Jonathan Fairfield

Booster shots for Sinovac recipients available next week BANGKOK (NNT) - People in Thailand who have already received two shots of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine will be able to get their booster shots from 24th September onwards, while a vaccination drive for students receiving Pfizer jabs will start on 4th October. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1232095-booster-shots-for-sinovac-recipients-available-next-week/

BANGKOK (NNT) - People in Thailand who have already received two shots of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine will be able to get their booster shots from 24th September onwards, while a vaccination drive for students receiving Pfizer jabs will start on 4th October. The Government Spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana revealed today that the government is planning to distribute 24 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from now until the end of October in the national vaccination program, as more supplies are becoming available from manufacturers. The national vaccination program is to start covering adolescents 12-17 years old with the arrival of Pfizer’s Comirnaty vaccine later this month, with 4.8 million doses reserved for this group until the end of October. The government now expects to start vaccinating the younger population starting on 4th October. 16.8 million more doses of vaccine from various manufacturers are being reserved for adults over 18 years old, with 800,000 more doses reserved for workers insured with Social Security, and 1.1 million doses for government agencies and correctional facilities. The government will also be launching its booster shot campaign, starting with those who received two shots of Sinovac’s Coronavac vaccine. Some 500,000 more doses will be reserved for this group. These booster shots will officially be offered from 24th September onwards. Additional vaccine supplies from Moderna and Sinopharm, are also expected to be available in October, adding to the number of doses acquired by the government. Moderna’s Spikevax vaccine will soon be available at private hospitals as a paid alternative, or via the Thai Red Cross Society, while Chulabhorn Royal Academy has been procuring and distributing Sinopharm’s COVILO vaccine in Thailand, to complement the government’s vaccine rollout. The government spokesman said Thailand will be receiving a total of 152.9 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine this year, sufficient to cover 50 million people or 70% the country’s population. -- © Copyright NNT 2021-09-19 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Bangkok’s October tourism reopening not finalized by CCSA BANGKOK (NNT) - The plan to reopen Bangkok to international tourists from 15 October is being questioned, as to whether the city is actually ready. The government’s COVID-19 task force said today that any reopening plan needs to be evaluated by the Ministry of Public Health first. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1231963-no-ccsa-decision-yet-on-bangkok-reopening-on-oct-15th-quarantine-remains/page/2/?tab=comments#comment-16834832

Bangkok’s October tourism reopening not finalized by CCSA BANGKOK (NNT) - The plan to reopen Bangkok to international tourists from 15 October is being questioned, as to whether the city is actually ready. The government’s COVID-19 task force said today that any reopening plan needs to be evaluated by the Ministry of Public Health first. The Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration’s (CCSA) Assistant Spokesperson Dr Apisamai Srirangsan, has addressed plans for certain provinces including Bangkok to reopen to international tourists in October, saying that all such plans are yet to receive final approval from the CCSA. To revive the country’s tourism sector, which was one of the country’s most important economic drivers pre-pandemic, some tourism provinces plan to open some of their districts to vaccinated international tourists, who would not be subject to hotel quarantine during their visit. This particular arrangement has already been piloted in the Phuket Sandbox and Samui Plus campaigns, where fully vaccinated international visitors fly into these areas and stay in specific accommodation without serving quarantine. Tourists in these campaigns are however not allowed to travel outside the dedicated area, until a set number of days have passed. A similar plan was announced recently to allow Bangkok to reopen to international visitors in an arrangement similar to the Sandbox protocols, from 15th October. The plan was however dismissed by City Hall, which says the city isn’t ready, citing the limited rate of vaccination uptake. Dr Apisamai said any plans to open certain areas to international tourists will need to be evaluated by the Ministry of Public Health, with outbreak control and response measures carefully implemented. She said area surveys must be conducted before submitting such plans to the CCSA for approval, adding that the 14-day quarantine requirement is still in effect. For each reopening proposal, the Ministry of Public Health will need to assess preparedness and measures already in place in the area, including protocols for new cases and clusters. The CCSA now aims to raise the rate of vaccination uptake to 50% of Thailand’s population by the end of October, with 70% of the vulnerable population vaccinated by that time. Areas that are planning to receive international tourists should have at least 80% of residents vaccinated. There are now eight provinces in Thailand where more than half the local population has already received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, namely Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Samut Sakhon, Samut Prakan, Chachoengsao, Chonburi, Phuket, and Phang Nga. Meanwhile, five provinces have reported more than 70% of their vulnerable population is now vaccinated, namely Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Phuket, Ranong, and Phang Nga. -- © Copyright NNT 2021-09-19 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Will new law end Thailand’s dark era of torture and disappearances? Uproar over the recent killing of a drug suspect by police investigators has revived debate on the need for a law banning torture and killings by state officials. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1232094-will-new-law-end-thailand’s-dark-era-of-torture-and-disappearances/

Uproar over the recent killing of a drug suspect by police investigators has revived debate on the need for a law banning torture and killings by state officials. And the long-awaited move is now a step closer to reality after the House of Representatives on Thursday (September 16) voted 368:0 to approve in principle draft legislation outlawing torture and enforced disappearances for the first time in Thailand. The bill, proposed by the Cabinet, has been tabled for House deliberation along with three rival drafts proposed separately by the House committee on laws, justice and human rights as well as the opposition Prachachart Party and coalition partner Democrat Party. The House panel’s draft was drawn up by a civil society group. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/will-new-law-end-thailands-dark-era-of-torture-and-disappearances/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-09-19 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Woman who claimed to have had third vaccine jab faces charges of giving false statements A young woman, who reportedly bragged about being granted the privilege of receiving a third booster vaccine jab in Muang district of the coastal province of Samut Sakhon, is facing charges of giving false statement to authorities. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1232092-woman-who-claimed-to-have-had-third-vaccine-jab-faces-charges-of-giving-false-statements/

A young woman, who reportedly bragged about being granted the privilege of receiving a third booster vaccine jab in Muang district of the coastal province of Samut Sakhon, is facing charges of giving false statement to authorities. The woman, identified by the police in Samut Sakhon only as Ms. Ann, posted a message on her Facebook page, thankingthe police for granting her a third booster shot at the Samut Sakhon Technology College in Mahachai sub-district recently. The post reportedly provoked a negative reaction among netizens, raising questions over police discrimination and unfair distribution of vaccines. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/woman-who-claimed-to-have-had-third-vaccine-jab-faces-charges-of-giving-false-statements/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-09-19 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Jobless Thai chef arrested for trying to sell rare butterflies An unemployed chef has been arrested after he tried to sell eight preserved butterflies of six rare species to undercover officials from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, at a mall in Bangkok. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1232091-jobless-thai-chef-arrested-for-trying-to-sell-rare-butterflies/

An unemployed chef has been arrested after he tried to sell eight preserved butterflies of six rare species to undercover officials from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, at a mall in Bangkok. The 29-year old chief who used to work at a Japanese restaurant in a Sukhumvit area hotel, which is has closed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, told the officials that the butterflies were from his own personal collection, which he displayed in frames at the restaurant. Mr. Navee Changphirom, chief of the 1362 special operations unit of the wildlife department said, today (Saturday), that his men had come across an advertisement on a Facebook webpage offering rare butterflies for sale and contacted the seller with an offer to buy them on condition that they could inspect them first. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/jobless-thai-chef-arrested-for-trying-to-sell-rare-butterflies/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-09-19 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Ex-PM Thaksin and 4 others face NACC probe for THAI’s purchase of 10 Airbus aircraft Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has set up a panel to investigate fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and four others over their collective role in the purchase of ten Airbus A340-500 and A340-600 planes, worth about 53 billion baht, in 2003/4, a purchase which is blamed for Thai Airways International’s (THAI) heavy losses. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1232020-nacc-investigate-thaksin-over-losses-at-thai-airways/?do=findComment&comment=16834804

Ex-PM Thaksin and 4 others face NACC probe for THAI’s purchase of 10 Airbus aircraft Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has set up a panel to investigate fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and four others over their collective role in the purchase of ten Airbus A340-500 and A340-600 planes, worth about 53 billion baht, in 2003/4, a purchase which is blamed for Thai Airways International’s (THAI) heavy losses. The four other individuals are Industry Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit, then transport minister, then deputy transport minister Pichet Sathiravan, Thanong Bidaya, then chairman of the board of THAI and Kanok Apiradee, then THAI president. NACC Deputy Secretary-General Niwatchai Kasemmongkol told the Isra News Agency that the NACC set up a panel to investigate the aircraft procurement at its meeting on August 28th, but he declined to provide further details. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/ex-pm-thaksin-and-4-others-face-nacc-probe-for-thais-purchase-of-10-airbus-aircraft/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-09-19 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Thailand Live 19 Sept: https://aseannow.com/topic/1232090-thailand-live-sunday-19-sept-2021/

Complaints of fake news reports spiral upwards From Jan 25 2020 to Aug 31 2021, the Anti-Fake News Center has screened more than 104 million messages, Ms Atcharin said. Photo: PR Phuket PHUKET: The number of formal complaints filed over fake news reports and posts on social media have increased dramatically over the past year, Atcharin Pattanaphanchai, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, said at an awareness event in Phuket yesterday (Sept 17). Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1232037-complaints-of-fake-news-reports-spiral-upwards/

Hua Hin reopening: TAT expects many tourists to arrive from Hong Kong Picture: Manager Manager reported that the Tourism Authority of Thailand's chief in Prachuap Khiri Khan province was confident of improvements to the Hua Hin economy when the seaside resort opens up to foreign tourists next month. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1232039-hua-hin-reopening-tat-expects-many-tourists-to-arrive-from-hong-kong/

Online learning opens up huge can of worms as parents get direct line into out of date Thai Education System Picture: Sanook Sanook reported on the continuing struggles of parents to support their children's online learning as many schools in Thailand remain closed. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1232044-online-learning-opens-up-huge-can-of-worms-as-parents-get-direct-line-into-out-of-date-thai-education-system/

Two pet dogs have died after being poisoned according to local residents in Banglamung, part of the Pattaya area. Pattaya News reporters were notified by local residents yesterday afternoon about the incident (September 10th). The two dogs in question were found dead in front of a house in Soi Khao Talo, Nongprue, and are a black male golden labrador aged around 8 months and a female pit bull aged around 5 months. Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2021/09/11/two-pet-dogs-reportedly-poisoned-in-pattaya-police-searching-for-suspects/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2021-09-11 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

AirAsia is set to resume operating flights between Hua Hin, Chiang Mai and Udon Thani from October. At a meeting held at Hua Hin Municipality offices on Friday (Sept 10) between the working group responsible for overseeing the plan to reopen Hua Hin to both foreign and domestic tourists from October 1, it was revealed that AirAsia has confirmed plans to resume its domestic flights from Hua Hin Airport. Thai AirAsia launched Chiang Mai (CNX) – Hua Hin and Udon Thani (UTH) – Hua Hin flights in August 2020, with the services having been suspended due to the travel restrictions put in place during the pandemic. Full story: https://www.huahintoday.com/hua-hin-news/airasia-to-resume-hua-hin-chiang-mai-udon-thani-flights-in-october/ -- © Copyright Hua Hin Today 2021-09-11 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

BANGKOK (NNT) - The government’s COVID-19 task force has announced a target of 24 million vaccinations in October, with 71 million more doses of vaccine from various manufacturers to be delivered in the last three months of 2021. Mass vaccination for adolescents aged 12-17 years will also begin in October with two Pfizer doses given. The Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) Spokesman Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin has outlined the latest update in the national vaccination campaign, which is expected to pick up pace with higher supplies in the final quarter of this year. According to the CCSA, Thailand will be receiving a total of 71 million COVID-19 vaccine doses from various manufacturers, with 24 million to arrive in October consisting of 10 million doses from AstraZeneca, 8 million doses from Pfizer, and 6 million doses from Sinovac. In November, 23 million more doses are expected to be delivered, namely 13 million doses from AstraZeneca and 10 million doses from Pfizer; followed by another 24 million doses in December, with 14 million doses from AstraZeneca and 10 million doses from Pfizer. The CCSA has also updated the vaccine regimen for the national vaccination program effective from late-September and throughout October, including guidelines for booster shots. The general public aged from 18 years will continue to receive either the Sinovac-AstraZeneca mix and match regimen, or two doses of AstraZeneca, or the new AstraZeneca-Pfizer regimen. The CCSA expects 16.8 million doses of vaccine will be used by this group. Adolescents aged 12-17-year-old will be getting two doses of Pfizer vaccine, with consent from their parents. A total of 4.8 million Pfizer doses will be reserved for this group. Workers who register for a vaccination via the Social Security vaccination program will be getting the Sinovac-AstraZeneca mix and match regimen, with 800,000 doses reserved for this group. Another 1.1 million doses are also reserved for those getting vaccinated with a government agency, who will also getting the Sinovac-AstraZeneca regimen. People fully vaccinated with two doses of Sinovac vaccine will be offered an AstraZeneca jab as their booster. The CCSA has allocated 500,000 doses of AstraZenaca for the booster program. This scheme has already been piloted in Phuket, where the number of severe cases remains low even with a surge in cases. Meanwhile, people who have contracted and recovered from COVID-19 before being fully vaccinated, are advised to get a dose of AstraZeneca vaccine within 1-3 months after their recovery. -- © Copyright NNT 2021-09-11 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Image: Reuters file photo More than 41,000 expats in Thailand have registered for a COVID-19 vaccine using the Expatvac registration platform. According to stats released on Thursday (Aug 5) by Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Tanee Sangrat, a total of 41,616 expats in Thailand have registered for the vaccine using the Expatvac website. Of those who have registered, 32,563 are aged under 60, while 9,053 are over 60. Those suffering from underlying health conditions totalled 3,038, while 172 pregnant expats also registered. Mr Tanee said that over a third of those registering were located in Greater Bangkok. Earlier, Mr Tanee said that he expects people to start receiving vaccine appointment dates from August 10 and 11. Priority will be given to the over 60s, pregnant women and people with underlying health conditions. It is understood 150,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, which was recently donated to Thailand by the United States government will be used to vaccinate expats in Thailand. Expats in Thailand who have not yet registered to receive a vaccine are urged to do so here: https://expatvac.consular.go.th/ -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-06 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

A new vaccine registration website for foreigners in Thailand will open on August 1, it has been announced. According to a post on the Thai government's official Facebook page, the new registration website, which is available at: https://expatvac.consular.go.th/ will live go live on Sunday morning. "A new platform for COVID-19 vaccine registration for foreign residents of all age groups in all provinces in Thailand will be available on 1 August 2021 at 11.00 a.m" "Foreign nationals aged 60 - 74 who have already registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website will have their records moved to this new vaccination site soon", the post reads. No information on who will able to register for the vaccines, or if certain groups will be prioritised, was available at the time of posting. The schedule of when vaccines will be administered and which vaccine doses will be used was also not known. The news comes as the Prime Minister on Friday confirmed that some of the Pfizer vaccines recently donated by the United States will be given to foreigners in Thailand. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-01 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Planning to Move to Laos – Five Reasons to Become an Expat in Laos Expats move abroad for many reasons. Some sign up for a new job, some move looking for a more affordable place, while others desire a relaxed and enjoyable retirement. The small Asian country of Laos ticks almost all the boxes when it comes to being a popular expat destination. Lets talk about some reasons to become an Expat in Laos. The beautiful and peaceful landlocked country of Laos was an overseas colony of the French until the 1950s. During the 1950s, a conflict broke out between the royal forces and the communist resistance, which went on for about 20 years. In the long struggle, the communist forces prevailed, leading to the establishment of a communist government that has continued to govern the country since. Over the years, Laos has become a part of several global organizations, including the World Trade Organization, which accepted the country’s membership in 2014. One of the few aspects that Laos still lags in is its not-so-efficient healthcare system. Those who wish to seek any major or complex medical care and treatment often cross the Mekong River to go to hospitals in Nong Khai or Bangkok in Thailand. However, that’s just one of the major things that expats have to forego after become an Expat in Laos. They may choose to overlook it because of the many amazing and distinct things about this beautiful country. The fact that Laos is one of the best countries for retirees and has a minimal crime rate, only makes it an even more preferable nation to settle in permanently. Continue reading: https://goexpat.com/5-reasons-to-become-an-expat-laos/ -- GoExpat.com

BY ANDREW NELSON Flavorful. Soulful. Beautiful. Head to Louangphabang to taste the best of Southeast Asia. Sometimes a portal isn’t a door. It’s a bowl of soup. Raise a spoonful of tom kha kai, a traditional Laotian coconut chicken soup, to your lips, and a tantalizing perfume of lemongrass, lime, and galangal wafts upward. Its scent is sublime and earthy, hot and sour. The fragrant plume comes with a peppery kick. The sensation is vivid, somehow poignant, and utterly transporting. The memory brings a smile as I stand in a line of passengers at Louangphabang airport, in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. I’ve traveled 9,000 miles to Southeast Asia inspired by Van Nolintha, a charismatic 32-year-old Laotian-American restaurateur in Raleigh, North Carolina, whose inventive renditions of his childhood dishes from his native land have earned the acclaim of diners and food critics alike. Now I’ve come for a taste of the real thing. Upon leaving the airport, my first views of Laos are the Phou Thao and Phou Nang mountain ranges, which surround the ancient royal city of Louangphabang like an embrace. The slopes are lush with trees that comb and catch the low-lying clouds. As I enter the city, a cluster of motorbikes overtakes my taxi, trailing fumes and impatience. A teenage girl, sitting sidesaddle in a Laotian silk tube skirt called a sinh, flashes past. Her face is inches from her smartphone. She’s texting furiously, oblivious to her young driver and the pushy traffic puddling up behind us, which includes four Toyota vans packed with Chinese tourists. Their wide-brimmed sun hats curl against the steamy windows. Continue reading: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/what-to-eat-and-where-in-luang-prabang -- National Geographic

Single Entry 30 days and 3-months visa to Cambodia 1. 3-months visa Source: https://www.evisa.gov.kh/ 2. 30-day tourist visa There is also a 30-day tourist visa available to travelers in advance or on arrival for most nationalities for a cost of $30 if you get it directly at the airport. The tourist visa is single entry only, and can be renewed once for an additional 30 days for a fee of between $30 and $50. The validity of the visa refers to the time you have to enter Cambodia. The visa is valid for 30 days from the actual date of entry into Cambodia. Make sure your passport is stamped on arrival, and keep the departure form. If you lose your departure form, you’ll need to contact immigration officials before you leave the country to make alternative arrangements. You can be fined, detained and deported if you overstay your visa. There is a fine of $10 per day for overstaying the validity term of your visa. There is no limit to this fine. Those who overstay more than 30 days will need to leave Cambodia in addition to paying the fine. Source: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/cambodia/entry-requirements

No visa required for a stay not exceeding 59 days. Travelers must hold a valid ticket for return journey to the country of origin or next country of destination and a passport valid for a period of at least six (6) months beyond the stay in the Philippines. No visa required for a stay not exceeding 21 days. For more information on visa please read before you travel: https://www.philippineconsulatela.org/consular-services-2/visa/dont-know-if-you-need-a-visa-to-travel-check-here