CCSA operations director say detailed announcements on Thailand’s reopening plan to vaccinated foreign tourists without quarantine will come this week

 

 

A clear and actual plan for Thailand’s reopening to welcome fully vaccinated foreigners will be discussed and finalized within 1-2 days, the director of the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration’s (CCSA) operations center stated today, October 18th.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235930-ccsa-operations-director-say-detailed-announcements-on-thailand’s-reopening-plan-to-vaccinated-foreign-tourists-without-quarantine-will-come-this-week/

Thailand to cease Sinovac vaccine use when stocks end this month

 

FILE PHOTO: A health worker holds a syringe and a vial of the Sinovac coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine at a market in Bangkok, Thailand, March 17, 2021. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand will stop using the COVID-19 vaccine of China's Sinovac when its current stock finishes, a senior official said on Monday, having used the shot extensively in combination with Western-developed vaccines.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235891-thailand-to-cease-sinovac-vaccine-use-when-stocks-end-this-month/

GPO sells ATKs at 40 baht per unit at eight of its retail stores

 

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - Starting today (October 18), the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) retails antigen test kits at 40 baht per unit, which is well below the market price, at eight of its retail stores.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235893-gpo-sells-atks-at-40-baht-per-unit-at-eight-of-its-retail-stores/

Third booster with half dose of Pfizer vaccine as effective as full dose – study

 

Photos by GABRIEL BOUYS and Ronny Hartmann / AFP

 

Thailand’s Siriraj Institute of Clinical Research, of the Faculty of Medicine at Siriraj hospital, is recommending that people who have been inoculated with two AstraZeneca vaccine shots receive a third jab of a half dose of the Pfizer vaccine, which is as effective as a full dose in boosting antibody levels.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235898-third-booster-with-half-dose-of-pfizer-vaccine-as-effective-as-full-dose-–-study/

Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo defends elephant swimming shows

 

 

Khao Kheow Open Zoo, in Thailand’s eastern province of Chon Buri, will continue holding elephant swimming shows for tourists despite social media criticism, alleging cruelty to animals, after a picture, titled “Elephant in the Room”, taken by Adam Oswell of Australia, won the best picture in the photojournalism category at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards 2021, organized by Natural History Museum in London.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235945-thailand’s-khao-kheow-open-zoo-defends-elephant-swimming-shows/

 

UPDATE:

 

KResearch: Thai Tourism Will See Improvement in 2022

By Suwit Rattiwan

 

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - Kasikorn Research Centre (KResearch) is optimistic that the Thai tourism industry will see improvement next year as Thailand is going to allow fully vaccinated visitors from low-risk countries to enter the kingdom without quarantine from November 1.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235827-kasikorn-expects-180000-foreign-tourists-in-last-two-months-of-2021-real-benefit-of-reopening-next-year/?do=findComment&comment=16908157

 

3 Grenades Found in Din Daeng Bin

 

 

BANGKOK, Oct 18 (TNA) – People in Din Daeng district were shocked as three grenades in a bag were found in a rubbish bin in front of a building.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235946-3-grenades-found-in-din-daeng-bin/

 

PM Orders Probe into Suspicious Withdrawals from Bank Accounts

 

 

BANGKOK, Oct 18 (TNA) – Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered relevant organizations to investigate people's complaints about suspicious withdrawals from their bank accounts which were set up for automatic bill payments.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235947-pm-orders-probe-into-suspicious-withdrawals-from-bank-accounts/

 

BTS launches free rides for points after cancelling monthly deal

By Panithan Onthaworn

 

 

BTS Skytrain rolled out its new promotion in which members can use points to redeem free rides as a “more flexible” option for passengers, the company said Monday, after it stopped offering bundles of fixed-price tickets with a one-month validity.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235949-bts-launches-free-rides-for-points-after-cancelling-monthly-deal/

 

Covid figures rise as Chiang Mai prepares to welcome back tourists

By Natcha Patanasophon

 

 

The number of Covid-19 infections in Chiang Mai rose further on Monday, as the province was set to re-open to vaccinated tourists next month.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235950-covid-figures-rise-as-chiang-mai-prepares-to-welcome-back-tourists/

 

Miss Universe Thailand 2021 beauty pageant to be held in Pattaya

By Goong Nang(GN)

 

 

Pattaya – The Miss Universe Thailand 2021 beauty pageant preliminary and final rounds will be held at Nongnooch Garden Pattaya later this month.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235951-miss-universe-thailand-2021-beauty-pageant-to-be-held-in-pattaya/

 

Oct 18: Prachuap reports 143 new COVID-19 cases, 73 cases in Hua Hin

By Paul Andrews

 

file photo

 

Health officials on Monday (Oct 18) reported 143 new COVID-19 cases, 73 were found in Hua Hin.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235953-oct-18-prachuap-reports-143-new-covid-19-cases-73-cases-in-hua-hin/

 

Fire in Covid-19 ward at Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok - no injuries after evacuation

 

Picture: INN

 

Bangkok Noi police alerted fire services after fire broke out in a storeroom on the eighth floor of the Atsadang Building at Siriraj Hospital yesterday, reported INN.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235964-fire-in-covid-19-ward-at-siriraj-hospital-in-bangkok-no-injuries-after-evacuation/

 

Anutin confirms reopening plan: Tourists must stay one night in place "where they can be contacted"

 

Picture: INN

 

Thailand's deputy prime minister and health mninister Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed that tourists arriving in Thailand will have to stay one night in a place where they can be contacted.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235967-anutin-confirms-reopening-plan tourists-must-stay-one-night-in-place-where-they-can-be-contacted/

 

Thailand reports 9,122 new COVID-19 cases, 71 deaths, 10,731 recoveries

 

File photo: REUTERS

 

Thailand on Tuesday (October 19) reported 9,122 new COVID-19 cases, 10,731 recoveries and 71 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. 

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235971-thailand-reports-9122-new-covid-19-cases-71-deaths-10731-recoveries/

 

Junior monk attacks senior monk with a scythe in southern Thailand almost cutting off his nose

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Muang Trang police were called to some Buddhist offices in the southern Thai city after one monk attacked another.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235973-junior-monk-attacks-senior-monk-with-a-scythe-in-southern-thailand-almost-cutting-off-his-nose/

 

A lack of ambition at COP26 puts Thailand’s future at risk

By Dominic Chakrabongse

 

 

This November, the 197 member countries of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will gather in Glasgow to negotiate the world’s collective fate in combatting climate change. Thailand was recently ranked as 9th in the world for vulnerability to climate change and extreme weather. However, as of the time of writing, Thailand’s stance towards successfully reducing carbon emissions risks falling short.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235974-a-lack-of-ambition-at-cop26-puts-thailand’s-future-at-risk/

 

Former PM Yingluck explains her actions during "Great Flood" of 2011

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Former Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra explained her actions during the so called "Great Flood" of 2011 that inundated large swathes of the Chao Phraya river basin and the Thai capital Bangkok.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235976-former-pm-yingluck-explains-her-actions-during-great-flood-of-2011/

 

Factory worker murdered in Nonthaburi near Bangkok

 

Picture: Naew Na

 

Naew Na reported the death of a 36 year old factory worker at an apartment complex in the Sai Noi police jurisdiction in Nonthaburi near the Thai capital Bangkok.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235978-factory-worker-murdered-in-nonthaburi-near-bangkok/

 

A thousand crabs dumped by the roadside have the locals holding their noses - and pointing!

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

Our picture today shows locals in the Lat Luang area of Samut Prakan pointing at a pile of crab carcasses. 

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235980-a-thousand-crabs-dumped-by-the-roadside-have-the-locals-holding-their-noses-and-pointing/

 

"Ungrateful son" sets fire to his home after deaf mum ignores booze money request

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Police in the Samrong Thap jurisdiction of Surin in Thailand's north east served an arrest warrant on Phon Thamthong, 45, after he set fire to his own house and fled to sleep with relatives at the weekend.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235985-ungrateful-son-sets-fire-to-his-home-after-deaf-mum-ignores-booze-money-request/

 

More field hospitals set up, 22 more villages locked down in Pattani as COVID cases surge

 

 

22 more villages in the Sai Buri district of Thailand’s southern border province of Pattani have been locked down and more field hospitals set up to cope with the steady rise in COVID-19 infections.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235988-more-field-hospitals-set-up-22-more-villages-locked-down-in-pattani-as-covid-cases-surge/

 

Music bar next door to Thai Police HQ busted at Central World - 93 arrested for drinking

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Pathumwan police headed by station chief Pol Col Phansa Ommaraphitak raided the Tapas Music Bar by Vaso on the second floor at Central World in downtown Bangkok at 10 pm last night.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235990-music-bar-next-door-to-thai-police-hq-busted-at-central-world-93-arrested-for-drinking/

 

Phuket marks 140 new COVID cases, three more deaths

By The Phuket News

 

Image: PPHO

 

PHUKET: The latest Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO) daily COVID situation report has marked 140 new local infections confirmed across the island yesterday (Oct 18) bringing the total number of people recognised as infected with COVID-19 in Phuket since Apr 3 to 14,045.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235994-phuket-marks-140-new-covid-cases-three-more-deaths/

Bangkok: Four men bailed in "Double Knife Bas" case

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

The Thonburi court granted bail to four suspects in a case in Thonburi referred to as "Bas Miit Khu" - Double Knife Bas.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235995-bangkok-four-men-bailed-in-double-knife-bas-case/

 

 

Calls for more signage as wild baby elephant killed on road in Prachinburi

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Ra Bo Pai police in Prachinburi were called after reports that a baby elephant had been killed last night on Route 359.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1236000-calls-for-more-signage-as-wild-baby-elephant-killed-on-road-in-prachinburi/

 

Thailand receives 470,000 donated AstraZeneca doses from South Korea

By Tanakorn Sangiam

 

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - The South Korean government has donated 470,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to Thailand in support of Thailand’s national inoculation campaign against COVID-19.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1236003-thailand-receives-470000-donated-astrazeneca-doses-from-south-korea/

 

BOT and Bankers’ Association probing widely reported abnormal transactions

By Namo Vananupong

 

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - A large number of people have been making social media posts about instances of money being deducted from their bank accounts despite not having ordered transactions or purchased goods or services. A Facebook group dedicated to the issue is now sharing many reports of these instances from alleged victims, while banks and government agencies are now looking into the matter.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1236006-bot-and-bankers’-association-probing-widely-reported-abnormal-transactions/

 

Transgender celeb on the run from religious authorities gives thanks to Thailand after being resettled

By Erich Parpart

 

 

A Malaysian transgender entrepreneur who received asylum status in Australia after fleeing religious authorities in her native country posted a special thank you to Thailand for hosting her while her asylum request was processed.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1236007-transgender-celeb-on-the-run-from-religious-authorities-gives-thanks-to-thailand-after-being-resettled/

 

UPDATE:

 

Almost 100 people charged with violating alcohol ban at Bangkok mall

 

 

Ninety-three people were detained for police questioning and charged on Monday for allegedly selling and/or drinking alcohol at a restaurant and bar in Bangkok, in violation of the COVID-19 restrictions.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235990-music-bar-next-door-to-thai-police-hq-busted-at-central-world-93-arrested-for-drinking/?do=findComment&comment=16909102