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/

Omicron Wave Expected to be Less Severe Than Delta

 

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - Medical researchers have indicated that while the Omicron coronavirus variant is unlikely to replace the Delta variant due to genetic differences, it is also expected to be less severe.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245374-omicron-wave-expected-to-be-less-severe-than-delta/

UPDATE: Police hunting for all suspects involved in violent brawl that left one person dead in Central Pattaya

 

 

The Pattaya City Police are hunting for all suspects involved in a “violent brawl” in the Tree Town Market area of Central Pattaya off of Soi Buakhao last night, January 2nd, 2022.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245413-update-police-hunting-for-all-suspects-involved-in-violent-brawl-that-left-one-person-dead-in-central-pattaya/

 

Pattaya Mayor says regular events will continue despite Omicron concerns

 

 

The Pattaya City Mayor Sonthaya Khunplume spoke with TPN media this morning to address concerns on social media about the fast-spreading “Omicron” Covid-19 variant in Pattaya and how the city was handling the situation.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245369-pattaya-mayor-says-regular-events-will-continue-despite-omicron-concerns/

Swedish restaurant owners in Thailand hopes the worst is behind them

by Gregers Møller

 

Kent Holmgren runs the Karlssons restaurant in Patong, Phuket.
Photo: Leo Pettersson

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245424-swedish-restaurant-owners-in-thailand-hopes-the-worst-is-behind-them/

 

'You joking?': UK woman's Thailand holiday turns to quarantine horror

Emily Lefroy

 

Ms Meeks was forced into hotel quarantine after returning a positive Covid test when arriving in Thailand. Source: Instagram

 

A UK woman's trip to Thailand turned into a holiday nightmare after she returned a positive coronavirus test and was immediately whisked away to hotel quarantine.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245425-you-joking-uk-womans-thailand-holiday-turns-to-quarantine-horror/

 

Thailand reports 3,091 new COVID-19 cases, 12 deaths, 2,688 recoveries

 

File photo

 

Thailand on Tuesday (January 4) reported 3,091 new COVID-19 cases, 2,88 recoveries and 12 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. 

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245436-thailand-reports 3091-new-covid-19-cases-12-deaths-2688-recoveries/

 

Omicron set to delay reopening of bars and pubs

 

Daily News Thai caption: Delay to opening pubs - bars

 

A key figure at the Thai Ministry of Public Healthy indicated yesterday that pubs, bars and nightlife entertainment were likely to remain shut after the middle of this month.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245438-omicron-set-to-delay-reopening-of-bars-and-pubs/

 

Dozens of Thais/foreigners positive for drug taking in raid on Huay Khwang restaurant

 

Picture: INN

 

Huay Khwang police raided the Khao Soi restaurant at 4 am on News Year's Day, reported INN.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245439-dozens-of-thaisforeigners-positive-for-drug-taking-in-raid-on-huay-khwang-restaurant/

 

New Year: As the carnage on the roads continues RTP deputy says he's "happy" with 20% less accidents

 

Picture: Naew Na

 

After hundred more people died on the Thai roads at New Year - and more drunks than ever got behind the wheel - a deputy at the Royal Thai Police said that he was happy. 

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245444-new-year-as-the-carnage-on-the-roads-continues-rtp-deputy-says-hes-happy-with-20-less-accidents/

 

Thailand expecting 200 million air passengers by 2031 - 9th biggest hub in world, says transport minister

 

Picture: Manager

 

Thailand's transport minister Saksayam Chidchob said that studies show that Thailand will be the 9th biggest aviation player in the world in terms of passenger numbers within ten years.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245447-thailand-expecting-200-million-air-passengers-by-2031-9th-biggest-hub-in-world-says-transport-minister/

Companies warned not to make false claims that their ATK kits can identify Omicron variant

By: Natthaphon  Sangpolsit

 

    

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed that there are no ATK test kits on the market that can accurately detect the Omicron variant and any companies who make this claim could be charged with false advertising.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245454-companies-warned-not-to-make-false-claims-that-their-atk-kits-can-identify-omicron-variant/

 

Health chief advises ATK tests before going home and before going back to work 

 

Picture INN

 

Dr Kiatphum Wongjarit at the Ministry of Public Health said that Covid-19 cases were slightly more than expected and that deaths were slightly less in the latest stats.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245455-health-chief-advises-atk-tests-before-going-home-and-before-going-back-to-work/

 

Two men in pick-up die in south as their vehicle hits a tree and is bent in the shape of a "U"

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Khao Chaison police were called yesterday morning to the scene of a one vehicle accident on the Phatthalung to Hat Yai section of the Petchkasem Highway.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245456-two-men-in-pick-up-die-in-south-as-their-vehicle-hits-a-tree-and-is-bent-in-the-shape-of-a-u/

 

Health ministry re-organizing resources in preparation for rise in daily Covid figures

By: Namo Vananupong

 

    

BANGKOK (NNT) - People returning from the New Year holidays are being encouraged to take ATK tests as a precaution against COVID-19. Meanwhile, public health authorities are re-organizing healthcare resources in preparation for an expected increase in daily Covid infections.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245457-health-ministry-re-organizing-resources-in-preparation-for-rise-in-daily-covid-figures/

 

Abused Capybara in Khon Kaen sparks outcry on social media

 

 

The owner of a zoo in Thailand’s Khon Kaen province has posted disturbing pictures, on the zoo’s official Facebook page, of a Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) being abused, urging visitors not to harm them as such creatures are friendly and do not harm others.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245458-abused-capybara-in-khon-kaen-sparks-outcry-on-social-media/

 

New Year holiday brings crowds to Hua Hin

By Paul Andrews

 

 

The crowds returned to Hua Hin this weekend as domestic tourists visited in large numbers to celebrate the New Year.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245460-new-year-holiday-brings-crowds-to-hua-hin/

 

Provincial governors told to manage waste after huge numbers of ATK test kits/masks are used at New Year

 

Picture: INN

 

Sutthipong Julacharoen at the interior ministry told INN that the Thai prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha was concerned about the management of waste associated with Covid-19.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245463-provincial-governors-told-to-manage-waste-after-huge-numbers-of-atk-test-kitsmasks-are-used-at-new-year/

 

Foreign tourists not wearing masks threaten closure of Phi Phi island - hotelier calls for foreigners to be fined

 

File photo for reference only//Wikipedia

 

Jiraphat Jantharo of the Phi Phi Hotel Group in Krabi, southern Thailand said that most foreigners visiting the holiday island were not wearing masks.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245464-foreign-tourists-not-wearing-masks-threaten-closure-of-phi-phi-island-hotelier-calls-for-foreigners-to-be-fined/

 

Phuket hotels desperate as "insured" foreign tourists with Covid denied coverage, refuse to go to hospital - "Hospitel" shortage admitted

 

Picture: Manager

 

Manager reported from Phuket saying there was a severe crisis among increasing numbers of foreigners on the holiday island testing positive for Covid-19 at the start of their stay. 

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245465-phuket-hotels-desperate-as-insured-foreign-tourists-with-covid-denied-coverage-refuse-to-go-to-hospital-hospitel-shortage-admitted/

 

Thailand’s schools told to self-assess for COVID-19 risks in managing classes

 

 

Thailand’s schools have been instructed to self-assess for COVID-19 risks in managing their classes, in the Ministry of Education’s latest announcement published yesterday (Monday) outlining some measures for schools across the country to follow, amid fears of Omicron spread following the long New Year’s holidays.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245473-thailand’s-schools-told-to-self-assess-for-covid-19-risks-in-managing-classes/

 

Restaurants report roaring New Year trade

 

File photo for reference only

 

The head of the Thai Restaurant Association reported huge numbers of Thais, Thai families and friends visited restaurants to celebrate New Year.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245477-restaurants-report-roaring-new-year-trade/

 

Prime minister working from home until January 14

By: Namo Vananupong

 

    

BANGKOK (NNT) - With authorities expecting a rise in the number of Covid infections due to New Year’s festivities and travels, employers are being urged to implement a Work from Home model for their workers.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245482-prime-minister-working-from-home-until-january-14/

 

Rajavithi Hospital Allowing Walk-in Pfizer Vaccinations While Supplies Last

By: Paul Rujopakarn

 

    

BANGKOK (NNT) - Rajavithi Hospital is now allowing walk-in visits for people to receive 1st, 2nd and booster injections using the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a daily rate of 200 jabs until supplies run out.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245483-rajavithi-hospital-allowing-walk-in-pfizer-vaccinations-while-supplies-last/

 

Omicron guidelines set, mild and asymptomatic cases to be isolated at home or state facilities

 

File / Beds and items provided to patients in a field hospital set up in the Bangkok Arena indoor multi-purpose sporting venue to accomodate an upsurge in the number of Covid-19 coronavirus cases in the country.

 

Thailand’s Medical Services Department has issued a set of guidelines to deal with COVID-19 Omicron variant cases, to ensure the infected are provided with safe and timely treatment. The department has divided Omicron cases into asymptomatic, probable cases and mild cases, who can be isolated at home or in community facilities, and the severe cases who need to be hospitalised.

 

Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245508-omicron-guidelines-set-mild-and-asymptomatic-cases-to-be-isolated-at-home-or-state-facilities/

 

Thailand’s health minister disagrees with plan to reopen pubs on January 16

 

 

Thai Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has indicated that the reopening of pubs and bars, scheduled for January 16th, may have to be postponed indefinitely as, in several provinces, they are being blamed for outbreaks of COVID-19 infections during the long New Year holidays.

 

Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245509-thailand’s-health-minister-disagrees-with-plan-to-reopen-pubs-on-january-16/

 

With over 2,000 Omicron cases in Thailand so far, expert predicts beginning of new wave

 

Photo: The US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

 

With over 2,000 cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus detected in Thailand to date according to the Ministry of Public Health, the country is entering a widespread wave of COVID-19 infections in the next two years, following the long New Year holidays, which will see daily infections spiking into the tens of thousands of cases in the near future, predicted Dr. Manoon Leechawengwongs, a doctor specializing in respiratory and pulmonary diseases at Vichaiyut hospital.

 

Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245510-with-over-2000-omicron-cases-in-thailand-so-far-expert-predicts-beginning-of-new-wave/

Education Ministry Postpones Children’s Day Event

 

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Ministry of Education has postponed its annual Children’s Day event at the Teachers Council Auditorium in Bangkok to prevent a resurgence of COVID-19 cases.

 

Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245511-education-ministry-postpones-children’s-day-event/

 

Expert Predicts Rise in COVID-19 Cases But Herd Immunity Possibility From Omicron

 

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - A medical expert has indicated that Thailand will soon face a surge in COVID-19 infections, but says he believes the Omicron coronavirus variant will develop into a live vaccine that provides immunity without the need for booster shots.

 

Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245512-expert-predicts-rise-in-covid-19-cases-but-herd-immunity-possibility-from-omicron/

 

Government Aims to Resolve Household Debts in 2022

 

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - The government has set its sights on resolving household debt for eight specific groups, as it makes tackling debt issues one of its primary missions for 2022.

 

Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1245514-government-aims-to-resolve-household-debts-in-2022/