PM declares state of emergency

 

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday (March 24) declared a state of emergency to contain the escalating Covid-19 pandemic.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155536-covid-19-government-to-impose-state-of-emergency/?do=findComment&comment=15202036

 

Covid-19 alert: If you were at any of these places, contact officials

By THE NATION

 

Lumpinee Boxing Stadium

 

The Department of Disease Control has released a list of 23 places it deems high-risk for Covid-19 in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Ubon Ratchathani, Surin and Songkhla provinces. It wants people who had visited these places on the mentioned dates and times to inform officials.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155602-covid-19-alert-if-you-were-at-any-of-these-places-contact-officials/

Virus spread rate in Bangkok higher than global average

By The Nation

 

 

The spread of Covid-19 infection in Bangkok and its vicinity has exceeded the average rate globally with one infected individual passing on the virus to three and a half persons, said Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman for the Public Health Ministry.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155594-virus-spread-rate-in-bangkok-higher-than-global-average/

Phuket shuts all high-risk places

By THE NATION

 

 

A meeting of Phuket’s Contagious Diseases Committee has approved a proposal to close all high-risk places in the province

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155504-phuket-restaurants-takeaway-only-areas-in-shopping-malls-swimming-pools-closed-in-latest-order/?do=findComment&comment=15203489

 

AWC temporarily shuts five major hotels

By THE NATION

 

 

Integrated lifestyle real-estate group Asset World Corp (AWC) has decided to temporarily close five affiliated hotels in Bangkok – Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park Hotel, DoubleTree by Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok Hotel, Le Meridien Bangkok Hotel, The Okura Prestige Hotel Bangkok and Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse from March 26 to April 15 in an attempt to keep Covid-19 from spreading, the group said.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155660-awc-temporarily-shuts-five-major-hotels/

 

Add Carabao sorry for criticising govt, cursing officials after Mae Sot concert is stopped

By The Nation

 

 

Add Carabao’s manager has come out to say the popular singer is depressed and is sorry for cursing Mae Sot officials for stopping his concert, after a video of his criticism went viral and netizens attacked him for being irresponsible.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155661-add-carabao-sorry-for-criticising-govt-cursing-officials-after-mae-sot-concert-is-stopped/

 

Provinces organize big cleaning activities to fight COVID-19

 

   

UBON RATCHATHANI (NNT) - People in Bangkok, and in many provinces across Thailand, have joined forces to clean public areas in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155662-provinces-organize-big-cleaning-activities-to-fight-covid-19/

 

Tokyo Games moved to 2021 as 'light at end of pandemic tunnel'

By Sakura Murakami and Karolos Grohmann

 

A 3D printed Olympics logo is seen in front of displayed "Tokyo 2021" words in this illustration taken March 24, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

 

TOKYO/ATHENS (Reuters) - The Tokyo Olympics were postponed on Tuesday to 2021, the first such delay in the Games' 124-year modern history, as the coronavirus crisis wrecked the world's last sporting showpiece still standing this year.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155664-tokyo-games-moved-to-2021-as-light-at-end-of-pandemic-tunnel/

 

Modi puts all of India under lockdown for 21 days to fight coronavirus

 

FILE PHOTO: India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks to the media inside the parliament premises on the first day of the winter session in New Delhi, India, November 18, 2019. REUTERS/Altaf Hussain/File Photo

 

MUMBAI (Reuters) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday the government would impose a nationwide lockdown from midnight for 21 days to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155665-modi-puts-all-of-india-under-lockdown-for-21-days-to-fight-coronavirus/

 

UK calls for 250,000 volunteers as virus deaths surge

By William James and Andy Bruce

 

People jog in Battersea Park, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in London, Britain, March 24, 2020. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

 

LONDON (Reuters) - The number of coronavirus deaths in Britain jumped on Tuesday, the first day of a national lockdown, while the government called for 250,000 volunteers for the health service and announced a temporary hospital would open in London next week.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155666-uk-calls-for-250000-volunteers-as-virus-deaths-surge/

 

Germany treats first Italians as coronavirus care crosses borders

 

Paramedics Jochen and Julia check the equipment of an ambulance before the start of their shift in Worms, Germany, March 24, 2020 as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke

 

BERLIN/MANNHEIM, Germany (Reuters) - German hospitals with spare capacity on Tuesday welcomed their first coronavirus patients from Italy, where an overwhelmed health care system has seen the pandemic kill more people than in any other country.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155667-germany-treats-first-italians-as-coronavirus-care-crosses-borders/

 

Ireland tightens coronavirus restrictions, boosts rescue package

By Padraic Halpin and Graham Fahy

 

Ireland's Prime Minister Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaks during a news conference on the ongoing situation with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at Government Buildings in Dublin, Ireland March 24, 2020. Steve Humphreys/Pool via REUTERS

 

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland banned all non-essential travel within the country and shut non-essential retail on Tuesday to battle coronavirus as it significantly increased income support for those already left unemployed and workers at risk of joining them.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155668-ireland-tightens-coronavirus-restrictions-boosts-rescue-package/

 

Spanish doctors, nurses demand action after coronavirus cases soar

By Raul Cadenas and Nathan Allen

 

FILE PHOTO: Healthcare workers are pictured at the entrance of the emergency unit at La Paz hospital during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Madrid, Spain March 23, 2020. REUTERS/Susana Vera/File Photo

 

MADRID (Reuters) - Nurses and doctors demanded action after Spain reported its sharpest daily increase in coronavirus cases on Tuesday and said about 14% of the nearly 40,000 infections were among health workers.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155669-spanish-doctors-nurses-demand-action-after-coronavirus-cases-soar/

 

U.S. could be next 'virus epicentre', global recession looms

By Emma Farge and Sanjeev Miglani

 

A delivery person rides their bike across 7th Avenue in a mostly deserted Times Square following the outbreak of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., March 23, 2020. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

 

GENEVA/NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The United States could become the global epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday, as India announced a full 24-hour, nationwide lockdown in the world's second-most populous country.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155670-us-could-be-next-virus-epicentre-global-recession-looms/

 

French coronavirus death toll tops 1,000, lockdown likely to be extended

By Benoit Van Overstraeten

 

A security guard stands by beds installed inside the Festival palace as Cannes Mayor David Lisnard decided to open a part of the palace to welcome needy and homeless as a lockdown is imposed to slow the rate of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in France, March 24, 2020. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

 

(Reuters) - France became the fifth country to report more than 1,000 deaths from coronavirus on Tuesday and a government body dealing with the outbreak suggested the national lockdown imposed last week for an initial 15 days should last at least six weeks.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155671-french-coronavirus-death-toll-tops-1000-lockdown-likely-to-be-extended/

 

G20 leaders to convene by video conference on Thursday about coronavirus

 

FILE PHOTO: Journalists sit in the media center during the meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, February 22, 2020./File Photo

 

RIYADH (Reuters) - Leaders from the Group of 20 major economies will convene a video conference on Thursday to discuss the coronavirus epidemic, the Saudi secretariat said, amid criticism that the group has been slow to respond to the global crisis.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155672-g20-leaders-to-convene-by-video-conference-on-thursday-about-coronavirus/

 

UPDATE:

 

Thai Airways (TG) Prepares to Ground the Fleet to Battle COVID-19

Andrew J Wood 

 

 

In a notice in Thai the company announced on its own Facebook page a dramatic reduction of its fleet services 

 

Photo credit A J WOOD

 

BANGKOK: Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) announced, “Due to the ongoing global outbreak of COVID-19, several countries in Europe and Asia has intensely increased preventive measures including screening by local Ministries of Public Health and Civil Aviation Organizations as well as national lockdown.  

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155492-thai-slashing-up-to-58-per-cent-of-flights-until-october/?do=findComment&comment=15204931

 

Thai who smeared saliva on BTS lift ordered jailed for 15 days

 

Picture: Daily News

 

The Pathumwan court sentenced a 32 year old Thai man to 15 days in jail for dirty behavior after he was caught on CCTV covering the lift buttons at the National Stadium BTS with his saliva. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155681-thai-who-smeared-saliva-on-bts-lift-ordered-jailed-for-15-days/

 

Covid-19: Boxing stadium ignored calls to cancel profitable event, now they should pay the price say SAT

 

Picture: Daily News

 

It has been revealed that the Sports Authority of Thailand asked the chief of Lumpinee Boxing Stadium not to hold any public matches during the covid-19 crisis.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155685-covid-19-boxing-stadium-ignored-calls-to-cancel-profitable-event-now-they-should-pay-the-price-say-sat/

 

Phuket: Bar girl, dancer, waitress and bouncer all infected with coronavirus at Soi Bangla - foreigners infected too

 

Source: Daily News

 

The Phuket governor has admitted that many people working in the red light district of Soi Bangla, Phuket have been diagnosed with coronavirus. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155687-phuket-bar-girl-dancer-waitress-and-bouncer-all-infected-with-coronavirus-at-soi-bangla-foreigners-infected-too/

 

Coronavirus: Brit couple fear they'll be trapped in Thailand for months as flights axed

Leanne and Rob Ashworth, from Chorley, Lancashire, were celebrating their anniversary in Thailand but following the coronavirus Covid-19 crisis, Emirates has cancelled flights

 

By Rachel Howarth & Bradley Jolly

Online journalist

 

'Trapped': Leanne and Rob Ashworth (Image: lancs.live WS)

 

A British couple who were celebrating their anniversary in Thailand fear they may be trapped there for months after Emirates cancelled flights home.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155692-coronavirus-brit-couple-fear-theyll-be-trapped-in-thailand-for-months-as-flights-axed/

 

Pick-up driver drags corpse for 49 kilometers - leaves it at gas station; driver says he thought it was a pig

 

Picture: Sanook

 

CCTV footage from a gas station on the Mitraphap (Friendship) Highway heading into Korat at Sikio showed a black Mitsubishi pick-up reversing. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155696-pick-up-driver-drags-corpse-for-49-kilometers-leaves-it-at-gas-station-driver-says-he-thought-it-was-a-pig/

 

New Zealand PM Ardern declares national emergency to tackle coronavirus

By Praveen Menon

 

FILE PHOTO: People take out products from their supermarket shopping cart and load them into their car outside Pak'nSave supermarket amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Christchurch, New Zealand, March 23, 2020. REUTERS/Martin Hunter

 

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Wednesday declared a state of national emergency as the country prepared to go into a complete lockdown at midnight to combat the coronavirus outbreak.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155698-new-zealand-pm-ardern-declares-national-emergency-to-tackle-coronavirus/

 

Shut Koh Larn: Locals and tourism operators call for island to be sealed off to prevent spread of Covid-19

 

 

Thai media reported that locals, tourism operators and officials met at Wat Koh Larn where a vote was held to gauge opinion about shutting the island to visitors. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155708-shut-koh-larn-locals-and-tourism-operators-call-for-island-to-be-sealed-off-to-prevent-spread-of-covid-19/

 

Pattaya beaches restricted, more businesses close as Thailand reaches tipping point in coronavirus battle

 

Beach chairs will have to be rearranged so that they are at least 2 metres apart.

 

PATTAYA:--More Pattaya businesses will close and groups are banned from beaches as Chonburi takes more steps to control the spread of the coronavirus.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155699-breaking-news-pattaya-beaches-restricted-more-businesses-close-as-thailand-reaches-tipping-point-in-coronavirus-battle/

 

 

Covid-19: Do people understand social distancing? They don't seem to care in Suphanburi as prosecution looms

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Hundreds of guests attended an ordination party in U-Thong district of Suphanburi in contravention of new Covid-19 prevention rules. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155710-covid-19-do-people-understand-social-distancing-they-dont-seem-to-care-in-suphanburi-as-prosecution-looms/

 

Army raids 2 Thai nightclubs flouting Pattaya bar closure order

 

PATTAYA:--Chonburi authorities raided two Thai nightclubs in Pattaya flouting provincial orders to shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155701-army-raids-2-thai-nightclubs-flouting-pattaya-bar-closure-order/

 

Pattaya: All quiet at resort including the beach ahead of expected curfew on Thursday

 

Picture: Sophon Cable

 

Pattaya Update News sent their reporters out in Pattaya at 11pm last night and found the resort almost completely shut down apart from restaurants.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155716-pattaya-all-quiet-at-resort-including-the-beach-ahead-of-expected-curfew-on-thursday/

 

Pattaya rescue units refusing ill patients due to Covid-19 fears

 

PATTAYA:--The Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation will stop taking sick people to the hospital and only respond to road accidents for fear of paramedics catching Covid-19.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155703-pattaya-rescue-units-refusing-ill-patients-due-to-covid-19-fears/

 

 

Pattaya-Najomtien road becomes illegal trash dump

 

PATTAYA:--Najomtien residents want police to crack down on the illegal dumping of garbage along a local access road.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155704-pattaya-najomtien-road-becomes-illegal-trash-dump/