The week that was in Thailand news: Don't mention the virus! And above all, don't panic Mr Mainwaring!

 

 

Little more than two months ago we were told that the world was on the brink of World War 3. Soleimani the popular Iranian general was assassinated and the US and Tehran were throwing things at each other. People were "marking themselves safe" thousands of kilometers away. The situation was so serious that Facebook executives noted a worrying drop in the number of dinners being posted. The world waited with bated breath.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152216-the-week-that-was-in-thailand-news-dont-mention-the-virus-and-above-all-dont-panic-mr-mainwaring/

 

Yala judge who attempted suicide last year shoots himself dead

By THE NATION

 

 

A judge who attempted suicide last year, died of a gunshot wound on Saturday (March 7) in a suspected suicide.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152268-yala-judge-who-attempted-suicide-last-year-shoots-himself-dead/

 

Air Force prepares flying school to serve as quarantine area for South Korea returnees

By The Nation

 

 

The Flying Training School will be ready on March 10 to serve as a quarantine area for Thai labourers returning from South Korea, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) said on Saturday (March 7).

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152269-air-force-prepares-flying-school-to-serve-as-quarantine-area-for-south-korea-returnees/

 

Thanathorn reveals the way forward after Future Forward

By THE NATION

 

Thanathorn, left, and Pita.

 

Thanathorn Jungroongruangkit, former leader of the disbanded Future Forward Party, on Friday unveiled three missions of his Future Forward Movement.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152270-thanathorn-reveals-the-way-forward-after-future-forward/

 

Government looking at ways to lower public electricity bills

By THE NATION

 

Energy Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong

 

The Energy Ministry is looking at ways to lower electricity bills for the general public to ease their burden in response to the impact of Covid-19 on the economy, Energy Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong said.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152271-government-looking-at-ways-to-lower-public-electricity-bills/

 

Recalcitrant workers ignore quarantine and create panic

By THE NATION

 

 

Some Thai labourers who returned from South Korea this week are stirring panic among people by ignoring the need to be in quarantine, and travelling in public places.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152272-recalcitrant-workers-ignore-quarantine-and-create-panic/

 

THAI mulls options after failing to woo Airbus for U-Tapao MRO project

By THE NATION

 

 

European aviation giant Airbus SAS, as on Friday (March 6), has not submitted a proposal for the planned maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) project for jetliners at U-Tapao International Airport, Sumeth Damrongchaitham, president of Thai Airways International Plc (THAI), said on Saturday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152273-thai-mulls-options-after-failing-to-woo-airbus-for-u-tapao-mro-project/

 

Entertainment venue closed for sanitisation after visitor found to have returned from Taiwan

By THE NATION

 

Photo credit: Facebook: tawandangkhonkaen

 

An entertainment venue in Khon Kaen province was closed for a day to undergo complete cleaning after being visited by a woman who had been to a Covid-19 high-risk area.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152274-entertainment-venue-closed-for-sanitisation-after-visitor-found-to-have-returned-from-taiwan/

 

Chiang Mai sets up quarantine locations

By THE NATION

 

 

Chiang Mai has designated as places for quarantine Gymnasium 3 at its 700th Anniversary Stadium as well as the Territorial Defence Volunteer Corps, Chiang Mai Public Health official Dr Jatuchai Maneerat said.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152276-chiang-mai-sets-up-quarantine-locations/

 

Shoppers stay away from major Nakhon Si Thammarat flea market

By The Nation

 

 

The biggest flea market in Thung Yai district in Nakhon Si Thammarat province has suddenly been abandoned by customers after Thasala Hospital announced the first Covid-19 patient in the province.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152279-shoppers-stay-away-from-major-nakhon-si-thammarat-flea-market/

 

Tourist attractions wear deserted look

By THE NATION

 

 

Fewer tourists were seen on Saturday (March 7) at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha or Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram and the adjacent Grand Palace in Phra Nakhon district of Bangkok.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152280-tourist-attractions-wear-deserted-look/

 

Italy poised to lock down Lombardy after coronavirus jump

By Giulia Segreti and Gavin Jones

 

Military and policemen are seen inside Milan's main train station as Italian authorities prepare to lock down Lombardy to prevent the spread of the highly infectious coronavirus in Milan, Italy, March 7, 2020. REUTERS/Alex Fraser

 

ROME (Reuters) - Italy is set to impose a virtual lockdown on its wealthiest and most populous region, which includes the financial capital Milan, as part of tough new measures to try to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152281-italy-poised-to-lock-down-lombardy-after-coronavirus-jump/

 

About 30 still trapped after Chinese coronavirus quarantine hotel collapses

 

 

Rescue workers move casualty on the site where a hotel being used for the coronavirus quarantine collapsed, as the country is hit by the novel coronavirus, in the southeast Chinese port city of Quanzhou, Fujian province, China March 7, 2020. cnsphoto via REUTERS

 

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - About 30 people remained trapped early on Sunday after a five-storey hotel being used for coronavirus quarantine collapsed in the southeast Chinese port city of Quanzhou, state media said.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152282-about-30-still-trapped-after-chinese-coronavirus-quarantine-hotel-collapses/

 

Liverpool get back on track as Wolves' top-four bid stalls

 

 

Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v AFC Bournemouth - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - March 7, 2020 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah scores their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Liverpool emerged from their recent mini-slump to get their Premier League title procession back on track with a 2-1 victory over Bournemouth at Anfield on Saturday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152283-liverpool-get-back-on-track-as-wolves-top-four-bid-stalls/

 

Declaring it cannot pay debts, Lebanon sets stage for default

By Tom Perry and Ellen Francis

 

Lebanon's Prime Minister Hassan Diab speaks during a televised address to the the nation at the governmental palace in Beirut, Lebanon March 7, 2020. Dalati Nohra/Handout via REUTERS

 

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon announced it cannot meet its debt payments and halted a March 9 bond payment of $1.2 billion on Saturday, setting the heavily indebted state on course for a sovereign default as it grapples with a major financial crisis.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152287-declaring-it-cannot-pay-debts-lebanon-sets-stage-for-default/

 

U.S. death toll from coronavirus hits 19, New York declares emergency

By Jonathan Allen and Kevin Donnellan

 

Medics transport a patient to an ambulance at the Life Care Center of Kirkland, the long-term care facility linked to several confirmed coronavirus cases in the state, in Kirkland, Washington, U.S. March 7, 2020. REUTERS/David Ryder

 

(Reuters) - Two more people succumbed to the novel coronavirus in Washington state, officials said on Saturday, bringing the nationwide toll to 19, while the number of confirmed cases in New York rose to 89 and a cruise ship with infected passengers remained stranded outside San Francisco.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152288-us-death-toll-from-coronavirus-hits-19-new-york-declares-emergency/

 

Judge's suicide note revives debate on independence of judiciary

By THE NATION

 

 

The heartbreaking letter of a Yala judge who took his own life on Saturday has sparked outrage in netizens about the judicial system.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152268-yala-judge-who-attempted-suicide-last-year-shoots-himself-dead/

 

Gold price slides by Bt100

By THE NATION

 

 

The price of gold decreased by Bt100 per baht weight on Saturday (March 7), the Gold Traders Association reported at 9.27am.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152291-gold-price-slides-by-bt100/

 

Transgender queen crowned in Thailand as coronavirus limits crowd

By Jiraporn Kuhakan

 

Thailand's Ruethaipreeya Nuanglee and Brazil's Ariella Moura kiss Mexico's Valentina Fluchaire after she won crown at the final show of the Miss International Queen 2020 transgender beauty pageant in Pattaya, Thailand March 7, 2020. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

 

PATTAYA (Reuters) - After temperature checks for contestants and with a smaller crowd than last year because of coronavirus fears, Mexico's Valentina Fluchaire was crowned in Thailand as winner of what is billed as the world's biggest transgender pageant on Saturday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152293-transgender-queen-crowned-in-thailand-as-coronavirus-limits-crowd/

 

TAT update: Suvarnabhumi Airport steps up COVID-19 surveillance

 

 

Bangkok, 07 March, 2020, at 13.00 Hrs. – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) would like to provide the latest update that the Airports of Thailand (AOT) has stepped up its surveillance, prevention and control measures for the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152295-tat-update-suvarnabhumi-airport-steps-up-covid-19-surveillance/

 

People queue up for face masks as Blue Flag cars begin drive

By THE NATION

 

 

Bangkokians have queued up at the parking lot of Plaza Lagoon shopping mall to buy face masks provided by the Department of Internal Trade (DIT).

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152296-people-queue-up-for-face-masks-as-blue-flag-cars-begin-drive/

 

Health workers in need of face masks

Tik Netikamjorn

 

 

BANGKOK(NNT) - A shortage of face masks due to the COVID-19 outbreak has affected heathcare workers in hospitals around the country. The health ministry is working together with the commerce ministry to deliver medical msks to those institutions in urgent need.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152298-health-workers-in-need-of-face-masks/

 

Police announce measures against COVID-19 spread from arrivals

 

 

BANGKOK(NNT) - The Royal Thai Police has announced strict screening of people entering Thailand by land, air and sea in order to limit the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Particular emphasis is being put on people arriving from the major threat countries of China, South Korea, Italy and Iran.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152299-police-announce-measures-against-covid-19-spread-from-arrivals/

 

Nong Nooch Tropical Garden allowing free entry for summer event

Praphorn Praphornkul

 

 

CHONBURI(NNT) - Nong Nooch Tropical Garden in Pattaya has launched an event to stimulate domestic tourism, offering free entry for residents of 10 provinces and five districts of Bangkok.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152300-nong-nooch-tropical-garden-allowing-free-entry-for-summer-event/
 

 

Public invited to observe Prasat Chang Pi Temple light phenomenon

supawadee wangsri

 

 

SURIN(NNT) - The public are invited to observe a natural occurrence in which the afternoon sun’s rays pass directly through all the doorways of Prasat Chang Pi Temple in Surin from March 5-10, 2020.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152301-public-invited-to-observe-prasat-chang-pi-temple-light-phenomenon/

 

Number of UK coronavirus cases rises by 46 to 209

 

 

A man is seen wearing a protective face mask at Waterloo station in London, Britain, March 6, 2020. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

 

LONDON (Reuters) - The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the United Kingdom has risen to 209, up from 163, health officials said on Saturday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152303-number-of-uk-coronavirus-cases-rises-by-46-to-209/

 

70-80 Thai workers returning from South Korea 'have fled quarantine'

 

File photo

 

Deputy Health Minister Satit Pitutecha said on Saturday (Mar 7) that all Thais returning from South Korea from Sunday (8 March) will be transferred to the Sattahip Army Base in Chonburi province, to screen for Covid-19 symptoms. Those having fever will be sent to a hospital.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152327-70-80-thai-workers-returning-from-south-korea-have-fled-quarantine/

 

‘Official’ Songkran events canceled, but Pattaya’s water wars likely will go on

 

PATTAYA:--Pattaya’s government-sponsored Songkran celebrations have been canceled as a precaution against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, but the week-long Thai New Year’s water party will be hard to stop.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152320-‘official’-songkran-events-canceled-but-pattaya’s-water-wars-likely-will-go-on/

 

Tour bus rolls down Bang Saray hill into parked vehicles

 

Bang Saray:Brake failure is being blamed for a tour bus that rolled down Sukhumvit Road, plowing into three vehicles in Bang Saray.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152321-tour-bus-rolls-down-bang-saray-hill-into-parked-vehicles/

 

4 Chinese held for killing compatriot in Pattaya over online gambling debts

PATTAYA:--Four Chinese gamblers are being held for killing a Chinese man and his girlfriend whose bodies were bound, stuffed in a suitcase and dumped in a northern Thailand river.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152322-4-chinese-held-for-killing-compatriot-in-pattaya-over-online-gambling-debts/