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Coronavirus: Tourism in Thailand hit by Covid-19

By Jonathan Head

South East Asia correspondent

 

Tourists have deserted Thailand over coronavirus fears//Image copyright JONATHAN HEAD

 

Over the past 25 years, Thailand has experienced a spectacular economic crash (1997), a tsunami (2004), coups (2006, 2014), the occupation of its main international airport by protesters (2008) and serious political violence (2010).

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153276-coronavirus-tourism-in-thailand-hit-by-covid-19/

 

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Government health minister: Watch out for "dirty farangs" spreading the virus in Thailand

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Thailand's Minister of Public Health and Deputy Prime Minister has taken to social media in a savage attack on Westerners.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153278-government-health-minister-watch-out-for-dirty-farangs-spreading-the-virus-in-thailand/

 

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Thailand health ministry reports five new coronavirus cases

 

FILE PHOTO: A lottery ticket seller wearing a protective mask waits for costumers after the coronavirus outbreak in Bangkok, Thailand March 12, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand reported five new coronavirus cases on Friday, the country's public health ministry said.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153282-thailand-health-ministry-reports-five-new-coronavirus-cases/

 

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Pattaya: Thai criminal who once attacked Russian girlfriend continues life of crime

 

Picture: Siamchon News

 

Police in Pattaya announced the arrest of a 29 year old Thai man called Manat who was responsible for a string of burglaries over the last week. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153283-pattaya-thai-criminal-who-once-attacked-russian-girlfriend-continues-life-of-crime/

 

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DTAC SIM cards to help track foreigners visiting from Covid-19 high-risk countries

By THE NATION

 

 

Total Access Communication (DTAC) is offering "Happy Tourist" SIM cards that will help track foreigners arriving from Covid-19 high-risk countries at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Phuket International Airport, Chiang Mai International Airport and Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport from Friday (March 13).

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153285-dtac-sim-cards-to-help-track-foreigners-visiting-from-covid-19-high-risk-countries/

 

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Baht weakens as global markets slide

By THE NATION

 

 

The baht on Friday (March 12) opened at Bt31.85 to the US dollar, weakening from Thursday’s close of Bt31.57, and was likely to move at between Bt31.80 to Bt32.00 per US dollar, SCB Securities senior market strategist Jitipol Puksamatanan said.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153288-baht-weakens-as-global-markets-slide/

 

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Pattaya Video: British pensioner badly hurt in fall down hole in poorly lit street

 

Picture: Pattaya News

 

Pattaya News reported that a 76 year old British pensioner was badly hurt after he fell down a hole in the street.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153290-pattaya-video-british-pensioner-badly-hurt-in-fall-down-hole-in-poorly-lit-street/

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COVID-19 cost Phuket B15bn in February, may cost B70bn in total, say experts

By Khunanya Wanchanwet

 

Dr Chayanon Pucharoen speaking at the press conference yesterday (Mar 12). Photo: Khunanya Wanchanwet

 

PHUKET: The outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus cost Phuket more than B15 billion in February alone and may cost the island up to B70bn, expert analysts at the Prince of Songkla University (PSU) Phuket campus Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism have reported.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153291-covid-19-cost-phuket-b15bn-in-february-may-cost-b70bn-in-total-say-experts/

 

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Phuket airport downshifts COVID entry requirements

By The Phuket News

 

The notice posted late last night (Mar 12). Image: AoT Phuket

 

PHUKET: In a huge downshift in tracking potential COVID cases entering the country, the Airports of Thailand management team operating Phuket International Airport (AoT Phuket) has posted an oblige formal notice only announcing that arrivals from the six declared risk areas China, South Korea, Macau, Hong Kong, Italy and Iran must complete the “T.8” form declaring their travel history any health issues experienced in the past 14 days, and present a medical certificate attesting that they are not infected with the virus.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153306-phuket-airport-downshifts-covid-entry-requirements/

 

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Phuket officials announce daily COVID-19 checks on all arrivals from France, Germany, Spain, Singapore, Japan and Taiwan

By The Phuket News

 

Phuket Vice Governor Phichet Panaphong announced the new COVID-19 countermeasures yesterday (Mar 12). Photo: PR Phuket

 

PHUKET: Officials in Phuket will now check on all arrivals from Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, Germany, France, and Spain each day to monitor their health to make sure they are not infected with COVID-19, Phuket Vice Governor Phichet Panaphong has announced.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153307-phuket-officials-announce-daily-covid-19-checks-on-all-arrivals-from-france-germany-spain-singapore-japan-and-taiwan/

 

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Motorcyclist killed as he hits back of parked truck

By Eakkapop Thongtub

 

Police survey the scene of the fatal crash. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

 

PHUKET: A teenage motorcyclist died when he crashed into the back of a parked trailer earlier today (Mar 13), police have confirmed.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153311-motorcyclist-killed-as-he-hits-back-of-parked-truck/

 

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Thailand warns of coronavirus danger of sharing drinks, cigarettes

 

A general view of an empty arrivals terminal, following the coronavirus outbreak, at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand March 12, 2020. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand issued a new coronavirus warning to the party-going public on Friday after a cluster of 13 cases was traced to a group of friends who shared cigarettes and drinks.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153314-thailand-warns-of-coronavirus-danger-of-sharing-drinks-cigarettes/

 

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Virus testing ready to reach warp speed

By The Nation

 

File Photo

 

Thailand has 35 laboratories that can test 100-200 specimen samples a day for the Covid-19 virus and will soon open another 20, but there’s also a super-lab that can run 4,000 tests a day.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153317-virus-testing-ready-to-reach-warp-speed/

 

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Ban continues on export of sanitary face masks: ministry

By THE NATION

 

Boonyarit Kalayanamit

 

The ban on the export of sanitary face masks remains in place due to the increasing number of Covid-19 cases, which has caused nationwide shortage, the Ministry of Commerce reiterated.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153319-ban-continues-on-export-of-sanitary-face-masks-ministry/

 

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Coffee shop chain suspends ‘bring your own cup’ campaign amid Covid-19 fears

By THE NATION

 

 

Café Amazon, a coffee shop chain, on Friday (March 13) suspended its promotional campaign called “Café Amazon for Earth”, which aimed to reduce plastic waste by letting customers bring their own cup when buying a beverage and receive Bt5 discount per cup.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153320-coffee-shop-chain-suspends-‘bring-your-own-cup’-campaign-amid-covid-19-fears/

 

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Ministry outlines steps to avoid Covid-19 infection at workplace

By The Nation

 

Panpimol Wipulakorn, director-general of the Department of Health

 

The Ministry of Public Health has issued rules, procedures, and measures to prevent risk of Covid-19 infection at government and private workplaces on Wednesday (March 11).

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153321-ministry-outlines-steps-to-avoid-covid-19-infection-at-workplace/

 

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PM2.5 count hits 462 in Chiang Rai

By The Nation

 

 

The level of PM2.5 dust particles in the air in the North topped 400 micrograms per cubic metre on Friday (March 13).

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153322-pm25-count-hits-462-in-chiang-rai/

 

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Citizen groups march for charter changes

By The Nation

 

 

Members of CCPC Thai, a group pressing for constitutional reform based on public consensus, and People Go, a pro-democracy network, marched to Parliament on Friday (March 13) to present written guidelines for amending the charter.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153323-citizen-groups-march-for-charter-changes/

 

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Student rallies don’t worry Wissanu

By The Nation

 

 

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said on Friday (March 13) he is not concerned about the student pro-democracy rallies continuing in several locales in the country.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153327-student-rallies-don’t-worry-wissanu/

 

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Anutin’s Twitter account deleted just hours after astonishing rant against ‘dirty’ foreigners

 

screenshot

 

A Twitter account in the name of Thai Health Minister and Deputy PM Anutin Charnvirakul, which was used to share derogatory remarks about foreigners in Thailand has been taken down.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153328-anutin’s-twitter-account-deleted-just-hours-after-astonishing-rant-against-‘dirty’-foreigners/

 

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Wat Pho on guard against spread of virus

By THE NATION

 

 

Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram or Wat Pho Temple, one of Bangkok’s major attractions, has launched Covid-19 prevention measures, including checking the body temperature of visitors.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153341-wat-pho-on-guard-against-spread-of-virus/

 

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'Thai Elephant Day' to help preserve the national symbol

By The Nation

 

 

In 1998, the government designated March 13 as national Thai Elephant Day, in recognition of the mammal as a symbol of the nation. 

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153343-thai-elephant-day-to-help-preserve-the-national-symbol/

 

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Official called a liar for claiming no shortage of masks

By The Nation

 

Sira Jenjaka

 

A Bangkok MP has called the director-general of the Department of Internal Trade a liar for claiming his agency had already distributed ample supplies of protective facemasks to stores.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153345-official-called-a-liar-for-claiming-no-shortage-of-masks/

 

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Private medical facilities told of new rules on Covid-19

By THE NATION

 

Tares Krassanairawiwong

 

The Department of Health Service Support (HSS), under Ministry of Public Health, has issued two announcements to private hospitals and clinics nationwide in response to the Covid-19 situation, said director-general Dr. Tares Krassanairawiwong on Friday (March 13).

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153347-private-medical-facilities-told-of-new-rules-on-covid-19/

 

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Energy Ministry to supply ethanol for hand-gel production

By THE NATION

 

Sontirat Sontijirawong

 

Energy Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong informed the Excise Department on Friday (March 13) that it will use part of its ethanol reserves for production of sanitiser hand gels without asking for permission.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153349-energy-ministry-to-supply-ethanol-for-hand-gel-production/

 

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Doi Suthep disappears in haze pollution

By THE NATION

 

 

There was nowhere to breathe in Chiang Mai province on Friday morning (March 13), with the level of PM2.5 dust in the air reaching a lung-scraping 519 micrograms per cubic metre.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153351-doi-suthep-disappears-in-haze-pollution/

 

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If you care, don’t share, says health official

By The Nation

 

 

Evidently reacting to some the most recently confirmed cases of Covid-19 infection in Thailand, the deputy health minister has urged people to not share food, drinks or other personal items and told restaurant managers to adhere to ministry precautions.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153314-thailand-warns-of-coronavirus-danger-of-sharing-drinks-cigarettes/?do=findComment&comment=15156349

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Premier League, Football League and WSL suspended until 3 April

 

 

(Reuters) - All elite soccer matches in England, including the Premier League, were suspended until April 4 on Friday due to the coronavirus pandemic, English soccer's governing bodies said in a joint statement.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153348-premier-league-football-league-and-wsl-suspended-until-3-april/?tab=comments#comment-15156332

 

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London stocks rebound from worst day since 1987 crash

By Shivani Kumaresan, Devik Jain

 

FILE PHOTO: A man wearing a protective face mask walks past the London Stock Exchange Group building in the City of London financial district, whilst British stocks tumble as investors fear that the coronavirus outbreak could stall the global economy, in London, Britain, March 9, 2020. REUTERS/Toby Melville

 

(Reuters) - London stocks rose on Friday as a recovery in oil prices and moves by policymakers to limit the economic hit from the coronavirus helped them rebound from their worst selloff since the 1987 “Black Monday” crash a day earlier.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153356-london-stocks-rebound-from-worst-day-since-1987-crash/

 

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Kremlin, worried by coronavirus, tells journalists who cover Putin to stay away if they feel unwell

 

FILE PHOTO: Russia's President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during a session of the lower house of parliament to consider constitutional changes in Moscow, Russia March 10, 2020. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

 

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin on Friday told journalists who cover President Vladimir Putin to stay away from official events if they felt unwell as a precautionary measure to protect Kremlin staff from the coronavirus.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153357-kremlin-worried-by-coronavirus-tells-journalists-who-cover-putin-to-stay-away-if-they-feel-unwell/