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By Cod Satrusayang Thailand should expect to see a spike in Covid-19 cases as the country eases lockdown measures on Wednesday, a public health expert told Thai Enquirer. The important thing is that the public must “not panic,” the expert added. The country’s hard-hit Covid-19 provinces, which has been under lockdown measures for over a month, will see a gradual easing starting on Wednesday including the reopening of malls and restaurants for dining-in. Contrary to previous announcements, a government spokesman said that diners and staff do not have to be fully vaccinated to participate in the reopening. Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/32068/prepare-for-a-spike-public-health-expert-says-but-dont-panic/ -- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2021-09-01 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Peter Thurgood, 74, moved to Thailand around 15 years ago (Image: Trina Sanders) Peter's life came crashing down after he went into a diabetic coma Abigail Nicholson, Senior Night Reporter A desperate daughter is struggling to get her bedridden dad back to the UK from Thailand. Peter Thurgood, 74, moved to Thailand around 15 years ago and had been 'living his dream' in the sun. But his life came crashing down after being rushed to hospital in October 2020 after he went into a diabetic coma. Doctors said his heart was failing and he needed to have a pacemaker fitted. Due to him being abroad it took a few days for the family to pay £27,000 for the operation and get paperwork signed by his daughter, Trina Sanders who lives in Birkenhead. Trina said: "It [Peter becoming ill] all came completely out of the blue, when his girlfriend, Pong, rang us we were just in shock. "All went well and he started to come out of his coma. Full story: https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/heartbroken-daughter-desperate-fly-bedridden-21439771 -- © Copyright Liverpool Echo 2021-09-01 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Daily News A full autopsy conducted by a pathologist at Sawan Pracharak Hospital in Nakhon Sawan has determined that Jirapong Thanaphat, 24, died from asphyxiation after six layers of plastic bags were wrapped tightly round his head. The incident happened while Jirapong - in after a drugs bust - was being interrogated by seven officers of the Muang district force led by Pol Col Thitisan Utthanapol. The man known as Chief Joe or Joe Ferrari because of his collection of dozens of luxury cars sits in jail ordered held for an initial period of 12 days with his subordinates. Yesterday a press conference was held after the death in custody. It was attended by the provincial police commander Pol Maj-Gen Rapeepong Sukphaibun and assistant prosecutor Sompong Yenkaew along with Dr Natthapong Tulaphan of Sawan Pracharak Hospital. Sompong pulled no punches in his assessment of the evidence that will be presented to the court saying that the CCTV and autopsy evidence presented a clear case of murder with intent, murder in custody. This was a clear case of mistakes in procedure that went seriously wrong and was clearly illegal. It had nothing to do with obtaining extra information. Just two bags around the head could kill, he noted - this was five or six. Dr Natthapong confirmed this saying that a full autopsy revealed six bags were knotted tightly round the head of the victim who could not breathe. He was like this for a full six minutes. The innermost bag was tightly wrapped around the victim and there was pressure on the larynx. There were drugs in the body but asphyxiation was the clear cause of death. No explanation was given in the Daily News story as to why an initial examination of the deceased suggested that drugs were the cause of death, notes ASEAN NOW. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-31 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

REUTERS file photo for reference only The latest Suan Dusit poll asked 1,510 people from Monday to Thursday last week questions under the umbrella of their needs and hopes in the pandemic. Top priority from now as specified by 84.12% of respondents was the need for good quality vaccine so that 100% of the people could get a jab. Just over half those polled cited fair and equitable access to health care. Asked about hopes that had been realised 67.44% mentioned food and drink packages that had been handed out with 63.64% mentioning help with school fees and educational supplies. So what was the biggest disappointment? 90.64% cited the dishonest failures of the Thai government in coping with the pandemic, playing politics and being hopeless in solving corruption issues. Slightly less felt their views had not been listened to when it came to people in authority and a similar number pointed to inequalities in society. When asked who was the greatest help in the pandemic 68.39% pointed to their own resilience compared to 53.80% who mentioned their fellow Thais and 46.06% the medical community. Only 27.96% cited the government as being of any help and 25.04% mentioned the health minister (Anutin Charnvirakul). -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-30 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Channel 7 Bangkok's governor Aswin Kwanmuang told the media that obstacles to opening restaurants in the Thai capital more fully had been removed. He said that from September 1st to 30th it will not be necessary that patrons will have to have been vaccinated to use restaurants. Staff will also not have to take ATK tests every 7 days. These obstacles were seen as problematic when they were mooted because only around 10% of the Thai population has been double vaxxed and restaurants complained that ATK testing would eat into their already devastated bottom line, notes ASEAN NOW. Aswin said that from Wednesday it is back to mask wearing, temperature checking and 2 meter social distancing protocols, reported Channel 7. These measures are familiar to everyone by now. He said that where 2 meter SD could not be guaranteed then screens and barriers need to be in place. Schools will also be allowed to open without restrictions from Wednesday with teaching, training and testing for large groups allowed. It remains to be seen what protocols will be in place in each school and how many will reopen but the suprise decision of the CCSA will be a mostly welcome relief to parents who have had their children at home since Songkran. Beauty salons, hairdressing shops and health massage can also reopen - the latter being foot massage only. Restaurants can open to 8 pm, the same as malls and shopping centers. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-30 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

By Goong Nang(GN) Pattaya – Pattaya Beach is recovering afer significant damage following heavy rains over the past weekend, especially on Friday (August 27th) which caused flooding across the city. First, a recap of Friday’s rain in Pattaya. Rain also fell throughout the weekend, although the hardest hit portion was on Friday morning. Water had flowed from higher areas in town to drain onto Pattaya beach and then into the sea. Portions of the beach were washed away, causing numerous ditches and holes on the sand. A video is also attached showing the repair work being done following this weekend’s rains. Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2021/08/29/pattaya-beach-repaired-after-heavy-rains-and-flooding-hit-the-city-over-the-past-weekend/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2021-08-30 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Fran Greene (right) with her partner Conor Lyons (left). The recent graduates are stuck in Phuket, Thailand, after the Government announced it would move the country to red list restrictions (Picture: Fran Greene) By Amy Walker Traveller says she will stay on in holiday hotspot because quarantine will ‘bankrupt’ her and sorting flight before Monday deadline is ‘almost impossible’ British tourists have said they face huge costs and a desperate scramble to get home from Thailand before red list rules kick in on Monday – or risk becoming stuck in the country. The Government moved the destination to its toughest level of restrictions under the traffic light system on Thursday. It means arrivals will have to quarantine in a designated hotel for 10 days if they return after 4am on 30 August – at a cost of £2,285 for a single adult, plus extra charges for more adults or children in a room. The Government said the move reflected “increased case rates” as well as “the higher risk” that travel from Thailand poses to UK public health. Full story: https://inews.co.uk/news/thailand-red-list-british-tourists-costs-return-uk-hotel-quarantine-rules-start-1171583 -- Inews 2021-08-28

Kaset University ecologist Dr Thon Thamrongnawasawat went on his personal Facebook page to share a very unusual picture that he said was great for Thailand. It was the tail of what he said was a Bryde's Whale diving beneath the waves of the Gulf of Thailand. What made the picture extra special was that in the background could be seen some skyscrapers of the Bangkok skyline, reported Daily News. Dr Thon assured his followers that it was not an old picture but one taken just 2 or 3 days ago. He said he had taken great shots of things all around the world but this was one that even 10 billion baht could not buy! -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-27 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

PHOTO: Sophon Cable TV By Goong Nang(GN) Banglamung – Two allegedly intoxicated young men who were, according to Banglamung Police, breaking the current Covid-19 emergency decree by being out after curfew without a permit reportedly attacked the arresting officer while they were being arrested. At around midnight yesterday (August 25th), the Banglamung Patrol Police arrested two men named as Mr. Suriya Mahamart, 25, and Mr. Chaisiri Rittidon, 22 who were allegedly intoxicated. The two men were described as “extremely uncooperative” by Banglamung Police, reportedly using multiple verbal insults and refusing to show identification or proper paperwork when initially stopped. They also refused to submit to a standard blood-alcohol breathalyzer test. Banglamung Police explained to local media that they were patrolling on Pattaya – Naklua Road before the Numchai Intersection. They spotted the two men driving a motorbike and allegedly weaving across lanes. Police decided to stop the suspects for a routine investigation and to determine if they had permission to be out during curfew. Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2021/08/26/two-allegedly-intoxicated-young-men-breaking-pattaya-curfew-reportedly-attack-arresting-officer/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2021-08-27 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Sanook The chief of the Royal Thai Police General Suwat Chaengyodsuk sent in Pol Maj-Gen Noppasin Phoonsawat to try and find a fugitive police colonel at the center of a murder inquiry. Instead they found luxury cars - lots of them. Pol Col Thitisan Utthanaphol was not at his Ram Inthra home in Bangkok but there were 13 sports and supercars including Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari and Mercedes Benz models. The provenance of the vehicles is being investigated. Graphic: Sanook Later Sanook discovered an inventory of all the vehicles owned by the former chief of the Muang Nakhon Sawan police in the north of Thailand. It contained the names of 29 models amounting to hundreds of millions of baht. Not bad for someone who Daily News reported yesterday as earning just 43,330 baht a month. The cop known by the nickname of "Joe Ferrari" was one of the leading lights in the fight against drugs until his abrupt removal from the force after a drug suspect died in custody. The suspect was shown on a video being tortured by placing plastic bags on his head in an alleged extortion incident involving several officers. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-26 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

By Panithan Onthaworn Thailand could see an additional 500,000 Covid-19 cases and 7,500 fatalities by the end of the year if the prime minister’s reopening plan in October remains on track, a medical professor said on Tuesday. This includes likely unreported cases and asymptomatic cases, said Dr Thira Woratanarat, a professor of medicine at Chulalongkorn University, on his Facebook page. Thira added that the impact of Covid-19 went beyond statistics. Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/31671/thailand-could-see-500000-more-infections-if-the-country-rushes-reopening/ -- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2021-08-24 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

File photo: Reuters Thai media reported that vaccinations using the Pfizer jabs were underway yesterday on the 6th floor of Central Festival Beach shopping center in Pattaya. It was reported that 800 people turned up after the Department of Consular Affairs of the foreign ministry opened a registration channel on thailandintervac.com. Many were foreigners aged 60+. Younger expatriates such as investors or those with an Elite Visa can register at https://expatvac.consular.go.th/ The vax center is open from 9 am to 4 pm daily and is being run in cooperation with Bangkok Pattaya Hospital. Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-24 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

By Adam Judd Pattaya, Thailand- A total of twenty-one people were arrested tonight in Central Pattaya for allegedly breaking current laws and orders designed to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus, according to officials with the Pattaya Police. First, for those who prefer, a video version of this story can be seen here: The incident took place just before 9:00 P.M. on Soi Buakhao in front of the Tree Town Market area, according to Pattaya Police. Pattaya Police stated they had several calls from concerned citizens that were afraid that large groups of people gathering in the area could be spreading the Covid-19 coronavirus. Upon going to inspect the area they found eighteen foreigners and three Thai people who were according to police socializing, drinking alcohol, gathering, and breaking current rules around Covid-19. Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2021/08/20/twenty-one-people-arrested-in-soi-buakhao-area-for-allegedly-gathering-drinking-alcohol-and-breaking-covid-19-rules/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2021-08-21 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Reuters file photo for reference only The Tourism Authority of Thailand's newest director of Asia and the south Pacific told Bangkok Business News that tourists are clearly desperate to come to Thailand. But Thanes Petchsuwan noted that many countries have a requirement that returning tourists need to quarantine for 14 days and this is hindering matters due to its expense. Some have suggested that if Thailand paid part of their 14 day quarantine costs then they would visit. A case in point was Singapore, said Thanes, where information received has shown that if Thailand helped tourists in this regard their nationals would be prepared to visit Thailand. Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-20 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

File photo for reference only Officials in Surat Thani in southern Thailand always cautioned that the Samui Plus Model reopening of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao would be a pilot with low numbers. It started on July 15th and has now completed nearly a month. The Tourism Authority of Thailand said there would be just 1,000 visitors in the first month. These foreigners would spend 180 million baht, was the call. But even this has proved to be pie-in-the-sky with less than a third of their estimate. So far just 279 tourists have gone directly to Samui and 11 to Phangan and 13 to Koh Tao. A total of 302 from July 15th to August 11th. Just a few more than ten a day. Fifteen arrived on a Bangkok Airways flight on Wednesday. No foreign tourists at all arrived from the Phuket Sandbox with the total remaining at 257. Thai media reported that a change in EU advisories on July 17th that affected Thailand and Rwanda had dealt a blow to the Samui Plus Model. In reality foreign tourists are not coming even in the modest numbers predicted. Consequently with the pandemic still raging in Thailand further TAT predictions that everything will pick up in the fourth quarter (from October) and early next year must be treated with a large dose of skepticism, notes ASEAN NOW. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-13 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

By Cod Satrusayang Thai police are seeking software that would help it monitor chat applications and social media private messages, a police source told Thai Enquirer on Tuesday. The Royal Thai Police have reached out to several companies selling software similar to the Pegasus software developed by an Israeli defense company. Police have approached vendors looking for technology that could be used to monitor messages sent between popular chat applications like LINE, WhatsApp, and Telegram. Police will use the application to monitor and prevent political protest as well as go after members of organized crime and drug smugglers, the source told Thai Enquirer on the condition of anonymity. Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/31061/thai-police-seeking-spyware-that-will-help-it-monitor-chat-applications/ -- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2021-08-10 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

FILE PHOTO: A general view of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia September 30, 2014. REUTERS/Tami Chappell By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned on Monday against travel to Israel, France, Thailand, Iceland and several other countries because of a rising number of COVID-19 cases in those nations. The CDC has been adding to its highest "Level 4: Very High" COVID-19 level as cases spread around the globe. The United States added Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, along with other places, including Aruba and French Polynesia. The U.S. State Department also issued its parallel Level 4: Do Not Travel" advisories for Iceland and France on Monday. In July, the CDC had raised concerns about Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, lifting its travel health notice by two levels to "Level 3: High." The CDC also hiked alert levels to "Level 3: High" for Austria, Croatia, El Salvador, Azerbaijan, Guam, Kenya and Jamaica. The CDC says unvaccinated travelers should avoid nonessential travel to those countries. (Reporting by David Shepardson; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Marguerita Choy) -- © Copyright Reuters 2021-08-10 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Sanook Thailand's Department of Health has come up with nine measures to limit the spread of Covid-19 through sexual practices. Couples and lovers should refrain from face to face contact and wear face masks. There should be no kissing or oral sex, no group sex and cleanliness should be a priority. The departmental rep responsible for sanitation and sex Dr Pheerayuth Sanugoon spoke to Daily News at the weekend after a young prostitute in Kanchanaburi tested positive raising concerns of a cluster. Picture Daily News Dr Pheerayuth said the issue of safe sex practices was especially important during the pandemic as the consequences for people, their partners and society in general can be serious. People waiting on a test result should refrain from all sex, for example, and all pay-for-play should be avoided. Indeed, sex with strangers at parties could constitute an illegal gathering and be prosecuted under Article 9 of the emergency decree. That means fines and even prison. Restrictions are in place stopping gatherings. Dr Pheerayuth said that husbands and wives and lovers could still have sex, but they needed to follow nine protocols, which included washing hands and body with lots of soap before and after sex and no kissing or sharing of saliva as this has been shown to contain the virus. Wearing a cloth mask over a surgical mask covering nose and mouth securely was also advised, as practicing safe sex such as wearing a condom reported Sanook. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-09 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Daily News Region 5 police under the command of Pol Col Thawatchai Pongwiwattanachai announced the arrest of a British national who owns a solar cells import business in Chiang Mai and his Thai girlfriend, a DJ at a well known club. They had been selling drugs to hiso's in the northern Thai city for the last year. The British man claimed he was doing nothing wrong - he said like Robin Hood he was taking from the rich and giving to the poor saying he had given a million baht to children and people suffering from Covid-19 during the pandemic. Mitech KW (name transliterated from Thai and possibly incorrect) and Siriporn S, 32, were arrested separately and charged with possession and dealing in drugs. Taken into evidence were three Ecstacy tablets, 86.2 grams of marijuana and 55.5 grams of cocaine. Seized were a Corolla Altis with Chiang Mai plates and a white Toyota van with Bangkok plates, plus 20 bank books showing a large quantity of money. The police had become aware that a foreign man and his DJ girlfriend were selling three kinds of drugs via a Line group they had set up for hiso party-goers in Chiang Mai. Their inquiries indicated that the couple lived together at a luxury house in the Sanpuloei area of Doi Saket. A sting was set up and money was transferred to buy 8,000 baht's worth of cocaine and three Ecstacy tabs. The drugs were delivered to a central hotel by Mitech in the van where he was promptly arrested. A search of his house led to the arrest of Siriporn and discovery of other drugs. Mitech is the owner of a company importing solar cells, reported Daily News who said that after he came to Thailand he fell in love with Siriporn. He loved to smoke ganja and observed that there was a gap in the market for cocaine. So through his company and paying in Bitcoin he imported the drug from Europe using an online shopping deal. He said he only sold to people aged 30+, no children. In one year of dealing he had made plenty of money and he wanted to be a modern day Robin Hood. He used the money to buy things for children and the locals suffering with the Covid-19 pandemic and had already donated 1 million baht. The media quoted him as saying that he thought this was acceptable behaviour and that he was doing a good thing. Both him and his girlfriend are now in custody. They will be facing a very long jail sentence in Thailand should they be found guilty in court, notes ASEAN NOW. Daily News asked "What were you thinking?" in their headline. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-05 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Daily News Daily News reported on a TikTok clip that is going viral on Thai social media that they said epitomized the battle against Covid-19 being waged in Thailand. The clip on @oomnattarat showed a female nurse in PPE gear collapsing as she attended patients who were not yet admitted to the covid ward at a facility in Samut Sakhon. Colleagues rushed to her aid and took off the protective gear before she was taken to recover in a bed of her own. This is all accompanied by Thai music. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-03 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates download.mp4

Picture: Daily News The penny has finally dropped for Thailand's billionaire tourism and sports minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan. He has had to admit that the raging pandemic in Thailand has dealt a hammer blow to his plans and that of the government to welcome millions of foreign tourists. The voices have been loud and clear online and in "letters to the editor" that his predictions and that of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) were pie in the sky nonsense. But he insisted they were going to happen nonetheless. Until now. And of course he is blaming the pandemic situation in Thailand that is worsening by the day. "Yes," he told Daily News. "We won't be seeing three million foreign tourists by the end of the year. "About 500,000 to 700,000 is the best we can hope for now". As far as the Phuket Sandbox predictions went, those too have gone out of the window though he expected the sandbox to press on regardless. "100,000 tourists in Phuket in three months will not be met," he admitted. "July went as we hoped but targets for August of 40,000 will not be happening. There will be about 15,000 - about the same as July". The first month of the sandbox saw 14,000 foreigners visit Phuket though many of these were returning expats or even Thais added to the figures, notes ASEAN NOW. Pipat told the media that if the situation in Bangkok does not improve by the last three months of the year many sporting events could be rescheduled to Phuket. These include golf, E-sports, the 7-a-side Asian Rugby championships and the King's Cup football. A big event planned by the TAT to mark the 17th anniversary of the Asian Tsunami planned for Boxing Day December 26th will also have to be reassessed. The TAT were hoping to attract many Scandinavians in particular to that. For now Pipat said that he was working with the interior ministry on coming up with some "Sky Blue Zones" where foreign tourism could take place. These would be announced in the next couple of weeks, he noted. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-03 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Green Chiretta (Fah Talai Jone) and certain other medicinal herbs are selling like hotcakes now that the public has realized they can help keep COVID-19 at bay. The Public Health Ministry recently endorsed Fah Talai Jone (also known as Andrographis paniculate) as a medication for mild symptoms of the viral disease. “Other herbs like fingerroot [krachai] can also be used to fight COVID-19 and boost immunity,” said Dr. Amporn Benjaponpithak, who serves as director-general of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM). Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailands-herbal-heroes-stand-ready-to-fight-against-covid-19/ -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-02 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Image: PPHO By The Phuket News PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO) daily COVID-19 situation report for yesterday (July 28) has marked 24 new infections, bringing the total number of people recognised as infected with COVID-19 in Phuket since Apr 3 to over 1,000. The 24 new local infections did not include one Phuket Sandbox arrival testing positive for COVID-19 and three more Phuket residents infected with COVID-19 in other provinces brought back to the island for treatment under the “Bring Phuket people home” policy. As such, the 24 new cases bring the total number of new local infections on the island in the past seven days to 160, as follows: Full story: https://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-third-wave-covid-infections-breach-1-000-80849.php -- © Copyright Phuket News 2021-07-29 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Naew Na Thailand's immigration bureau in the shape of chief Lt-Gen Sompong Chingduang decided to take action after a video at the soft opening of Taco Bell in Pattaya showed a man of color arguing with a white man over wearing a mask. It was felt that the IB should act in the case as the issue of wearing a mask is very serious at this stage of the pandemic with the potential for a 20,000 baht fine, reported Naew Na. It was further felt that an example should be made especially as the man, an American national, had allegedly threatened violence in the store with staffers prepared to call the police after refusing him service. Picture: Naew Na The IB with the Chonburi provincial police went to Taco Bell where the incident occurred earlier this month and then to a condo on Pratumnak Hill where the man was residing. They arrested him outside and he admitted that he was the person in the video. He was named as Cxarence, 33, from the US, according to a board at IB HQ. He was taken to Muang Pattaya police station and charged with unhiegenic activity potentially spreading a dangerous infection, essentially not wearing a mask in public. Naew Na did not say how much he was fined - a first offence is generally considered to be 6,000 baht with the fine rising to 20,000 for a third offence notes ASEAN NOW. The media further reported that the American accepted what he did was wrong and that he intended to be the "eyes and ears" of society in future in promoting the wearing of masks. The case was reported at the IB's press conference at Suan Phlu, Bangkok yesterday with a large vinyl board erected that referred to the US man's skin color saying that he had tried to pick a fight. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-07-24 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updatesv

File photo for reference only By Jonathan Fairfield Plans to offer 10 year visas to “rich” foreigners, which would also enable them to own land and work without a work permit, are set to be put to Cabinet for approval. Deputy Prime Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow has said the plans were already approved in principle by the Centre for Economic Situation Administration (CESA) on June 4. The proposals, which were first mooted back in April, will go before Cabinet as part of a series of plans designed to boost investment into Thailand. Previously it had been reported that the government planned to attract one million foreigners to become expats in Thailand. The would-be expats would have healthy bank balances or pension pots and would generate up to one trillion baht for the Thai economy, it was estimated. The expats would be divided into four groups: 1. ‘Rich’ global citizens 2. ‘Wealthy’ retirees 3. Digital nomads - or professionals working from Thailand 4. Highly skilled professionals ‘Rich’ global citizens would need to be able to prove income of at least $80,000 over the last two years and have $1 million in assets. They would also need to be able to invest at least 16 million baht in property or government bonds. The ‘wealthy’ retirees are defined as those who are aged 50 or over and who can invest 8 million baht in property or government baht, while also being able to show a minimum annual income of $40,000. The digital nomads would need to be earning $80,000 for the last two years or $40,000 a year and would be self employed or employed by a company overseas but which are able to use Thailand as a location to work from. They would be able to ‘work’ in Thailand without needing a work permit. They would also need to show educational qualifications of a master’s degree or higher or at least five years experience in their field. The final group are the highly skilled professionals SET-listed companies or from a company with an annual income of more than $50 million. However, it is not clear exactly what ‘land ownership’ for foreigners would mean in reality. It had previously been suggested that laws similar to the Condo Act of 2008 would be used to allow foreigners to own land plots in housing developments. Leasehold of land upto 50 years were also being considered. Thai news site Manager reported that the proposals to lure foreigners with 10 year visas and land ownership are part of wider plans designed to boost investment into Thailand. The plans, backed by the Board of Investment, would also see Thailand become a hub for the electric vehicle industry (EV). In the report buzzwords such as “Digitalization”, “Decarbonization”, “Decentralization” and “D-risk” were used to describe the plans which would help Thailand reap the benefits of moving towards clean technology. DPM Supattanapong also touted the country’s good healthcare system as a boon in helping attract up to one million high-income foreigners to buy second homes in Thailand. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-07-17 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates