Phuket

  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket reports 2 new Covid-19 cases (Saturday)

    Phuket reports 2 new Covid-19 cases (Saturday)

    Continuing a hopeful downward trend, the southern province of Phuket today reported only 2 new Covid-19 coronavirus cases, down from yesterday’s 9 and Thursday’s 21. Many if not most of cases originate from the island’s Patong subdistrict, which is now has restricted access, and especially its legendary Bangla Road red light area. The island province has taken stringent measures to…

  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket residents instructed to stay home for at least 14 days

    Phuket residents instructed to stay home for at least 14 days

    All residents living in the southern province of Phuket are being directed to stay in their homes for at least two weeks, starting next Monday, April 13. The provincial governor announced the measure last night to fight the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus on the island, which now has the highest rate of infections in Thailand and is the second…

  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket reports 9 new coronavirus cases (Friday)

    Phuket reports 9 new coronavirus cases (Friday)

    Phuket, which has now closed all points of entry by land and sea, and today closed its airport, has reported 9 new Covid-19 coronavirus cases today (Friday). That’s less than half of yesterday’s 21 cases and even lower than Wednesday’s 14. The new cases bring the total on the southern island to 170 since the outbreak began in January. No…

  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket will launch door-to-door coronavirus checks across the island

    Phuket will launch door-to-door coronavirus checks across the island

    Even as it prepares to restrict travel between its 17 tambon (subdistricts), the southern island province of Phuket is set to become Thailand’s first to launch door-to-door checks of body temperature. The aim is to identify infected people early so they can seek treatment before their symptoms become severe, and potentially end up infecting other Phuketians with the Covid-19 coronavirus.…

  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket rolls out mobile immigration stations

    Phuket rolls out mobile immigration stations

    In an effort to minimise mass gatherings, the Phuket Immigration Department has deployed mobile units to provide “special services.” The units are strategically placed around the island open from from 10am to 5pm. As a reminder, an automatic amnesty on visas now applies, until April 30, with a few conditions and exceptions. Not everyone will need to seek these special…

  • Covid-19 News21 new coronavirus cases in Phuket, total now 161 (Thursday)

    21 new coronavirus cases in Phuket, total now 161 (Thursday)

    The southern province of Phuket today (Thursday) confirmed 21 new Covid-19 coronavirus cases, up from 14 yesterday. All the new cases are Thai citizens and are centred around Patong’s Bangla Road or Bang Tao. Today’s new cases bring the total in Phuket to 161 cases since the start of the outbreak in January. Phuket has become a hotbed for new…

  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket migrant workers permitted to return home

    Phuket migrant workers permitted to return home

    Some migrant workers were allowed to leave Phuket to return to their homes yesterday, as the provincial administration agreed to temporarily lift the travel ban so they could rejoin their families. One worker who hails from the nearby province of Nakhon Si Thammarat, told Thai PBS that he has been out of work for 2 months, and his family could…

  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket reports 14 new coronavirus cases, total now 140

    Phuket reports 14 new coronavirus cases, total now 140

    Phuket has reported 14 new Covid-19 coronavirus cases today (Wednesday). The island is on virtual lockdown, especially Patong, home of the Bangla Road red light area, the flashpoint of most of the island’s infections. The new number bring the island’s infections to 140. Phuket has closed off all land and sea routes and barred entry to all but essential goods vehicles,…

  • Covid-19 NewsForeigners in Thailand worried about their security

    Foreigners in Thailand worried about their security

    Ever had the feeling you’re not wanted at the moment? As the highly infectious Covid-19 disease spreads through Bangkok’s streets, Thai PBS World reports the city’s expatriate community has multiple reasons to be nervous. The trouble began in early last month when Thailand’s mercurial Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul blasted “all farang” (a derogatory term for white-westerner), for not wearing…

  • Covid-19 NewsNew coronavirus cases in Thailand fall to 38, 1 more death

    New coronavirus cases in Thailand fall to 38, 1 more death

    “The lower number of daily new cases and the slower increase in accumulated patients apparently resulted from the nationwide curfew starting on April 3.” In another dramatic drop, Thailand’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration reported only 38 new Covid-19 coronavirus cases in the previous 24 hours, and one additional death in its daily press briefing today (Tuesday). The cumulative death…

  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket adds Kathu and Chalong sub-districts to ‘lockdown’ list

    Phuket adds Kathu and Chalong sub-districts to ‘lockdown’ list

    Chalong and Kathu districts are now being added to Phuket’s “lock down” list by the Phuket Governor. The notices, like the others for Rawai, Karon and Patong, say all non-essential vehicles are banned entry or exit into these two areas, including public transport. “People are asked to say in their homes, and public health teams will be deployed to check…

  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket’s new cases (Tuesday), all originating from Bangla Road area

    Phuket’s new cases (Tuesday), all originating from Bangla Road area

    Numbers are out for new cases in Phuket over the past 24 hours. Case 124: 23 year old Russian women Case 125: 26 year old Kazakhstan women Case 126: 28 year old Russian women All 3 new cases in Phuket had a history of visiting or staying in the Bangla Road entertainment zone for up to a month, and having…

  • Covid-19 NewsHungarian tourist dies in Phuket after failing to reveal Bangla Road visits

    Hungarian tourist dies in Phuket after failing to reveal Bangla Road visits

    Dr Chalermpong Sukhonthapol, the director of Phuket’s Vachira Hospital, has revealed details of a Hungarian tourist who recently died of Covid-19, but had earlier withheld details of his visits to the island’s red light district in Bangla Road, Patong. Bangla Road has been the island’s hotzone for new cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus. The case has resulted in more than…

  • Covid-19 NewsUPDATE: Phuket announces 4 new cases, 5 hotels allowed to remain open

    UPDATE: Phuket announces 4 new cases, 5 hotels allowed to remain open

    New cases announced for Phuket this morning. There are now 123 cases around the island, 4 new patients announced today. 98 people are still awaiting their test results. (5 hotels allowed to remain open – below) Patong was locked down on Saturday, with checkpoints at all entry points, restricting travel in and out of the seaside city, except for essential services and travel. People…

  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket shuts down two more southern subdistricts

    Phuket shuts down two more southern subdistricts

    Last night at 10pm Phuket’s Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana, announced the ‘lock down’ of Rawai and Karon districts to contain the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak. The proclamation starts today until further notice. “People are asked to say in their homes at all times, while public health teams will be deployed to check any common area for the virus.” “All nonessential…

  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket reports 9 new coronavirus cases

    Phuket reports 9 new coronavirus cases

    Phuket has reported 9 new Covid-19 coronavirus cases today (Saturday), bringing the total number to 109. Of the total, 17 have made a full recovery and been discharged from hospital; 92 are still in hospital, with 1 patient remaining in critical condition. 1,423 people are considered at high risk due to contact with confirmed cases. 221 people are in hospital,…

  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket governor orders all hotels to close

    Phuket governor orders all hotels to close

    The Phuket Governor has ordered all accommodation establishments on the island to shut down as of tomorrow. The order includes: Hotels still with guests are allowed to remain open, but they are not to accept any more guests. The order warns that breaches of the order under ‘Section 12’ of the Communicable Disease Act 2015, will be fined up to…

  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket reports 13 new coronavirus cases, total now 100

    Phuket reports 13 new coronavirus cases, total now 100

    The southern island province of Phuket confirmed 13 new cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus today (Friday), bringing the total there to exactly 100. Most appear to have originated in the island’s Patong area, largely from the Bangla Road red light district. The town of Patong was placed on unofficial curfew Wednesday as its governor issued a public decree urging residents…

  • Covid-19 NewsBangkok, Phuket order convenience stores closed overnight to battle virus

    Bangkok, Phuket order convenience stores closed overnight to battle virus

    To fight the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus, Bangkok’s convenience stores, food shops and stalls are to be closed from midnight to 5am, effective from now until end of April, by order of City Hall (the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, or BMA). A BMA spokesman says that all public and private parks in communities, housing estates and condos will also be…

  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket rooftop party busted, drugs seized

    Phuket rooftop party busted, drugs seized

    Police arrested 9 foreigners and 5 Thai women for partying in Patong in violation of orders against gathering in crowds, to control the spread of coronavirus disease. They were arrested on the rooftop of a rental house on Sirirat Road in tambon Patong of Kathu district last night after police received a complaint about a loud party. Those arrested included Australians,…

  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket’s Patong all but shut down

    Phuket’s Patong all but shut down

    A notice from Patong municipality is urging Patong’s residents to stay at home and not venture out of doors, including the Soi Bangla entertainment area, which has become the hotbed of Covid-19 coronavirus in the island province of Phuket. The announcement, on government letterhead, says citizens who need food and water can contact authorities for delivery. The notice, seen below,…

  • Covid-19 NewsBangkok Airways cancels all domestic flights from April 7

    Bangkok Airways cancels all domestic flights from April 7

    Bangkok Airways has announced today that they will cancel all it domestic flights from April 7 – 30. The company’s vice president, Tresarum Sitakalin says the flights that are being cancelled are… Bangkok – Chiang Mai Bangkok – Phuket Bangkok – Trat Bangkok – Sukhothai Bangkok – Samui Samui – Phuket “The company had previously decreased flight frequencies on these…

  • Covid-19 NewsUrgent repatriation notice for Swiss and German citizens as immigration rules tighten

    Urgent repatriation notice for Swiss and German citizens as immigration rules tighten

    An urgent repatriation notice has been issued for Swiss and citizens in Thailand. According to Richard Barrow’s Twitter feed, flights are being urgently chartered to evacuate citizens of both nations: A notice posted on the Embassy of Switzerlad’s website reads… For Swiss travellers in Thailand: Swiss charter flights from Thailand to Switzerland/update… Bangkok – Zurich – Good news: seats are…

  • Covid-19 NewsCanadian family of 4 among Phuket’s coronavirus infections

    Canadian family of 4 among Phuket’s coronavirus infections

    Authorities in the southern island province of Phuket today announced that 3 more members from a Canadian are among 7 new confirmed Covid-19 coronavirus infections. The new cases include a 37 year old Canadian woman, her 2 year old son and 4 year old daughter. All are believed to be infected by the woman’s husband, and children’s father, also a…

  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket records 7 new cases, total 69 (Tuesday)

    Phuket records 7 new cases, total 69 (Tuesday)

    The southern island of Phuket, closed to land and sea, and inter-provincial public transport yesterday to stem the spread of the disease, has reported 7 new cases today (Tuesday). It brings the total in Phuket to 69 confirmed cases. Details of today’s new cases are as follows… Case 63: An Australian man, aged 69, a manager at a Khao Lak hotel.…

  • Covid-19 News127 new coronavirus cases in Thailand (Tuesday), total 1651, 10 deaths

    127 new coronavirus cases in Thailand (Tuesday), total 1651, 10 deaths

    The Department of Disease Control of the Ministry of Public Health today (Tuesday, March 31) confirmed 127 new Covid-19 coronavirus cases in its daily press briefing. 1 more death was reported, bringing the national total to 10 since the outbreak began in January. The latest number raises the total number of confirmed infections in Thailand to 1,651 The southern island…

  • Covid-19 News30,000 Thai hotels to lose all revenue during April

    30,000 Thai hotels to lose all revenue during April

    According to the Thai Hotels Association, out of the 32,564 hotels registered in Thailand, 95% will lose all revenue during April as the temporary lockdown escalates around the country. Adviser to the THA, Surapong Techaruvichit says that the number of hotel closures is growing every day as more provinces have imposed stricter lockdown policies. “Phuket is the latest major tourism destination…

  • Covid-19 NewsGovernment aims to limit travel around Thailand by 90%

    Government aims to limit travel around Thailand by 90%

    It won’t do much for oil prices, but it will flatten Thailand’s Covid-19 ‘curve’ and help with the country’s air pollution problems. The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration is aiming to cut public transport use by as much as 90% around the country in order to stem the rise of Covid-19 coronavirus infections. Just yesterday, Thailand’s Department of Land Transport announced that…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today – Monday, March 30

    Thailand News Today – Monday, March 30

    136 more virus cases confirmed in Thailand as outbreak spreads out of Bangkok A spokesman for the country’s newly formed Covid-19 Situation Administration Thailand confirmed 136 new Covid-19 coronavirus cases today. This raises the total number of infections to 1,524. Deaths in the Kingdom remain at 7. As of yesterday, 54% of Covid-19 infections were found outside Bangkok with a…

  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket airport to ban flights April 10-30 over virus fears

    Phuket airport to ban flights April 10-30 over virus fears

    The southern island province of Phuket has sealed its borders by land and sea, and yesterday provincial governor Phakkhaphong Thawiphat announced that air transport to Phuket will also shut down beginning April 10 until at least April 30 in order to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus. “Shutting down the air transport route requires seven days notification in advance…