Phuket

  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket reports 9 new coronavirus cases

    Phuket reports 9 new coronavirus cases

    9 new cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus have been reported in the southern island province of Phuket, bringing the total to 62 cases. Most of the new cases originated in the Patong district, again, and many in the area of the Bangla Road red light district. Details of the new cases… Case 54: A 35 year old Canadian man working at…

  • Covid-19 NewsWear a mask and avoid crowds – Phuket Governor

    Wear a mask and avoid crowds – Phuket Governor

    A announcement from the Phuket Governor is asking people, now almost marooned on the island since midnight last night, to take extra precautions to slow the spread of the Covid-10 coronavirus around Phuket. Probably the main message to take from this new announcement is that you are expected to wear a face mask any time you are in public spaces…

  • Covid-19 NewsBeaches in Phuket closed until further notice

    Beaches in Phuket closed until further notice

    The world famous beaches of the southern resort island of Phuket are now closed indefinitely in another effort by provincial officials to fight the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus. Governor Phakkhaphong Thawiphat, who is also heading up the Phuket Communicable Disease Committee, made the announcement yesterday. The closures extend to zoos and all venues offering animal shows for tourists. Bangla…

  • Covid-19 News6 new coronavirus cases in Phuket

    6 new coronavirus cases in Phuket

    Phuket island officials have reported 6 new cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus as of today (Sunday, March 29), bringing the total to 53 on the southern island. The details as known at time of publication are… Case 48: A 42 year old Thai woman, a gift shop owner in Patong. Case 49: A 32 year old Ukrainian woman who runs…

  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket residents told to stay home from 8pm – 3am ‘until further notice’

    Phuket residents told to stay home from 8pm – 3am ‘until further notice’

    A virtual curfew has been announced for the island of Phuket which will restrict residents to their accommodation or homes from 8pm – 3am until further notice. The only exceptions would be URGENT errands. The announcement takes effect from today until further notice, according to the notice signed by the Phuket Governor. The notice “seeks the collaboration of local residents and…

  • Covid-19 News6 new cases in Phuket, most of them from Patong

    6 new cases in Phuket, most of them from Patong

    The Phuket Communicable Disease Committee announced 6 new Covid-19 cases in Phuket today, bringing the total number of official cases to 47. 4 of the 6 new cases were from Patong, the other 2 from Kata and Karon.8 out of 18 new cases on the island since last Thursday had been visiting or working around Bangla Road. “879 people have been…

  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket closes Cape Promthep, other beaches and parks

    Phuket closes Cape Promthep, other beaches and parks

    Add another to the growing list of sites, venues and attractions being shuttered by the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak in Thailand, Phuket’s popular tourist magnet, Cape Promthep, a lookout point famous for its sunsets, has been closed to visitors. Officials on Thailand’s most popular resort island declared the attraction off limits as virus numbers start to increase around the nation. The…

  • Covid-19 NewsChinese tourists arrested for breaking quarantine rules in Phuket

    Chinese tourists arrested for breaking quarantine rules in Phuket

    Four Chinese citizens have been arrested, after having their temperatures checked, in the Saku area, Phuket, after “defying coronavirus quarantine rules”. They spent Thursday night at Saku police station for leaving their rented accommodation without notifying authorities of their move from their previously registered address. Two of them were found at a house in Phuket Town, the other two had headed to…

  • Covid-19 NewsHuman Rights Watch blasts the arrest of Phuket artist over online comments

    Human Rights Watch blasts the arrest of Phuket artist over online comments

    A local artist and art gallery owner in Phuket, Danai Ussama, better known as “Mr Zen”, was arrested at his home on the island this week, on the day before Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha announced a state of emergency would soon go into effect (which happened on Thursday, March 26). The 42 year old street artist was arrested Monday afternoon and…

  • Covid-19 News5 new coronavirus cases reported in Phuket, first in Koh Samui

    5 new coronavirus cases reported in Phuket, first in Koh Samui

    Phuket Newshawk reports 5 new Covid-19 coronavirus cases on the southern island of Phuket. The details of the new cases are… A 64 year old Swiss businessman A British man, aged 20, who is a caretaker of yachts A 43 year old Thai woman, a masseuse in Patong A 41 year old Thai man, concierge in a Patong hotel A…

  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket reports 3 new coronavirus cases (Wednesday)

    Phuket reports 3 new coronavirus cases (Wednesday)

    Newshawk Phuket reports 3 new cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus on the southern Thai island of Phuket. 2 Chinese patients have recovered and been discharged, bringing the total remaining cases to 27. 98 people are still in hospital in Phuket, with 71 awaiting test results. The new cases are… An English traveller who arrived in Phuket on March 19 via…

  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket declares ‘lockdown’ of all but essential services

    Phuket declares ‘lockdown’ of all but essential services

    A lockdown of all but essential services has been declared for Phuket, echoing the ‘lockdown’ in Bangkok and surrounding provinces over the weekend. The Thaiger has just received an English version but awaiting an internet-friendly version which we will publish ASAP. Here are the main things you need to know.

  • Covid-19 NewsUPDATE: Thailand confirms 106 new coronavirus cases, 3 more deaths

    UPDATE: Thailand confirms 106 new coronavirus cases, 3 more deaths

    UPDATE: New cases announced in Phuket (below). ORIGINAL STORY: Thailand health officials have reported 106 new Covid-19 coronavirus infections today, bringing the total to 827 in the Kingdom. The number of new cases is lower than the 122 recorded yesterday. The Ministry of Public Health has also reported 3 additional deaths from the virus in the past 24 hours, bringing…

  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket confirms 4 new coronavirus cases, some businesses closed

    Phuket confirms 4 new coronavirus cases, some businesses closed

    4 new Covid-19 coronavirus cases were confirmed in Phuket, southern Thailand, today. This brings the total on the resort island to 17. 26 more are in hospital awaiting test results. Provincial officials are inspecting a variety of sites for a potential “field hospital” to be set up, in case the number infections in Phuket continues to rise. The director of…

  • Covid-19 News13 cases in Phuket, official

    13 cases in Phuket, official

    13 cases of Covid-19 coronavirus have now been confirmed in the southern Thai island of Phuket. 6 new cases have been announced in the past 24 hours. On Friday the Phuket Governor admitted to five cases on the island – 2 Chinese visitors in early February and 3 current cases involving a Danish family. 188 new cases have been announced…

  • Thailand Weather UpdatesHot days for the North, possible thundershowers in the South

    Hot days for the North, possible thundershowers in the South

    Thailand’s Meteorological Department says today that a low pressure system covers upper Thailand and will make for hot, dry days in the north of Thailand. Chiang Mai, Bangkok and Phuket five day forecasts below. “A westerly trough covers the upper Northeast, while southerly and southeasterly winds blow humidity from the South China Sea into the Northeast, the East, the Central…

  • Covid-19 News25 Covid-19 cases awaiting test results in Phuket, 5 cases confirmed yesterday

    25 Covid-19 cases awaiting test results in Phuket, 5 cases confirmed yesterday

    At a tetchy meeting of the Provincial Communicable Diseases Committee in Phuket Town yesterday, Phuket’s Govenor Phakaphong Tavipatana finally admitted to five cases of Covid-19 on the holiday island, three of them still active. After weeks of obfuscation and denying active cases of the coronavirus in Phuket, the Governor finally came clean after repeated questions from a frustrated Phuket press…

  • Covid-19 NewsFirst cases of Covid-19 announced in Phuket

    First cases of Covid-19 announced in Phuket

    News sources in Phuket are widely reporting 5 cases of Covid-19 in Phuket. The ‘confirmation’ has been reported by The Southern News, Phuket People’s Voice, Phuket Andaman News and Newshawk Phuket. Before today the Phuket Governor has not confirmed any cases on the island. In a meeting at the Centres of Disease Control in Bangkok (below), officials tried to avoid…

  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket Covid-19 ‘updates’

    Phuket Covid-19 ‘updates’

    The spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus prompted tourism industry leaders in Phuket this week to support moves to cancel or postpone mass events across the island. All official Songkran Thai New Year festivities in the southern resort island’s Patong district have already been cancelled, along with the annual Phuket Bike Week, usually the biggest motorcycle event in Asia. Even the…

  • Phuket NewsLost at sea: Thailand – A study from ISLA

    Lost at sea: Thailand – A study from ISLA

    By Daren Jenner, Thailand Section Chief, Marine Safety Officer, International Surf Life Saving Association The International Surf Lifesaving Association has just released an alarming study it calls “Lost at Sea: Thailand”. The study highlights the stark reality of the dangers of the two-faced Andaman Sea that surrounds the famous holiday Island of Phuket, Thailand. During the dry season (November to…

  • Covid-19 NewsMore than 2,000 stranded on cruise liner in Phuket over Italian “risk” tourists

    More than 2,000 stranded on cruise liner in Phuket over Italian “risk” tourists

    Over 2,000 passengers and crew on board the Costa Fortuna cruise liner, which arrived in Patong yesterday, have been denied permission to disembark. The ban comes after official confirmation that 64 Italians onboard left Italy in the past 14 days. The move follows the Thai government’s institution of a 14 day self-quarantine on all people arriving from China, South Korea,…

  • Covid-19 NewsDocument confirms Covid-19 case at Vachira Hospital Phuket

    Document confirms Covid-19 case at Vachira Hospital Phuket

    A document from the Bangkok Disease Control Department has confirmed that there was a 35 year old Chinese patient at Phuket’s Vachira Hospital with coronavirus last month. The documents were made available at a media conference confirming the latest figures from around Thailand yesterday. One of the listings of confirmed cases was the Phuket patient (below). The patient’s listing was…

  • Covid-19 News“Phuket is still open for business” Phuket Hotels Association

    “Phuket is still open for business” Phuket Hotels Association

    Below is a media release from the Phuket Hotels Association… Dear All There has been a lot of confusion today resulting from the FB page message from a Minister (later removed) saying anybody coming from the designated high-risk countries below must self-quarantine. At this time, there is no indication at any Thai airport of any enforcement and all visitors have normal…

  • Crime NewsMan arrested with 44 kilograms of marijuana in Phuket

    Man arrested with 44 kilograms of marijuana in Phuket

    A 60 year old man is in custody after he was found collecting 44 kilograms of dried marijuana, valued at about 400,000 baht, from a parcel delivery company in Phuket. Police told a press conference yesterday that officers got a tip that a large shipment of marijuana would arrive in Phuket via a parcel company on February 29. On the…

  • Phuket NewsAfter 32 years, legendary Phuket eatery Baan Rim Pa is on the move

    After 32 years, legendary Phuket eatery Baan Rim Pa is on the move

    But not too far! One of Phuket’s most iconic restaurants, a firm local favourite, Baan Rim Pa, is moving after 32 years. The multi-award-winning bastion of the resort island’s dining scene, long located in Patong, will be absorbed into its newer location farther north in Kalim, while its daughter outlets, Da Maurizio and Joes Downstairs will be shuttered. Baan Rim…

  • Phuket News17 kids rescued in Phuket human-trafficking raids

    17 kids rescued in Phuket human-trafficking raids

    “All 17 children were Cambodian and were taken to the Phuket Shelter for Children and Families on Koh Siray.” Thai police have taken 17 children into protective custody after a series of coordinated raids in Patong. They say the children were being exploited by a human trafficking gang, who beat them with a wire clothes hanger if they did bring…

  • Songkran NewsTop 10 dos and don’ts for the 2020 Songkran festival

    Top 10 dos and don’ts for the 2020 Songkran festival

    Heading to Thailand for the 2020 Songkran festival? Want to know the dates, where to go and the dos and don’ts for this amazing water festival in Thailand? Songkran is a single name given to a series of concurrent events – an astrological ‘new year’, a Buddhist festival, the ‘change’ from dry season to wet season and a humongous water…

  • Phuket NewsAmerican man arrested for theft at Phuket mall

    American man arrested for theft at Phuket mall

    An American man has been arrested for theft after allegedly stealing three designer wallets from a shop at Phuket’s Central Floresta shopping mall. Twenty-one year old Christopher Braman was arrested at the shopping centre in tambon Ratsada on charges of theft and overstaying his visa, police said yesterday. After the arrest, police took Braman him to his rented room in…

  • Krabi NewsCountdown to reopening – contracts awards for new Maya Bay infrastructure

    Countdown to reopening – contracts awards for new Maya Bay infrastructure

    by Sawat, Five Star Thailand Tours New plans are now being enacted which will lead to the re-opening of Maya Bay to tourism again. With a new development project in the works, it won’t be long until visitors will once again be able to visit ‘The Beach’, according to sources with knowledge of the matter. Maya Bay was shut down to…

  • Thailand Weather UpdatesCooler weather in north, cloud and possible rain in south

    Cooler weather in north, cloud and possible rain in south

    The TMD (Thailand Meteorological Department) says that another high-pressure system originating in China is covering Thailand’s north-east and affecting weather in the South China Sea, while weak easterly winds continue to prevail across the Gulf of Thailand. The forecast is that cool to cold conditions will prevails in the mornings across the North and the Northeast. Temperatures in the North…