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File photo: REUTERS Dr Sophon Pornchokchai of the Agency of Real Estate Affairs Co. Ltd (AREA) told the Thai media the data for condo purchases in Bangkok and surrounding provinces in the first half of 2021. Despite the challenges of the pandemic foreigners had still bought 660 units spending 3.314 billion baht. This represented 6.1% of the total expenditure on condos in the real estate market. 14,066 condos were bought in total. The average price paid for a condo by foreigners was 5.018 million baht. For Thais it was 3.81 million. He noted a salient fact that in Malaysia foreigners were restricted to buying condos valued at 7.5 to 15 million baht (1-2 million Ringgit). The breakdown of the value of condos purchased by foreigners was: 1-2 M baht - 141 2-3 M baht - 208 3-5 M baht - 120 5-10 M baht - 133 Most popular areas were Pathumwan, Phayathai, Bang Rak, Yannawa, Wattana and Klong Toey. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-21 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

File photo of Thai berry pickers at work in Kärsämäki in September 2020. Image: Paulus Markkula / Yle by Mette Larsen Since the beginning of the month, over 200 berry pickers from Thailand have been diagnosed with Covid-19 while working in Finland and now Thailand has asked Finnish authorities for an explanation regarding the series of Covid outbreaks among the Thai nationals. Local media YLE writes that it was reported on 17 August that two Finnish berry companies, Arctic International and Polarica, transported at least 260 foreign berry pickers from Lapland to eastern Finland even though most of them were infected by or exposed to covid-19. Commenting on the ongoing situation regarding the infection amongst Thai workers in the country, Thailand’s Ambassador to Finland, Chavanart Thangsumphant, said that the Finnish berry picking firms are responsible for protecting the migrant workers’ health amid the ongoing covid-19 pandemic and that the companies have signed an agreement on this matter. The companies are obligated to provide appropriate treatment and compensation if migrant workers do get Covid as well as providing health insurance, accommodation, and transportation. Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view Full story: https://scandasia.com/thailand-wants-answers-over-berry-pickers-covid-19-outbreaks-in-finland/ -- © Copyright ScandAsia 2021-08-21 - 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

By Panithan Onthaworn The involvement of Thai celebrities in a state-backed anti-corruption campaign prompted online outrage on Friday, with netizens blasting the campaign as superficial and insincere. #พูดหยุดโกง or #SayNoToCheating campaign was launched by the National Anti-Corruption Commission, featuring more than 30 Thai celebrities. Similar photos and messages have been shared on social media to urge people to speak up against corruption. The campaign aims to raise awareness of corruption problems by encouraging people to share their portraits with a hand covering their lips along with the message “Say no to cheating.” Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/31537/celebrity-participation-in-government-campaign-prompts-outrage/ -- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2021-08-21 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: The Standard Thailand's DPM and health minister Anutin Charnvirakul told his counterpart at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs DPM Don Pramudwinai yesterday that the vaccination of foreigners residing in Thailand had now been expanded to the provinces. Many people on ASEAN NOW's forums and threads have been complaining that only people in Bangkok have been adequately catered for under the plans to include foreigners in the Thai vaccination rollout. People in the provinces - especially retirees in Pattaya have been saying "What about us?" Increasinging in the last couple of days people have been saying that they have been able to access vaccine outside of Bangkok, sometimes faster than Thai nationals and sometimes with Pfizer as well as Astra Zeneca jabs. Anutin's comments seemed to corroborate these anecdotal reports, notes ASEAN NOW. The Standard reported on yesterday's meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in which Anutin said that he had been following through on PM Prayuth Chan-ocha's policy of treating Thais and foreigners the same in the vaccine rollout. He said that he had been liaising with various embassies and gathering data and lists of names. This appeared to indicate that the MoPH was being proactive in identifying and targeting foreigners who had registered as living in Thailand with the embassies, we suggest. Anutin said that vaccinations had been carried out at MedPark, Vimut and Bang Rak hospitals as well as Bang Sue Central Station - all locations in Bangkok. Now this was being expanded to the provinces. Further liaison was taking place with the Department of Consular Affairs on lists of names so that provincial authorities could arrange appointments for foreigners residing in the country. This raises the possibility that foreigners who have had difficulties in registering and been knocked back may not have registered their presence in Thailand with their respective embassies. ASEAN NOW stresses that we have no confirmation of this. The meeting also discussed vaccines that have arrived from foreign countries so far - Japan has sent Astra Zeneca, China Sinovac and the US Pfizer. The latest is a deal with Bhutan, previously reported here. Vaccines allowed for Phuket Sandbox tourists to visit on double doses are AZ, Sinovac, Sinopharm, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson, The Standard continued in their report. Sputnik V is as yet not recognised in Thailand but moves are afoot to hurry this up. This ASEAN NOW reported earlier could pave the way for up to half a million Russians 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

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

By Tanakorn Sangiam PHUKET (NNT) - The island province of Phuket has now seen some 21,000 international passenger arrivals during the quarantine-free Phuket Sandbox campaign, with Singapore-Phuket flights being the most popular means of access. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has released flight statistics for Phuket International Airport from 1st July to 15th August, coinciding with the Phuket Sandbox campaign. Citing the report from the CAAT, the Minister of Transport Saksayam Chidchob, said today that six airlines have operated 292 international flights into Phuket during the 45-day period, with the accumulated number of international arrivals being 21,545 persons. The six airlines comprise Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, El Al Israel Airlines, and Thai Airways. The CAAT’s report indicates most international passengers to Phuket, amounting to 74% were carried on Singapore Airlines’ flights, with the majority of these travelers - 76% - originating in Singapore. Most of the international arrivals in Phuket, numbering 21,135 persons, arrived as participants in the Phuket Sandbox campaign, with 12% of these arrivals at 2,481 persons, being Thai nationals. The remaining 410 international arrivals opted to serve quarantine at Alternative Local State Quarantine facilities, with 47 of them being returning Thai nationals. As for domestic services, the CAAT recorded 18 domestic flights carrying 586 passengers between 5-17 August, most of whom were on flights between Phuket and U-Tapao Airport. Planning to visit Phuket? Book your Sandbox hotel here -- © Copyright NNT 2021-08-19 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Tourism Authority of Thailand The Tourism Authority of Thailand's deputy marketing director said that Chiang Mai's plan to open up to foreign tourists from September 1st would now likely be delayed by at least a month. Thanes Petchsuwan told the Thai media that the "Charming Chiang Mai" project" wouldn't get underway until October 1st because less than 70% of the population in the northern Thai province had been vaccinated. A meeting to discuss the way forward with provincial governor Charoenrit Sangwansat and Covid-19 officials will take place next Tuesday. Chiang Mai is not being opened up like Phuket and Samui and the other islands in the south where it is easier to control foreign tourists. Foreign tourists in Chiang Mai will have even less freedom of movement. All bookings must be planned through tour agencies limited to nine packages of four days, three nights, he said, something that "is for the tourists' safety". They are also to be limited to four districts namely Muang, Mae Taeng, Mae Rim and Doi Tao. The TAT are targeting tourists from several Chinese provinces, as well as visitors from Japan, South Korea, the US, Turkey, Canada and Indonesia. But the TAT are still concerned that the authorities in China have yet to give the green light to their nationals to travel abroad and will be raising this with the new consular official from China who has recently arrived in Chiang Mai. For now the TAT are pinning their hopes on Japanese and South Korean golfers. There are still hopes for the Chinese next year, however. Chiang Mai used to target Thai domestic tourists as its main customer base but in recent years - pre-pandemic - this shifted to Chinese on charter flights. The TAT hope that the Chinese will return in 2022 and that Chiang Mai will once again be filled with the sound of "Ni Hao". But the vaccination program needs to pick up pace first for that to happen. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-19 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Pattaya Watchdog Comment was rife on the page of Pattaya Watchdog who published pictures of the manicured future of beach road. The orderly palms - from abroad - and wide walkways of Neo Pattaya were being traversed by the elderly, a young foreign couple and a man being pushed in a wheelchair. My! How Pattaya had changed! Yes, said the commentary this was orderly and neat. But long standing trees were being cut down to make way for this. They feared that old root systems would be ripped out adding to soil and beach erosion. Picture: Manager Meanwhile Manager reported on a story of a huge tree being felled in the area apparently under the supervision of the owner of Nong Nooch gardens. They described Kamphol Tansatja as a "rich person of Chinese heritage" (jao sua) and said he should come clean as to why the ancient tree was felled. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-18 - 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 Media company hfocus.org published the latest figures for foreigners living in Thailand who have received Covid-19 vaccinations. They said that 356,337 foreigners or 7.27% of the total number of foreigners in Thailand had been vaccinated so far. More than one and a half times more men than women have been jabbed. Average age is 38. 20,028 elderly people have been vaccinated or 7.6% of the total so far. Those who have received two doses is 107,106 people or 30.1% of the total vaxxed so far. Thailand, the report claimed, cared about foreigners and they can register and get vaccinated if they want, but conditions apply. Here are the top ten nationalities who have been vaccinated in Thailand in the period February 28th to August 14th: 1. Myanmar people 178,531 50.1% of the total 2. Chinese 38,447 10.8% 3. Cambodians 36,580 10.3% 4. Laotians 22,023 6.2% 5. Japanese 14,866 4.2% 6. Indians 8,893 2.5% 7. Filipinos 8,565 2.4% 8. British 7,683 2.2% 9. French 5,936 1.7% 10. Americans 4,649 1.3% Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-18 - 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 pick-up driver told the police that everything went blank as he drove three female friends along Laem Chabang Road in Khao Khan Song sub-district of Sriracha yesterday. The next thing Pongsakan, 27, knew was that his three friends were dead and that he had had a terrible accident. He was pictured at the scene hugging one of his friends in the wreckage of his Isuzu D-Max. The pick-up had collided with the back of a six wheel truck that was performing a U-Turn. The truck ended up on its side. The driver of the truck, Den, 44, said he was in the far left lane and was crossing the road to the far right to accomplish a U-turn when the accident happened. Dead inside the pick-up were Phanchanok, 22, in the front passenger seat, Phraewphan, 26 behind the driver and an unnamed woman about 25. They had been housemoving, said the driver. Both drivers were taken into Bowin police station to get to the truth of the matter with Daily News saying that Pongsakan was tested for alcohol. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-16 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Night entertainment venues in Thailand have remained shut for months after the government ordered such venues to be closed temporarily to control the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo: iStock/PeopleImages) Pichayada Promchertchoo BANGKOK: For Anna, the Walking Street of Pattaya is more than just a famous red-light district. It was her workplace for the past 12 years. It was here, among the rows of nightclubs, bars and massage parlours, that she and other sex workers welcomed tourists from around the world. Many people have built their lives here and others came to seek a better future. Today, the Walking Street of Pattaya City in coastal Chonburi is no longer a place of entertainment and opportunities. Night entertainment venues that had provided jobs for many sex workers are shut. There are no bright neon lights at night and no pumping music. Tourists have vanished since last year when the COVID-19 pandemic hit Thailand. “It’s so depressing,” said Anna, who is known along the Walking Street by her moniker. “Nowadays, by 6 pm, Pattaya looks like an abandoned city. There is hardly any sign of life on the Walking Street. This makes me want to cry. This place used to generate income and build the future for so many people.” Full story: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/thailand-covid-19-sex-workers-jobless-starving-2108501 -- © Copyright Channel NewsAsia 2021-08-16 - 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: INN Thailand's health minister and DPM Anutin Charnvirakul was upbeat in a visit to Thanyaburi Hospital in Rangsit north of the Thai capital Bangkok yesterday. The embattled minister came bearing gifts - 10,000 doses of Sinovac and Pfizer vaccines - the former for the local authority, the latter for the hospital itself. They are intended for frontline medical staff reported INN. Anutin claimed that Thailand was well on the way to the target of achieving 70% of the population vaccinated and further asserted that every province now has vaccine. He said that he was spending his time making sure that everyone got a jab and ensuring the sick were looked after. INN made absolutely no attempt to fact-check these claims, notes ASEAN NOW. Latest figures show that only a small proportion of Thais - mostly in the medical profession - have received two jabs and numbers of one jabbed people remain low, mostly the elderly, people with underlying health problems and pregnant women. Anutin's claims can be treated with a degree of skepticism, if not outright fake news, suggests ASEAN NOW who note many reports of unavailability of vaccine in the provinces according to many posts on its forums. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-07 - 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

29,000 expats in Thailand register for vaccine using Expatvac website File Photo: REUTERS - for reference only More than 28,000 expats in Thailand have registered for a COVID-19 vaccine using the Ministry of Public Health’s newly launched vaccine registration portal. As of 6pm on Monday (Aug 2), a total of 28,788 expats had registered on the Expatvac platform following its launch on August 1, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Tanee Sangrat announced on Twitter. Of those, 22,653 were expats under the age of 60, with 6,135 people aged over 60 also registering. A further 1,916 people with underlying health conditions, along with 114 pregnant women also registered. In his tweet, Mr Tanaee said that vaccination appointment dates will likely be after August 10 or 11. Previously, Thailand's Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) said that 150,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, donated by the US government, would be allocated for foreigners in Thailand. And with less than 30,000 people having already registered to receive the vaccine, it would suggest there are still sufficient vaccines available. Any foreigner in Thailand who has not yet registered for the vaccine can do so here: https://expatvac.consular.go.th/ -- © 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

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: Daily News A Government Gazette announcement effective immediately forbids news outlets and internet users from spreading fake, damaging or scaremongering news likely to cause instability or trouble among the public. Daily News said that media outlets were being asked to behave responsibly and not distort the facts resulting in damage to state and public security. The order prohibits anyone from “reporting or disseminating information that may frighten people or that internationally causes misunderstanding about the emergency situation”. The order also gives the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) the authority to obtain IP addresses from internet service providers in a bid to determine where the offending content originated from. The information can then be passed onto the police for investigation. While Thailand already has strict laws which govern the sharing of content online, the new order accelerates the process having offending content removed, internet access blocked for those who post such content before possiblle legal action is taken. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-07-30 - 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

Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew has assured that the Phuket Sandbox scheme will continue, despite the rising number of infections on the island. Photo: PR Phuket By The Phuket News PHUKET: As the number of local infections of COVID-19 continue to rise across the island, Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew has confirmed that the Phuket Sandbox scheme will continue. The assurance comes as the island yesterday marked 114 local infections in the past seven days ‒ easily exceeding the “90 infections in one week” limit set by the the Centre of COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) in Bangkok late last month as reason enough to start reviewing whether or not the Phuket Sandbox scheme should be halted. “The Phuket Sandbox scheme is still continuing. The situation right now has not disturbed the opening [of Phuket to receiving fully vaccinated tourists without quarantine],” Governor Narong said during a live broadcast this morning (July 27). Phuket Sandbox Hotels Packages - Book Now! Full story: https://www.thephuketnews.com/governor-confirms-phuket-sandbox-will-continue-80838.php -- © Copyright Phuket News 2021-07-28 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates