THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Tuesday 24 Mar 2020

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Phuket Immigration confirms B500 a day overstay fines are being levied

By Tanyaluk Sakoot

 

Foreigners queue at the main Phuket Immigration Office in Phuket Town today (Mar 23). Photo: Supplied

 

PHUKET:-- Phuket Immigration has confirmed that B500 a day fines are being levied on any people who remain in the country after their permits to stay have expired.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155400-phuket-immigration-confirms-b500-a-day-overstay-fines-are-being-levied/

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Minor International urges PM, governor to further restrict public movement, temporarily closing Bangkok hotels 

By The Nation

 

William E Heinecke Chairman Minor International Pcl.

 

Thai hotel chain owner Minor International pleaded with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Bangkok Governor Pol General Aswin Kwanmuang in a letter to curb public movement and activities amid the rising number of new Covid-19 infections, warning the country is at the "tipping point".

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155384-minor-international-urges-pm-governor-to-further-restrict-public-movement-temporarily-closing-bangkok-hotels/

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Bangkok governor issues 7 strict guidelines for public to tackle Covid-19 spread

By The Nation

 

Pol General Aswin Kwanmuang, Bangkok Governor

 

Bangkok Governor Pol General Aswin Kwanmuang issued seven urgent guidelines today (March 23) to prevent the further spread of Covid-19.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155379-bangkok-governor-issues-7-strict-guidelines-for-public-to-tackle-covid-19-spread/

 

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English language report released on COVID-19 situation in Pattaya

 

Workers out disinfecting streets earlier this month - just one of a number of preventative measures outlined in an official report on COVID-19 in Pattaya. Image: The Nation.

 

Health officials in Pattaya have released a report in English regarding the current COVID-19 situation in the city.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155372-english-language-report-released-on-covid-19-situation-in-pattaya/

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Thai military conscripts face harassment, beatings, sexual abuse, Amnesty alleges

By The Nation

 

 

A new investigation by Amnesty International published today (March 23) alleges that Thailand’s military “routinely subjects new conscripts to a barrage of beating, humiliation and sexual abuse that often amounts to torture”.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155438-thai-military-conscripts-face-harassment-beatings-sexual-abuse-amnesty-alleges/

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Textile industry to be improved under BCG economy

By THE NATION

 

 

The Thailand Textile Institute has collaborated with the Office of Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion to promote and improve the textile industry under the “BCG fashion lifestyle” concept, institute director Chanchai Sirikasemlert said.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155440-textile-industry-to-be-improved-under-bcg-economy/

 

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National, forest parks off limit to visitors

By THE NATION

 

FILE PHOTO

 

National Park of Thailand is closing off all national parks and forest parks to visitors from March 25 onwards until further notice to mitigate the spread of Covid-19.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155441-national-forest-parks-off-limit-to-visitors/

 

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CPN, partners to set up food counters; bank branches in malls to stay open

By The Nation

 

 

Central Pattana (CPN) is teaming up with affiliated stores to set up counters for food delivery and take away service, as well as keeping bank branches open at shopping centres.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155443-cpn-partners-to-set-up-food-counters-bank-branches-in-malls-to-stay-open/

 

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UK PM Johnson orders Britons: you must stay at home

By William James and Andy Bruce

 

A family watches British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's press conference as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Britain March 23, 2020. REUTERS/Carl Recine

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered Britons to stay at home to halt the spread of coronavirus, imposing curbs on everyday life without precedent in peacetime.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155446-uk-pm-johnson-orders-britons-you-must-stay-at-home/

 

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Tokyo 2020 Games will be postponed, says IOC member Dick Pound

By Steve Keating and Leika Kihara

 

FILE PHOTO: International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Dick Pound, poses in his offices in Montreal, Quebec, Canada February 26, 2020. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi

 

TORONTO/TOKYO (Reuters) - The International Olympic Committee has decided to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games because of the coronavirus pandemic, IOC member Dick Pound said on Monday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155447-tokyo-2020-games-will-be-postponed-says-ioc-member-dick-pound/

 

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$2 trillion coronavirus aid package stalls in U.S. Senate

By David Morgan and Andy Sullivan

 

U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin walks to the meeting with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) (not pictured) during negotiations on a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) relief package on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., March 23, 2020. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A far-reaching coronavirus economic stimulus package failed to advance in the U.S. Senate on Monday as Democrats said it contained too little money for states and hospitals and not enough restrictions on a fund to help big businesses.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155448-2-trillion-coronavirus-aid-package-stalls-in-us-senate/

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Trump considers reopening U.S. economy despite coronavirus spread

By Steve Holland and Jeff Mason

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump holds a news conference, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Washington D.C., U.S., March 22, 2020. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump is considering measures to reopen the U.S. economy, even as the highly contagious coronavirus is spreading rapidly and hospitals are bracing for a wave of virus-related deaths.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155449-trump-considers-reopening-us-economy-despite-coronavirus-spread/

 

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Merkel's initial coronavirus test came back negative - spokesman

 

 

BERLIN (Reuters) - Angela Merkel's initial test for coronavirus came back negative, a government spokesman said on Monday, adding that the German chancellor would undergo further tests.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155454-merkels-initial-coronavirus-test-came-back-negative-spokesman/

 

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Trapped in paradise: Tourists stranded by virus seek visa extensions

By Sultan Anshori

 

Foreign citizens stand outside local immigration office as they queue for extending their visa permit, amid the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Jimbaran, Bali, Indonesia, March 23, 2020. REUTERS/Johannes P. Christo

 

KUTA, Indonesia (Reuters) - Travellers stranded by coronavirus in some of Southeast Asia's idyllic tourism hotspots are trying to extend visas as more countries enforce travel restrictions that in some cases make it impossible to go home.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155455-trapped-in-paradise-tourists-stranded-by-virus-seek-visa-extensions/

 

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Mainland China's new coronavirus infections up by two-fold to 78 cases

 

People wearing protective masks walk in a park, as the country is hit by an outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Beijing, China March 23, 2020. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

 

BEIJING (Reuters) - Mainland China saw a doubling in new coronavirus cases, driven by a jump in infected travellers arriving from abroad, while more locally transmitted cases crept into its daily tally, including one in the central city of Wuhan.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155459-mainland-chinas-new-coronavirus-infections-up-by-two-fold-to-78-cases/

 

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Fast food closures sweep U.K., as even drive-thrus deemed unsafe

By Hilary Russ

 

Cars queue up at a drive thru McDonald's restaurant, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, Hatfield, Britain, March 23, 2020. REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge

 

(Reuters) - Fast food is canceled in Britain.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155462-fast-food-closures-sweep-uk-as-even-drive-thrus-deemed-unsafe/

 

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Trump: Asian-Americans not responsible for virus, need protection

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump arrives for the coronavirus response daily briefing with members of the administration's coronavirus task force at the White House in Washington, U.S., March 23, 2020. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been accused of racism in labeling the coronavirus pandemic the "Chinese virus," said on Monday that Asian-Americans were not responsible for spreading the disease and needed to be protected.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155464-trump-asian-americans-not-responsible-for-virus-need-protection/

 

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Thailand reports second coronavirus death

 

 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155465-thailand-reports-second-coronavirus-death/

 

 

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Pattaya: Crazed foreigner taken into custody after waving a torch at passersby 

 

Picture: Ruk Siam News

 

Ten officers from the Pattaya police station were required to get a crazed foreigner into custody after he started going berserk on Sai 2 road yesterday. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155473-pattaya-crazed-foreigner-taken-into-custody-after-waving-a-torch-at-passersby /

 

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Covid-19: Foreigner fined 20K for breaking quarantine - health certificate didn't help him; Thais warned they are next

 

Picture: Daily News

 

The governor of Buriram province in north eastern Thailand announced that a foreign man back visiting his wife from one of the four countries on a risk list has been fined 20,000 baht for not properly quarantining for 14 days. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155480-covid-19-foreigner-fined-20k-for-breaking-quarantine-health-certificate-didnt-help-him-thais-warned-they-are-next/

 

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U.S. states, cities desperate for coronavirus help, military prepares

By Stephanie Kelly and Doina Chiacu

 

A general view of freeways leading into downtown Los Angeles after California issued a stay-at-home order due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Los Angeles, California, U.S., March 23, 2020. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

 

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Several more U.S. governors on Monday joined the procession of states ordering millions of Americans to stay at home to slow the spread of the coronavirus, while President Trump signaled he's considering a move in the opposite direction.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155482-us-states-cities-desperate-for-coronavirus-help-military-prepares/

 

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UPDATE:

 

Covid-19 claims second life in Thailand

By THE NATION

 

 

A Thai male aged 70 who had been diagnosed with Covid-19 since February 4, has died, a source from the Ministry of Public Health reported on Monday (March 23) evening.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155465-thailand-reports-second-coronavirus-death/?do=findComment&comment=15200655

 

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Leading Thai doctor tells the public: STAY HOME, fears there could be 350,000 COVID-19 cases

 

 

The dean of Thailand's respected Sirirat Hospital in Bangkok has told Thais to stay home immediately.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155484-leading-thai-doctor-tells-the-public-stay-home-fears-there-could-be-350000-covid-19-cases/

 

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TDRI urges all-out efforts to contain Covid-19, urgent cash handouts to low-income earners 

By The Nation

 

A large number of Thai labourers and migrants leave Bangkok for their hometowns, as many businesses in the capital temporarily shut down.

 

The government must quickly mobilise national resources to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and urgently and adequately provide financial support to low-income groups affected by the impact of the pandemic. Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), an independent think-tank, urged the government to step up efforts both to contain the virus and help the poor.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155485-tdri-urges-all-out-efforts-to-contain-covid-19-urgent-cash-handouts-to-low-income-earners/

 

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Pattaya shows its heart! Top hotel sends message to everyone battling Covid-19

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

A leading Pattaya hotel is sending a message of hope to all Thais and medical personnel battling the Covid-19/coronavirus outbreak. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155489-pattaya-shows-its-heart-top-hotel-sends-message-to-everyone-battling-covid-19/

 

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Krabi fun! Water monitors fight down at the beach

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

Thai media said that Krabi was laughing after a video of fighting water monitors hit social media. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155491-krabi-fun-water-monitors-fight-down-at-the-beach/

 

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THAI slashing up to 58 per cent of flights until October

By THE NATION

 

 

Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) plans a drastic reduction of its flights from January-October 2020 due to the decreasing number of passengers because of the new coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak, a source revealed.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155492-thai-slashing-up-to-58-per-cent-of-flights-until-october/

 

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Conflicting reports in Bangkok rush hour - shopping areas deadly quite, others busy

 

Picture: Daily News

 

There were conflicting reports on the roads in Bangkok's infamous evening rush hour yesterday. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155499-conflicting-reports-in-bangkok-rush-hour-shopping-areas-deadly-quite-others-busy/

 

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Bangkok: Restaurant owners/managers defying Covid-19 opening ban face jail, say police

 

Picture: Siam Rath

 

Siam Rath reported that the chief of the Rattanathibet police and Nonthaburi officials were out in force at the weekend enforcing closure orders for restaurants.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155502-bangkok-restaurant-ownersmanagers-defying-covid-19-opening-ban-face-jail-say-police/

 

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Phuket restaurants takeaway only, areas in shopping malls closed in latest order

 

The order as issued in English late last night - effective today (Mar 24). Images: PR Dept

 

PHUKET: All restaurants in Phuket are now takeaway only and some areas in shopping malls have been ordered to close under the latest order issued by Phuket Govenor Phakaphong Tavipatana.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155504-phuket-restaurants-takeaway-only-areas-in-shopping-malls-swimming-pools-closed-in-latest-order/