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Picture: Thai Rath Assistant minister to the Ministry of Public Health Sathit Pitutecha spoke at the 2022 general meeting of the Private Health Association, reported Thai Rath. He gave a seven point watchlist of how Thailand will move from treating Covid-19 as a pandemic to treating it as endemic. Pandemic means an infectious disease that has spread across a wide area or worldwide. Endemic means it is found among a specific people or in a specific area. Sathit said that Thailand had handled the pandemic well and the private sector had played their part particularly in providing hospital beds and treatment. He noted that cases of the virus, people in hospital and deaths were all showing downward trends. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Picture: Thai Rath Things were less clear regarding mutations with the WHO themselves unclear but July this year was the target for declaring the disease endemic in Thailand. For this to happen and be sustained the following needs to happen: 1. Digital platforms and data collection needs to be developed into a single national strategy. 7 billion baht will be spent on this to ensure it is top notch and safe. 2. Preparations to deal with possible subsequent outbreaks and develop interdisciplinary personnel for both common diseases, chronic non-communicable diseases, long Covid and MIS-C. 3. Attention must be given to vulnerable people and access to treatment. 4.Develop and raise the level of self-reliance in regard to vaccines, medicines and medical supplies. 5. Handle Covid-19 waste correctly. In the past permission has been gained to just burn it, this needs to be reassessed. 6. Develop data integration strategies to better inform decision making. 7. Find, record and publish good examples including important lessons learned from the pandemic. Sathit closed by saying that now was the time to get the economy back on track, people back into work and raise tax collection.. As far as mask wearing goes, removing the mandate to wear them depends on where and in what situation, he said. The key is to move on, learn to live with Covid with understanding and get the economy moving. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-07 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

COVID-19 - May 7: Thailand reports 8,450 new coronavirus cases, 12,224 recoveries, 58 deaths file photo Thailand on Saturday (May 7) reported 8,450 new COVID-19 cases, 12,224 recoveries and 58 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258933-covid-19-may-7-thailand-reports-8450-new-coronavirus-cases-12224-recoveries-58-deaths/ //CLOSED// /Admin

COVID-19 - May 7: Thailand reports 8,450 new coronavirus cases, 12,224 recoveries, 58 deaths file photo Thailand on Saturday (May 7) reported 8,450 new COVID-19 cases, 12,224 recoveries and 58 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258933-covid-19-may-7-thailand-reports-8450-new-coronavirus-cases-12224-recoveries-58-deaths/

file photo Thailand on Saturday (May 7) reported 8,450 new COVID-19 cases, 12,224 recoveries and 58 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. Saturday’s cases bring the total number of COVID-19 infections in Thailand to 4,316,769 with 29,034 deaths. Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-07 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

UPDATE: Thailand Pass still required for all those entering Thailand Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258922-thailand-pass-still-required-for-all-those-entering-thailand/

2022 Bun Bung Fai Rocket Festival in Isan promises plenty of sky-high action to watch Scheduled for mid-May, the famous Northeast Thailand event is returning to Yasothon and Kalasin after 2 years with rocket launching, parades, and more on the programme. TAT Newsroom Bun Bung Fai Talai Lan parade, Kalasin Bangkok – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) invites tourists to experience one of the must-see spectacles of the annual festival calendar – the exhilarating Bun Bung Fai Rocket Festival in the Northeastern Thai provinces of Yasothon from 13-15 May and in Kalasin from 21-22 May. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258925-2022-bun-bung-fai-rocket-festival-in-isan-promises-plenty-of-sky-high-action-to-watch/

Bun Bung Fai Talai Lan parade, Kalasin Scheduled for mid-May, the famous Northeast Thailand event is returning to Yasothon and Kalasin after 2 years with rocket launching, parades, and more on the programme. TAT Newsroom Bangkok – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) invites tourists to experience one of the must-see spectacles of the annual festival calendar – the exhilarating Bun Bung Fai Rocket Festival in the Northeastern Thai provinces of Yasothon from 13-15 May and in Kalasin from 21-22 May. The annual rocket festival, which takes place in the Northeast as the rainy season begins, is seen as a way of encouraging the rains to fall and to help the local rice crops to grow. It also allows people to have a fun and festive break before the hard work of planting and harvesting begins. The celebrations differ from province to province, but mostly involve the firing of home-made rockets up into the sky with teams competing against each other to send their rockets the highest – some up to hundreds of feet. There are different types of rockets classified by the weight of gunpowder they carry. ‘Bung Fai Kilo’ indicates a rocket has 1 kg of gunpowder, ‘Bung Fai Muen’ is 12 kg, and ‘Bung Fai Saen’ is 120 kg. There are also parades with floats and displays of traditional costumes and folk dancing. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe The Festival can be enjoyed in many provinces of Isan including Kalasin, Roi Et, and Yasothon with festivities in Yasothon and Kalasin being among the largest and most well-known of them all. There is also a rocket festival in Sukhirin district in the Southern province of Narathiwat initiated by the people who moved south from Isan. And with the event having been cancelled in 2020 and 2021, this year it is making a much-anticipated return. Yasothon Bun Bung Fai Festival 13-15 May, 2022, at Mueang Yasothon District Office, Lan Wiman Phaya Tan (Phaya Khan Khak – Naga) and Phaya Thaen Park. Over the three-day event, there are celebrations and activities to enjoy, in addition to the actual launching of the rockets. This includes colourful rocket processions of floats and folk dancing, merit-making ceremonies, a rocket team cheering contest, light and sound show, and Bung Fai parade contest. Bung Fai parade contest, Yasothon Bung Fai (Rocket), Yasothon Kalasin Bun Bung Fai Talai Lan Festival 21-22 May, 2022 at Kutwa Wittaya School in Kuchinarai district A tradition of the ethnic Phu Thai Kutwa people, the celebrations in Kalasin stand out as many of the rockets are launched as part of huge cartwheel-like structures up to six metres in diameter. This year, in addition to the launching of 50 ‘Bung Fai Talai Saen’ (120 kg) rockets and two ‘Bang Fai Tai Lan’ (1,200 kg) rockets, other celebrations include colourful rocket processions of floats and folk dancing, a merit-making ceremony, and activities showcasing the traditions of the ethnic Phu Thai Kutwa people. Bang Fai Tai Lan, Kalasin Source: https://www.tatnews.org/2022/05/2022-bun-bung-fai-rocket-festival-in-isan-promises-plenty-of-sky-high-action-to-watch/ -- © Copyright TAT NEWS 2022-05-07 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Hua Hin: It’s time to put the sleepy narrative to bed Editorial | by Jonathan Fairfield Panoramic view of Hua Hin beach with kite surfers in action Over the past month I have read various articles that have described Hua Hin in one form or another as being “sleepy”. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258924-hua-hin-it’s-time-to-put-the-sleepy-narrative-to-bed/

Panoramic view of Hua Hin beach with kite surfers in action Editorial | by Jonathan Fairfield Over the past month I have read various articles that have described Hua Hin in one form or another as being “sleepy”. The narrative that Hua Hin is “sleepy” has connotations of the city being boring, uninteresting or that there is nothing to do. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe It’s a narrative that I just don’t recognise. Don’t get me wrong, Hua Hin isn’t, and probably never will be, Miami, Ibiza, Phuket or even Koh Samui. Full story: https://www.huahintoday.com/hua-hin-news/hua-hin-its-time-to-put-the-sleepy-narrative-to-bed/ -- © Copyright Hua Hin Today 2022-05-07 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Indian tourist in Pattaya says a transgender thief took his expensive necklace on Second Road overnight By Tanakorn Panyadee Bang Lamung — Two Indian tourists claimed that their gold necklace was stolen, allegedly by two transgender individuals who approached and hugged them. This, in fact, was the 3rd time the hugging-and-stealing incidents happened in Pattaya recently. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258923-indian-tourist-in-pattaya-says-a-transgender-thief-took-his-expensive-necklace-on-second-road-overnight/

By Tanakorn Panyadee Bang Lamung — Two Indian tourists claimed that their gold necklace was stolen, allegedly by two transgender individuals who approached and hugged them. This, in fact, was the 3rd time the hugging-and-stealing incidents happened in Pattaya recently. On May 6th, around 02.30 a.m. this morning, Puttharak Sonkhamhan, Deputy Inspector from the Pattaya Police Station, responded to a thievery report at second Pattaya road, Nong Prue sub-district, Bang Lamung, Chonburi. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe At the incident scene, Mr. Pravin Suresh Sutrave, a 43-year-old Indian businessman, was reportedly in shock and told the police that he was roaming around when two transgender individuals approached him and his friend, trying to seduce him and hugging him. Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/05/06/indian-tourist-in-pattaya-says-a-transgender-thief-took-his-expensive-necklace-on-second-road-overnight/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-05-07 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Thailand Pass still required for all those entering Thailand By Erich Parpart The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) was expected to decide on the Ministry of Public Health’s proposal to lift the Thailand Pass for Thai citizens at its meeting led by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha on Friday. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258922-thailand-pass-still-required-for-all-those-entering-thailand/

By Erich Parpart The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) was expected to decide on the Ministry of Public Health’s proposal to lift the Thailand Pass for Thai citizens at its meeting led by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha on Friday. However, no decision has been made on the issue, despite calls for its removal. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe “We still have to be cautious and continue to closely monitor the situation of Omicron and other new variants that could happen in the future,” Prayut said after the meeting. “We have to plan for them and adjust our measures accordingly and timely,” he said. Nearly 240,000 people have registered with Thailand Pass since entry regulations were relaxed at the beginning of May, the CCSA reported on Friday. Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/39938/thailand-pass-still-required-for-all-those-entering-thailand/ -- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2022-05-07 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Fifth phase of co-payment stimulus being studied, travel subsidies extended The fifth phase of the 50-50 co-payment economic stimulus scheme is being studied, according to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who admitted Friday that the national budget is depleted and that the government must be very cautious when spending, while the “We Travel Together” and “Tour Tiew Thai” domestic tourism subsidy programs have been extended till September. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258920-fifth-phase-of-co-payment-stimulus-being-studied-travel-subsidies-extended/

The fifth phase of the 50-50 co-payment economic stimulus scheme is being studied, according to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who admitted Friday that the national budget is depleted and that the government must be very cautious when spending, while the “We Travel Together” and “Tour Tiew Thai” domestic tourism subsidy programs have been extended till September. The prime minister said how to proceed with the co-payment scheme and to what extent is being studied. He hinted, however, that, if the scheme is to be extended, as proposed by the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade, and cover everyone, as was the case in the four previous phases, between 40 and 50 billion baht would be required. Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe “We are looking how much can be done,” said the prime minister. Today, the Centre for Economic Situation Administration (CESA), chaired by the prime minister, also approved the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s proposal for the extension of 4th Phase of the “Rao Tiew Duay Kan” (We Travel Together) until the end of September, as well as one million more entitlements for the program, with residual budget of 4 billion baht, according to TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/fifth-phase-of-co-payment-stimulus-being-studied-travel-subsidies-extended/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-05-07 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

to continue: Thailand Live Saturday 7 May 2022 https://aseannow.com/topic/1258919-thailand-live-saturday-7-may-2022/

People Warned of Plasmodium Knowlesi Malaria BANGKOK (TNA) – Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has warned people to protect themselves from Plasmodium knowlesi malaria and advised people to see a doctor if they developed symptoms after staying close to a monkey or returning from a forest. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258905-people-warned-of-plasmodium-knowlesi-malaria/

Senior official transferred pending probe on alleged trafficking case interference The deputy director-general of the Department of Children and Youth has been transferred from the post, pending the outcome of an investigation into an allegation that he interfered with a police probe into a human trafficking ring, which was forcing underage girls into prostitution. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258884-senior-official-transferred-pending-probe-on-alleged-trafficking-case-interference/

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Five wild elephants die after going for a bath and getting stuck Picture: Naew Na Naew Na went to Kanchanaburi to investigate after a post on social media that five elephants had been found dead in a pond. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258867-five-wild-elephants-die-after-going-for-a-bath-and-getting-stuck/

Picture: Naew Na Naew Na went to Kanchanaburi to investigate after a post on social media that five elephants had been found dead in a pond. "Better luck in the next life, Sathu (amen)" went the post - the tragedy upset netizens who wondered if it had happened in a national park. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Chief of the Lam Klong Ngu national park in Kanchanaburi, western Thailand, Phichet Chaisawat said that his investigation showed it was not in his national park. The elephants had gone to bathe in a protected area nearby and been discovered by foragers. Picture: Naew Na There were two fully grown elephants, one medium size and two babies. The elephants had apparently gone to bathe but got stuck in quicksand and were unable to get out. They had been dead for about two months and little remained except skin and bones. The area is being filled in to avoid a repeat of the tragedy. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-06 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

Video: Two injured in fighting between armed rival groups in Samut Chedi 77kaoded Thai Caption: Trouble in a housing estate 77kaoded yesterday reported pitched battles between rival groups involving about two dozen men armed with guns and knives in the Thassanee Housing estate in Samut Chedi, Samut Prakan. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258865-video-two-injured-in-fighting-between-armed-rival-groups-in-samut-chedi/

77kaoded Thai Caption: Trouble in a housing estate 77kaoded yesterday reported pitched battles between rival groups involving about two dozen men armed with guns and knives in the Thassanee Housing estate in Samut Chedi, Samut Prakan. Two people were injured in the violence, some of which was caught on CCTV posted in a video, around 11 pm on Wednesday night. Suradech, 33, who posted the clip, said he was awoken to see many men on motorcycles armed with guns and knives. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe He went out to try and calm the situation down but it was no use. He took one injured person to hospital and on the way found another grievously injured person who he also took to hospital in the back of his pick-up. One of the victims said they had arrived in the housing estate taking a friend home when a rival group ambushed him. One man reported 20 people arriving in the estate. He heard several shots as he went to find a weapon. Samut Chedi police are investigating hoping CCTV will give them a lead. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-06 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

Postman's wife killed in head on collision with 10 wheel truck in south - 'lap nai' blamed Picture: Siam Rath Microsleep - lap nai in Thai - when a driver drops off momentarily behind the wheel, was blamed for a tragic accident in the south of Thailand. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258862-postmans-wife-killed-in-head-on-collision-with-10-wheel-truck-in-south-lap-nai-blamed/

Picture: Siam Rath Microsleep - lap nai in Thai - when a driver drops off momentarily behind the wheel, was blamed for a tragic accident in the south of Thailand. A Thailand Post worker called Pramote, 52, had left a Hat Yai depot earlier in the afternoon on a parcel delivery run all up Route 41, reported Siam Rath. He had reached the Ban Tham Yai area of Nakhon Sri Thammarat in his 6 wheeler when a 10 wheel truck on the other side of the road heading south went over the central reservation and collided head on. Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Pramote survived and was taken to Thung Song hospital after being cut out of the wreckage. His 47 year old wife Prapha, also a postal worker, died instantly in the front passenger seat. When Thung Song police and rescue services arrived the driver of the 10 wheeler was nowhere to be found. He had clearly awoken and fled the scene. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-06 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information