Far-flung U.S. citizens clamour for vaccines from embassies

 

Paul Risley, a U.S. citizen chair of Democrats Abroad, walks with his son during an interview with Reuters in Bangkok, Thailand May 11, 2021. REUTERS/Jiraporn Kuhakan

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Americans living abroad are asking Washington to send surplus coronavirus shots to overseas embassies so they can get a vaccine in countries where the pace of inoculations is slow and travelling home is difficult.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1216914-far-flung-us-citizens-clamour-for-vaccines-from-embassies/

Thai Govt. approves walk-in COVID-19 inoculation facilities in all provinces

 

 

Thailand’s Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul approved walk-in COVID-19 vaccination facilities in all provinces today (Wednesday), hoping to inoculate at least 70% of the population.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1216913-thai-govt-approves-walk-in-covid-19-inoculation-facilities-in-all-provinces/

COVID-19 vaccination: The sooner the better

 

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - Although doctors have repeatedly stressed that the benefits of a COVID-19 vaccination outweigh any risks, some people are still concerned about having an adverse reaction. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1216900-covid-19-vaccination-the-sooner-the-better/

Phuket COVID restrictions extended, foreigners breaking order face expulsion

By The Phuket News

 

Governor Narong issued the order May 12. The order will come into effect May 13. Photo: PR Phuket

 

PHUKET: The raft of restrictions in effect across Phuket to prevent the spread of CVOID-19 have been extended through to May 31 under a new provincial order issued May 12. The order included a warning that foreigners failing to observe the restrictions in place regarding gatherings may be expelled from the country.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1216936-phuket-covid-restrictions-extended-foreigners-breaking-order-face-expulsion/

 

Phuket suffers first death in current COVID outbreak

By The Phuket News

 

The news was confirmed during the daily broadcast this morning (May 12). Screenshot: PR Phuket

 

PHUKET: Phuket has suffered its first death in the current outbreak of COVID-19, and a new cluster of infections in the Phoonpon area of Phuket Town has pushed the infection rate in Phuket higher than the national rate. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1216937-phuket-suffers-first-death-in-current-covid-outbreak/

 

Thai Corrections Dept. confident it can control Covid-19 spread as 2,835 prisoners infected

 

 

Thailand’s Corrections Department has reported a total of 2,835 COVID-19 infections among inmates in prisons across the country, but it is confident that the situation is under control.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1216938-thai-corrections-dept-confident-it-can-control-covid-19-spread-as-2835-prisoners-infected/

 

Thailand officially enters rainy season this Saturday

 

 

Thailand will officially enter the rainy season this Saturday, with more rain than last year and rainfall over the entire season anticipated to be 5%-10% more than average, said Meteorological Department Director-General Nattapon Nattasomboon today (Wednesday).

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1216939-thailand-officially-enters-rainy-season-this-saturday/

 

Education Ministry Prepares Activities for Students ahead of New Term

By Paphamon Arayasukawat

 

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Education Ministry has prepared a host of activities for students, ahead of the first semester of this academic year on June 1st.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1216941-education-ministry-prepares-activities-for-students-ahead-of-new-term/

 

Anutin defends taxes on vaccines imported by private hospitals

By  Erich Parpart

 

 

Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health is defending taxes and fees imposed on private hospitals looking to bring in their own coronavirus vaccines.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1216942-anutin-defends-taxes-on-vaccines-imported-by-private-hospitals/

 

Thai court clears Finnwatch human rights researcher Andy Hall of all charges

by Mette Larsen

 

 

Thailand’s Supreme Court has cleared Andy Hall, Finnwatch human rights researcher of all charges, bringing an end to a years-long lawsuit against him, media YLE reports.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1216943-thai-court-clears-finnwatch-human-rights-researcher-andy-hall-of-all-charges/

 

Britons living abroad for more than 15 years to be given right to vote

Lisa O'Carroll

 

Move unveiled in Queen’s Speech could impact 3 million British nationals overseas

 

Harry Shindler at MBE award ceremony in 2014. The veteran has been campaigning for Britons abroad to be able to vote beyond the current 15-year limit. Photograph: British embassy Rome/Flickr

 

British nationals living overseas for more than 15 years will be given the right to vote in elections under new laws tabled by the government, ending a 20-year battle by 99-year-old Harry Shindler.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1216946-britons-living-abroad-for-more-than-15-years-to-be-given-right-to-vote/

 

Pattaya police continue to crack down on “social” gatherings, mask-wearing, and public drinking

By Adam Judd

 

 

Pattaya, Thailand-Multiple local residents of Pattaya have sent reports, copies of tickets, and concerns over being allegedly detained for Covid-19 related violations such as drinking in public, gatherings (even with as few as two people), and similar occurrences.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1216948-pattaya-police-continue-to-crack-down-on-“social”-gatherings-mask-wearing-and-public-drinking/

 

Foreigners mentioned in VAX rollout plans as PM Prayuth visits vaccination center

 

Picture: Spring News

 

Thailand's PM Prayuth Chan-ocha, his health minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Interior minister Anupong Paojinda and Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang were among the heavyweights in a show of vaccine unity in Bangkok yesterday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1216952-foreigners-mentioned-in-vax-rollout-plans-as-pm-prayuth-visits-vaccination-center/

 

Three suspects avoid fiery fate as police vehicle hits ten wheel truck in Rayong

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Three suspects being taken to prison had a lucky escape from being burned alive after a collision between a police transport vehicle and a ten wheel truck in rayong, eastern Thailand, yesterday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1216953-three-suspects-avoid-fiery-fate-as-police-vehicle-hits-ten-wheel-truck-in-rayong/

 

Thailand reports 4,887 COVID-19 cases, 32 new deaths 

 

 

Thailand on Thursday (May 13) reported 4,887 new COVID-19 cases, and 32 additional deaths over the past 24 hours.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1216954-thailand-reports-4887-covid-19-cases-32-new-deaths /

 

600,000 teachers and school staff set to be vaccinated ahead of the start of term on June 1st

 

Picture: ThaiPBS

 

An official at the education ministry said that the small committee of the CCSA had agreed to vaccinate 600,000 teachers and other school workers before the start of the school year.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1216959-600000-teachers-and-school-staff-set-to-be-vaccinated-ahead-of-the-start-of-term-on-june-1st/

 

Parents can access new online learning portal ahead of the start of term

 

Picture: Bangkok Business News

 

Thai media Bangkok Business News attempted to explain a new web portal designed to assist in children's online learning.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1216960-parents-can-access-new-online-learning-portal-ahead-of-the-start-of-term/

 

Hua Hin: Outbreak at pineapple factory - quarantined people moved from luxury downtown hotel to university

 

Picture: Ban Muang

 

Ban Muang reported that the Covid-19 cluster and outbreak at the Quality Pineapple Products factory on the Hua Hin bypass now had 200 cases. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1216961-hua-hin-outbreak-at-pineapple-factory-quarantined-people-moved-from-luxury-downtown-hotel-to-university/

 

What about us?! Calls to vaccinate Thailand's security guards

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Thailand's security guards are everywhere and they are often on the front line of individuals meeting many members of the public administering things like temperature checks at close quarters.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1216963-what-about-us-calls-to-vaccinate-thailands-security-guards/

 

Hua Hin: Praise for rescue foundation who take bedridden old lady to get benefits at the bank!

 

Picture: Sanook

 

A daughter was full of praise for the Sawang Hua Hin Thamma Sathan rescue foundation who responded with help to get her bedridden mother to the bank, reported Sanook.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1216964-hua-hin-praise-for-rescue-foundation-who-take-bedridden-old-lady-to-get-benefits-at-the-bank/

 

Pattaya: "New Lung" for Jomtien as beautiful park nears completion - open in July

 

Picture: Sophon Cable TV

 

Sophon Cable TV quoted Pattaya's mayor as saying that a new park in Jomtien is just about 100% complete.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1216968-pattaya-new-lung-for-jomtien-as-beautiful-park-nears-completion-open-in-july/

 

 

Pattaya: Mayor and business, tourism leaders conduct zoom conference call with PM's office

 

Picture: Sophon Cable TV

 

Sophon Cable TV reported on Facebook that Pattaya's mayor Sontaya Khunplome had conducted a zoom conference call with PM's office representative Tossaporn Sirisamphan yesterday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1216969-pattaya-mayor-and-business-tourism-leaders-conduct-zoom-conference-call-with-pms-office/

 

Immigration continue to arrest illegal immigrants sneaking across Thailand's porous borders

 

Picture: INN News

 

Deputy at the Immigration Bureau Pol Maj-Gen Achayon Kraithong told INN that the IB continue to enact policies to keep Thailand's borders secure.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1216970-immigration-continue-to-arrest-illegal-immigrants-sneaking-across-thailands-porous-borders/

 

Woman impaled by steel rod as motorbike hits power pole

By Eakkapop Thongtub

 

CCTV caught the moment when Ms Khanuengnit struck the power pole. Image: via Eakkapop Thongtub

 

PHUKET: A 34-year-old woman was impaled by a steel rod protruding from a power pole in a motorbike accident on Wichit Songkram Rd in Kathu in the first hour of this morning (May 13).

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1216972-woman-impaled-by-steel-rod-as-motorbike-hits-power-pole/

 

UPDATE:

 

Thai actress Ploy Chermarn accused of breaching COVID-19 rules while on Pha-ngan Island

 

 

The district chief officer of Pha-ngan Island, in Thailand’s Surat Thani province, has lodged a complaint with the district police against Thai actress Ploy Chermarn Boonyasak, accusing her of not wearing a face mask in public and of not entering compulsory self-isolation while vacationing on the resort island.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1216820-koh-phangan-locals-scurry-to-investigateensure-strict-measures-after-celeb-ploy-tests-positive/?do=findComment&comment=16469899

 

Thailand: Covid-19 Outbreaks in Prisons

Accelerate Releases; Improve Protection, Medical Care in Detention Facilities    

 

File photo for reference only

 

(New York, May 13, 2021) – People held in Thailand’s overcrowded prisons and detention facilities are at grave risk from Covid-19 outbreaks, Human Rights Watch said today. The Thai authorities should immediately act to ensure that prisoners and detainees have access to adequate protective measures and health care. The authorities should swiftly reduce overcrowding by releasing people who do not pose a serious and concrete risk to others.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1216975-thailand-covid-19-outbreaks-in-prisons/

 

Commerce Ministry Plans Online Trade Fairs to Boost Exports

By Woraprat Lerpaisal

 

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - The International Trade Promotion Department plans to host more virtual trade fairs and online business activities, to boost the country’s exports in the second half of the year amid COVID-19 outbreaks.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1216982-commerce-ministry-plans-online-trade-fairs-to-boost-exports/

 

OPINION

 

Endgame. Whose endgame?

By Tulsathit Taptim

 

 

Intensifying vaccination drama in Thailand is taking place against an intriguing international backdrop featuring an apparent race between the West on one side and a Chinese-Russian alliance on the other to pump vaccines into the third world, which is being threatened seriously by COVID-19 at the moment.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1216987-endgame-whose-endgame/

 

Phuket to open to fully vaccinated, COVID-19 free foreign tourists without quarantine in July

 

 

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will proceed with its plans to attract foreign tourists to the resort island of Phuket, without compulsory quarantine, starting July 1st this year, with flight promotions as an incentive.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1216995-phuket-to-open-to-fully-vaccinated-covid-19-free-foreign-tourists-without-quarantine-in-july/

 

Charges progress against Phuket mass party venue operators

 

A screenshot taken from a video of one of the three parties held in Phuket last weekend. Screenshot: via Eakkapop Thongtub

 

PHUKET:-- Patong Police Chief Col Sujin Nilabodi has confirmed that the managers of the three venues where the mass parties were held in Phuket last month, marking the beginning of the ‘Third Wave’ infections on the island, will face charges under the Emergency Decree.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1217005-charges-progress-against-phuket-mass-party-venue-operators/