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By Erich Parpart Thailand is introducing a “endemic sandbox” concept which includes relaxed measures including no more face mask mandates in some areas ahead of plans by the government to declare Covid-19 as endemic by July. “We are starting the endemic sandbox in areas that are ready such as Bangkok as the daily number of new cases in the city is decreasing and its vaccination rate is high,” Anutin Charnvirakul, the deputy prime minister and health minister, said on Thursday. Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe He said the overall daily number of new Covid cases in Thailand continued to decrease two weeks after the long Songkran holiday period in April and the situation is supporting the government’s move to declare Covid as endemic by July. Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/39878/government-plans-to-introduce-endemic-sandbox-program-as-part-covid-relaxation-schedule/ -- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 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

Bangkok to open nine Long COVID clinics The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will open clinics at its nine hospitals to treat patients suffering from Long COVID, starting next Monday. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258806-bangkok-to-open-nine-long-covid-clinics/

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will open clinics at its nine hospitals to treat patients suffering from Long COVID, starting next Monday. Permanent Secretary of the BMA, Khachit Chatchavanich, said today (Thursday) that patients who are eligible to receive treatment at these clinics must have recovered from their COVID-19 infection for more than a month, with the services focusing on monitoring their post-COVID symptoms. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Khachit said that the model is a one stop service, which means the patients who suspect they may develop Long COVID will be screened and see a doctor in the same place. If they need psychiatric counselling, they will be required to fill out a questionnaire, to help assess their mental health before seeing a doctor. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/bangkok-to-open-nine-long-covid-clinics/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 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

Are children getting a fair deal at Schools in Thailand? EDITORIAL | by Michael Bridge file photo for reference only With the recent announcement that 35,000 schools nationwide plan to resume onsite learning on May 17 with a plan to speed up student vaccinations, at last, the kids will be allowed back. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258805-are-children-getting-a-fair-deal-at-schools-in-thailand/

file photo for reference only EDITORIAL | by Michael Bridge With the recent announcement that 35,000 schools nationwide plan to resume onsite learning on May 17 with a plan to speed up student vaccinations, at last, the kids will be allowed back. Deputy Public Health Minister Sathit Pitutecha has been saying that the ministry has measures in place to control Covid-19 infections when about 35,000 schools resume onsite classes at the start of the new academic year. Parents all over the world have been thrown into the deep end during the pandemic, with home teaching. And in many cases, they have struggled to learn how to answer many basic questions from their kids on diverse subjects such as mathematics or even Biology. It felt for many that they were going back to school themselves! Many families from poorer backgrounds have also lost out, as parents did not even have the funds to buy computers or even pay for an internet connection. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe From what I have heard from friends with school-aged kids, online teaching can be a bit of a hit or miss. Even private schools have been struggling to find enough competent teachers to take online classes, while parents were still forking out large sums for their children’s monthly education. file photo for reference only Provincial public health officials and local health clinics will consult with schools this week, to assess school public health safety levels and decided if they meet Thai Stop Covid+ standards. Schools across Thailand need to score more than 95% on a Covid safety level scale before they can reopen for the new term on May 17. However, with the decline in Covid cases across the country and with borders now opening, surely now is the time to open all the school gates. Statistics show that young children are less at risk of catching the virus. Surely the lack of proper education will affect this generation of “pandemic year” school children who have missed nearly two years of learning. The quicker they can get back into the classroom the better. Apart from receiving a proper lesson, just meeting their friends will be a great boost for everyone. -- © 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

to continue: Thailand Live Friday 6 May 2022 https://aseannow.com/topic/1258804-thailand-live-friday-6-may-2022/

Officials in child protection to be probed over alleged involvement in sex trade Officials at the Social Development and Human Security Ministry’s Department of Children and Youth are to be probed on their alleged involvement in human trafficking and in buying sex services from underage girls. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258799-officials-in-child-protection-to-be-probed-over-alleged-involvement-in-sex-trade/

25-year-old driver fined for illegally opening sirens in Pattaya A 25-year-old driver was fined 1,000 baht for illegally opening sirens in public areas in Pattaya while his friend claimed his dad owned a rescue foundation in Chiang Mai province. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258777-25-year-old-driver-fined-for-illegally-opening-sirens-in-pattaya/

Thailand Pass to End for Thai Returnees First BANGKOK (TNA) – Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said he would propose the government end the Thailand Pass registration initially for Thai returnees before expanding the policy to foreign visitors. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258775-thailand-pass-to-end-for-thai-returnees-first/

Factory worker left alone at wedding - groom who claimed he was a soldier and bodyguard fails to show Picture: Thai Rath Thai Rath reported on a wedding that never was in Nadee district of Prachinburi on Sunday. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258757-factory-worker-left-alone-at-wedding-groom-who-claimed-he-was-a-soldier-and-bodyguard-fails-to-show/

Picture: Thai Rath Thai Rath reported on a wedding that never was in Nadee district of Prachinburi on Sunday. "A", aged 40, a factory worker at an industrial estate, told local reporters that she had met a lovely man last December who said he was a senior sergeant major first class in the Thai army. In addition he was the bodyguard of a local politician, he said. She believed this. The relationship quickly developed and they decided to marry. She said she had been married before so only wanted a small ceremony. He said he wanted a big wedding as befitting a man of his standing so she agreed. It was agreed that he would pay 200,000 baht in cash as a dowry and in addition provide 3 baht weight in gold (worth nearly 100,000 baht). They were originally going to tie the know on March 25th but the date was changed to May 1st because of Covid. Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe The man arranged for the flowers, food and beverage, band and the ceremonial archway. On the day of the wedding at 2 am he said he had to go and see his relatives at a nearby resort and she gave him 20,000 baht for expenses. At 6 am with the monk's ceremony drawing near a male relative of the bride-to-be said some ice had been delivered and the bill needed to be paid. She called her groom-to-be who said he was on his wayto pay. He failed to show. At 7 am she called again to be told there had been arguments over the dowry. Finally he couldn't be contacted. She decided to greet relatives and go through the ceremony alone without him. She realised he was not coming but decided to be strong in the face of the disappointment. She said that since they met he had made one "Covid" excuse after another for her being unable to meet his parents in Nakhon Ratchasima. First relatives had the virus then his mother. Now A has filed a police report. She said she wanted her money back, it was not about love. The bill for the wedding is nearly 300,000 baht. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-05 - 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

Prinn reports to police following more sexual assault allegations Former Democrat deputy leader Prinn Panitchpakdi reported to Huai Khwang police this morning (Thursday) to acknowledge another allegation of sexual assault, in Thailand’s biggest #MeToo case to date. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258752-prinn-reports-to-police-following-more-sexual-assault-allegations/

Former Democrat deputy leader Prinn Panitchpakdi reported to Huai Khwang police this morning (Thursday) to acknowledge another allegation of sexual assault, in Thailand’s biggest #MeToo case to date. The alleged victim claimed that the assault occurred in 2019, when she was a 17-year-old intern and was travelling in a car, being driven by Prinn, on the way to a metro station in Bangkok’s Huai Khwang district. Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Prinn’s lawyer said that he will discuss with his client the possibility of filing defamation charges against the alleged victim, along with other accusers who filed their complaints with police, amounting to 15 women so far. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/prinn-reports-to-police-following-more-sexual-assault-allegations/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-05-05 - 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

Son in custody after stabbing father in the chest in southern Thailand - yaba involved yet again Picture: Siam Rath Yaba - meth mixed with caffeine, a drug of choice in Thailand available for a few dozen Thai baht - is at the center of another horrific murder of a parent. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258751-son-in-custody-after-stabbing-father-in-the-chest-in-southern-thailand-yaba-involved-yet-again/

Picture: Siam Rath Yaba - meth mixed with caffeine, a drug of choice in Thailand available for a few dozen Thai baht - is at the center of another horrific murder of a parent. Siam Rath reported that a police patrol at Kapong Chaipat hospital in Phangnga in the south of Thailand investigated after a man who later died had been stabbed. He was named as Yuthana. He had been brought into hospital by a younger brother. They went to a house and found bloodstains on the left leg of his son who was named only as "A" in the story. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe He was mostly incoherent but managed to suggest that if he hadn't got his father first he would have been killed himself. Relatives reported that the son had attacked the father before they took the victim to hospital with a chest wound. A 23 cm stainless steel knife was taken into evidence. Siam Rath publish a picture of the suspect being interviewed on the floor at Kapong police station. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-05 - 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

TAT to propose extending Phase 4 of “We Travel Together” tourism program The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will propose extending Phase 4 of the “Rao Tiew Duay Kan” (We Travel Together) domestic tourism program until December tothe Center for Economic Situation Administration (CESA) tomorrow (Friday), according to TAT Deputy Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258749-tat-to-propose-extending-phase-4-of-“we-travel-together”-tourism-program/

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will propose extending Phase 4 of the “Rao Tiew Duay Kan” (We Travel Together) domestic tourism program until December tothe Center for Economic Situation Administration (CESA) tomorrow (Friday), according to TAT Deputy Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool. Phase 4 of the program is scheduled to end on May 31st. Thapanee explained that she chose not call the program “Phase 5” because there are residual funds from Phase 4 and the TAT wants to make use of them, the amount of which is expected to be known this month. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe If the residual funds are available and the proposal is approved by the CESA and the cabinet, she expects the extension to commence in June. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/tat-to-propose-extending-phase-4-of-we-travel-together-tourism-program/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-05-05 - 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

Finance Ministry Borrows 50 Billion Yen from JICA BANGKOK, May 5 (TNA) – The Finance Ministry borrows 50 billion yen from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under an executive decree allowing it to borrow 500 billion baht to solve economic and social problems resulting from COVID-19. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258748-finance-ministry-borrows-50-billion-yen-from-jica/

BANGKOK, May 5 (TNA) – The Finance Ministry borrows 50 billion yen from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under an executive decree allowing it to borrow 500 billion baht to solve economic and social problems resulting from COVID-19. Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith and JICA representative Morita Takahiro signed an agreement on the COVID-19 Crisis Response Emergency Support Loan worth 50 billion yen (about 13.17 billion baht). Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe The loan is subject to 0.01% interest and has a 15-year repayment period and a four-year grace period. The conditions were standard for the loans that the Japanese government offered to many countries to help them cope with COVID-19 impacts. Full story: https://tna.mcot.net/english-news-936386 -- © Copyright Thai News Agency 2022-05-05 - 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

Thai tourism officials and private sector buoyant after Test and Go is scrapped and tourists flood in Picture: Siam Rath Siam Rath published an upbeat story after the Test and Go scheme was scrapped on Sunday. They said the south and Thailand in general was getting busy again. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258747-thai-tourism-officials-and-private-sector-buoyant-after-test-and-go-is-scrapped-and-tourists-flood-in/

Picture: Siam Rath Siam Rath published an upbeat story after the Test and Go scheme was scrapped on Sunday. They said the south and Thailand in general was getting busy again. Yesterday saw 180 foreign tourist arrivals at Krabi airport in the south, the first since Test and Go ended said tourism rep Surat Jaronyothin. He expected the upswing to continue nationwide as more and more countries including Thailand opened up as the pandemic entered a new phase. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Things were now returning to normal claimed the former chief of the national tourism business association Itthirit Kinglek in a Facebook post. Phuket had nearly 200 flights a day. A downside was that only two airlines were servicing Krabi that was still waiting for its international terminal to open. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-05 - 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: Intruder faces death sentence after security breach at Suvarnabhumi Airport video screenshot Thai Rath reported on the fallout from the security breach at Suvarnabhumi airport on Tuesday when an armed man broke into an airplane parking area. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258745-video-intruder-faces-death-sentence-after-security-breach-at-suvarnabhumi-airport/

video screenshot Thai Rath reported on the fallout from the security breach at Suvarnabhumi airport on Tuesday when an armed man broke into an airplane parking area. Dramatic video showed the moments when the man on a motorcycle went through a control post as another official vehicle arrived. Fast forward to inside the airport corridors as a chase ensued that resulted in a door being shut that trapped the suspect wielding an axe. He smashed a door and then was forcibly taken into custody. He has been charged with airport trespass, a crime so serious that it potentially carries the death penalty. Airport chief Kittipong Kittikhajorn said the drama started at 11.50 am. Security used CCTV to track the intruder's movements. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe He said force was needed to take down the suspect because he was armed. He was taken into custody by 12.03 pm. The suspect was aged 34 and high on drugs. He had a toy gun as well as an axe and scissors and one yaba tablet. Passenger services were not affected, said Kittipong, and everything was handled according to security protocols. Both the suspect and security staff needed hospital treatment for minor injuries. He has been charged with armed trespass at the airport, a charge with the potential for the death penalty or 15-20 years in jail and fines of 600,000 to 800,000 baht. He also faces assault and criminal damage charges. Kittipong was at pains to point out that everything was done to ensure the safety of security staff and passengers at the airport. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-05 - 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

Phuket plans to announce Covid-19 as an endemic disease, Thai Central government urges patience By Goong Nang(GN) Phuket – Phuket is planning to announce Covid-19 as an endemic disease after Covid -19 new and confirmed cases have continued to decrease in the province. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258743-phuket-plans-to-announce-covid-19-as-an-endemic-disease-thai-central-government-urges-patience/