Restaurants in Thailand urged to provide hand sanitizer for customers, screen staff for COVID-19

 

File photo

 

Providing hand sanitizer for customers, making sure staff wear gloves and screening staff before they start work are some of the preventive measures restaurants in Thailand have been urged to implement amid the ongoing threat from the coronavirus.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1151594-restaurants-in-thailand-urged-to-provide-hand-sanitizer-for-customers-screen-staff-for-covid-19/

 

 

Has Thailand had enough of Western tourists and their ‘entitlement’?

Once the mainstay of the Thai tourism industry, visitors from Europe, the US and Australia are now outnumbered

Arrivals from the rest of Asia and the Middle East tend to spend more on a daily basis, but their stays are shorter

Mercedes Hutton

 

 

Thailand needs tourism. The industry that brings travellers to the country’s beaches, back alleys and Buddhist temples employed almost 6 million people, raked in US$109.5 billion and accounted for one in every five baht spent in 2018, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1151597-has-thailand-had-enough-of-western-tourists-and-their-‘entitlement’/

 

 

Songkran and Covid-19: Water festival to go ahead, despite being terrible for spread of virus

 

 

The Department of Public Health has warned the government that the upcoming Songkran festival due to be held next month could be disastrous for efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus/Covid-19.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1151601-songkran-and-covid-19-water-festival-to-go-ahead-despite-being-terrible-for-spread-of-virus/

 

Tourists on Walking Street given hand sanitiser in bid to boost confidence among foreigners in Pattaya

 

File photo

 

Tourists visiting Pattaya’s famous Walking Street on Tuesday were given a free spray of hand sanitiser.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1151606-tourists-on-walking-street-given-hand-sanitiser-in-bid-to-boost-confidence-among-foreigners-in-pattaya/

 

"Tarballs" pollution having bad effect on south Thailand fishing - could be heading for Samui

 

Picture: Sanook

 

Sanook reported that a 25 kilometer stretch of the Nakhon Sri Thammarat shoreline has been affected by lumps of petroleum known as "tarballs". 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1151608-tarballs-pollution-having-bad-effect-on-south-thailand-fishing-could-be-heading-for-samui/

 

Seventeen Thai workers returning from South Korea have high fever

By The Nation

 

File photo

 

Seventeen of the 158 Thai illegal workers who returned to Thailand on Wednesday (March 4) have high fever but the first test result for Covid-19 was result, according to the Immigration Office.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1151609-seventeen-thai-workers-returning-from-south-korea-have-high-fever/

 

Covid-19: Recycled masks were sold on Facebook for 3 baht a time

 

 

A Thai woman has admitted to selling 200,000 recycled face masks on Facebook for 3 baht each.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1151612-covid-19-recycled-masks-were-sold-on-facebook-for-3-baht-a-time/

Bangkokians rush to stores at 4am for face masks amid fears of shortage

By The Nation

 

 

Bangkok residents queued up to buy face masks from the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation’s drug store from 4am on Wednesday (March 4) amid fears of a shortage.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1151615-bangkokians-rush-to-stores-at-4am-for-face-masks-amid-fears-of-shortage/

 

Labour department clarifies on rights of Covid-19 patients

By THE NATION

 

 

The Department of Labour Protection and Welfare has clarified several issues involving the benefits and rights of employees affected by the outbreak of the new coronavirus or Covid-19.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1151616-labour-department-clarifies-on-rights-of-covid-19-patients/

 

Phuket hospital chief responds to formal complaint over virus-protection measures

By The Phuket News

 

Vachira Phuket Hospital Director Dr Chalermpong Sukontapol yesterday (Mar 3) escorted the press to one isolation room in particular, and even opened the door so the press could see the patient inside for themselves. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot

 

PHUKET: Vachira Phuket Hospital Director Dr Chalermpong Sukontapol yesterday (Mar 3) took reporters on a tour of the facilities at the hospital in response to a formal complaint accusing the hospital director of not taking appropriate measures to counter the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1151617-phuket-hospital-chief-responds-to-formal-complaint-over-virus-protection-measures/

 

EC pushing for more charges against Thanathorn

By The Nation

 

 

The Election Commission (EC) is seeking the filing of more charges against Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the former leader of the dissolved Future Forward Party, including two criminal cases involving his alleged shareholding in V-Luck media and a loan extension.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1151637-ec-pushing-for-more-charges-against-thanathorn/

 

Thais from S Korea face same precautions as returnees from Wuhan

By THE NATION

 

PM Prayut Chan-o-cha presides at a meeting of state agencies on preparations for Thai labourers returning from South Korea.

 

The same protocols used in bringing 138 Thais home from Wuhan, China, last month will be employed in handling the thousands of Thai labourers returning from South Korea, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Wednesday (March 4).

 

Source: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1151639-thais-from-s-korea-face-same-precautions-as-returnees-from-wuhan/

 

Many hospitals still waiting for masks

By The Nation

 

Jurin Laksanawisit, File Photo

 

Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit wants to know why many hospitals have not yet received fresh supplies of protective facemasks.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1151643-many-hospitals-still-waiting-for-masks/

 

Six Vietnamese boats seized in Thai waters

By The Nation

 

 

Six Vietnamese fishing boats have been have seized and 36 crew members detained on Wednesday (March 4), Army, marine police and Pattani officials said at a press conference, for alleged being in Thai waters. Fishing equipment and a number of sea cucumbers were also confiscated.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1151646-six-vietnamese-boats-seized-in-thai-waters/

 

Price-gouging on masks: 42 arrests so far

By The Nation

 

 

The Consumer Protection Division of the Royal Thai Police is watching for retailers hoarding or overcharging for protective facemasks amid the Covid-19 outbreak.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1151649-price-gouging-on-masks-42-arrests-so-far/

 

Just how many is too many facemasks?

By THE NATION

 

 

The Commerce Ministry is asking the Central Committee for Prices of Goods and Services to alert the Department of Internal Trade about anyone found in possession of an excessive quantity of protective facemasks.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1151650-just-how-many-is-too-many-facemasks/

 

If you’re healthy, a cotton mask will do

By The Nation

 

 

The number of confirmed Covid-19 virus infections in Thailand remained unchanged at 43 on Wednesday (March 4), with 31 people recovered, 11 still under medical care and one death, the Public Health Ministry reported.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1151652-if-you’re-healthy-a-cotton-mask-will-do/

 

Mahasarakham U has a facemask-making club

By THE NATION

 

 

Professors and students of Mahasarakham University’s Business School are producing protective facemasks for public distribution amid concerns about a scarcity.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1151659-mahasarakham-u-has-a-facemask-making-club/

 

Thailand plans $3.2 billion stimulus to ease coronavirus impact next week - FinMin

 

A woman wearing a protective face mask walks in Bangkok, Thailand March 2, 2020. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's finance ministry will propose next week a package of measures worth more than 100 billion baht ($3.2 billion) to alleviate the impact of the coronavirus epidemic, the finance minister said on Wednesday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1151660-thailand plans-32-billion-stimulus-to-ease-coronavirus-impact-next-week-finmin/

 

Thai business groups say economy may shrink if virus impact drags on

 

FILE PHOTO: Cars pass a Skytrain (Bangkok Mass Transit System) construction site in Bangkok, Thailand May 13, 2018. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - The Thai economy might not grow in the first half of 2020, and could even contract over the full year, if the coronavirus epidemic drags for longer than a few months, a group of leading business associations in Thailand said on Wednesday.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1151668-thai-business-groups-say-economy-may-shrink-if-virus-impact-drags-on/

 

MP finds masks that ‘pose cancer risk’

By THE NATION

 

 

Phalang Pracharat Party MP Sira Jenjaka plans to take a facemask retailer to court because the masks’ price was too high and the quality too low, he said on Wednesday (March 4).

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1151669-mp-finds-masks-that-‘pose-cancer-risk’/

 

THAI waives ticket change fee on more flights

By THE NATION

 

 

Thai Airways International (THAI) is now waiving ticket change fees for all flights to Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Italy, Vietnam and Malaysia, vice president Nond Kalinta said on Wednesday (March 4).

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1151670-thai-waives-ticket-change-fee-on-more-flights/

 

How does your team fare in the late goals for (and against) tables?

By David Buckley

 

Jordan Ayew scored a great individual goal on Boxing Day to seal a winning comeback for Palace against West Ham. Picture: cpfc.co.uk

 

Is the team you follow a bunch of late “bottlers” or do they come into their own in the last five minutes (plus stoppage time) of games?

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1151672-how-does-your-team-fare-in-the-late-goals-for-and-against-tables/

Biden snags Texas in Super Tuesday sweep, Sanders has edge in California

By Trevor Hunnicutt and John Whitesides

 

Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden addresses supporters with his wife Jill at his side during his Super Tuesday night rally in Los Angeles, California, U.S., March 3, 2020. REUTERS/Kyle Grillot

 

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A resurgent Joe Biden rode a wave of momentum to win Texas and eight other states, while Bernie Sanders was leading in Super Tuesday's biggest race in California, setting up a one-on-one battle for the Democratic presidential nomination.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1151673-biden-snags-texas-in-super-tuesday-sweep-sanders-has-edge-in-california/

 

Japanese coronavirus cases top 1,000, government insists Olympics plans on track

By Chris Gallagher, Makiko Yamazaki

 

A woman wearing a face mask, following an outbreak of the coronavirus, is seen on a street in Tokyo, Japan, March 4, 2020. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

TOKYO (Reuters) - The number of confirmed coronavirus infections in Japan topped the 1,000 mark on Wednesday, mostly from the Diamond Princess cruise liner, as the government reiterated that plans to host the Tokyo Olympics in July remained on track.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1151674-japanese-coronavirus-cases-top-1000-government-insists-olympics-plans-on-track/

 

MEA warns residents as storm approaches

By The Nation

 

 

The Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) said people should inspect power poles and cables near their residences before the expected arrival of a storm on March 5.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1151676-mea-warns-residents-as-storm-approaches/

 

Vocational centre closes, leaving students empty-handed

By THE NATION

 

 

Students of a shuttered vocational skills centre in Ratchaburi have gone to the police complaining that they’ve been cheated out of the graduation certificates they need to get jobs.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1151678-vocational-centre-closes-leaving-students-empty-handed/

 

Bridge, undersea tunnel in offing for southern tourist traffic

By The Nation

 

 

The government could spend Bt5 billion digging an undersea tunnel linking Lanta Noi and Lanta Yai islands and building a bridge over Songkhla Lake linking Phatthalung and Songkhla provinces, the Department of Rural Roads announced on Wednesday (March 4).

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1151680-bridge-undersea-tunnel-in-offing-for-southern-tourist-traffic/

 

THAI Smile tightens virus-prevention measures

By THE NATION

 

 

THAI Smile Airways has stepped up the airline's preventive measures of Covid -19 for both passengers and crew, such as providing alcohol-based hand sanitiser to fliers before boarding all flights from today (March 4).

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1151681-thai-smile-tightens-virus-prevention-measures/

 

Kratom headed for limited May ‘comeback’

By The Nation

 

Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin

 

Kratom, the indigenous plant whose leaves have been used in traditional medicine since at least the early 19th century and were once served to welcome guests into the home, could be removed from the narcotics list as early as May.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1151682-kratom-headed-for-limited-may-‘comeback’/