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Thailand News Today | New visa update, Dengue spike | September 16, 2020
Daily news and updates on video, hosted by Tim Newton.
New Special Tourist Visa approved
The Thai cabinet has approved a plan to allow foreign tourists to return to Thailand but they’ll have to agree to mandatory 14 day quarantine and stay for at least 90 days. The cabinet is hoping the new extended tourist visa will be part of the rebooting of the tourist and hospitality economy.
Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha announced that the government would issue “special tourist visas” for visitors who would have to come for at least 90 days, but they could extend for another 90 days two more times, making it a total of 9 months. The new long-stay visitors could begin arriving from as early as next month
The announcement has raised as many questions as it answers. Will people, currently in Thailand on an expired tourist visa (because of the visa amnesty) be able to ‘roll over’ onto the new visa, or will they have to leave the country and re-apply. Will people be able to ‘convert’ the new long stay visa into other visa once they’re inside Thailand.
The new ‘STV’ will cost 2,000 baht for each 90 days each. Here are the basic requisites you need to meet to apply….
1. A foreigner who wishes to travel to stay for a long period (Long-stay travel) in Thailand.
2. A foreigner who has acknowledged they are willing to comply with Thailand’s public health measures in Thailand, and agree to conduct a state quarantine at an Alternative Local State Quarantine (ALSQ) for 14 days.
3. A foreigner who provides evidence of long-term residency in Thailand, including evidence of payment for the hotel accommodation or hospital accommodation that provides Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) service in Thailand and at least one piece of the following evidence:
◦Proof of payment for hotel accommodation or hospital accommodation after the state quarantine
◦A copy of ownership of an apartment or condominium belonging to foreigners or family members of foreigners
◦A copy of a rental license or deposit payment of the purchase of apartment, condominium, or house by foreigners in Thailand
Many of the people commenting about the news today have said the 14 day quarantine is still the major stumbling block. Others have bemoaned that there are very few flights to get to Thailand at the moment and that, in some cases, their country won’t allow citizens to travel anyway.
Dengue fever rises up to 6,024 in 4 Isaan provinces
Dengue fever is spreading in Northeast Thailand with more than 6,000 cases and 4 deaths in the past 8 months.
The mosquito spread disease is also known as “bone break fever” because common symptoms include pain in muscles, bones and joints. A fever, nausea and a rash are common symptoms.
The cases were reported in the Isaan provinces Khon Kaen, Kalasin, Mahasarakham and Roi Et. Severe dengue can be life threatening, but most people recover in about a week.
From January 1 to August 29, 6,024 people were reported with dengue fever in the northeast provinces.
In June, across Thailand, there were 15,385 cases of dengue fever with 11 deaths. 5,828 of those cases were children ages 5 to14.
Protesters not “tough enough” – Thai security official
Thai security agencies are downplaying this weekend’s anti-government student rally, predicting that it will only attract 20,000 people and not the 50,000 predicted by the protest organisers.
A security source also says they’re confident the protest won’t become violent. The last big rally, early in this phase of opposition demonstrations, was on August 16 and was held at Bangkok’s Democracy Monument. It attracted up to 10,000 people.
In a niggling response to the lead up to this Saturday’s rally, the security source suggested the current protesters were not “tough enough”.
“It is unlikely that the protesters will be tough enough to camp out for long periods.”
The rally, proposed to be staged at the Thammasat University Tha Prachan campus this Saturday, is led by the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration. The UFTD’s demands for reform to the country’s monarchy are not shared by some of the other student bodies who have been rallying for democratic reform of the government.
The Thai PM has already made it clear that he wanted police to avoid any violent clashes at all costs. He also asked police not to intervene if the protesters fulfilled their promise to march on Government House at the end of the Thammasat campus rally.
Heavy rain predicted across Thailand Friday to Sunday
Heavy rain and showers rain is expected in most parts of Thailand this Friday to Sunday, according to the Thai Meteorological Department.
They say a category 2 tropical depression is situated over the middle of the South China Sea and is strengthening to become a category 3 tropical storm.
The storm was moving in a west-northwest direction at a speed of 15 kilometres per hour, with sustained winds of 65kph and was expected to make landfall over the middle Vietnam and will then drift across into Northern Thailand.
Khao San Road to reopen for Halloween
The party is coming back to Khao San Road this Halloween. The once-booming backpacker magnet has had a makeover during the lockdown period and now the Bangkok governor says they’re ready to reopen the street.
Khao San Road is known for it’s grungy and lively bar scene as well as its eccentric mix of street food, mixed in with a few tourist scams and cheap fake documents.
During the lockdown, 48.4 million baht was spent on the streets for major renovations like levelling out the road and footpaths, adding some gutters and space for emergency vehicles.
Now a Khao San Road Halloween party will be held and include 240 food vendors set up along the street from 9am to midnight for the Halloween weekend, including the Saturday, October 31 and the Sunday after.
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Politics
New NGO law could target anti-governemnt activists

A controversial new NGO law was drafted with critics arguing it targets activists and the Thai government saying it ensures transparency. The Draft Act on the Operations of Not-for-Profit Organisations was written by the Office of the Council of State in February and debated in the second half of March, but could be passed into law soon. Human rights groups claim the law has provisions that would allow the Thai government to harass civil society groups and activism leaders by qualifying them as non-government organisations, or NGOs. The new law would require NGOs to re-register following new guidelines the government claims will cut down on dubious organisations claiming money but not working for the public interest.
The problem arises because the protests that have plagued the Thai government for that last year often receives backing from foreign groups. A statement from 3 UN Special Rapporteurs worried that the broad language of the law could restrict non-profits working for human rights, with a vague definition of what qualifies as an NGO potentially including any group and enforcing strict NGO regulations on them. Section 1 of the draft states a sweeping goal for the bill.
“[…]to regulate the operation of not-for-profit organizations in the Kingdom to ensure propriety, morality, openness, transparency, and the genuine serving of public and national interest without any hidden and fraudulent agenda.”
This broadness could be used to classify anti-government groups as NGOs and then punish them with little legal recourse. Another section allows authorities to circumvent warrants and advance notice to enter organisations’ offices and copy their emails or other sensitive documents. Equally worrisome are the harsh penalties of up to 100,000 baht in fines and 5 years in jail for those who break the law.
The Union for Civil Liberty stressed that the heavy-handed punishments could dissuade organisations that benefit society by stifling non-profit organisations and prosecuting those that do not sufficiently meet the government’s demands. The Centre for the Protection of Children’s Rights Foundation noted that the NGO law had become much more extreme than the original drafted version. The Bangkok Post suspected the bill is intended to intimidate protest groups calling for democratic reform and rallying against the lese majeste laws.
“The bill will clip the wings of civic agencies that challenge unjust laws and law enforcement. The government must be open to scrutiny. If it practises good governance, there is no reason for concern and the new law should not be used in a dubious way.”
The law has not been enacted yet but is expected to go to parliament later this month after a cabinet review.
SOURCE: Global Voices
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Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Covid UPDATE: New cases rise to 1,543, DDC recommends work from home in red zone areas

Thailand’s Covid-19 infections are still on the rise, with the Kingdom reporting 1,543 new infections in the last 24 hours. Only 3 of those are imported with 1,540 being cases of community transmission. Thailand has now recorded 37,453 infections. 8,973 patients are receiving hospital treatment, 41 of whom have pneumonia.
1,540 were community cases, most from the hot zone of Bangkok with 409 new infections. Chiang Mai had 278 new cases, Prachuap Khiri Khan 98 and Chon Buri (including Pattaya) 98.
UPDATE: Dr Chawetsan Namwat, the acting director for emergency health at the Department of Disease Control, says that people will need to consider working from home for 2 weeks if they live in a red zone area.
He said that it may be necessary to increase restrictions further to mitigate the upward trajectory of Covid-19 that is expected to rise after Songkran. Those red zone areas include Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Samut Prakan, Narathiwat, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Samut Sakhon, Pathum Thani and Sa Kaeo.
“To reduce risks, people should work from home after the Songkran festival.”
Here’s the trajectory of the outbreak since April 1…
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Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Bangkok officials issue advice for Covid contacts required to self-isolate

The governor of Bangkok says anyone who has had contact with a Covid-19 patient must self-isolate for 10 days, the incubation period for the virus. Nation Thailand reports that Governor Aswin Kwanmuang has issued advice for those self-isolating, saying they must adhere to the following 4 steps.
1. Sleep in a separate room to other residents
2. Do not eat with other people living in the house
3. Separate trash, as garbage used by a potentially infected person can be a source of transmission
4. Use a separate bathroom where possible. If not possible, the potentially infected person should be last to use the bathroom, washing sinks and the toilet seat after each use
The governor says people who live alone in a house or condo can use a food delivery service, but must wear a mask while in the presence of food delivery workers, as well as washing their hands regularly. Condominium residents must advise the building manager that they are self-isolating and avoid using common areas such as elevators.
Masks should be worn at all times indoors and all residents should observe social distancing while in common areas. Building managers are responsible for instructing residents to observe disease prevention measures and should also undertake regular disinfection of common areas and manage potentially infectious waste appropriately.
Nation Thailand lists the following numbers for those who need further medical advice.
Covid-19 situation at the Bangkok Health Office Hotline (02) 203 2393 or (02) 203 2396 or (02) 203 2883 and (02) 245 4964 (24 Hours)
BKK COVID-19 website hotline (02) 203 2393 and (02) 203 2396 (service hours 8am-10pm)
People with Covid-19 symptoms should contact the Erawan Centre, Bangkok 1646. People at risk of exposure to infectious cases can call the Emergency Operation Centre at 097 046 7549 and the Department of Disease Control at 1422.
Infected patients can get more advice on self-isolation at the Medical Department Hotline 1668, the National Institute of Emergency Medicine 1669 or the NHSO 1330 hotline, 24 hours a day.
SOURCE: Nation Thailand
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Steven Turner
Wednesday, September 16, 2020 at 5:58 pm
special tourist visa hahahah what a joke. The average tourist goes on holiday for about 2 weeks so how does this special help these people
Peter
Wednesday, September 16, 2020 at 6:47 pm
Great, at least it’s not more bad news, there has been precious little good news in recent months. IMO it will help Thailand’s economy, but by how much, and how many tourists will come remains to be seen. I would be interested to know, what other requirements will be insisted on, insurance, proof of income, what documents will be needed before you can book a flight, etc etc? The Devil is usually in the detail.