THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Thursday 19 Mar 2020

[webfact]

Laos suspends all types of visas for foreign tourists: report 

 

File photo

 

The government of Laos has reportedly stopped issuing tourist visas to foreigners as a preventive measure to stop the spread of the coronavirus, COVID-19.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1154367-laos-suspends-all-types-of-visas-for-foreign-tourists-report /

 

[webfact]

Covid-19: Post Office forced to respond after social media thinks customs officers are looking for face masks

 

Picture: Sanook

 

The Thai post office has been forced to issue a statement after Twitter users shared a picture of customs men opening lots of packages at a post office. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1154372-covid-19-post-office-forced-to-respond-after-social-media-thinks-customs-officers-are-looking-for-face-masks/

 

[webfact]

Bang Saray: Norwegian worried about his pension hangs himself in Sattahip

 

Picture: Naew Na

 

A 60 year old Norwegian man was found dead at his house in Bang Saray, Sattahip, on Wednesday. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1154374-bang-saray-norwegian-worried-about-his-pension-hangs-himself-in-sattahip/

 

[webfact]

Thai authorities set to clarify situation on visa overstay as a result of COVID-19

 

FILE PHOTO

 

The Thai authorities are set to make an announcement with regards to the situation of foreigners in Thailand who inadvertently overstay their visas due to disruption to travel and immigration services because of the coronavirus.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1154378-thai-authorities-set-to-clarify-situation-on-visa-overstay-as-a-result-of-covid-19/

 

[webfact]

Chemical clean-up to fight Covid-19

By THE NATION

 

 

Military personnel from the 1st Division of King’s Guard regiment clean the Na Phralan Road in Bangkok’s Phra Nakhon district at dawn on Thursday (March 19) with benzalkonium chloride mixed with water to reduce the risk of Covid-19 spreading.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1154383-photos-chemical-clean-up-to-fight-covid-19/

 

[webfact]

Frenchman tells Thai government to lock down country - says foreigners are taking virus more seriously than Thais

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

Thai media 77kaoded has asked a foreign tourist - a regular visitor to the country who has a Thai wife - what he thinks of the government's response to the coronavirus crisis and the Thai attitude in general. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1154387-frenchman-tells-thai-government-to-lock-down-country-says-foreigners-are-taking-virus-more-seriously-than-thais/

 

[webfact]

China to provide Thailand assistance in fighting Covid-19

By The Nation

 

File photo

 

China will provide medical supplies including N95 masks and medicines to help Thailand fight the new coronavirus (Covid-19), a statement on the website of China’s Embassy in Bangkok said.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1154393-china-to-provide-thailand-assistance-in-fighting-covid-19/

 

[webfact]

Suvarnabhumi probing case of cleaning staff who collapsed in airport

By THE NATION

 

 

Suvarnabhumi Airport is investigating an incident where an airport cleaning staff collapsed in front of the passenger terminal, raising fears among the public that she was infected with the new coronavirus (Covid-19).

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1154395-suvarnabhumi-probing-case-of-cleaning-staff-who-collapsed-in-airport/

 

[webfact]

Koh Chang: Facebook using foreigner said she was denied entry to SCB

 

Picture: Oleksandra S

 

A foreign woman went on Facebook to claim that she was denied entry to the Siam Commercial Bank because she is a farang.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1154398-koh-chang-facebook-using-foreigner-said-she-was-denied-entry-to-scb/

 

[webfact]

Foreigners can claim medical expenses from state for virus treatment in Thailand

 

The arrival area of Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. (Photo by Romeo GACAD / AFP)

 

Foreign visitors, who are treated for COVID-19 in Thailand, and those who are placed under investigation pending COVID-19 test results, will have the right to claim back the medical expenses they actually paid from the state, according to Mr. Poomisak Aranyakasemsook, director-general of the Comptroller Department.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1154400-foreigners-can-claim-medical-expenses-from-state-for-virus-treatment-in-thailand/

 

[webfact]

Surat Thani: All entertainment venues ordered shut until end of month as fist coronavirus case emerges

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

The governor of Surat Thani in the south of Thailand has ordered the immediate closure of all entertainment venues until the end of March. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1154406-surat-thani-all-entertainment-venues-ordered-shut-until-end-of-month-as-fist-coronavirus-case-emerges/

 

[webfact]

Pattaya fighting the virus: Thousands of tourists checked on way to Koh Larn - not one had a high temperature

 

Picture: Facebook Pattaya Law Enforcement

 

The Facebook page of Pattaya Law Enforcement said that Pattaya officials and nurses from Koh Larn were busy checking tourists departing for the island yesterday. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1154407-pattaya-fighting-the-virus-thousands-of-tourists-checked-on-way-to-koh-larn-not-one-had-a-high-temperature/

 

[webfact]

Emerging infectious diseases expert warns “Time is running out for Thailand”

 

 

Chulalongkorn University’s Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases chief, Dr. Thiravat Hemachudha, has warned the Thai government that time is running out for Thailand if it does not immediately close its borders to all arrivals.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1154409-emerging-infectious-diseases-expert-warns-“time-is-running-out-for-thailand”/

 

[webfact]

Ubon Ratchathani employs lockdown measures to prevent Covid-19

By THE NATION

 

 

Ubon Ratchathani Governor Sarit Withoon announced on Tuesday (March 18) that the province will use lockdown measures to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus (Covid-19), using the governor’s authority under Section 35 of Communicable Disease Act BE2558.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1154411-ubon-ratchathani-employs-lockdown-measures-to-prevent-covid-19/

 

[webfact]

PM meets top doctors to discuss measures on tackling Covid-19

By The Nation

 

 

The government is having a dialogue with leading doctors in Thailand to discuss and find appropriate measures to fight the new coronavirus (Covid-19).

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1154412-pm-meets-top-doctors-to-discuss-measures-on-tackling-covid-19/

 

[webfact]

BOT expected to check baht's volatility as currency weakens

By THE NATION

 

 

The baht on Thursday (March 19) opened at Bt32.56 per US dollar, weakening from Wednesday’s close of Bt32.47.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1154414-bot-expected-to-check-bahts-volatility-as-currency-weakens/

 

[webfact]

Anutin brushes aside claim of lax screening

By The Nation

 

 

Asked why a man returning to Thailand from Spain could declare on Facebook that he underwent no airport screening, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had to point out that Spain isn’t among the high-risk locales worrying the government most.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1154436-anutin-brushes-aside-claim-of-lax-screening/

 

[webfact]

Bangkok officers check if entertainment venues heeding closure orders

By The Nation

 

 

District officers in Bangkok surveyed their respective areas to see if entertainment venues were complying with the city administration's order on temporary closure of their premises.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1154440-photos-bangkok-officers-check-if-entertainment-venues-heeding-closure-orders/

 

[webfact]

Chiang Mai shutters bars, cinemas

By THE NATION

 

 

Chiang Mai province, with two previouly confirmed case of Covid-19 infection and 374 suspected victims, will keep most public places closed throughout this month, Governor Charoenrit Sanguansat announced on Wednesday (March 18).

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1154444-chiang-mai-shutters-bars-cinemas/

 

[webfact]

BREAKING

 

60 new COVID-19 cases in Thailand, total cases now at 272

 

Reuters file photo

 

Officials from Thailand's Ministry of Public Health reported 60 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, taking the total number of infections to 272.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1154445-60-new-covid-19-cases-in-thailand-total-cases-now-at-272/

 

[webfact]

Chiang Rai residents urged to stay indoors as PM2.5 at hazardous levels

By The Nation

 

 

The Department of Health has warned residents in Chiang Rai province that particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5) in the air remains at hazardous levels.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1154449-chiang-rai-residents-urged-to-stay-indoors-as-pm25-at-hazardous-levels/

 

[webfact]

Bt50 million worth of illegal imported meat destroyed to prevent infections

By The Nation

 

 

All illegally imported meat stored at Phetchaburi Animal Quarantine Station was destroyed on Thursday to lower the risk of contracting infections.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1154452-bt50-million-worth-of-illegal-imported-meat-destroyed-to-prevent-infections/

 

[webfact]

Cambodia tells its citizens in Thailand to stay here

By The Nation

 

 

Cambodia’s embassy in Thailand has advised all Cambodian citizens who are here now to remain here for the duration of the Covid-19 crisis to safeguard their homeland.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1154455-cambodia-tells-its-citizens-in-thailand-to-stay-here/

 

[Jonathan Fairfield]

US embassy slams door on visa appointments

 

 

The United States embassy and consulate in Thailand are cancelling routine non-immigrant visa appointments starting on Thursday (March 19).

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1154462-united-states-embassy-and-consulate-in-thailand-slams-door-on-visa-appointments/

 

[webfact]

Drive-thru virus tests available at Vibhavadi Hospital

By THE NATION

 

 

Thailand’s first “drive-through” testing centre for the Covid-19 virus opened on Wednesday (March 18) at Vibhavadi Hospital in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1154461-drive-thru-virus-tests-available-at-vibhavadi-hospital/

 

[webfact]

BMA churning out handwash for public

 

 

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration assembled a mini-factory on Thursday (March 19) where people from Navamindradhiraj University and the Social Development Office produced bottled alcohol-based handwash that will be distributed across the city starting on Saturday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1154464-bma-churning-out-handwash-for-public/

 

[snoop1130]

Forest fire hikes PM2.5 in Chiang Mai

By The Nation

 

 

Some 200 firefighters were struggling on a mountain slope on Wednesday (March 18) to extinguish a forest fire that was pouring yet more hazardous PM2.5 dust particles on the people of Chiang Mai.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1154475-forest-fire-hikes-pm25-in-chiang-mai/

 

[snoop1130]

Malaysia seeks Rohingya for coronavirus checks after mosque outbreak - sources

By Krishna N. Das, A. Ananthalakshmi

 

FILE PHOTO: A police officer wearing protective mask stands guard outside the Seri Petaling Mosque, which has emerged as a source of hundreds of new coronavirus disease infections spanning across Southeast Asia, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia March 18, 2020. REUTERS/Lim Huey Teng/File Photo

 

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian authorities are scrambling to track down about 2,000 Rohingya men who attended a Muslim religious gathering that has led to a big spike in coronavirus cases across Southeast Asia, a security source and two other people told Reuters.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1154477-malaysia-seeks-rohingya-for-coronavirus-checks-after-mosque-outbreak-sources/

 

[snoop1130]

World leaders rush in to shore up panic-hit global financial system

By Marius Zaharia

 

A woman wearing a mask to prevent contracting the coronavirus adjusts her husband's mask as they wait to check in at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea, March 19, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

 

HONG KONG (Reuters) - World leaders raced to shore up panic-stricken global markets on Thursday, pouring liquidity into the financial system as investors everywhere dumped assets, switching to dollars in cash amid the escalating coronavirus pandemic.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1154479-world-leaders-rush-in-to-shore-up-panic-hit-global-financial-system/

 

[snoop1130]

Africa talks tough against coronavirus but many wonder why

By Cooper Inveen

 

FILE PHOTO: A woman wears a face mask, due to the global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, as she walks along a busy shopping street in Dakar, Senegal March 18, 2020. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

 

FREETOWN (Reuters) - Shoppers threaded their way between stalls hawking everything from watches to pigs’ feet in Sierra Leone’s capital on Wednesday, two days after the government banned large gatherings to combat the coronavirus but exempted markets such as this.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1154481-africa-talks-tough-against-coronavirus-but-many-wonder-why/