Jonathan Fairfield

Opening of new British Embassy in Bangkok postponed

 

 

More info: UK in Thailand Facebook page

 

BMA churning out handwash for public

 

 

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration assembled a mini-factory on Thursday (March 19) where people from Navamindradhiraj University and the Social Development Office produced bottled alcohol-based handwash that will be distributed across the city starting on Saturday.

 

“Distribution will start in Dusit, Pathumwan and Watthana districts, in that order,” said Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang. “BMA officials will distribute 10,000 bottles a day in public areas.”

 

The aim is to prepare 800,000 bottles. 

 

“Numerous agencies have given us 130,000 litres of ethanol for the project,” Aswin said.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30384420

 

 

 

US embassy slams door on visa appointments

 

 

The United States embassy and consulate in Thailand are cancelling routine non-immigrant visa appointments starting on Thursday (March 19).

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1154462-united-states-embassy-and-consulate-in-thailand-slams-door-on-visa-appointments/

 

60 new COVID-19 cases in Thailand, total cases now at 272

 

Reuters file photo

 

Officials from Thailand's Ministry of Public Health reported 60 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, taking the total number of infections to 272.

 

Officials said 43 of the infections were due to being in contacted with previously infected patients. 12 of those infections had links to the Rajadamnern Boxing Stadium, while 14 had attended entertainment venues in Thonglor and Sukhumvit. 

 

9 people were infected after returning from overseas. 5 were infected after attending a religious ceremony.

 

The 60 new cases marked the single highest rise in cases in Thailand to date. 

 

 

This is a developing news story. This post will be updated without notice. 

 

 

 

 

Entertainment venues to shutter for 14 days

 

 

The Cabinet today (March 17) approved a temporary closure of entertainment venues in Bangkok and Greater Bangkok for 14 days, starting from tomorrow (March 18), as the government beefs up measures to stem the Covid-19 outbreak.

 

Places affected include movie theatres, pubs, bars, traditional massage parlours and other entertainment venues listed under a related law.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30384252

 

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Thailand records 33 new coronavirus cases on Monday, bringing tally to 147 - health official

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand recorded 33 new coronavirus cases on Monday in the largest daily jump in infections, bringing the Southeast Asian country’s tally to 147, Public Health Ministry spokesman Rungrueng Kitphati said on Monday.

 

The 33 new cases were roughly divided into two categories: 16 had come into contact with previously confirmed cases and 17 others had recently arrived in Thailand from foreign countries or were Thai people who work closely with foreigners, Rungrueng said at a press conference.

 

 

Thailand confirms 33 new COVID-19 infections, 147 cases in total

 

Reuters file photo

 

Thailand confirmed 33 new coronavirus infections on Monday, taking the total number of infections reported in the country to 147.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153795-thailand-confirms-33-new-covid-19-infections-147-cases-in-total/

 

Thailand confirms 33 new COVID-19 infections, 147 cases in total

 

Reuters file photo

 

Thailand confirmed 33 new coronavirus infections on Monday, taking the total number of infections reported in the country to 147.

 

The new infections mark the biggest daily spike in Thailand, beating the previous biggest spike of 32, announced yesterday (Sunday).

 

The news comes as Thailand announced it is postponing the Songkran holidays, while a requirement to force entertainment venues to close at 8pm is also in the offing. 

 

Also on Monday, officials in Buriram announced strict new measures that will effectively see the province placed in lockdown.

 

This is a developing news story. This post will be updated without warning.

 

 

Thailand plans to close schools, bars and theaters to curb coronavirus - spokeswoman

 

Passengers wear protective masks due to the coronavirus outbreak, in a train in Bangkok, Thailand March 16, 2020. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand plans to close down schools, bars, theaters and other entertainment centres to curb the spread of coronavirus as well as to postpone next month's Thai New Year holiday to limit travel, a government spokeswoman said on Monday.

 

The government will ask the cabinet on Tuesday to consider postponing the traditional Songkran New Year holiday, which falls on April 13 to 15, to limit travel inside and outside of the country, deputy government spokeswoman Ratchada Thanadirek said on Twitter.

 

The government will also ask the cabinet to consider closing of universities, schools, international schools, boxing arenas, cock fighting arenas, bars and theater nationwide to curb the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, she said.

 

Thailand reported 32 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, bringing its total tally to 114. One person has died of the virus in Thailand. Thirty seven people have recovered and been discharged from hospital.

 

(Writing by Kay Johnson; Editing by Toby Chopra)

 

All over 70s in UK told to self isolate, lockdowns, entry bans imposed worldwide

 

 

FILE PHOTO: A man wearing a protective mask travels on a tube in London, Britain, March 11, 2020. REUTERS/Marika Kochiashvili/File photo

 

(Reuters) - France and Spain joined Italy in imposing lockdowns on tens of millions of people, Australia ordered self-isolation of arriving foreigners, and Argentina and El Salvadore extended entry bans as the world sought to contain the spreading coronavirus.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153619-all-over-70s-in-uk-told-to-self-isolate-lockdowns-entry-bans-imposed-worldwide/

 

Lockdowns, self-isolation and entry bans imposed to fight global coronavirus spread

 

 

FILE PHOTO: A man wearing a protective mask travels on a tube in London, Britain, March 11, 2020. REUTERS/Marika Kochiashvili/File photo

 

(Reuters) - France and Spain joined Italy in imposing lockdowns on tens of millions of people, Australia ordered self-isolation of arriving foreigners, and Argentina and El Salvadore extended entry bans as the world sought to contain the spreading coronavirus.

 

Panic buying in Australia, the United States and Britain saw leaders appeal for calm over the virus that has infected over 138,000 people globally and killed more than 5,000.

 

Several countries imposed bans on mass gathering, shuttered sporting, cultural and religious events, while medical experts urged people to practice "social distancing" to curb the spread.

 

All of Pope Francis' Easter services next month will be held without the faithful attending, the Vatican said on Sunday, in a step believed to be unprecedented in modern times.

 

The services, four days of major events from Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday, usually draw tens of thousands of people to sites in Rome and in the Vatican.

 

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said from midnight Sunday international travellers arriving in the country would need to isolate themselves for 14 days, and foreign cruise ships would be banned for 30 days, given a rise in imported cases.

 

"What we've seen in recent weeks, is more countries having issues with the virus and that means the source of some of those transmissions are coming from more and more countries," Morrison told a news conference.

Australia's latest restrictions mirror those announced by neighbouring New Zealand on Saturday. Australia has recorded more than 250 coronavirus cases and three deaths.

 

TRAVEL BANS, AIRLINE CUTBACKS

 

U.S. President Donald Trump declared a national emergency on Friday. The United States has recorded more than 2,000 cases and 50 deaths, but has been criticised for slow testing.

 

Travel bans and a plunge in global air travel saw further airline cut backs, with American Airlines Inc <AAL.O> planning to cut 75% of international flights through May 6 and ground nearly all its widebody fleet.

 

The dramatic announcement by the largest U.S. airline came hours after the White House said the United States would widen new travel restrictions on Europeans to include travellers in the United Kingdom and Ireland, starting Monday night.

 

Washington has already imposed flight restrictions on China.

 

China tightened checks on international travellers arriving at Beijing airport on Sunday, after the number of imported new coronavirus infections surpassed locally transmitted cases for a second day in a row.

 

Anyone arriving to Beijing from abroad will be transferred directly to a central quarantine facility for 14 days for observation starting March 16, a city government official said.

 

China, where the epidemic began in December, appears to now face a greater threat of new infections from outside its borders as it continues to slow the spread of the virus domestically.

 

China has reported 80,984 cases and 3,203 deaths, according to a Reuters tally, of which 66,911 have recovered in mainland China, which has imposed draconian containment policies, locking down several major cities.

 

LOCKDOWNS, STAY HOME

 

Spain put its 47 million inhabitants under partial lockdown on Saturday as part of a 15-day state of emergency to combat the epidemic in Europe's second worst-affected country after Italy.

 

Spain had 193 coronavirus deaths and 6,250 cases, public broadcaster TVE said on Saturday, up from 120 deaths reported on Friday.

 

France will shut shops, restaurants and entertainment facilities from Sunday with its 67 million people were told to stay home after confirmed infections doubled in 72 hours.

 

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said the government had no other option after the public health authority said 91 people had died in France and almost 4,500 were now infected.

 

"We must absolutely limit our movements," he said.

 

Britain is preparing to ban mass gatherings, while isolating people aged over 70 for up to four months is part of its action plan to tackle coronavirus which will be implemented in the coming weeks, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Sunday.

 

Argentina banned entry to non-residents who have travelled to a country highly affected by coronavirus in the last 14 days, the government officially announced late on Saturday.

 

The ban will last 30 days. Argentina has 45 cases of coronavirus, the health ministry said, up from 21 on March 12.

Panama said flights arriving from Europe and Asia would be temporarily suspended, with the exception of flights that transport doctors, medical equipment or other humanitarian aid.

 

Colombia will expel four Europeans for violating compulsory quarantine protocols, just hours after it closed its border with Venezuela, the government said on Saturday.

 

ANTI-TERRORISM TRACKING TO FIGHT VIRUS

 

Israel will use anti-terrorism tracking technology and partially shutdown its economy to minimise transmission risks, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday.

 

Cyber tech monitoring would be deployed to locate people who have been in contact with those carrying the virus, subject to cabinet approval, Netanyahu told a news conference in Jerusalem.

 

Starting Sunday, South Korea began to subject visitors from France, Germany, Britain, Spain and the Netherlands to stricter border checks, after imposing similar rules for China, Italy and Iran which have major outbreaks.

 

Visitors from those countries now need to download an app which will report whether they have symptoms. South Korea has been testing hundreds of thousands of people and tracking potential carriers using cell phone and satellite technology.

 

COVID-19: Thailand adds UK, USA and others to list of high risk countries - new “self-monitoring” measure for travellers

 

Image: Reuters - File

 

Thailand has added the UK, USA and several other countries to list of countries it regards as being ‘high risk’ due to the ongoing coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153479-covid-19-thailand-adds-uk-usa-and-others-to-list-of-high-risk-countries-new-“self-monitoring”-measure for-travellers/

 

Premier League, Football League and WSL suspended until 3 April

 

 

(Reuters) - All elite soccer matches in England, including the Premier League, were suspended until April 4 on Friday due to the coronavirus pandemic, English soccer's governing bodies said in a joint statement.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153348-premier-league-football-league-and-wsl-suspended-until-3-april/?tab=comments#comment-15156332

 

All UEFA football matches for next week postponed due to coronavirus

 

Europa League Final - Chelsea v Arsenal - Baku Olympic Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan - May 29, 2019 General view of the trophy inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Lee Smith/File Photo

 

(Reuters) - UEFA has postponed all Champions League and Europa League matches due to take place next week because of the coronavirus outbreak, European soccer's governing body said in a statement on Friday.

 

"In the light of developments due to the spread of COVID-19 in Europe and related decisions made by different governments, all UEFA club competitions matches scheduled next week are postponed," UEFA said.

 

The governing body added that the Champions League and Europa League quarter-final draws scheduled for March 20 had also been postponed as a result.

 

The decision comes ahead of a crisis meeting on Tuesday where UEFA will consider all options for the next period, including possibly postponing the Euro 2020 tournament scheduled for June and July.

 

English Premier League side Chelsea, who were scheduled to travel to Bayern Munich for a last-16 Champions League game on Wednesday, have announced that winger Callum Hudson-Odoi tested positive and that their whole squad is in quarantine.

 

Tuesday's Champions League matches between Juventus and Olympique Lyonnais and Manchester City and Real Madrid have already been postponed as Juventus's and Real Madrid's players are in quarantine.

 

That day, UEFA will hold a video conference of all 55 football federations along with club, league and player representatives to discuss the situation, including various options to finish the season and deal with the issue of Euro 2020, which could be postponed.

 

Europe's top soccer leagues have already been placed on hold because of the outbreak, which has killed over 4,900 people globally.

 

The English Premier League, which has not yet been suspended, has called an emergency meeting later on Friday in the wake of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta testing positive, to discuss its response to the pandemic.

 

(Reporting by Simon Jennings and Simon Evans; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Toby Davis)

 

Premier League, Football League and WSL suspended until April 4

 

 

(Reuters) - All elite soccer matches in England, including the Premier League, were suspended until April 4 on Friday due to the coronavirus pandemic, English soccer's governing bodies said.

 

"Following a meeting of shareholders today, it was unanimously decided to suspend the Premier League with the intention of returning on April 4," the Premier League said in a joint statement.

 

The English Football League (EFL), which oversees all professional tiers of English soccer below the top-flight, had announced the suspension of all football activity earlier in the day.

 

The Football Association said the professional game in England would be postponed until April 3 at the earliest.

 

England's upcoming friendly internationals against Italy and Denmark at Wembley on March 27 and 31, respectively, will not take place, the FA said in a statement http://www.thefa.com/news/2020/mar/13/fa-premier-league-efl-statement-football-suspended-130320.

 

The men's and women's FA Cup competitions have also been suspended.

 

The decision to suspend all football activity in the country had been jointly taken by the Premier League, the FA, the EFL and the Women's Super League (WSL), it added.

 

(Reporting by Simon Jennings in Bengaluru; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Toby Davis)

 

 

 

Statement in full:

 

Following a meeting of Shareholders today, it was unanimously decided to suspend the Premier League with the intention of returning on 4 April, subject to medical advice and conditions at the time.

 

Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said: "Above all, we wish Mikel Arteta and Callum Hudson-Odoi speedy recoveries, and everyone else affected by COVID-19.

 

"In this unprecedented situation, we are working closely with our clubs, Government, The FA and EFL and can reassure everyone the health and welfare of players, staff and supporters are our priority."

 

Despite the challenges, it is the Premier League's aim to reschedule the displaced fixtures, including those played by Academy sides, when it is safe to do so.

 

In this fast-moving environment, further updates will be provided when appropriate.