Download the ASEAN NOW 2022 Calendar here. All no alcohol days listed!

 

 

A big thank you to everyone who submitted images to the photography forum over the past year.

 

There were some amazing photos submitted during 2021.

 

The calendar also includes all Thai and other significant holidays, including no alcohol days.

 

You can download the ASEAN NOW 2022 Calendar here: https://aseannow.com/files/file/796-asean-now-calendar-2022/

Bangkok Extends Closure of Entertainment Venues Until January 15

 

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will extend the temporary closure of entertainment venues until January 15 to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1244958-bangkok-extends-closure-of-entertainment-venues-until-january-15/

Thai Health Ministry says cloth face masks effective if worn properly

 

 

Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health is insisting that cloth face masks can protect against the Omicron COVID-19 variant, if they are made of muslin and worn properly.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1244956-thai-health-ministry-says-cloth-face-masks-effective-if-worn-properly/

Medical Sciences Department reports total of 739 Omicron cases in Thailand

 

 

Confirmed Omicron cases in Thailand have increased to 739, including 488 cases among arrivals from abroad and 251 locally-acquired cases, according to Dr. Supakit Sirilak, director-general of the Medical Services Department.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1244924-medical-sciences-department-reports-total-of-739-omicron-cases-in-thailand/

Private and public sectors urged work from home after New Year holidays

 

Photo by @tirachardz

 

Thailand’s Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) is seeking cooperation from both the public and private sectors by allowing their employees to work from home after the long New Year holiday, initially for 14 days, as the Omicron variant spreads through 33 provinces, infecting 740 people so far.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1244969-private-and-public-sectors-urged-work-from-home-after-new-year-holidays/

 

Expert: Omicron to Be Globally Dominant in 1-2 Months

 

 

BANGKOK, Dec 29 (TNA) – A renowned virologist predicts Omicron will be the dominant variant of COVID-19 worldwide in a few months and Thailand may face its 5 th  wave of the disease after the New Year holiday.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1244970-expert-omicron-to-be-globally-dominant-in-1-2-months/

 

Thai Karate Athletes Have COVID

 

 

BANGKOK, Dec 29 (TNA) – Eighteen karate athletes, coaching staff and executives of the Thailand Karate Federation tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from the Asian Karate Championships in Kazakhstan but all of them remained stable.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1244971-thai-karate-athletes-have-covid/

 

First Omicron Case Reported in Phichit

 

 

PHICHIT, Dec 29 (TNA) – Phichit detected its first Omicron case who returned from Dubai while Nakhon Ratchasima confirmed two Omicron patients who arrived from Britain. 

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1244972-first-omicron-case-reported-in-phichit/

 

Beaches in Prachuap Khiri Khan the cleanest in Thailand

By Paul Andrews

 

Ban Krut beach

 

Two beaches in Prachuap Khiri Khan have been found to have the cleanest water of any beach in Thailand.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1244974-beaches-in-prachuap-khiri-khan-the-cleanest-in-thailand/

 

Giant straw puppets greet tourists at Phetchaburi’s Khao Lam festival

By Paul Andrews

 

 

Giant straw puppets will be among the attractions at a week long festival in Phetchaburi.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1244975-giant-straw-puppets-greet-tourists-at-phetchaburi’s-khao-lam-festival/

 

Thailand reports 3,037 new COVID-19 cases, 25 deaths, 3,115 recoveries

 

File photo

 

Thailand on Thursday (December 30) reported 3,037 new COVID-19 cases, 3,115 recoveries and 25 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. 

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1244991-thailand-reports 3037-new-covid-19-cases-25-deaths-3115-recoveries/

 

2021: The year Thailand walked a COVID tightrope of hope and horror

 

A volunteer from the Bangkok Community Help Foundation administering a rapid antigen test, which screens for the Covid-19 coronavirus, to a resident of the Khlong Toei community in Bangkok. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)

 

To the disappointment of all Thais, 2021 has been another year of COVID-19 outbreaks. Despite an accelerating mass vaccination drive across the country, the end of the pandemic is not in sight yet.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1244998-2021-the-year-thailand-walked-a-covid-tightrope-of-hope-and-horror/

 

Omicron super spreader event in Kalasin linked to 248 cases

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Daily News carried a report of comments by the chief of the Department of Disease Control Dr Opas Kankavinpong.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245000-omicron-super-spreader-event-in-kalasin-linked-to-248-cases/

 

2021: A year of unpalatable choices

By Ken Lohatepanont

 

 

Governing, it is said, is the art of compromise, of not letting the perfect be the enemy of the good, of settling for the next best. In few years, it would seem, has compromise as an art of governing looked so unpalatable than in 2021. 

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245004-2021-a-year-of-unpalatable-choices/

 

Things you may not know about Thai Hom Mali, the world’s best rice

 

 

The pride of the nation, Thai Hom Mali rice (Jasmine Rice) is native to Thailand yet not every Thai knows the history of this delicious grain.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245005-things-you-may-not-know-about-thai-hom-mali-the-world’s-best-rice/

 

Phuket: 3,000 - 4,000 tourists arriving daily - about 20-30 with Omicron

 

File photo for reference only

 

Dr Kusak Kukiatkul of the Phuket health authority told Thai business media that around 3-4,000 foreign tourists were arriving in Phuket daily.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245007-phuket-3000-4000-tourists-arriving-daily-about-20-30-with-omicron/

 

Phuket Tourism: Traders smiling again - "Covid is a concern but so is going without"

 

Picture: PPTV 36

 

Thai media PPTV 36 went to Phuket and found traders smiling again as tourists continued to arrive on the southern Thai island in good numbers.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245009-phuket-tourism-traders-smiling-again-covid-is-a-concern-but-so-is-going-without/

 

Premchai the Poacher: No special privileges for Ital-Thai tycoon, says prison authority

 

Picture: Daily News

 

A spokesman for the corrections department of Thailand said that convicted poacher Premchai Karnasuta would be afforded no special privileges and was being treated like any other prisoner.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245015-premchai-the-poacher-no-special-privileges-for-ital-thai-tycoon-says-prison-authority/

 

Thais urged not to drink drive this New Year

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Deputy interior minister Niphon Bunyamanee said that he and the Thai government cares about the welfare of the people on the roads.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245017-thais-urged-not-to-drink-drive-this-new-year/

 

Bangkok to plant flower gardens in public parks

 

Image Credit: PR Bangkok

 

If you’re planning to stay in Bangkok for the New Year holidays, you can visit these flower gardens in four public parks across the city.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245020-bangkok-to-plant-flower-gardens-in-public-parks/

 

Are charity runs side-stepping real crisis in Thai education?

By Thai PBS World’s General Desk

 

 

Dana (giving) is recognized as a virtue in Thai culture, meaning almost all citizens are familiar with the idea of charity and donations. But this month a debate on what the state – rather than charity – should provide has gone viral across Thailand. The hot topic was sparked after rock star Artiwara “Toon Bodyslam” Kongmalai decided to stage another charity run to raise funds for impoverished children.  

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245021-are-charity-runs-side-stepping-real-crisis-in-thai-education/ 

 

PM urges public to keep masks on throughout holiday season

By Tanakorn Sangiam

 

    

BANGKOK (NNT) - With New Year celebrations just around the corner amidst the increase of Omicron cases, the Prime Minister has reminded event organizers to strictly comply with the Covid Free Settings, while urging the general public to always have a mask on.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245022-pm-urges-public-to-keep-masks-on-throughout-holiday-season/

 

UPDATE:

 

Short-range aerosol suspected reason behind Kalasin Omicron cluster

By Tanakorn Sangiam

 

    

BANGKOK (NNT) - A pulmonologist at Siriraj Hospital has explained that the rapid spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant in Kalasin province might indicate a limited range of airborne transmissibility.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245000-omicron-super-spreader-event-in-kalasin-linked-to-248-cases/?do=findComment&comment=17081564

 

"New Millionaires" back selling veg at the market in Korat after lottery win - tip given for today's draw

 

Picture: Snook

 

Sanook went to the Home Garden market in Muang district of Nakhon Ratchasima in Thailand's north east where they found lottery winners Adul Thonsungnern, 48, and his wife Chalermwan, 49, back at their stall selling vegetables after a lottery win.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245025-new-millionaires-back-selling-veg-at-the-market-in-korat-after-lottery-win-tip-given-for-todays-draw/

 

Thai schoolkids on Myanmar border do bomb shelter drill as guns still rumble nearby

 

Picture: Sanook

 

Sanook reported from the school of Ban Tha Ta Fang in Mae Yuam sub-district of Mae Hong Son that lies close to the border with Myanmar.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245028-thai-schoolkids-on-myanmar-border-do-bomb-shelter-drill-as-guns-still-rumble-nearby/

 

Thailand's famed Maya Bay set to reopen to tourists on January 1st - strict limits apply

 

Maya Bay. File photo

 

Channel 7 TV reported on the impending reopening of Maya Bay in Krabi after the area was closed to tourists for more than 3 years.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245029-thailands-famed-maya-bay-set-to-reopen-to-tourists-on-january-1st-strict-limits-apply/

 

Thailand records 194 more COVID-19 Omicron cases on Wednesday

 

 

Omicron variant infections in Thailand increased by 194 yesterday (Wednesday), to 934.

 

Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245042-thailand-records-194-more-covid-19-omicron-cases-on-wednesday/

 

39 people die, 362 injured in road accidents on first day of holiday travel

 

 

39 people died and 362 others were injured in 362 road accidents nationwide on Wednesday, the first of the “Seven Dangerous Days”, as declared by the Thai Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

 

Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245043-39-people-die-362-injured-in-road-accidents-on-first-day-of-holiday-travel/

 

Total Omicron Cases Rise to Almost 1,000

 

 

BANGKOK, Dec 30 (TNA) – There were 934 Omicron cases in the country and local infections rose as arrivals slowed down, according to the Department of Medical Sciences.

 

Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245045-total-omicron-cases-rise-to-almost-1000/

 

42 people arrested at allegedly illegal casino during police raid in Pattaya

 

 

Pattaya Police raided an illegal casino inside a hotel in Central Pattaya on Tuesday night (December 28th) in which 42 people were arrested.

 

Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245046-42-people-arrested-at-allegedly-illegal-casino-during-police-raid-in-pattaya/