported 17 new cases of the novel coronavirus found in people entering Thailand from other countries, with 9 infected returnees coming from Myanmar through the Mae Sai district in northern Chiang Rai. All 9 were women who had worked at nightspots in Tachilek, the Burmese border town, featuring the now infamous 1G1-7 Hotel, which was the site…

  • Northern Thailand News

    Authorities say “no quarantine” for tourists returning from Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai

    Despite a recent spike in Covid-19 local infections in northern Thailand’s Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, authorities are axing the requirement for a 14 day quarantine for tourists who have returned from those areas back to other parts of Thailand. Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin, the spokesman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, scotched the rumours of some businesses claiming that such…

  • 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…

  • World News

    Chiang Rai governor leads clean-up operation amid Covid fears

    Chiang Rai governor, Prajon Prachsakul, has led a clean-up operation across public areas and tourist attractions such as shopping malls, Chiang Rai Airport, Singha Park and the border checkpoint at Mae Sai. It follows the recent discovery of a number of infected Thai nationals who had illegally crossed from Myanmar, bypassing health checks and quarantine. At least 34 illegal returnees…

  • World News

    Thai medic claims Burmese coronavirus a different strain, spreads 20% faster

    Dr Prasit Watanapa from the Faculty of Medicine at Siriraj Hospital says the coronavirus currently circulating in Myanmar is a different strain and is being transmitted 20% faster than the one detected in Wuhan at the start of the pandemic. The Wuhan strain is known as D614, whereas the more virulent strain currently found in Western countries is G614. Prasit…

  • Covid-19 News

    46 Covid-19 cases related to Tachileik, health officials say situation is “under control”

    With a significant number of people returning to Chiang Rai from the border town Tachileik and testing positive for Covid-19, health officials say the situation is “under control” and it is safe to travel to Chiang Rai and other northern provinces. Only 2 people out of the more than 6,500 people considered to be “at risk” of infection have tested…

  • Covid-19 News

    Health minister blasts illegal returnees, downplays epidemic rumours

    The Public Health Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, has slammed a group of Thai nationals who crossed the border from Myanmar illegally, bypassing health checks and quarantine. At least 10 Thai women employed at a hotel and entertainment complex in Myanmar have tested positive for Covid-19 since their illegal return to the Kingdom. Thailand now has a total of 39 cases linked…

  • Thailand News

    Thailand News Today | Cannabis tourism, Covid in Chiang Rai, PM visits south | Dec 8

    Passengers from Chiang Rai-Bangkok flights considered “low-risk” The passengers from 4 flights between Chiang Rai and Bangkok are considered at “low risk” of contracting Covid-19, according to a statement from the Public Health Ministry. But the ministry, through an abundance of caution, is asking all passengers to self-monitor for the next 14 days, and report any symptoms such as fever,…

  • Covid-19 News

    Business owners plan to sue Covid-19 infected women who entered Thailand illegally

    Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai business owners are planning to sue the Thai women who crossed the Thai-Myanmar border illegally, evading quarantine and testing positive for Covid-19 shortly after their return. The women worked at entertainment venues in the border town Tachileik. Many confirmed that they worked at the now-infamous 1G1-7 Hotel where a resident claims the women were prostitutes…

  • Thailand News

    4 health care workers in Bangkok test positive for Covid-19

    4 health care workers tested positive for Covid-19 after working at alternative state quarantine facilities and hospitals in Bangkok. The medical personnel, ages 25 to 40, tested positive on December 4 and 5 after reporting symptoms of a fever and headache. Public health officials are investigating the cases to see if there were any slip-ups in quarantine protocols. Medical personnel…

  • Covid-19 News

    Numbers go up: 38 local Covid-19 cases now related to Myanmar border town

    So far, 38 local Covid-19 cases are related to Myanmar’s border town Tachileik. A second hospital in Chiang Rai is now prepared to treat patients for the coronavirus as 6 more returnees in quarantine tested have positive for the virus and more cases are expected. Many of the cases are linked to the now-infamous 1G1-7 Hotel in Tachileik. The venue…

  • Thailand News

    Thailand News Today | Deadly floods, Chiang Rai Covid cases, Mekong Forum | December 7

    Southern Thailand flood death toll: 24 At least 24 people have now been reported to have died due to flash floods in Southern Thailand following a week of heavy rain. 19 of the victims were in Nakhon Si Thammarat which was hit the hardest. Today, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported 3 more deaths from flooding in the…

  • Covid-19 News

    20 Covid-19 cases in Chiang Rai linked to Myanmar hotel

    So far, 20 Covid-19 cases in Chiang Rai are linked to the 1G1-7 Hotel in the Myanmar border town Tachileik, according to Chiang Rai Governor Prachon Pratsakul. A Tachileik resident claims the coronavirus spread through prostitution at the establishment. Last week, 10 Thai women tested positive for Covid-19 last week after entering the Chiang Rai illegally, evading immigration screening and…

  • Northern Thailand News

    2 local cases in Bangkok contribute to Sunday total of 14 new Covid-19 cases

    2 people have been identified in Bangkok as locally infected with Covid-19. The announcement follows a week of revelations coming out of the north from the Chiang Rai border crossing into Myanmar where Thai prostitutes and workers have been crossing back into Thailand, infected, without going through any quarantine procedures. Thailand recorded 14 new cases of the coronavirus today, including…

  • World News

    Covid-infected Thai returnees: Myanmar hotel in the spotlight

    With the news that at least 10 Covid-infected Thai women working in Myanmar bypassed health checks and quarantine on their return to the Kingdom, all eyes have turned to their place of work. Interest in the 1G1-7 Hotel has grown as a result of a resident in the border town of Tachileik claiming it is used as a centre for…

  • Thailand News

    Thailand News Today | Burmese border #&#!!!, Charges for Penguin, 9 dead in floods | Dec 4

    Thailand News Today, coming to you from the relatively dry Phuket, compared to the horrible flooding in parts of southern Thailand. 5 shot and in critical condition after gang clash in Phitsanulok 5 people have been shot and critically wounded in what police believe to be a turf war between 2 rival gangs in Phitsanulok, Central Thailand. Police say gang…

  • Covid-19 News

    More local Covid-19 cases linked to women who worked in Myanmar border town

    Health officials report 3 more Covid-19 cases linked to the 10 Thai women who tested positive after working in Myanmar’s border town Tachileik. The women allegedly crossed the border illegally, evading immigration screening and the mandatory 14 day quarantine. Some travelled using public transportation to Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Phichit and Ratchaburi. A 51 year old businesswoman from Sing Buri tested positive…

  • Covid-19 News

    Covid-19 spread through commercial sex at Myanmar hotel, border resident claims

    A resident of Myanmar’s border town Tachileik claims a recent Covid-19 outbreak spread at sex venue parading as a hotel. 10 Thai women tested positive for the coronavirus after returning from Tachileik where they had worked. Some confirmed they worked at the 1G1 Hotel in the border town. Tachileik resident Moon Saing told Coconuts Bangkok that the virus spread at…

  • Thailand News

    Thailand News Today | Thai Airways corruption, Southern floods, Border Covid outbreak | Dec 3

    Thursday’s edition of Thailand News Today, including the latest in the local cases popping up in Northern Thailand. Thailand’s most watched English language news. 20 more people suspected of being involved in corruption at Thai Airways 20 people are now under suspicion of corruption and mismanagement within Thai Airways as accountants unravel the massive losses for the airline, spanning a…

  • Covid-19 News

    Health officials say hundreds came into contact with Covid-19 infected women

    Health officials are trying to track down hundreds of people who may have come in contact with any of the 10 Thai women who tested positive for Covid-19 after returning to Thailand from Myanmar’s border town Tachileik. The women evaded the mandatory 14 day quarantine for returnees and media reports claim they “sneaked” back in the country. More than 600…

  • World News

    2 infected Thai women took domestic flights after illegal crossing from Myanmar

    2 Thai women, both infected with Covid-19, took domestic flights after entering the Kingdom illegally from Myanmar and bypassing health checks and quarantine. It’s understood that a total of 10 Thai women have now crossed illegally from Myanmar, without undergoing any health checks or carrying out mandatory quarantine. All 10 have tested positive for Covid-19, with several having worked in…

  • Economy News

    Economists say new local Covid-19 cases could slow tourism recovery

    Some are concerned about a potential second coronavirus outbreak after 10 Thai women tested positive for Covid-19 after returning from Myanmar’s Tachileik district. Some travelled to Bangkok and Chiang Mai after returning. A second wave of infections will stall the recovery of domestic tourism and Thailand’s overall economy that has been battered by the pandemic, according to the National Economic…

  • Covid-19 News

    Fourth local Covid-19 case reported in Chiang Rai, Thai returnee evaded quarantine

    A fourth local Covid-19 case was reported in Chiang Rai today. The patient is a 25 year old Thai woman who recently returned to Thailand from Myanmar by using an unofficial land crossing to avoid quarantine. The woman travelled to Myanmar’s Tachileik district earlier this month to work at a hotel, she told officials. 3 other infected Thai women also…

  • Covid-19 News

    Health minister pushes to press charges on Covid-19 infected women who dodged quarantine

    The 3 Thai women who tested positive for Covid-19 after crossing the Thai-Myanmar border without being screened or undergoing the mandatory 14 day quarantine might face charges. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul says he has asked authorities to prosecute “to the fullest extent of the law.” Not only could the women face charges for illegal entry, they could also be…

  • Covid-19 News

    No lockdown in Chiang Mai after local Covid-19 case

    There will be no lockdown in Chiang Mai after the recent Covid-19 case where a woman tested positive at a local hospital after returning from Myanmar. Director general of the Public Health Ministry’s Department of Disease Control, Opas Karnkawinpong, says the locals in Chiang Mai are taking health precautions and he doubts the case will cause an outbreak. “Widespread Covid-19…

  • World News

    Phuket officials concerned about virus risk from undocumented migrant workers

    The discovery that 3 Thai nationals infected with Covid-19 returned from Myanmar and bypassed health checks and quarantine, has officials in Phuket on high alert. Over the weekend, it was discovered that a 29 year old Thai woman had illegally crossed from Myanmar and subsequently tested positive for Covid-19 after admitting herself to a Chiang Mai hospital. 2 other women…

  • Crime News

    12 people arrested for allegedly illegally crossing Thai-Myanmar border

    12 Thais were arrested by Chaing Rai Immigration Police for allegedly illegally crossing the Myanmar border back into Thailand. The arrests follow a small coronavirus outbreak in Northern Thailand while Myanmar reports hundreds of new Covid-19 cases each day. Over the weekend, a 29 year old Thai woman tested positive for Covid-19 in Chiang Mai after visiting the hospital with…

  • Covid-19 News

    Singaporean woman gives birth to baby with Covid antibodies in system

    A Singaporean woman has given birth to a baby with Covid antibodies in its system, giving new clues into whether Covid can be transferred from mother to child. The woman, Celine Ng-Chan, was infected with the virus in March during her pregnancy, and gave birth this month to her Covid-free baby. “My doctor suspects I have transferred my Covid-19 antibodies…