With over 6,000 visitors and more than 100 exhibitors expected to attend, the Phuket Boat Show is one of the most luxurious boat events. From luxury yachts to sports and fishing boats, vessels of all shapes and sizes will be displayed. Both power and sail from dinghies and day trippers to superyachts will make their way into the water.

Whether you’re an experienced sailor or just starting, this family-friendly event has something for everyone. Get your tickets now and experience the thrill of the Thailand International Boat Show!

Major Attractions

The Venue: The Royal Phuket Marina, winner of 5 Gold Anchor distinctions, is a world-class lifestyle destination that combines luxurious waterfront living and commercial space with a state-of-the-art marina.  The Marina deployed a solar tech to power its operation and took a conscious step towards sustainable growth. The venue is majestic in itself.

Activities: The four-day event will showcase the best of Phuket to the world and will include:

• Luxury hub embellished with gourmet cuisine, expensive watches to supercars, fashion, art and world-renowned brands.
• TIBS conference, which features informative panels and presentations, will bring together key stakeholders from the marine industry.
• Extensive social events include live music, craftsmanship demonstration, workshops and a market for everything related to boating.
• The visitors can enjoy a comprehensive display of in-water line-ups of different kinds of boats.
• Unlike other luxurious events, this family-friendly boat show has a kid play area for the safety of your children.

Note: This boating spectacular is organised by JAND Events, a trading division of JAND Group, and supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Thailand (MOTST), Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) demonstrating support for the government’s yacht tourism initiative.

Take advantage of the opportunity to explore the endless boating possibilities at the Thailand International Boat Show in Phuket!

Event Details

Date and Time:

12^th January—11:00 to 23:00

13^th, 14th & 15^th January—12:00 to 23:00

For details about the schedules and programmes for the day click the link below:

https://www.thaiinternationalboatshow.com/daily-schedule-for-the-thailand-international-boat-show/

Venue: Royal Phuket Marina, 68 Moo 2, Thepkasattri Rd Kohkaew, Muang, Phuket 83000. Thailand.

Contact details for registration and other information:

Phone: +66 (0) 76 600 225

Fax: +66 (0) 76 601 320

Email: info@thailandinternationalboatshow.com

Website: https://www.thaiinternationalboatshow.com/

Follow Indo Thai News for the Thailand events news and get the latest update on current events in Thailand today!

The post Experience the Thrill of the Sea at Thailand’s Luxurious International Boat Show! appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Nagesh Singh has served as the Consul General of India in Atlanta. He holds a Master’s degree from the Delhi School of Economics. Before being appointed Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Thailand, Singh was working as a Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs.

Pictures courtesy @IndiainThailand / Twitter

Also read

Thailand Celebrates Chulalongkorn Day in Honor of King Rama V

Ambassador of India to Thailand H.E. Ms. Durai Present Furniture Items To Border Patrol Police School In Omkoi

The post Nagesh Singh, India’s Ambassador to Thailand Arrives in Bangkok appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Manoj Muntashir is known for his songs and poetry and has won several awards including the National Award for Best Lyricist for Saina (2022) and the IIFA Best Lyrics award for Galliyan from Ek Villain (2015) and Mere Rashk-e-Qamar from Baadshaho (2018).

The event will be preceded by dinner from 6 pm onwards, followed by an introduction at 7.30 pm. 

Ticket packages can be purchased from Indo Thai News: 

(10 People for every Package – Chairs will be provided as required to accommodate people)

• 500k Baht – 6 People on Sofa + 2 Tables- SOLD OUT
• 300k Baht – 4 People on Sofa + 2 Tables
• 200k Baht – 2 People on Sofa + 1 Table
• 100k Baht – 1 Table
• 50k Baht – 1 Table
• 25k Baht – 1 Table

For Sponsorship, Advertisements, and Ticket contact:

Phone Number: +66 90-975-2204

WhatsApp: +66 90-975-2204

Email: contact@indothainews.com

Line Id: Indothainews

The post Manoj Muntashir Coming to Bangkok with Teri Mitti on 20th Nov appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Indian Association of Thailand was founded in 1940 by Netaji Shri Subash Chandra Bose, the greatest and most legendary freedom fighter in history. As the oldest Indian association in Thailand, the IAT has a distinguished history.

To work on community service, a new team was formed after the election. IndoThai News wishes the new dream team a very successful term in office and congratulates Mr. Chuan Thakur on his election as President.

Both the Indian and Thai governments recognize IAT as an umbrella association. There are few associations in Thailand with historical roots like this prestigious one.

The post Indian Association of Thailand Held Its AGM 9 & Election On 6th August, 2022 appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Photos by : Warangkhana Wongchai

According to an announcement issued by the airline on Saturday, Nok Air Flight DD108, bound for Chiang Rai departed from Don Mueang airport at 8.03pm and arrived at Mae Fah Luang airport, Chiang Rai, at 9.06pm.

An investigation was underway into the incident.

The post Nok Air Boeing skids off runway in Chiang Rai, no one hurt appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

BMA, however, said it was impossible to implement the plan. The Ministry of Public Health has set cannabis rules and regulations that prohibit the sale and use of cannabis in public places.

At present, cannabis is decriminalized in Thailand, but clear legislation regarding consumption, purchase, and sale is still pending. Cannabis use cannot be regulated without clear legislation.

In an effort to clarify some of the confusion, the Ministry of Public Health is working on a “Cannabis and Hemp Act.”

Khao San, however, appears to already be crowded with cannabis vendors. Vendors are selling pre-rolled “joints” like ice cream on the street of Bangkok like ice cream. The mobile vendors are selling cannabis in public places, so what they are doing is illegal, according to Chakkaphan.

“Cannabis dispensaries,” on the other hand, are registered to sell marijuana in registered establishments.

Further, the Khao San Cannabis Hub promotes the consumption of cannabis in public places, which is also illegal. A criminal offense for smoking marijuana has been created in recent legislation and is punishable by up to three months in prison and a fine of 25,000 baht.

The post Cannabis Smoking And Selling Cannabis In Public Is Illegal, Warns Bangkok Deputy Governor appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha approved the proposal submitted to the Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). “Tourism is recovering and antigen tests will be more convenient and faster for visitors,” Gen Prayut said.

“Many countries are relaxing travel restrictions significantly and our country depends considerably on tourism to support our economy,” the prime minister said.

Despite calls by tourist executives to abolish it because it is cumbersome and time-consuming, the Thailand Pass registration system remains in place. According to a website update made on Friday, applications under the revised conditions will be accepted beginning April 29.

Visitors who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 will no longer be screened when they arrive. During their stay, it is suggested that they self-test utilizing antigen kits. He indicated that if they tested positive, they may start the Covid-19 insurance process or handle their own therapy.

Unvaccinated travelers would be welcome if they could show documentation of a negative RT-PCR test within 72 hours of their departure.

They’d be isolated for five days, with another RT-PCR test on the fourth or fifth day. During their stay, they should also conduct self-antigen testing.

Visitors who pose a high danger would be quarantined for five days. For all foreign entrants, the minimum Covid-19 insurance coverage would be $10,000.

Visitors arriving by land must be properly vaccinated and pass self-antigen tests if they plan to remain for less than two days. They wouldn’t be able to enter the country otherwise.

The post Thailand Pass Update – Test and Go will be Removed appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

The seven dangerous days closed with 1,917 accidents resulting in 1,869 injuries and 278 fatalities. Nirat Pongsitthithaworn, deputy interior permanent secretary reported the figures. On Sunday there were 188 traffic accidents, injuring 171 people and killing 31.

The province of Chiang Rai had the most accidents, with 66. Chiang Mai had the most injured individuals (63), while Bangkok had the greatest death toll (13). Mr. Nirat claimed Nakhon Phanom, Pattani, Yala, Ranong, Samut Sakhon, and Sing Buri provinces were devoid of traffic fatalities.

Thirteen of the 7,141 people charged with drunk driving were ordered by the court to wear an electronic monitoring device and be barred from leaving their homes for seven days from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. – ten in Ubon Ratchathani and three in Sukhothai.

During the same year, Mr. Witthawal added, the number of drivers charged with drink-driving increased by 1,080 from 6,061 in 2021.

He stated that everyone found guilty of drunk driving will be evaluated. Those judged to be at danger of developing an alcohol addiction would be referred to a Public Health Ministry-run medical institution for treatment.

Those who are determined to be in danger of repeating the offense will be placed in a three-day rehabilitation and behavioral modification camp. They would also have to report to probation officials on a regular basis and undertake community work for a fixed amount of time, according to Mr. Witthawal.

The post Drunk Driving Tops the Seven Dangerous Days appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Interior Ministry’s deputy permanent secretary, Nirat Pongsithithavorn said the figures were reported by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation and concerned agencies.

Based on the data reported, the main cause of the accidents is speeding at 41.49% and drunk driving at 25.31%. In addition, out of the 1,720 accidents, motorcycles account for 84.34% and pick-up trucks for 6.43%. The report added that the accidents commonly peat from 6:01 PM – 7:00 PM with an average of 10.37% of the total accidents.

Most of the accidents have been reported from Highway Department roads at 38.59% followed by village roads at 38.17%. It is also noted that most of the accidents occurred on straight roads with an average of 80.91%.

Chiang Rai recorded the most accidents at 11 and deaths at 3 and Lampang with the most injuries at 11.

A total of 56,324 officials were deployed to man 1,900 checkpoints across the country. 410,818 vehicles were pulled over for safety checks and 70,180 drivers were charged. 19,264 of those charged were due to not wearing a helmet while 18,388 were not carrying a driver’s license.

The final record of the seven dangerous days will be disclosed in the next few days. Sunday marks the last day of the seven dangerous days and is also expected to record the most accidents. This is partly due to the massive number of people returning to work on Monday.

The post Thailand Songkran Updates – Day 6 Results in 241 Additional Accidents appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

From April 11-15, there were 1,478 road accidents resulting in 1,452 people’s injuries and 204 fatalities. Interior Ministry deputy permanent secretary Nirat Pongsithithavorn said on Saturday, citing a report from the Road Safety Centre. The accidents were 18% lower than the recorded accidents last year. Last year recorded 2,400 accidents resulting in 2,357 injuries and 277 deaths during the seven dangerous days.

On Friday, there were 277 recorded accidents resulting in 263 injuries and 44 deaths nationwide.

The main cause of these accidents remains to be speeding (39.35%), followed by drunk driving (28.5%). Motorcycles accounted for 77.7% of the accidents as in previous years.

Chiang Mai recorded the highest number of accidents at 60 resulting in 58 injuries and 8 deaths.

Twelve provinces have reported zero deaths so far: Trang, Nakhon Phanom, Bueng Kan, Prachin Buri, Pattani, Yala, Ranong, Lamphun, Samut Songkhram, Sing Buri, Nong Bua Lam Phu, and Amnat Charoen.

Heavy traffic is expected in Bangkok as many returns to the capital as the holidays come to a close. This is the day that the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation expects the most accidents. In response, they have closed the areas that are prone to accidents that will congest other roads. Those traveling back to Bangkok would expect to be met with heavy traffic.

The seven dangerous days conclude today as the holidays come to an end.

The post Thailand Songkran Updates – Death Toll Passed 200 appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Chiang Mai leads the most accidents at 14 resulting in 16 injuries while Lampang and Sa Keo provinces lead the fatalities at 3 each.

The current tally for the country since the seven dangerous days began is 1,195 road accidents, with 157 killed and 1,185 injuries. Chiang Mai leads with the most accidents at 44 while Nakhon Si Thammarat reported the most injuries at 43. Lampang had the most fatalities standing at 7. Only sixteen provinces remain accident-free.

Speeding was the most common issue in accidents. Department director-general Boontham Lertsukheekasem said that they are focusing on areas that people tend to visit a lot. These are areas where checkpoints are in the place where police check the alcohol level of drivers.

This is significantly lower than the peak of Songkran back when the pandemic haven not spread. After two years of hiatus from the pandemic, this is the first year people could travel back to their provinces to visit their loved ones.

The authorities are expecting the number of accidents to rise by Sunday when people will be traveling back to their homes. They expect the accidents to peak on this day and in preparation, they will tighten the measures to ensure road safety.

The seven dangerous days is a tally of accidents that occur in the country during the Songkran festival. This is due to the large number of people going back home to their provinces to celebrate.

The post Thailand Songkran Updates – The Seven Dangerous Days appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported 237 accidents on Monday, 301 on Tuesday, and 331 on Wednesday. On Monday there were 26 deaths associated with these accidents and 47 on Tuesday. The number dropped to 40 by Wednesday.

The so-called Seven Dangerous days began on Monday, marking the week of the Songkran Festival where many people will be traveling back to their provinces to be with their families to celebrate. The massive exodus has seen a huge number of accidents for the past years and it has formed the perception of these deadly days.

Police said earlier that those 1,937 checkpoints were set up for strict traffic law enforcement and 1,430 for alcohol checks, with about 80,000 officers on duty across all departments.

In the first three days, there were 869 accidents, 113 accident-related deaths, and 835 injuries reported.

Khon Kaen and Nakon Si Thammarat had reported the most accidents, at 33 each, while the southern province also led in total injuries, at 36. Samut Sakhon had the most road deaths from Monday-Wednesday, with six.

Department director-general Boontham Lertsukheekasem said on Thursday that attention was being shifted to bringing down road accidents on secondary routes, as most travelers had now reached home or tourist destinations.

He expected small roads would see more accidents until people were heading back at the end of the holiday.

Stay tuned for daily updates on the Thailand Songkran updates.

The post Thailand Songkran Updates – Road Accidents Caused by Alcohol appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said the ministry and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will present the proposal. If approved, the changes will take effect by May 1, 2022. The aim would be to attract more tourists to revive the tourism industry.

Part of the changes will be the use of vaccine passports instead of applying through the Thailand Pass system. Mr. Phiphat said the ministry estimates that at least 10 million tourist arrivals, and 1-1.5 trillion baht in tourism income. This hinges on what travel policies each country formulates at this stage of the pandemic.

“Thailand is ready to welcome back foreign visitors as our public health system is adequately equipped,” he said.

“However, there has been concern about the number of domestic deaths caused by Covid-19, while daily caseloads of infections after Songkran will also be taken into account when the government considers further reopening the country to tourists,” Mr. Phiphat said.

On April 1, 2022, the government scrapped the requirement of an RT-PCR test prior to traveling to the country. Also, RT-PCR tests on arrival for foreign visitors are also expected to be replaced by antigen tests from next month.

TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said more than 100,000 hotel rooms have been booked under the government’s “We Travel Together” scheme during Songkran. The scheme allows participants to pay only 60% off normal room rates, with the government responsible for the rest. The subsidy was initially capped at 3,000 baht per night for up to five consecutive nights in the first stage but has now been stretched to 10 nights.

The post Thailand Travel Updates – Test and Go appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Mr. Sathit said that foreigners arriving in Thailand will take an ATK test at the airport. He added that additional airport staff will be deployed to ensure that procedures will be followed. Tourists will be able to wait for the results as the test will only take 15-30 minutes to complete. There will be no need to book SHA plus hotels to take an RT-PCR test and wait 24 hours in.

This decision was made to attract more tourists and revive the tourism economy of the country.

“The CCSA meeting discussed a number of measures as well as the easing of entry rules which will take effect next month,” he said.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said that they will consider easing travel restrictions to allow more tourists in the country.

“We will try our best to balance public health and the economy,” the prime minister said.

The easing of travel restrictions will depend heavily on the situation after the Songkran festival.

CCSA spokesman, Taweesilp Wisanuyothin said that they have agreed in principle but are yet to finalize.

“The prime minister wants to evaluate infection rates after the long break,” he said.

The rate of new infections from tourists entering Thailand from the beginning of this month would also be taken into consideration.

Thailand Ministry of Health reports 25,298 new COVID-19 cases and an additional 98 deaths since yesterday. The ministry also announced an additional 22,033 patients recovered from the COVID-19 virus.

The post Thailand Travel Update April-May appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

On Friday, the government will consider dropping the on-arrival RT-PCR test requirement for tourists. This is in line with the further plan to ease restrictions towards a full reopening of the country.

Deputy prime minister and public health minister, Anutin Charnvirakul talked about the proposal. The Department of Disease Control (DDC) will submit a proposal to end RT-PCR tests to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

“If approved [by the CCSA], foreign travelers would only need to take antigen tests upon arrival,” Mr. Anutin said.

Director-general of the DDC, Opas Karnkawinpong, said the new rules will apply after the Songkran festival. However, a source at the CCSA said the shift to antigen tests may take effect next month.

Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will chair the CCSA meeting on Friday to assess the Songkran Covid-19 situation.

Large numbers of people are expected to join the festival this year when they return to their home provinces.

“Precautions will be put in place to prepare for inter-provincial travel and activities during the festival,” Mr. Thanakorn said.

The Director of the DDC’s epidemiology division, Jakkarat Pittayawong-anont said that the Public Health Ministry predicts that the cases would top at 50,000 a day four days after Songkran. This is if there are no precautions taken.

“The situation after Songkran could worsen as a result of social gatherings, inter-provincial travel, and the vulnerability of unvaccinated elderly people being exposed to infections during the festival,” Dr. Jakkarat said.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases April 8, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Patients suffering from lung inflammation that would require the use of ventilators may spike after Songkran. The Department of Disease Control (DDC) warned of the possible consequences of not following the measures in place during the festival.

The Director of the DDC’s Risk Communication and Health Behavioral Development Bureau, Dr. Sumanee Wacharasint provided the details. Currently, 781 patients are on ventilators out of 1,862 experiencing lung inflammation.

During the press briefing, she said the number “continues its rising trend and is expected to increase further after Songkran.”

Based on the graphics provided, the cases are expected to peak during the first week of May. The estimate shows that 1,600 patients could end up using ventilators. This is if the universal COVID prevention measures are not followed.

For the past 7 days, the daily deaths have surpassed 80 a day. Many of the fatalities had underlying health issues and the elderly. About half of the fatalities have not received any vaccination.

“Vaccine immunity wears off after around three months. Therefore, it is necessary, particularly for the elderly and at-risk groups, to get boosters to prevent the worst effects of the virus,” Dr. Sumanee said.

People who plan to return to their home provinces during the festival have been urged to monitor and observe their health conditions in advance, including taking self-antigen tests.

Jakkarat Pittayawong-anont, director of the DDC’s epidemiology division, said that more Covid-19 infections and deaths have been detected among young children recently — including 27 deaths among children aged under five in the latest wave caused by the Omicron variant.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases April 7, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

There were also an additional 10,884 cases that tested positive through an ATK test. This was not added to the daily tally reported. The 91 fatalities included a Myanmar national and a five-month-old baby. The range of their ages is between five months and 96 years old.

Bangkok had 17 new deaths while there were also four in adjacent Samut Prakan province. Other central plain provinces further from the capital recorded 22 deaths – six in Lop Buri, three each in Sa Kaeo, Chon Buri, and Rayong, two in Trat, and one each in Saraburi, Chachoengsao, Prachin Buri, Phetchaburi, and Suphan Buri.

The Northeast had 19 fatalities – six in Si Sa Ket, two each in Chaiyaphum, Buri Ram, Sakon Nakhon, Yasothon, and Ubon Ratchathani, and one each in Nong Bua Lam Phu, Surin, and Loei. The South reported 15 deaths – three each in Phatthalung and Songkhla, two in Nakhon Si Thammarat, and one each in Krabi, Surat Thani, Trang, Satun, Yala, Narathiwat, and Pattani.

The North saw 14 more coronavirus-related fatalities – four in Kamphaeng Phet, three in Sukhothai, two in Phetchabun, and one each in Tak, Lampang, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Phayao.

Of the new infections in the general population, 20,710 were confirmed at hospitals and 261 via mass testing.

Bangkok had the most cases at 3,286, followed by 1,076 in Chon Buri, 925 in Nonthaburi, 884 in Samut Prakan, and 679 in Nakhon Si Thammarat, 629 in Samut Sakhon, 583 in Nakhon Pathom, 518 in Buri Ram, 517 in Rayong and 491 in Songkhla.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases April 5, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

आशीष करपे ( कार्यवाह ) अद्रीश ब्रम्हदत्ता  ( सहकार्यवाह) दिपक पाण्डेय ( सहकार्यवाह ) 

कपिल राय  ( बौद्धिक प्रमुख) विनय पाण्डेय  (शारीरिक प्रमुख )  जीमी मिश्रा ( प्रचार प्रमुख  ) एवं दिनेश मुंड्रा जी ( संपर्क प्रमुख)  सहित अन्य नियुक्तियो सहित  तीन राज्यो के विभाग प्रमुख तथा सह विभाग प्रमुख कि नियुक्ति घोषणा कि गयी । उत्सव में हिन्दू नूतन वर्ष उत्सव तथा आद्यसरसंघचालक प्रणाम पर  प्रेरणारायी बौद्धिक विश्व विभाग के सहसंयोजक अनिल वर्तक जी द्वारा रखी गयी ।

      उत्सव आनलाइन रहा जिसमें सैकड़ो स्वयंसेवक तथा सेविका बहन जुड़ी रहीं उक्त जानकारी प्रचार प्रमुख ज़िम्मी द्वारा दी गई

The post हिन्दू स्वयंसेवक संघ थाईलैंड वर्ष प्रतिपदा उत्सव ऑनलाइन मनाया appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh Thailand celebrated the Pratipada festival like every year, this year also according to the federal system.  In the Pratipada festival, before the flag hoisting, the Adyasarsanghchalak salute was done.  During the festival, as usual, appointments were also announced in the federal approach, in which today the appointment of the Honorable Sanghchalak of Thailand was announced by the Honorable World Department co-convenor Anil Vartak, the same Honorable Sanghchalak Naveen Sharma Ji also announced the appointments of the National Executive in which

 Ashish Karpe (Professor) Adrish Bramhadatta (Sahkaryavaah) Deepak Pandey (Sahkaryavah)

 Kapil Rai (Intellectual Head) Vinay Pandey (Physical Head) Jimmy Mishra (Propaganda Head) and Dinesh Mundra Ji (Contact Head) along with other appointments were announced as the Head of Department and Co-Department Head of three states.  The festival, the inspiration for the Hindu New Year festival and Aadisarsanghchalak Pranam was laid by the co-convener of the Intellectual World Department, Anil Vartak Ji.

       The festival was online in which hundreds of volunteers and sevika sisters were associated, the above information was given by the head of the campaign.

The post Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh Celebrated Thailand Varsha Pratipada Festival Online appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

On Saturday, the Center for Medical Genomics in Ramathibodi Hospital reported the mutant hybrid of the BA.1 and BA.2 variants. The XE subvariant mutation was found in one Thai patient.

The government in response said that there is no need to panic as it is not believed to result in as many complications. The patient where the sample was found had already fully recovered from COVID.

Dr. Supakit Sirilak, director-general of the Department of Medical Sciences (DMS) said that the rise in cases is due to Deltacron. It is a subvariant that is a combination of Omicron and Delta variants.

In the case of XE, it is a combination of two subvariants of Omicron, BA.1 and BA.2. Both variants are more contagious but not as deadly as the other variants. So it is most likely that this new mutation could be more contagious but not that deadly.

The DMS is performing genomic sequencing on about 500 virus samples a week. They will be holding a press briefing today to provide more information about the XE case and its implications.

The World Health Organization (WHO) had also on Saturday issued a warning over the XE Omicron variant. They said that many in the medical field fear could be the most transmissible yet. The XE recombinant was first detected in the UK on Jan 19 and less than 600 sequences have been reported.

Anan Jongkaewwattana, an expert with the National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (Biotec) said that those recovered from BA.2 variant may carry immunity. “Don’t be more afraid of XE than BA.2 as that strain has already been around town,” he said.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases April 4, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

On Saturday, Thailand reported the first case of Omicron XE, a combination of the previous variants of Omicron. The World Health Organization announced the variant on the same day. The Center for Medical Genomics in Ramathibodi Hospital reported the mutant hybrid of the BA.1 and BA.2 variants.

The center announced the discovery through its Facebook page. The sample was taken from a Thai patient. The XE mutant is different from Deltacron which is the combination of Omicron and Delta.

The WHO announced that the XE variant is more transmissible than the original strains of Omicron. There are no additional data on its virulence as well as if it is more fatal than the main strain.

Deltacron, a hybrid of the Delta and Omicron strains, does not spread quickly or cause severe symptoms. Massarray Genotyping has studied the sequence and reported its findings.

Omicron XE was first detected in the United Kingdom on Jan 19 this year and more than 600 sequences were reported. UK Health Services Agency (UKHSA) said Omicron XE is 10% more transmissible than BA.2 and 43% more transmissible than the original Omicron (B.1.1.529). It remains to be seen if Omicron XE will become the dominant strain, the center said.

According to Phylogenetic Assignment of Named Global Outbreak Lineages (Pangolin), there are two recombinants of Delta and BA.1, which are XD and XF, and there are six recombinants of BA.1 and BA.2, which are XE, XG, XH, XJ, XK, and XL.

The government warned that COVID measures should be in place during the Songkran festival. The emergence of a new strain could delay the downgrading of COVID to an endemic status.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases April 3, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha called on businesses and the public to ensure that COVID-19 measures stay in place. Under the Test & Go, Sandbox, and quarantine programs, RT-PCR tests and certificate requirements ended.

“From now on, if anything happens, we must accept collective responsibility. But we have made full preparations. I listened to the pros and cons and have eased restrictions wherever possible. But if anything [untoward] comes to pass, we will have to go back to square one. This is the difficult part of running the country,” Gen Prayut said.

From Friday, for people who enter the country through Test and Go an RT-PCR test will be given on arrival. They also will be required to perform an antigen self-test on Day 5 after arrival and provide the results to their hotel. They also will be required to perform an antigen self-test on Day 5 after arrival and provide the results to their hotel. Visitors in the quarantine scheme, including people caught entering the country unlawfully, will be kept in isolation for five days and have an RT-PCR test on Day 4 or 5 after arrival.

The new rules are intended to help resuscitate the economy, in particular the tourism sector, which was among the worst hit, he said. However, everyone must still comply with health precautions prescribed by the Public Health Ministry spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said.

Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said that the ministry will this month ask the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) to consider further easing entry rules, such as replacing on-arrival RT-PCR tests with simpler and quicker antigen alternatives.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases April 2, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Pattaya City hall Mayoral elections. – Four candidates running for mayor of Pattaya in the May election registered their candidacy at Pattaya City Hall this morning (Thursday) and drew lots for their candidate numbers. Candidates for the governor and city councilors in Pattaya must register at the same time as those for the governor and city councilors in Bangkok. On May 22nd, both cities will have elections.

At 8:30 am at  Pattaya City Hall. Lt. Pramote Tubtim, Director of the Pattaya City Election as chairman of the lottery to select the number of candidates for the mayor of Pattaya City In order for the lottery candidates to choose a candidate identification number

The results are as follows:

No 1, Paramet Ngampichet, We Love Pattaya group

No 2, Sakchai Tanghoh applied for “Independent Candidate”,

No 3, Kittisak Nilwattanathochai, Progressive Movement Pattaya

No 4, Sinchai Wattanasartsathorn, Pattaya Ruam Jai group

On April 11, 2022, the Election Commission will announce the list of candidates and on April 26, 2022, the Election Commission will announce the list of voters. On May 6, 2022, the Election Commission has set it to be the last day to send a notice to the host, and May 11, 2022, is the last day to add names and withdraw names for those who can come to vote in the elections of Pattaya City Councilors and Pattaya City Mayor. Voting day is set on 22nd May and on same day result also be declared.

Team Indo Thai News – Pattaya

The post Pattaya City hall Mayoral elections, 4 Candidates file nominations today appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration confirmed that travelers arriving in Thailand will no longer require pre-travel Covid-19 tests. This came in effect today, April 1, 2022, for Test & Go Sandbox and quarantine programs.

Tourists arriving under TEST AND GO will be required an RT PCR Test at an SHA Extra plus hotel. They will stay in the room for the next 24 hours until the results are out. Those who tested negative may proceed to their local destination right after the 24-hour quarantine. The ones who tested positive will be checked by a medical doctor. The doctor will decide the severity of the case and recommend hospitalization or self-isolation. In case of hospitalization, the tourist will be brought to the hospital accredited by their insurance.

On the fifth day, they are required to take a monitored (at the hotel) ATK test and report the results. Those who are negative may proceed with their holidays. For those who are positive, they might be required self-isolation or an additional RT-PCR test.

Sandbox visitors must remain in their designated area for five days. Visitors in the quarantine scheme, including people caught entering the country unlawfully, will be kept in isolation for five days and have an RT-PCR test on the fourth or fifth day after arrival. As the country aims to declare COVID-19 endemic by July, there are more relaxations expected. Among them is replacing RT-PCR with ATK test by May.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases April 1, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

The communicable diseases committee of Prachuap Khiri Khan issued restrictions on activities to celebrate the Songkran festival. The ban is imposed on alcohol and water splashing to control the spread of COVID-19.

Prachuap Khiri Khan deputy governor Prompiriya Kitnuson also added that the participants of Songkran should be fully vaccinated. He gave the option to pass an antigen test 72 prior to the event for those not fully vaccinated.

Organizers of Songkran activities must seek prior permission from the committee and comply strictly with Covid Free Setting measures. Activities could include concerts and traditional activities in communities and religious places.

The committee prohibited water fights, powder smearing, foam and alcohol sales, and consumption at festive venues, Mr. Prompiriya said.

Water fights, powder smearing, and foam parties were also banned elsewhere, including on roadsides.

Access to festive venues must be restricted and requires health screening, and organizers must prevent crowding, the deputy governor said.

As Thailand prepares for the Songkran festival, local governments are instructed to prepare COVID-19 measures. Public health officials had previously warned that new infections could reach 100,000 per day unless precautions are taken during the festival.

The public health minister also called on those who plan to visit their families during the Songkran holiday to exercise extreme caution and avoid risky activities at least one week before travel to help keep their families, especially the elderly, safe from the virus.

“We are preparing to classify Covid-19 as an endemic disease, so we need to have the cooperation of all stakeholders.”

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases March 31, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha signed the Songkran rules and regulations set by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) permanent secretary Khajit Chatchawanich announced the guidelines.

Traditional water sprinkling under the Covid-free setting is allowed.

Alcohol consumption in organizing venues will not be permitted.

Venues are limited to one person per four square meters.

Participants are required to wear face masks at all times

Water splashing, powder smearing, and foam parties are prohibited on roads and other public areas.

Families can take part in activities, such as pouring water on the hands of the elderly to show respect and seek their blessings, could be held, but wearing a face mask remains compulsory. People are advised to refrain from engaging in activities that involve close contact or shared objects.

Yesterday, Khao San Road business operators appealed to reconsider the “no water splashing” order. They said they could potentially lose a huge opportunity to recover their losses during the COVID lockdowns.

Mr. Khajit said that organizers are required to obtain permission from the BMA’s Health Department if participants exceed 1,000 people. If lower, they must seek permission from district authorities.

He said the administration had received seven to eight requests seeking permission to hold Songkran activities in areas run by private firms and temples.

Currently, 46 out of 50 district offices in Bangkok had notified that they would not hold Songkran celebrations, while the remaining four district offices had yet to give confirmation, he said.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases March 30, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul discourage business in Khao San to plan water-splashing events. He added that their patience and cooperation will help avoid any resurgence of COVID-19 cases.

Business operators located on Khao San road requested a review of the government’s decision to ban water-splashing. They said that it will impact business operations and their ability to attract tourists to take part in the festival. Water splashing has become a trademark event of the Songkran festival. They said that without it, there are not many tourists who can take part.

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) had earlier banned water-splashing and other celebrations associated with the holiday. These activities increase the risk of getting infected with COVID.

President of the Association of Business Operators on Khao San Road, Sa-nga Ruangwatthanakul talked about the impacts. The participants are expected to contribute a revenue of 50-80 million baht during the 4-day holiday. Without such activities, this revenue will be compromised. Mr. Anutin said the ban on water-splashing is necessary to reduce the risk of contagion.

“This year, other social activities aren’t prohibited, so please be patient for another year,” he said.

“We are preparing to classify Covid-19 as an endemic disease, so we need to have the cooperation of all stakeholders.”

Public health officials had previously warned that new infections could reach 100,000 per day unless precautions are taken during the festival.

The public health minister also called on those who plan to visit their families during the Songkran holiday to exercise extreme caution and avoid risky activities at least one week before travel to help keep their families, especially the elderly, safe from the virus.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases March 29, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Three months ahead of the national target of June to proclaim COVID-19 “endemic”, Surin plans to announce it on Friday. Provincial governor Suwongpong Kitipattharapiboon says that the people of the province have made it possible. Everyone cooperated with the Public Health Ministry’s Covid-free setting guidelines.

The provincial PR office of Surin says they are ready to shift the status of Covid-19 to an endemic. This will be starting on April 1. The office also urged people to get booster shots to build their immunity.

Surin reported 16,354 infections with 29 fatalities from Dec 24 to Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) announced that 11 provinces reported more than 600 cases on average. This is an increase from the previous daily average.

From April to May, officials must keep caseloads down, while from the end of May to the end of June, officials must push daily infection numbers down to between 1,000 and 2,000 in each province.

Hospitalizations must also remain under 3% of the total confirmed cases. Also, at least 70% of the citizens must have at least 2 vaccine doses. Locals must continuously follow the general guidelines for COVID such as frequent washing of hands, wearing of masks, social distancing, and obtaining booster shots.

This is if they want to reach the endemic status by June 1. From March 12 to early next month, officials say the severity of infections is likely to reduce under a goal they have set.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases March 28, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha ordered to inoculate those who are vulnerable to the COVD virus at a faster rate. Ahead of the Songkran celebrations next month, the premier would like to ensure the safety of those prone to infection.

It will be the first Songkran celebrations in two years since the pandemic began. Previously, celebrations were canceled especially inter-provincial travels. This is the first time that families will be able to reunite.

Government spokesperson Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said that the Prime Minister asked agencies to ensure that the elderly, or those with underlying health problems be vaccinated. This is to ensure that they have enough protection before the celebrations begin.

The main goal is to ensure that 70% of the elderly population have their booster shot. They will be at most risk when families travel to reunite. Close contact with relatives would be very risky if not vaccinated.

The government also advises limited activity and holding events in a well-ventilated area. They also advised that the water splashing events are not allowed. Also, taking an ATK test before and after attending an event is advised.

Dr. Korakrit Limsommut, director of the ministry’s Health Administration Division, has listed the medications to treat people with varying degrees of Covid-19 symptoms. Those suffering from mild symptoms will get general drugs like paracetamol. Those in the moderate symptom group will receive green chiretta capsules and those vulnerable will receive the anti-viral drugs.

As of Friday, provinces across the kingdom had received 10 million favipiravir pills, while 3 million were distributed in Bangkok. Dr. Korakrit added that authorities are moving to address favipiravir shortages.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases March 27, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha ordered governors to prepare COVID measures to contain the spread of the virus. As Songkran approaches, the massive movement of people anticipates a surge in cases. Health officials are concerned that cases could reach 100,000 a day if no measures are applied.

Songkran celebrations have been minimized for the past two years with many strict curbs applied to prevent travel. This is the first time it has relaunched and many would be traveling back home to reunite with their families. Among the famous activities is water splashing which was not approved for this year. Experts fear that such an event could bring a new wave of cases. Also, everyone is encouraged to wear masks, socially distance, wash hands and complete their vaccinations.

Families are also encouraged to hold ceremonies in a well-ventilated area and take an ATK test before beginning the event. The elderly will be at risk during this event and they are encouraged to complete their vaccinations.

Dr Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai, director-general of the Department of Health (DOH) shared the forecast. According to the report, the Public Health Ministry estimates that cases could reach 100,000 daily. In this scenario, no proper measures are applied during the events.

Precautions include refraining from group activities where possible, working from home more, delaying non-essential travel, maintaining a high vaccination rate, and practicing the VUCA (Vaccine, Universal Prevention, Covid-19 Free Setting and ATK) measures.

DOH’s health impact assessment division director, Somchai Tukaew said Songkran will be allowed to proceed partly because more than 70% of Thais have been vaccinated. Also, the symptoms caused by the virus are becoming less severe.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases March 26, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

The Tourism and Sports Ministry says that there is a high chance that the travel restrictions would be lifted. The country is expecting to scrap the Test and Go and Thailand Pass schemes by June if there are no case surges. Thailand will be celebrating Songkran in April which health experts say could cause a new wave of cases.

Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said Thai tourism has to move forward.

“Thailand started like a rabbit, running quickly last year as we reopened to visitors. We cannot let the country fall behind as many nations are opening borders and have fewer restrictions than us,” Mr. Phiphat said.

With a target of 7 million arrivals this year, the government and tourism agencies have to work together to loosen restrictions. This will allow more tourists to visit the country. Among the current reasons as to why the tourists hesitate are the additional expenses involved in traveling.

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) recently dropped the 72-hour pre-travel RT-PCR test for international arrivals starting from April 1.

On May 1, the government is expecting to replace the RT-PCR test with an ATK Test kit instead. The test will be conducted by a medical professional to ensure its reliability.

Songkran will be a critical test for the country in terms of easing restrictions. The number of cases including the ATK tests should remain at 50,000 – 60,000 cases. The fatalities should also remain under 100 to prove that the easing of measures could be acceptable.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases March 25, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Department of Medical Sciences (DMS) reported 73 cases of the deltacron strain. DMS director-general Supakit Sirilak said Deltacron was found in the ministry’s weekly genomic sequencing. The samples have already been submitted to GISAID for confirmation. All the cases have already fully recovered.

The omicron and delta variants have combined to create a new strain. This is only possible if both are circulating at the same time. The samples were taken from December of last year and early January of this year. This was the time when both variants were causing a surge in cases.

“The full genome sequencing showed the 73 cases fit the profile of Deltacron. This usually happens when the Delta and Omicron variants are spreading. The samples weren’t from the past one to two weeks and most were from December last year and January this year when the two variants were spreading,” he said.

World Health Organization (WHO) is monitoring the strain but there are no signs it is more contagious or deadlier. There is also no suggestion that it can evade immunity from vaccinations.

“There’s no need to panic. If cases of the Delta variant drop further, the chances of the two strains combining also falls. However, if Deltacron is highly transmissible, it may replace Omicron. But there is no sign of that and there is no information about its virulence,” he said.

There are about 2000 samples from March 12-18. Only one case demonstrated a sequence like that of the delta variant. 406 are from the BA.1 omicron strain and 1479 were BA.2 or deltacron sequence. BA.3 is not yet found in the Kingdom.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases March 24, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul urge everyone to complete their vaccinations. In preparation for the Songkran Festival, all elderly are encouraged to get their vaccinations done.

The Department of Disease Control will be working with the local public health offices to get about 2.1 million vaccinated. He urges everyone to do it as early as possible since it takes some time for immunity to build up.

Infections are expected to go up during the Songkran Festival as many will travel to their provinces to reunite with family. It has been about 2 years since the festival was suspended due to the COVID pandemic. It is also advised for those coming home not to take part in activities that would put them at risk of infection.

The Public Ministry of Health said that most of the deaths associated with COVID are due to not being vaccinated. It is risky not to get vaccinated if you have an underlying health problem.

According to the dean of Siriraj Hospital’s medical school, Dr. Prasit Watanapa, this year’s celebrations are not as worrisome. Even if the factors of people, places, activities, and timing, the vaccination percentage of the country is high. Also, the omicron variant, although contagious, mostly exhibits mild symptoms.

With all these said, it is important to keep in mind that basic practices can prevent the spread of COVID. Wearing masks, frequent washing of hands, social distancing, and vaccination can help reduce the risk. Also, it is wise not to attend events that would be crowdy or held in poorly ventilated places.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases March 23, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

70% is the target for elderly vaccination before Songkran according to the Ministry of Public Health. They are the most vulnerable population due to their age and underlying issues. Director of the general communicable diseases division, Wicharn Pawan identified it as a factor in last year’s surge in cases. After the Songkran celebrations in the previous years, and slow vaccination rollouts, the cases surged across the country. Now that the Songkran celebrations are back, the government would like to prevent this scenario from happening.

“The ministry won’t be taking any chances this year and will speed up the rollout of booster shots for the elderly before the holiday exodus begins,” he said.

“Elderly citizens who are due for a booster shot should get them before Songkran. About three million doses have been prepared for this age group,” he said.

In Western Europe, the “perfect storm” has resulted in a more contagious Omicron BA. 2 subvariant. Britain, France, and Germany have seen the return of the pandemic after curbs have been lifted. Despite the increase in cases, these countries have pushed to remove their remaining curbs. They have also lifter part of their travel restrictions.

The new omicron subvariant has “stealth capabilities” as it is most times, hard to detect. It is also said to be 30% more contagious than the original subvariant. Most experts say that the lifting restrictions and reopening of borders created a “perfect storm” for the virus to mutate. This would also open the doors for more variants to develop in the near future. World Health Organization also encourages wealthy countries to donate vaccines to those unfortunate ones.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases March 22, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

The Department of Disease Control says that favipiravir is highly effective against COVID-19. It is also now available for bulk purchase and the treatment will cost about 800 baht.

Siriraj Hospital’s Faculty of Medicine has observed its efficacy for the past two years. When Thailand was experiencing COVID waves, the hospital observed patients who have taken the medicine. Director-general of the DDC, Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong said that its value should not be disregarded.

Secretary-general of the Association for the Protection of the Thai Constitution, Srisuwan Janya, criticized the use of the pill. He petitioned the Administrative Court over the use of the pill as the main treatment for COVID-19. The petition was for Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and some other executives.

By August-September, the ministry is set to buy 254 million favipiravir pills and another 300 million by October-December. The total cost will be around 6 million baht. The manufacturer of favipiravir has been warned not to market that it’s the most effective against omicron.

Deputy director-general of the Department of Medical Services, Dr. Manus Potaporn said that a systematic review was conducted. The review process includes a formal guideline on the use of favipiravir pills. Other medicines for COVID like remdesivir, molnupiravir and paxlovid has been studied through the same process. He also added that each of them has an advantage and a disadvantage.

He also said that “Molnupiravir and paxlovid are both new drugs which … cost up to 10,000 baht per treatment course.”

Favipiravir has also been studied by many laboratories and hospitals across the globe. Thailand is not the only country that uses it as the main treatment.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases March 20, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Khao San Business operators have objected to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration’s ban on water splashing. They said that this would have a negative impact on their income expected from the peak season.

The CCSA decided that the annual celebrations may proceed provided there is no alcohol during the events. They also encouraged people to continue to celebrate traditional activities minus the water splashing.

Sanga Ruangwattanakul, president of the Khao San Business Association said that water splashing should not be banned. “If the government wants to ease measures to allow Songkran festivities to be held, it must not prohibit water splashing.”

If you remove the trademark element, “tourists would have no idea why they should visit,” he said.

He added that the Khao San Road business operators will not likely plan any event for Songkran this year. They are also planning to submit a proposal to review the decision of the water ban.

Many businesses are looking forward to the festival hoping to boost income after two years of shutting down. The recent surge in cases has also caused many tourists not to travel to the country. Mr. Sanga added that the hotel bookings only increased by 20% despite the reopening of the country.

A number of nighttime venues like pubs and bars have changed their operations to a restaurant to comply with the measures. This has somehow revived their business.

“If the Songkran festival is banned, we could lose many tourists to other ASEAN countries,” he added. April and May are the peak seasons for tourist travels and Songkran is among the main attraction of the country.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases March 19, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration approved the discontinuation of the RT-PCR test required prior to boarding. Starting April 1, the Test and Go scheme will no longer require travelers to take an RT-PCR test prior to boarding.

CCSA spokesman Taweesilp Visanuyothin announced the end of the pre-travel tests for all visitors. This includes the Test & Go Sandbox or quarantine channels. People who will enter the kingdom are required to take an RT-PCR test on arrival. This will be followed by an antigen test monitored by the hotel on the 5^th day.

For the Sandbox scheme, visitors will remain at the reception areas for five days. Those who will be on quarantine will be kept for 5 days and an additional RT-PCR test on the 4^th or 5^th day. Also, all visitors are required to have insurance coverage of $20,000 which will be reduced later on.

Songkran celebrations are allowed however, there will be curbs in place to help contain the spread of the virus. Among the proposed measures are the traditional activities being held in special areas. These areas will be under strict COVID preventive measures. It is also advised to keep social distancing during reunions. When asked about the reopening of the nighttime venues, the government said that they would need to consider it carefully. The past COVID waves in Thailand have been largely due to open nighttime venues that lacked social distancing. There will be proposals on the board on how these venues can open and have COVID measures.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases March 18, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

The government plans to allow tourists to enter the kingdom without an RT-PCR test prior to boarding a flight. The Test & Go scheme will be modified and will lower the required insurance. The government will only require an RT-PCR test on arrival and an ATK test on the 5^th day. This is in line with the plan to downgrade the status to endemic by July.

Permanent secretary for Public Health, Dr. Kiattiphum Wongrajit, said the ministry is proposing to ease travel requirements. They are set to present it to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Friday.

“Under the proposed entry rules, travelers under the Test & Go scheme would no longer be required to show negative RT-PCR test results up to 72 hours before departure to the kingdom,” he said on Wednesday.

In addition, they will lower the insurance requirement from $50,000 t0 $10,000.

He will also present plans to lower the status of COVID-19 from pandemic to endemic. The actual announcement may vary depending on the World Health Organization.

Among the changes is proposed that the emergency decree will be replaced by a Communicable Disease Act. The plan is essentially divided into four phases which will be a step-by-step process towards the endemic status. This is provided that there are no new mutations that would appear.  

CCSA is also considering allowing night entertainment to resume which is welcomed by business operators. Many of them have been asking for the government to let them resume their normal operating hours but to no avail. Since the pandemic began, night venues have been shut and have caused many businesses to close.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases March 17, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients (Ucep) Plus scheme comes into effect today. The government outlines the process for cases with moderate to severe symptoms.

The permanent secretary for Public Health Ministry, Dr. Kiattiphum Wongrajit said that these cases will receive treatment at any hospital. The moderate, or yellow category, and the severe, or red category, may seek treatment at any private or public hospital. The treatment will be for free.

Those who have mild to no symptoms, or green category, will not be eligible for this free treatment. The treatment will be based on medical insurance, social security, or a 30-baht universal health care scheme. They may also choose to self-isolate, stay at a community isolation facility, or hospitels.

The National Institute for Emergency Medicine has provided doctors with the criteria for categorizing COVID patients. Especially for the red and yellow categories. The Department of Health Service Support relayed the UCEP process to the private hospitals.

A COVID patient stays at a hospital for 10 days, Dr. Kiattiphum said. Other countries have an average stay of 3-5 days. Public Health Ministry is considering revising this to 7+3 format. This means the patient stays at the hospital for 7 days and 3 days on home isolation. This is to help alleviate the hospital’s capacity and be able to accommodate more cases.

Deputy government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek also announced the 35 billion baht reimbursement to NHSO. The National Health Security Office (NHSO) contracted the hospitals that accommodated the cases from December to February. The reimbursement covered the expenses shouldered by NHSO.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases March 16, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

The Public Health Ministry reports 4 cases of COVID infections that were of the new mutant strain found in Hong Kong. They assured it is of no grave concern at the moment.

Director-general of the Department of Medical Sciences, Supakit Sirilak said that most of the cases now are of the BA.2 subvariant.

There were 2000 samples sent for genome sequencing last week. 99.7% are of the omicron variant whereas 68% are from the BA.2. subvariant. The original strain, BA.1 accounted for 32% of the total samples. However, four of them were suspected to be the BA.2.2 subvariant causing an outbreak in Hong Kong.

These samples will be submitted to the international database compiled by  GISAID to confirm the sequence.

The four suspected cases were from 3 Thais and 1 foreigner. All of them have already fully recovered from COVID.

“There is no need to panic as there are no worrying signs. But we have to be vigilant and answer three questions. Does it spread more quickly? Will it cause more deaths and can it evade our efforts to boost immunity?” Dr. Supakit said.

Hong Kong is currently facing a wave that has recorded the highest fatality rate so far. He says it is too early to say if it was truly caused by the new mutation.

“The Omicron strain is highly transmissible, so when the public health system is unable to cope with the surge, it may result in more deaths,” he said.

Deputy director-general of the DMS, Banlang Uppapong said that there are other factors to consider. The age of those who died, vaccination record, health history, and healthcare system capacity.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases March 15, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Thailand Ministry of Health reports 22,130 new COVID-19 cases and an additional 69 deaths since yesterday. The ministry also announced an additional 23,508 recovered patients.

Health experts are now concerned with a new omicron subvariant in Hong Kong. The country records the worst wave since the pandemic began. They have also recorded the highest death rate so far.

New Variant

Deputy chairman of a Senate committee on public health, Dr. Chalermchai Boonyaleephan reported that the omicron has mutated. So, far there were three variants known which were BA.1, BA.2, and BA. 3. He also noted that the days with the highest death rate in Hong Kong coincides with the emergence of BA.2.2. This original variant mutated to this subvariant due to the continuous rise in cases. For every 1 million people, 5,000 were infected and 30 of them would die.

The high number of cases partnered with the high mortality rate was observed with the subvariant BA.2.2. This is what we are seeing in Hong Kong at the moment.

”It is necessary to keep a close watch on the situation,” he posted.

The Centre for Medical Genomics at Mahidol University also shared their observation on the Hong Kong outbreak. The fatalities were mostly associated with the elderly and the unvaccinated. This subvariant is not yet found in Thailand.

The Director-general of the Department of Medical Sciences, Supakit Sirilak, said that this is yet to be confirmed. The Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (Gisaid), the database for COVID sequencing has not yet confirmed anything.

“Currently, Gisaid has not accepted it. [BA 2.2] has only been referred to as such among Hong Kong scientists,” he said.

“Actually, another variant named BA.2.3 is found in the Philippines and is much more common than BA.2.2.

There is a process when declaring a new variant. It will take some time. GSAID will also raise awareness if it was a threatening subvariant. They have sounded alarms on subvariants like deltacron 14 days after it was found.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases March 14, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Thailand Ministry of Health reports 23,584 new COVID-19 cases and an additional 66 deaths since yesterday. The ministry also announced an additional 23,517 recovered patients.

In a recent survey conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration, the majority are worried about the Omicron variant. Most are concerned about its ability to spread quickly and put the elderly and those with underlying issues at risk.

The poll consisted of 1,320 participants surveyed through phone calls on the current COVID situation. It was conducted on March 7-9 and compiles the participant’s opinion on the surge of cases.

Survey Results

56.36% said yes, 34.54% said that they are moderately worried and 21.7% are highly concerned. Most are saying that the Omicron variant puts the elderly and those with underlying issues at risk.

22.20% are not worried at all considering they are fully vaccinated and do not live in high-risk areas. 21.44% also said they are not quite worried since they do not have to travel to risky areas and are fully vaccinated.

They also have varied opinions on why the virus has been spreading in the country. 52.95% said people are not careful enough and omicron is not severe. 46.29% also sighted that the omicron variant is highly contagious. 15.76% say that the pandemic is worldwide and inevitable. 13.41% blame the management of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. 11.41% said that the surge is due to the high number of people being tested with COVID. 9.70% raised the issue that the spread is due to illegal migrants. 9.62% said that it was because of people not getting any vaccinations or partial vaccination.

They were also asked how often do they test themselves through RT-PCR or ATK testing. 41.14% said they do it once in a while 16. 82% say they do it once a week. 23.79% say they do not do it at all while 5.83% do it every three days. Only 1.44% test daily and 0.98% test every other day.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases March 13, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Thailand Ministry of Health reports 24,592 new COVID-19 cases and an additional 68 deaths since yesterday. The ministry also announced an additional 21,371 recovered patients.

The government plans to declare COVID-19 an endemic by July of this year. In line with their plans, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is planning to relax travel measures.

TAT Measures

TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said that the tourism revenue goals this year might be lowered. This is due to the surging oil prices stemming from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Part of the planned relaxation is the removal of Thailand pass by July. This would also mean other relaxations will be implemented. This would mark a milestone for the ailing industry.  Over the next four months, the agency will be working on the new protocols.

One of the requirements that will remain essential is an RT-PCR test due to the overwhelming number of cases in the country. He also added that Thailand should learn from other countries that have fully re-opened to remain competitive. International travel remains dull as the world is being ravaged by the pandemic and is battling rising oil prices.

TAT is expected to present the proposal to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on March 18.

For Europe, July is the summer season, many of them will prefer intra-regional travel. Thailand expects tourists from neighboring countries.

Land Borders and Travel

India remains a key source of travel for the country due to the travel bubble agreed between the nations. Southeast Asian countries are also planning to relax travel measures. Vietnam is expected to open on March 15. By April 1, Malaysia will reopen its land border with Thailand.

At the moment, the agency’s primary concern is the Russian-Ukraine conflict. This has directly impacted airline costs due to the rising oil prices. TAT will be observing developments till the end of the month before they provide any forecast.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases March 12, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Thailand Ministry of Health reports 24,792 new COVID-19 cases and an additional 63 deaths since yesterday. The ministry also announced an additional 22,065 recovered patients.

The Public Ministry also announced that they will revise the recording of COVID-19 fatalities. This is after the findings that 30% of those who died from COVID had underlying causes.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said that the Ministry wants to accurately determine the cause of death. Especially the fatalities that are related to COVID-19 infections.

Permanent Secretary for public health, Dr. Kiattiphum Wongrajit added that 10-30% of COVID fatalities have serious underlying illnesses. An example of this is cancer, a serious illness that is often fatal in itself.

The highest tallied deaths on the current wave are 74 compared to the all-time high of 312. The infections are also rising as ATK tests are taken into consideration. Cases reach a high of 70,000 cases daily.

NHSO

Secretary-general of the National Health Security Office said that the hotline missed over 3500 calls and messages. The service is overwhelmed with the number of cases they receive on a daily basis. In an early attempt at the volume of calls, they partnered with officers, volunteers, and government agencies. However, it was not enough as the hotline was still overwhelmed.

He advised those with mild symptoms that home isolation is recommended. The Public Health Ministry is also distributing medicine for those in home isolation.

Currently, the NHSO is following up on missed calls to ask patients about their symptoms. Those with mild cases will be provided Favipiravir and will be advised to stay at home for 10 days. Green chiretta is also distributed among the communities as alternative medicine.

It is anticipated that the call back will be completed within 5 days. This is within Bangkok and the neighboring provinces.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases March 11, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Central Vaccination Centre (CVC) at Bang Sue Grand Station is now open for walk-in vaccinations. They will no longer require additional requirements regardless of what number of doses. This is open for both Thais and Foreign nationals.

Previously, you would need to book an appointment and wait for the text message confirmation. They will check if you are scheduled for the day prior to getting a shot. Due to the surge in cases and the upcoming festival, CVC has opened the vaccination for everyone.

Last month, the cases that suffered from lung infections rose to 1.5 times. The fatalities particularly with the unvaccinated elderly also rose. According to a study, elderly people who are fully vaccinated are 41% less likely to die from COVID.

CVC is increasing the vaccinations due to the upcoming Songkran celebrations. The country’s largest vaccination center is now open for walk-ins. Both Thais and foreigners are welcome and can choose which vaccine they would require.

The Bang Sue Grand Station will be closed on April 6 for Chakri Memorial Day and during the Songkran festival. It is expected to reopen on April 18.

Deputy Provincial Director for Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trairat Chairat recently chaired a meeting regarding the case surge. He followed up on the COVID-19 outbreaks in the area. He was joined by the provincial communicable disease committee.

Last month, the province has seen 95 cases to 2,283 cases. An average of 1,900 people tested positive from an RT-PCR or ATK test daily. This has raised additional concerns with public safety.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases March 10, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Thailand Ministry of Health reports 22,703 new COVID-19 cases and an additional 69 deaths since yesterday. The ministry also announced an additional 24,247 recovered patients.

COVID Care for moderate to severe cases will remain free under the Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients (Ucep) Plus scheme. This begins on March 16. National Institute for Emergency Medicine criteria will be used to guide the qualification of a case. Deputy government spokesperson, Traisuree Taisaranakul said that patients can seek treatment at any medical facility. After three days, they will be transferred to a hospital where their insurance is accepted.

As of today, all COVID cases can seek treatment anywhere. However, beginning March 16, the mild status cases will have a different treatment.

“We want to reserve beds in hospitals for the yellow [moderate] and red [severe] groups of patients,” she said.

COVID Care

The demand for COVID care has increased to the point where the hotline is getting overwhelmed. National Health Security Office (NHSO) assured everyone they are working on decreasing the waiting time. Due to the surge in cases, the hotline has been overwhelmed with calls regarding hospital beds and treatments.

Due to the uptick of cases, the medical system is trying to reserve hospital beds for severe cases. This is also in preparation for the approval of Songkran celebrations that could increase cases further.

Songkran

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has assured that inter-provincial travel and celebrations will go ahead. The Songkran Festival will be from April 13-15. During this time, Vaccine, Universal Prevention, Covid free-setting, and ATK testing – measures will be implemented. Also, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) will meet to discuss public safety measures.

The Prime Minister strongly suggests that everyone get their third dose as well as perform ATK tests before and after celebrations. A full vaccination is also recommended for the elderly and those with underlying problems.

Follow us for more Thailand COVID updates.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases March 9, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Yesterday, 24,236 positive results from antigen test kits were added to the tally. The total number reached 45,398 according to the Department of Disease Control. Dr. Sumanee Wacharasin, hazard communication director of the DDC acknowledged increasing case numbers.

“New daily cases are slowly increasing. The number of patients with lung inflammation and dependent on ventilators is also increasing as daily new cases rise,” Dr. Sumanee said.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed the health care system to provide treatment for those testing positive. This comes after a number of people complained they could not access the healthcare system. He called Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang to inquire more about the issue.

Beginning March 1, the outpatient care of COVID-19 patients took effect. Under the new scheme, people who have mild to no symptoms can be prescribed favipiravir or fah talai jone. Additional medications are also available if the doctor deems it necessary.

For those infected with COVID and with underlying health issues, self-isolation with a telecare system can be arranged. Community isolation and hospitels are also available. For those with severe symptoms, they will be admitted to the hospital right away.

The outpatient service is to avoid overwhelming the healthcare systems and reserving hospital beds for those who really need it.

In Washington, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has added Thailand, Hong Kong, and New Zealand to high alert countries. This means that it is not recommended to visit the country at the moment due to the COVID cases.

Follow us for more Thailand COVID updates.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases March 8, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Mr. Raj Karan Kumar, 49, an Indian national from a village named ‘ Khamuaah Bhatt’, Gorakhpur, India has been residing in Thailand for years.

5 months ago, Mr. Kumar was unfortunately hit by paralysis and was helpless. He had no one around him to take him to the hospital.

It was the Ratchaburi police station who showed up and fought to get him immediately admitted to the Ratchaburi local hospital. Mr. Kumar have been bed-ridden for quite some time by then and the hospital had to discharge him as the hospital deemed that further treatment could be done at home.

At that time, Mr. Kumar’s stars are not in his favor, his health started to deteriorate as his family in India was unaware of his condition and his friends in Thailand could not reach him or backed out from taking the responsibility.

It was again the Ratchaburi police station which stood by Mr. Kumar but yet didn’t know how to take it forward from there. The police station then contacted a young aspiring social worker and a representative of Indo Thai news and Jai Shri Ram Foundation, Mr. Jimmy Mishra.

Mr. Mishra, a fellow Indian national had encountered similar situations in the past and knew what exactly needs to be done in this case. With Mr. Mishra’s courage and support from Indo Thai News and Jai Shri Ram Foundation, Mr. Kumar was admitted to the old age home where he was looked after by a dedicated staff and showed signs of improvement in his health.

Mr. Mishra quickly learned that the recovery could be even more swift if Mr. Kumar is close to his family members in India.

He immediately conferred with Indo Thai News and Jai Shri Ram Foundation with regards to Mr. Kumar’s reunion with his family. Meanwhile, the super cops of Ratchaburi assisted with the paperwork.

As everything was looking up for Mr. Kumar’s departures, a series of hiccups occurred as all the ones involved were unaware of the bumpy ride ahead. With all the documents in place, somehow the fit-to-fly certificate got missed and Mr. Kumar was taken off the flight to spend a few more days in the old age home until all the paperwork is in place.

As the saying goes “all is well that ends well”, it was not long enough till everything got figured out and Mr. Kumar left for his homeland to reunite with his family without further complications.

Mr. Kumar is now with his family in Delhi, India, and recovering pretty fast.

The story could not have a better ending. Humanity is still full of compassion and kindness. Mr. Kumar’s story has shown how complete strangers come together to help people in need. The relentless efforts of the Ratchaburi police department and the quick response of Jimmy Mishra have resulted in a miracle. Angels do exist in every human heart.

The post A Miracle in Ratchaburi appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

The hotels have posted huge losses during the pandemic. According to the survey, 63% of the hotels recorded an average occupancy rate of less than 30%. This is despite the Test and Go scheme revived recently.

Thai Hotels Association (THA) president Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi said that 75% of the hotels project a 30% occupancy rate. However, 37% of the hotels were the ones who were able to reach the target.

The average occupancy rate increased from 32% to 34% in the month of January. This is largely due to the We Travel Together and Test and Go schemes.

“Even though the Test & Go scheme has resumed, local tourists were still the majority of our customers. Almost half of the hoteliers who took the survey said international guests made up less than 10% of their bookings,” Mrs. Marisa said.

Only 20% of the hotels registered international guests and accounted for 50% of the total number of guests. The small number of tourists traveling is largely in part of the Test and Go and Thailand Pass complications. The RT-PCR tests are particularly costly for many.

Due to the uncertainty faced by the hotels with the pandemic situation, the THA is asking for some help. They are requesting the government to reduce the land and building tax by 90% until 2023. Right after Songkran will be the off-peak season. The unemployment rate increased to 59.8% for most hotels.

At the moment, 43% of the hotels are struggling to find qualified personnel. Some of the positions lacking skilled workers are the front office, food and beverage, kitchen, and marketing. Due to the low occupancy rate, most hotels resorted to hiring part-time staff. Some resorted to increasing the permanent staff salary instead.

Follow us for more Thailand COVID updates.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases March 7, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Yesterday, the country has crossed the 3 million mark with 22,818 cases according to the Public Health Ministry. This is excluding the 33,085 who tested positive with an ATK test kit.

Bangkok leads the tally with 2,809 cases followed by Chon Buri at 1,126 and Nakhon Si Thammarat at 1,067. The current wave began in January and is now at 781,376 cases and 1,478 deaths. A total of 589,997 cases have recovered.

Yesterday Thailand has an overall total of 3,004,814 cases since the pandemic began with 23,179 fatalities.

National Health Security Office (NHSO) currently reports 60,000-70,000 try to contact their hotline daily. The number increased due to the current wave of omicron cases. Most people are contacting the hotline for assistance in terms of treatment. Due to the high volume of calls, some could not go through.

NHSO recruited volunteers to help answer their hotline and also opened social media channels. They are asking those seeking treatment to contact the service through social media.

For those who tested positive yet prefer not to go to a hospital, the NHSO can arrange medical facilities to assist. If the patients are not among the high-risk group, like the elderly or those with underlying health conditions, can self-isolate. They will be looked after via a telehealth phone app.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health, Anutin Charnvirakul said that those with mild symptoms can seek treatment as an outpatient. The treatment will be covered by the Social Security Funds. Patients can also use the NHSO’s universal health coverage scheme or the Civil Servant Medical Benefit Scheme.

Follow us for more Thailand COVID updates.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases March 6, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

As the cases are expected to soar during the Songkran celebrations, the government is urging the elderly to get vaccinated. There is about 2 million elderly population who haven’t got any vaccinations. During the festival, families are expected to reunite which could cause COVID-19 infections.

Not getting vaccinations can jeopardize the health of the elderly. 2.17 million senior citizens have not been vaccinated yet, the government is urging them to get it done. Department of Disease Control, Deputy Chief, Dr. Sophon Iamsirithavorn voiced these concerns.

“Getting vaccinated can save their lives and certainly minimize any severe symptoms if they catch Covid,” he said. “A large percentage of the elderly demographic in Thailand is now vaccinated with at least one shot, with coverage now extending to 83% of the elderly population or 10.54 million people.”

“But more than two million people in that age bracket still haven’t had any shots at all. They need to get vaccinated as quickly as possible,” Dr. Sophon added.

“We don’t want to see a tragic loss of life among older generations of families due to this disease during the Songkran festival.”

Previously, the department released possible scenarios should there be no preventive measures. In their worst-case scenario, they predicted that cases will reach 100,000 a day. If some measures will be in place, it could be at 50,000.

Meanwhile, hospitality businesses in Pattaya are urging the government to allow them to serve alcohol past midnight. They are also asking to extend dine-in services past 11:00 PM.

Follow us for more Thailand COVID updates.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases March 5, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Most of the cases that are being recorded are from the RT-PCR tests conducted. If the additional antigen test kits will be accounted for, the total increase to 65,756 cases. Department of Disease Control Hazard Communication Director, Sumanee Wacharasin confirmed yesterday.

She also added that the cases are expected to peak in mid-April. “Please do your best to refrain from attending meetings, and work from home as much as possible,” she said.

Dr. Sumanee also provided details on the recorded fatalities. She cited that 67% of the fatalities were unvaccinated or inadequately vaccinated. 27% have received only two doses more than three months ago. Bangkok logged the most fatalities at 10 followed by Nakhon Pathom at 2.

Director-general of the Department of Medical Services, Dr. Somsak Akksilp said that ATK testing is actually 95% accurate.

The Public Health Ministry is mobilizing provincial hospitals near the capital to help handle the rising COVID cases. The current healthcare system of the capital is being overwhelmed by new cases every day. Health Ministry Permanent Secretary, Dr. Kiattiphum Wongrajit announced that thousands are seeking assistance. Patients call the National Health Security Office (NHSO) hotline for Home Isolation assistance.

“We have been concerned because there are around 50,000 pending cases waiting to access our outpatient self-isolation service in the capital. To ease their difficulties, we have decided to open acute respiratory infection [ARI] clinics in our hospitals in 14 provinces near the capital so that patients who meet with difficulty in contacting the 1330 service can go there directly to access our medical treatment system,” he said.

Follow us for more Thailand COVID updates.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases March 4, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Thailand Ministry of Health reports 23,618 new COVID-19 cases and an additional 49 deaths since yesterday. The ministry also announced an additional 19,093 recovered patients.

Public Health Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul plans to present an overhaul to the COVID treatment scheme. Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients (Ucep) Plus will be presented next week for review. It is expected to show how it will cover the treatment of moderate to severe cases of COVID-19.

UCEP

Under the new rule, people will be divided into categories depending on the severity of the cases. Green is for mild to no symptoms, yellow is for moderate, and red for those who are severe. Each category has a different coverage in terms of treatment. Doctors will be the ones to diagnose and categorize each patient.

Mr. Anutin that the new scheme will help reserve hospitalization for those in need of the treatment. “It is not right for people who do not need to be hospitalized to scramble for beds reserved for those who require more intensive care,” Mr. Anutin said.

“When we know how to control the pandemic and treat people appropriately, we should manage hospital resources to ensure their optimal use so people who need hospital care can access it straight away.”

The current UCEP scheme allows everyone to see treatment anywhere for the first three days. After which, patients will be transferred to hospitals accredited by their insurance. Initially, it was to be implemented by March 1 however, due to the surge in cases, it was delayed.

Self-isolation is still strongly recommended for mild to no symptoms to avoid overwhelming the system. The hospitalization is reserved for the at-risk groups or those with critical symptoms. Many countries suffered waves of COVID that caused the shortage of hospital beds.

Follow us for more Thailand COVID updates.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases March 3, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Public Health Ministry Permanent Secretary, Dr. Kiattiphum Wongrajit is hoping to increase awareness on COVID-19 treatment. As 95% of the cases are now asymptomatic or mild symptoms, there is no urgent need for hospitalization. Most people are not aware that non-severe cases do not require hospital confinement. The Ministry hopes to introduce the Self Isolation service as it transitions COVID-19 as endemic.

“We need people to change their mindset when it comes to the right medical treatment for Covid-19 as an endemic disease,” he said.

Home Isolation is suitable for asymptomatic and mild symptoms. Self Isolation is slightly different as patients will receive prescription drugs. There is also a facility transfer assistance and a one-time follow-up call. They will then stay at home for seven days and monitor their progress through an ATK test.

This is an additional option while Community Isolation and Home Isolation remain active.

Meanwhile, hoteliers are asking to scrap the RT-PCR test and the Thailand Pass as a whole. With the conflict in Russia and Ukraine costing many economies, the tourism sector outlook is not so good.

Founder and Chairman of Minor Internation, William Heinecke says that if the government would like to recover, they would need to scrap the Thailand Pass system. This will resume the regular travel requirements to Thailand. It could open the doors to more tourists and increase the arrivals.

He sighted examples such as the UK, the US, the majority of Europe, the Philippines, Cambodia, and the Middle East. The current Travel Pass rules will make it a bit more difficult for tourists. Also, the additional cost of traveling while economies tumble could be an issue.

Follow us for more Thailand COVID updates.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases March 2, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

The Department of Disease Control predicts that the cases could hit up to 100,000 daily by Songkran. This is based on the worst cases scenario. They also added that the cases could drop or rise for the next few weeks. This would depend on how strict the COVID prevention measures are implemented.

The measures include avoiding group activities, non-essential travel, and working from home. Maintaining a high vaccination rate is also very important. VUCA (Vaccine, Universal Prevention, COVID-19 free setting, and ATK) preventive measures are recommended.

The best-case scenario is when the precautions are fully implemented. This will result in the cases staying within the 20,000 marks. This could also mean that it would peak by the middle of the month.

If the current preventive measures will continue as it is, they predict that the cases will reach about 50,000 daily. This would be until the Songkran festival.

The worst prediction would be if there are no measures implemented at all. In this scenario, the cases will reach 100,000 daily until the middle of next month.

Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration spokeswoman, Apisamai Srirangson said that there are 213,645 cases being treated. 83,479 are currently hospitalized with 08% of them with mild symptoms.

She also recommended that those will little to no symptoms should stay at home. Seeking hospital admission would not be necessary. The hospital beds are reserved for severe cases.

Test and Go scheme has also revised the entry requirement. The fifth-day RT-PCR test initially required will be replaced by an ATK test starting today.

Follow us for more Thailand COVID updates.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases March 1, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Green chiretta production will be ramped up by the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine. Fah talai jone is a famous alternative medicine for favipiravir for those with mild to no symptoms.

Green chiretta has been found to be able to cure mild symptoms of COVID-19. During the first wave of the pandemic in the country, many studies were conducted on its effectiveness. Many COVID patients have fully recovered because of herbal medicine. There are qualities in the plant that could help eliminate the virus inside the body.

Department director-general, Dr. Yongyot Thammawut announced the distribution of over 30,000 packs of green chiretta. Other tens of thousands are distributed to the provinces.

Fah talai jone comes either as an extract or as a capsule. A larger than usual dose is used for people with mild to no symptoms. Dr. Yongyot said that those who are taking the green chiretta should not combine it with favipiravir.

Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, a government spokesman announced that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered that all who are suffering COVID-19 must have unrestricted access to healthcare.

It is also suggested to take home isolation as an initial step rather than hospitalization. This will help not to overload the health care system. It is recommended to reserve hospital beds for severe cases. Overwhelming the healthcare system unnecessarily will cause more fatalities.

Follow us for more Thailand COVID updates.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases February 28, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

The Rural Doctor Society (RDF) Facebook page posted a message saying several hospitals are short of COVID-19 medication. The Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) on Saturday announced that there is no shortage.

GPO Deputy Director, Sirikul Methivirangsan said that there are 24 million Favipiravir pills on reserved. There are also another 60 million currently being produced. In total the GPO has 84 million to be distributed across the nation. Aside from these, local GPO units have a reserve of their own.

RDS claimed that back in September, GPO began producing the pills and access was easy. In October, when the Delta cases begin to decline, there was a good number of reserves. This prompted the Public Health Ministry to allow access to everyone who tested positive to obtain the pills.

Recently, the shortage was so severe that hospitals are only left a few of the pills. Most of the pills left are being reserved for critical cases and the elderly. The formerly open distribution of the pills became stricter. Hospitals have to verify the patient’s need for the pill before handing it.

Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr. Kiattiphum Wongrajit said “Outpatient care will be provided for patients who cannot access the two systems. It will be an alternative service to be available at certain respiratory infection clinics.”

“Outpatient care will be available at every hospital from March 1 because coverage for Covid-19 patients remains unchanged under the Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients scheme,” Dr. Kiattiphum said.

Follow us for more Thailand COVID updates.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases February 27, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Thailand has had a total of 2,844,897 cases since the pandemic began. A total of 2,621,004 has recovered and the country logged a total of 22,852 deaths. There are 201,041 active cases and 687 are on a critical status.

As part of attempts to declare the virus endemic within the next four months, the Public Health Ministry will enable hospitals to treat Covid-19 patients as outpatients. The outpatient plan for persons infected with Covid-19, according to Kiatiphum Wongrajit, permanent secretary for public health, is set to start on March 1.

People suspected of being infected will be tested using an antigen test kit (ATK), and if the results are positive, doctors may consider giving favipiravir or fah talai jone, as well as other drugs, based on their symptoms. According to him, the proposed outpatient service is part of the ministry’s goal to downgrade Covid-19 to a self-care illness.

Several Covid-19 patients are receiving therapy at home in Chiang Mai and Phuket, according to Dr. Kiatiphum, and Siriraj Hospital is creating a similar scheme in which individuals with minor symptoms will be isolated at home.

He also stated that, based on their doctors’ assessments, at-risk populations can be treated as outpatients.

Somsak Akkasilp, director-general of the Department of Medical Services, said the ministry is in negotiations with three medical societies about developing standards for medical treatment for Covid-19 outpatients.

He said that the decision was made in accordance with Thai Paediatric Society recommendations for the care of young Covid-19 patients, which provide that children under the age of 15 can be treated as outpatients.

Follow us for more Thailand COVID updates.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases February 25, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

COVID-19 cases among children aged 5 and below have risen to 100,000 accounting for 5% of the total cases. Since April of last year, reports have come in of children contracting the virus. The official tally is at 107,059 and 29 children have died.

The children mostly got the virus from contact with family members. Also, at that time, there were no vaccines available for the children.

“If there are vulnerable groups in their houses, people should assess the risk. If the risk is high, they should take antigen tests. However, they may show no symptoms,” Dr. Ekachai Piansriwatchara said. He is the deputy director-general of the Department of Health.

Health officials advise those coming home from work to assess their contact and level of risk. This would help protect vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, or pregnant women.

The Public Health Ministry is looking to downgrade COVID-19 into an endemic status in 4 months. There are no future lockdowns that are considered. This is due to the low fatality rate of the new omicron sub-variant BA.2.

The Ministry is hoping to outline steps on how it can transition into an endemic situation where people live with the virus. This could help balance the economy as the country begins recovering from the economic cost of lockdowns.

Follow us for more Thailand COVID updates.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases February 25, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

April is just around the corner, it’s considered to be Thailand’s peak season as it is when Songkran is celebrated. The Thai New Year festival is among the most important annual events in the nation. For the past two years, the celebrations were minimized due to the lockdowns. This year, everyone is unsure if it will be the long-awaited return to normal or would be canceled.

This is usually the time of the year when the local and international tourists flock to famous Thai destinations. Year after year before the pandemic, it has brought in billions in revenue. This year, tourism operators are hoping for it not to be a dry one.

As the country continues to battle a resurgence of cases, many ask if a lockdown will happen. The current surge is expected to peak by March. The current alert level is raised to level 4. The government said previously that lockdowns will not be needed, however, due to the increase in cases, many are in doubt.

The recent announcement of the government of increasing the alert level to four was slammed by tourist operators. The alert level did not come to a lockdown but it discouraged unnecessary inter-provincial travels. This has greatly affected the businesses that were expecting an influx of local tourists after a long dry season. They are quick to suggest that the country should begin to live with the virus. They also sighted examples such as the European nations who lifted all restrictions.

Follow us for more Thailand COVID updates.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases February 24, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Central Pattana has expressed a commitment to better futures and a stance as a place builder who creates spaces for people and the world to commemorate its 40th anniversary.

To achieve sustainability goals, the organization focuses on three tactics. There are three goals: 1) SYNERGY for New Solutions with its retail-led mixed-use business, partners, communities, and other stakeholders; 2) PIONEER for Better Lives to develop new standards for project development based on Green & Well-being concepts, and 3) OPPORTUNITIES with a Purpose to become an organization that develops people and elevates Thailand’s real estate and retail industries.

The company’s five-year business plan for 2022-2026 aims to make a big impact, with investments in new mixed-use projects and revamps of existing projects across over 30 provinces, including 50 shopping centers with new formats and trends, 68 residential projects that will solidify the company’s position as the top developer, 13 office buildings catering to the new lifestyle, and 37 hotels, including a new hotel brand.

It is unveiling a new brand identity for the corporation and its retail complexes around the country, based on local characteristics and distinct modernism created by a famous design firm.

In 2022, the corporation is forming a ‘Business & Digital Transformation’ team with a 450 million investment budget, as well as a ‘Partner Champions’ team that will assure growth by offering end-to-end solutions to partners.

The post Central Pattana Moves Forward into the Future appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul will hold a meeting to assess the test and go package. The government is weighing the option to replace the second PCR Test requirement with an ATK test kit instead. The Department of Disease Control and Emergency Operation Centre will present proposals for the scheme.

The current Test and Go package require fully vaccinated tourists to take a PCR test on the first and fifth day. The reason for looking into the second test is that the virus is already on community spread. The infections are mostly local and not imported.

The country is currently facing new challenges as the cases continue to surge. The government announced the increase of the alert level to 4. This does not mean that a lockdown will be implemented however inter-provincial travel is discouraged.

The announcement of alert level 4 has worried many tourism operators. They said that this decision could affect the economy and those ailing businesses. They cited examples like Maldives and Europe for allowing people to love the virus. This new alert will cause anxiety to potential customers and could cancel plans to travel.

The inconsistent opening and closing of tourism-related businesses could cause worrisome situations for the sector. They ask the government to come up with a decisive action to address tourism at the same time keeping the public safe.

They ask to see how other countries are coping with the virus and still continue to stimulate their economies. This is in the hopes to balance the pandemic and the economic stability of the country.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases February 23, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul approved the changes to the Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients (UCEP) scheme. Part of the scheme is to delist COVID-19 treatment from the covered illnesses. The changes will take effect on March 1, 2022.

Under the previous scheme, patients can seek treatment for the first three days. After the initial treatment, they will be transferred to a hospital where the universal coverage is registered. Under the changes, if a patient seeks medical help from a private hospital, they would have to pay for the bill.

Mr. Anutin also announced the Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients (UCEP) Plus for patients with moderate to severe symptoms. These changes were done to improve budget management but still provide standard COVID treatment.

“We have to make necessary adjustments [to the UCEP scheme] for the sake of giving fair and effective treatment while also considering budgetary factors,” he said.

For those who were recently infected by the omicron variant, most of the cases are asymptomatic or with mild symptoms. Most of the cases could be addressed through home isolation. Even under home isolation, the cases are still monitored by health professionals. In cases where it becomes severe, they can be admitted to hospitals for treatment.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases February 22, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

As the cases continue to rise once again, virologists issues a warning that cases could reach 30,000 – 50,000. This is the most likely scenario if there are no measures taken to curb the spread.

The Interior Ministry Permanent Secretary, Suttipong Juljarern ordered provincial governors to come up with COVID measures. These are plans to help curb the virus spread and will be strictly enforced. He also advised provinces located near the border to tighten security measures. Part of their concerns are migrants crossing borders illegally.

In addition, they are also required to raise public awareness about the COVID conditions. They would also like to seek public cooperation to contain the spread. Local leaders are asked to prepare contingency plans in case of an outbreak.

Chulalongkorn University’s Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Yong Poovorawan posted a message on Facebook. “Covid-19 cases are also on an upward trend in Thailand and the country may see daily cases reach 30,000-50,000,” he said. He also noted that if antigen kit results are added to the daily count, it would probably show 25,000 a day.

He urged those who tested positive through an ATK test and are asymptomatic to isolate right away. There is no need to take an RT-PCR test. This will help reduce a load of laboratories on running tests. If all ATK tests will be retested through an RT-PCR test, the cost will increase.  

With the Songkran Festival on the horizon, health experts continue to suggest following the universal measures. These are vaccination, social distancing, wearing of masks, and frequent washing of hands.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases February 21, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Thailand Ministry of Health reports 18,953 new COVID-19 cases and an additional 30 deaths since yesterday. The ministry also announced an additional 13,962 recovered patients.

Department of Medical Sciences director-general Dr. Supakit Sirilak says they are studying the virulence of the BA 2 subvariant. They wanted to see if it is deadlier than the previous variants alpha, beta, and delta. This is in response to the growing concerns about the rising number of cases in Thailand.

Omicron Subvariant

”Normally it takes at least 14 days to follow up on the condition of Covid-19 patients to determine how severe their disease is, while it is actually best to monitor them until they fully recover,” he said.

The treatment seems to be the same as the other variants. The doctors treat the patients based on their symptoms. It is not necessary for them to know the sub-lineage prior to treatment.

“We’re treating patients based on their symptoms. And [once again] Covid-19 vaccines are capable of preventing severe disease, whether it be Delta or Omicron,” he said.

Delta variant has a fatality rate of 200 lives for every 10,000 cases while omicron’s original variant kills about 20 per 10,000 cases. “A great virus is one that kills only between 3% and 5% of the people it infects while it continues to spread,” he added.

”Whether Omicron’s BA.2 sub-variant will be the same or worse remains to be seen,” he said.

Current studies suggest that BA.2 subvariant is more contagious, this has been corroborated by many health experts. All of them are conducting studies on its virulence. It is unknown if it will be resistant to the immunity provided by the vaccinations.

With the Songkran Festival on the horizon, health experts continue to suggest following the universal measures. These are vaccination, social distancing, wearing of masks, and frequent washing of hands.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases February 20, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

The Department of Disease Control assured that there were few cases of side effects among the administered doses. There were 120 million doses administered in the country. This comprises 26.4 million Sinovac, 46.8 million AstraZeneca, 14.7 million Sinopharm, 27.6 million Pfizer, and 4.3 million Moderna doses.

Director of the Emergency Health Hazard and Disease Control, Dr. Chawetsan Namwat confirmed the data. He said that 79 people developed allergies with their vaccines. 43 affected by Sinovac and 22 by AstraZeneca. 31 people suffered from pericarditis after receiving doses. 29 attributed to Pfizer and one to Astrazeneca and one to Sinopharm. Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia was found in six people. Five of them received AstraZeneca jabs while one with Pfizer.

There were 2.081 complaints regarding deaths associated with vaccination. Only four were confirmed. Two from thrombosis with thrombocytopenia, one due to severe shock and one associated with Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

The other 177 deaths were associated with heart disease, intracerebral hemorrhage, and thrombosis. The other 938 were due to infected nervous system, pneumonitis, and other factors. The cause of death for the other complaints was not confirmed.

The Tourism Industry proposed to remove the second RT-PCR test required by the Test and Go scheme. The proposal was submitted to the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration. The Tourism and Sports Ministry will propose to replace the second PCR test with an antigen test. If approved, it will be applied by March 1.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases February 19, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Nakhon Si Thammarat has become a new hotspot logging in nearly 1500 COVID cases. The Provincial Public Health reported 1,436 total cases. 750 cases were detected through the RT-PCR tests and 686 were detected from ATK test kits.

The asymptomatic cases were advised to undergo home isolation. Those who have mild to severe symptoms, there were asked to take hospital treatments. Muang, Thung Song, Tha Sala, Bang Khan, Ron Phibun, Chulabhorn and Sichon were among the hotspots.

Chief of the Provincial Health Office Dr. Charasphong Sukkree said that 80% of the cases were identified as the Omicron variant. Most of the cases were obtained through contact with family members who were infected.

“Before that, we were more concerned about it spreading within gambling circles, at ordination ceremonies, funerals, and marriage ceremonies,” he said.

“But from this January, Omicron has been prevalent and it’s hard to trace the origin, especially as many cases are asymptomatic. When people contract the virus, it spreads quickly among their family members.”

320 schools located in the province previously resumed onsite learning. However, due to the increasing number of cases, some had to close once again.

In Nakhon Sawan, Sangsawan school decided to cancel onsite learning after 38 students tested positive. The closure was to allow about 60 staff members to quarantine themselves.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases February 18, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Mr. Sanan Ang-Ubolkul, Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and revealed that the Council has met Mr. Stanley Kang, President of the Joint Foreign Chamber of Commerce. They also met with representatives from the Foreign Chamber of Commerce in Thailand. 36 countries attended and discussed with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha about the current trading and investment situation including various obstacles in business operations and possible resolutions.

The Foreign Chamber of Commerce is part of the Thai Chamber of Commerce. It acts as an intermediary regarding issues of foreign businessmen in Thailand. It works closely with the Chamber of Commerce. These groups of people live and do business in Thailand which is important for driving the country’s economy, especially in terms of giving advice and promoting trade and investment between each other.

In the past, both groups have exchanged opinions and closely followed up on the progress of resolving problems in order to reduce obstacles in doing business for foreigners. The particular focus is on the facilitation of doing business (Ease of Doing Business) of foreigners who come to do business in Thailand. They also included suggestions to restore the country’s economy in terms of controlling the epidemic, remedies for entrepreneurs and people’s economic stimulus and the revival of the country.

During the meeting, Prime Minister discussed the importance of foreign trade, investment, and tourism in Thailand. He also included the goals of the 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan that is about to start Including highlighting the issue of using Digital Transformation to keep up with the changes of the world. The Prime Minister has given importance to human capital development and technology transfer to enhance Thailand’s competitiveness. In addition, at present, the government has a clear intention to focus on the development of innovation to add value to Thailand’s products and services.

Mr. Stanley Kang, chairman of the Joint Foreign Chamber of Commerce in Thailand (JFCCT), thanked the Thai government including all sectors involved in the allocation of vaccines to foreign businessmen. He also said that during the last 2 to 3 years of the coronavirus situation, the Foreign Chamber of Commerce focused to drive Digital Transformation and Economic Modernization.

In addition, the government should have the policy to create sustainability and Green Policies that are integrated with the competitiveness of the Thai economy. He also suggested actively supporting and promoting BCG and ESG by paying close attention and monitoring the government’s policies to find ways to make the Thai economy more competitive.

“Thank you to the government for always supporting foreign businessmen in Thailand, especially the cooperation between by the Foreign Chamber of Commerce in Thailand. It plays an important role in helping, advising and promoting foreign trade and investment in Thailand. which is an important part of driving Thailand’s economy,” said Mr. Stanley.

The post Foreign Chamber of Commerce Meets with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

The Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Education approved covid zones for Mathayom 6 students. Students who are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms will be able to take the university entrance examinations.

Department of Health Deputy Chief Dr. Sarawut Boonsuk made the announcement on Wednesday. “Any student who is infected with Covid-19 [with mild symptoms] will not be denied the opportunity to take an entrance examination. Each university must arrange a special area for them.”

Universities are required to have three exam zones for the students. “The first zone should be reserved for confirmed Covid-negative students. The second zone should be for students considered a possible health risk. The third will be for confirmed Covid-1 infected students who have shown mild or no symptoms. This is part of the understanding that all students will be treated equally,” he said.

Apart from zoning, the ministry also discussed possible solutions for COVID-19 that do not involve the closing of schools. He added that it was agreed that both boarding and non-boarding schools should carry on with onsite classes despite the detected presence of Covid-19 cases in schools. He added the present isolation system will continue at boarding schools where infected students can learn onsite in isolated buildings until they recover from the disease. They will all the while be under close medical supervision by public health teams. These will all be submitted to Gen Supoj Malaniyom, head of operations at the CCSA for approval. The meeting will be chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases February 17, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

BA.2 subvariant of Covid-19’s Omicron variant accounted for 18.5% of Omicron cases for the past week. The  Department of Medical Sciences examined the lineages of the samples. Director-general Supakit Sirilak reported that they found 18.5% were of the BA.2 subvariant. These are from 567 Omicron cases obtained from Feb 5 to 11.

“There are some signs that BA.2 spreads faster than BA.1 looking at cases in other countries but there has not been any significant difference from BA.1 when it comes to severity and vaccine avoidance,” he said.

BA.2 has been detected in 57 countries and is likely to replace BA.1 in India, Denmark, and Sweden. It has already superseded BA.1 in Denmark. BA.2 was first recorded in Thailand among visitors early this year.

Omicron is already a dominant variant of Covid-19 worldwide and booster vaccine shots could prevent infection, severe illness, and fatalities caused by BA.2 according to overseas papers.

Bangkok had the largest number of accumulated Omicron infections with 6,641 cases including 2,132 local infections, followed by 1,286 cases in Phuket, 1,240 in Chon Buri, 670 cases in Roi Et, 590 in Samut Prakan, 534 in Nong Khai, 511 in Surat Thani, 508 in Maha Sarakham, 419 in Kalasin and 410 in Khon Kaen.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases February 16, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

The government will move ahead with the planned change for COVID-19 treatment. Even if a few members urged to delay the implementation due to the current surge in cases. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said this is in line with the planned downgrade of the virus.

The Ministry plans to remove COVID-19 from the coverage of the Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients (UCEP). This will take effect on March 1, 2022. Those who will test positive for covid but not in a critical state must go to their registered hospital for treatment. Previously, any hospital is open for treatment for both mild and critical conditions.

Mr. Anutin affirmed that COVID will be reduced from pandemic to an endemic by the end of the year. He insisted before that we must live with COVID. Also, the most recent variants are less deadly. This is largely due to the vaccination.

The CCSA also advised that the number of cases should be leveling out soon. This is due to the increase in cases in the past few days. Apisamai Srirangson, CCSA spokeswoman said that the cases should stabilize soon and should begin falling by this week. This is the same globally as cases begin to fall.

She also commented on the recorded deaths. “All of them had underlying illnesses. Fourteen were unvaccinated. Two had received one vaccine dose. Two others had their second dose more than four months ago. Two had already received their third dose but had not reached the time when their immunity would peak yet,” she said.

Follow us for more Thailand COVID cases updates.

The post Thailand COVID Cases February 15, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

The government is being urged to continue covering the treatment for COVID-19. This comes after the Ministry of Public Health’s decision to delist it under the Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients (UCEP). Previously, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced that COVID will not be covered by the scheme. The only exception will be for those in critical condition.

Due to the rise in daily cases, Deputy Public Health Minister Sathit Pitutecha urged the ministry to delay the implementation. March 1 was the set date for the scheme to take effect however, he is urging the government to delay it to April. Pheu Thai Party also urged the government to reconsider the move. They said it could complicate efforts to contain the outbreak.

The announcement will apply on March 1. For those with critical conditions, secondary COVID infections will be the only ones covered.

The number of hospitals the health insurance is applicable to will decrease. Patients who tested positive for COVID must seek a hospital where the UCEP is accepted.

National Health Security Office (NHSO) secretary-general Jadej Thammatacharee said that the power to change the scheme is with the Department of Health Service Support. He said free and/or subsidized treatment for Covid-19 will remain available to the public. Even if the disease has been removed from the list of conditions covered by the UCEP.

Follow us for more Thailand COVID updates

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases February 14, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

The World Health organization continues to track new variants appearing worldwide. Dr. Andrew Freedman from Cardiff University Medical School said that viruses “tend to become milder” as they evolve. However, he continued to say “isn’t always the case.”

“It may well be with future variants that they are even more contagious. They may be milder, but we can’t say that with certainty,” he added.  “Until the whole world is vaccinated, not just rich Western countries, I think we are going to remain in danger of new variants coming along and some of those could be more virulent than omicron.”

Thailand is on track to be one of the countries that have 70% of the population vaccinated according to WHO data. This is a great effort by the country. This is not the case for other countries. Some countries are nowhere near the 70% vaccination requirements.

The WHO has released the data for fully vaccinated 70% of their population by mid-2022. The green tag represents those who are already above 70%. Yellow shows the countries on track to be at 70%. The red tag is for countries that are nowhere near 70%.

Among those on the green zones are Canada, China, Japan, Australia, France, Germany, and Switzerland. There are about 40% of countries that are in the yellow zone. This includes the UK, Thailand, India, Russia, Brazil, Columbia, and Mexico. About 50% of the countries are still in the red zone. These include Myanmar, Kazakhstan, Poland, Turkey, Ukraine, Romania, and most of South Africa. The only countries that are tagged yellow in South Africa are Tunisia, Mauritania, Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Djibouti. The rest are on red zones.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases February 13, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Thailand is planning to initiate a travel bubble with India with the goal of attracting high-value young Indian visitors. They are a valuable market in terms of the contributions they can make to the recovery of the economy.

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Friday approved a proposal on the Thai-Indian Air Travel Bubble (ATB). CCSA spokesman Taweesilp Visanuyothin cited extra convenience will be offered to air passengers traveling between the two countries.

“Indian visitors represent Thailand’s hope for the recovery of tourism,” said the VP of the Tourism Council of Thailand and the Indian-Thai Chamber of Commerce, Somsong Sachaphimukh. “India is a high-value tourism market given it has 600-700 million people aged 29 years and under,” she added. “The country also has a growing number of new millionaires.”

Many of the young Indian tourists have a preference for the beaches of Thailand which remains to be their top destination. The beaches of Pattaya, Koh Samui, and the other islands are on top of their lists. This could help revive the economy.

Follow us to know the latest update on Thailand COVID cases.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases February 12, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

The government has raised concerns regarding the increasing number of COVID cases. They are now considering tightening measures for Valentine’s Day and Songkran.

The head of operations at the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), Gen Supoj Malaniyom chaired the discussion. They expressed their concerns regarding the rise of cases above 10,000. A meeting will be chaired today by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to discuss tougher measures. These curbs will help reduce the cases during Valentine’s Day and Songkran.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will also begin their campaign for “Start Safe Sex, Use Condom”. Their aim is to reduce the transmission of covid and sexually transmitted diseases among the youth. There was a considerable rise in cases last year for STD cases.

Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said he will provide updates. They are aiming to revise the insisting measures to help curb the infections.

Mr. Anutin said, “People who have been fully vaccinated and still test positive are mostly asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, as predicted by medical experts”. “However, they are still required to follow precautions strictly and get their booster shot as quickly as possible. It may take about a month and a half before case numbers go down. We have to try to co-exist with Covid,” he added.

He will also include a proposal to remove COVID-19 from the Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients (Ucep) scheme. The current scheme allows patients to seek treatment from a private or public hospital for the first 24 hours.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases February 11, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Department of Disease Control (DDC) says that the number of cases could reach up to 2000 a day in Bangkok. Most infections will be adolescents and those who are of working ages.

The main cause will be coming in contact with infected patients through group activities. Especially if they are conducted in an area with poor airflow. Examples would be pubs and bars.

Dr. Suthat Chottanapund, director of the department’s Institute for Urban Disease Control and Prevention commented. “We have found the main cause of infections remains unchanged, and we have seen more infections within families as the Omicron variant is easily spread”.

Senior citizens, unvaccinated people, and those living with chronic diseases still account for most deaths.

Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai, Department of Health chief advised precautions when on fresh markets. This is due to clusters appearing regularly in the markets. He also advised the markets to follow the department guidelines. These include social distancing, frequent washing of hands, and wearing masks.

The number of cases has been increasing for the past three days. However, the dominant variant is the omicron which has mild symptoms. Home isolation is enough for most cases. Some would require intensive care, especially those who are immune-compromised.

Follow us to know the latest update on Thailand COVID cases.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases February 10, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

The global cases are now at 400,428,718 cases since the pandemic began. There were 5,781,769 total casualties and 320,737,052 recoveries. At the moment there are 73,909,897 active cases of which, 89,919 are in critical condition.

The US has recorded the most cases standing at 78,556,139. This is followed by India at 42,409,052. Third is Brazil at 26,776,620 followed by France at 20,804,372. The UK stands at number five with 17,932,803.

The world continues to tackle the latest wave of COVID 19 which is dominated by the omicron variant. WHO has announced a variant of concern in November of 2021. There are fresh reports from over 54 countries of a new sub-lineage called BA.2. This variant is said to be more contagious than the original one. Additional studies are on the way to see if it is deadlier than previously identified variants.

Many countries are also relaxing measures against COVID. Although the new variant is contagious it is less deadly. Many borders are reopening along with business capacity increasing. The World Health Organization advises keeping basic measures in place. These include social distancing, wearing a mask, frequent washing of hands, and vaccination. Their main concern is the virus mutating into a deadlier lineage.

Countries are also beginning to distribute vaccinations for children below the age of 12. They are also encouraging adults to get a booster shot to increase immunity. If there a no new variants of covid, it could be declared an endemic this year.

Follow us to know the latest update on Thailand COVID cases.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases February 9, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Thailand Ministry of Health reports 10,398 new COVID-19 cases and an additional 17 deaths since yesterday. The ministry also announced an additional 8,922 recovered patients.

The government is planning to open talks with China and Malaysia this month regarding a travel bubble. This would help boost the tourism economy after a successful Test and Go resumption. Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, the government spokesperson, talked about discussing an agreement with  China’s minister for culture and tourism.

Travel Bubble

There will be a limit on the number of tourists that will arrive in Thailand. Their traveling will also be limited in some areas of the country. This is to prevent any COVID-19 outbreaks.

No quarantine is required for the tourists however special protocols will apply. Protocols like their visa, accommodation, and flights will be limited.

Mr. Wangboonkongchana said “The prime minister is confident that Thailand will remain one of the world’s top tourist destinations despite the pandemic, and the government will support efforts to revitalize tourism with an emphasis on public health and safety,”

International arrivals may reach 5 million this year if the government would launch the travel bubbles. This is according to The Association of Thai Travel Agents (Atta). The current Test and Go and sandbox programs will not be enough.

Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said they will not propose lifting all the curbs. This is in light of the high case numbers reported daily. The ministry also said that they will suggest the way they deliver the report to not cause worry. He insisted that they will still be based on facts.

“Therefore, we don’t need to bring back lockdowns. Only nightlife venues, such as pubs, bars, and karaoke parlors won’t be allowed to reopen just yet,” Mr. Anutin said.

Follow us to know the latest update on Thailand COVID cases.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases February 8, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

The Public Health Ministry is also proposing to ease the COVID measures. This is to encourage people to live with the virus as opposed to imposing lockdown measures.

Department of Disease Control (DDC) Director-General Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong did not provide many details. “The global situation of Covid-19 seems to be moving in the same direction. Many countries have started to ease measures despite spikes in daily infections,” he said.

Thailand is reflecting the global trend where cases might be high however the mortality rate remains low. Many health officials are hoping to declare COVID as an endemic this year. The cases Thailand is reporting are relatively low compared to the rest of the world.

“We need to get people to understand that the number of daily new cases is nothing to worry about,” he said. The majority of cases are now due to the omicron variant. It is more contagious but less deadly than the delta variant. “We’ve lived with the disease for two years already, so it’s about time to move on together.”

Home isolation has been very effective for COVID patients and prevents them to overwhelm the health system. The most recent deaths recorded are all attributed to the high-risk category. The category involves those aged 60 or older or those with chronic diseases.

Despite the general trend towards easing curbs, Maha Sarakham has announced the prohibition of dining activities. This includes weddings, meetings, ordinations, and funerals, which became effective on Saturday. Violators are liable to imprisonment of up to two years and/or a fine of up to 40,000 baht under the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations, in addition to a fine of up to 20,000 baht.

Follow us to know the latest update on Thailand COVID cases.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases February 7, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Bill Heinecke, the founder and chairman of Minor International PLC said that the entry should be relaxed. He sighted that the current procedures are “cumbersome”. “If you’re vaccinated and tested you must be allowed to travel without so much paperwork,” said Mr. Heinecke. He said that tourism is “going to be tough and challenging for a while until the government changes its position”.

He sighted that the current requirements are too heavy for some tourists. Multiple Covid tests, the need to use an online registration system, and having an insurance policy with at least $50,000 cover is “cumbersome”. The United States is among the examples he sighted. “These are the bright spots — we don’t see difficulties or roadblocks stopping tourism from the rest of the world”.

A government spokesman defended the current scheme. “In reopening the country again this time, we have to make sure it’s safe for all,” said Anucha Burapachaisri. Secretary to the Prime Minister’s Office said “These travel requirements won’t be the norm forever, but only until the outbreak situation improves.”

While reopening is important to the economy, the current surge in cases should also be taken into consideration. Ensuring the health and safety of the public is still the priority. As WHO has stated, we must stay vigilant since this virus has the ability to mutate. Relaxing of measures could give it a chance to spread and evolve.

Follow us to know the latest update on Thailand COVID cases.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases February 6, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

The Department of Disease Control forecasts that the cases should begin to decline by mid-year. The daily infections should be down by 200 a day by August. DDC Director-General Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong predicted this outcome if no new variants emerge. The model shows that the cases will be down by 4000 a day in June. This will fall further to 1000 by July and eventually 100 by August.

A new surge in cases since yesterday prompted the government to remind the public of the measures. They asked the public to continue to tighten measures. The urge is attributed to the relaxing of entry measures as well as clusters. As the Test and Go were revived, some of the cases counted are from tourists. They were tested at the airport prior to their entry.

“Please do not worry about the figure. It is not important as long as our public health system can effectively manage the outbreak,” Dr. Opas said. “The most important point is that we have large-scale vaccination, especially of booster doses now having reached 21.4% [of the population],” he added.

The government is planning to declare COVID-19 as an endemic this year. This is due to the falling number of cases as well as the severeness of the symptoms. This scenario is possible if there is a new stronger variant that will emerge.

Omicron BA. 2 is now in 54 countries however further studies are needed to see its difference from the original. So far scientists confirmed that it is more contagious but not necessarily deadlier.

Follow us to know the latest update on Thailand COVID cases.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases February 5, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Phuket issued an order for a repeat test on the fifth day for all tourists arriving on the island. This comes after a large number of tourists tested positive upon arrival. Dr. Koosak Kookiatkul, provincial chief health officer made the announcement.

“This means Test & Go tourists coming to Phuket will have to pay for their two Covid-19 tests and book their hotel rooms on the first and fifth days in advance,” Dr. Koosak said. “In case they test negative for Covid-19 in the first test, they may undergo the second test and stay in a hotel while waiting for the test result of the repeat test,” he added.

During the first day of the Test and Go program, the island received 17 visitors. Another 2,439 were under the sandbox scheme. 2 of those under the Test and Go and another 104 from the Phuket Sandbox tested positive. Most of the infected cases were from Russia and Kazakhstan. It worries health and government officials that it will affect the overall tourism program.

Phuket governor Narong Woonciew said that out of 300 recorded cases in a day 100 of them are from tourists. The tourists arriving from the two nations account for most of the infection. Russian tourists account for a vast majority of international tourists arriving in Thailand through Phuket,” the governor said.

Follow us to know the latest update on Thailand COVID cases.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases February 3, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

The Sandbox Extension program will also be introduced between Phuket, Phang-Nga, Krabi, and Ko Samui/Ko Pha-ngan/Ko Tao, where Sandbox travelers can travel within these destinations during the first 7 days in Thailand.

This comes with the return of the Test and Go Program.

Points of entry

Phuket International Airport for Krabi, Phang-Nga, and Phuket.

Krabi International Airport for Krabi.

Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, then transit on a sealed flight for Ko Samui, or Phuket.

Suvarnabhumi Airport then travels by a prearranged vehicle on a sealed route to Bang Lamung, Pattaya, Si Racha, Si Chang, and Sattahip – only Na Jomtien and Bang Saray – in Chon Buri, and Ko Chang in Trat.

Eligible Sandbox destinations within Thailand

Existing Destinations: Krabi, Phang-Nga, Phuket, and Surat Thani (Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao).

From 1 February 2022: Chon Buri (Bang Lamung, Pattaya, Si Racha, Si Chang, and Sattahip – only Na Jomtien and Bang Saray) and Trat (Ko Chang).

From 1 February 2022: Sandbox Extension – Phuket, Phang-Nga, Krabi, and Ko Samui/Ko Pha-ngan/Ko Tao.

Pre-Arrival Requirements

All travelers must have the following documents for entering Thailand:

1. A Thailand Pass, which can be applied via https://tp.consular.go.th/.
2. A Medical Certificate with an RT-PCR lab result indicating that COVID-19 is not detected issued no more than 72 hours before travelling.
3. Travellers under 6 years of age, travelling with parents with a negative RT-PCR test result within 72 hours before travelling, are not required to have a pre-arrival negative RT-PCR test result and can have a saliva test when entering the Kingdom.
4. For arrivals by water, everyone on board the vessels must have a medical certificate with an RT-PCR lab result indicating that COVID-19 is not detected within the officially specified time frame. Anyone on aboard with a history of COVID-19 infection within a period between 14-90 days must have a medical certificate of recovery.
5. An insurance policy with coverage no less than US$50,000.
6. Thais and foreign expatriates under Thailand’s national healthcare coverage are exempt from this requirement.
7. A confirmed payment for at least a 7-day stay at approved accommodation establishments; such as, a SHA Extra Plus (SHA++) hotel, within the above-mentioned eligible Sandbox destinations.
8. Travellers to Krabi, Phang-Nga, or Phuket can change accommodation twice within the first 7 days (can book 2 different hotels) within the province.
9. Travellers to Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao can change accommodation 3 times within the first 7 days (can book 3 different hotels). However, they must stay the first night on Ko Samui and must receive a negative result for their first RT-PCR test, before being able to change accommodation to other hotels on either Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, or Ko Tao. Or they can choose to book 3 different hotels on Ko Samui alone.
10. For travellers under the Sandbox Extension programme, as well as travellers to Chon Buri (Bang Lamung, Pattaya, Si Racha, Si Chang, and Sattahip – only Na Jomtien and Bang Saray) and Trat (Ko Chang), we will provide more details as soon as possible.
11. A confirmed payment for 2 RT-PCR tests;
12. Krabi, Phang-Nga and Phuket: Travellers can reserve and prepay for the 2 RT-PCR tests via www.thailandpsas.com (2,100 Baht/test, or 4,200 Baht/2 tests).
13. Surat Thai (Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao): Travellers can book and prepay for the 2 RT-PCR tests when booking and prepaying for accommodation at SHA++ hotels (2,200 Baht/test, or 4,400 Baht/2 tests). The first test will be conducted at Samui International Airport, and the second test at any of the designated hospitals on Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, or Ko Tao.
14. For travellers under the Sandbox Extension programme, as well as travellers to Chon Buri (Bang Lamung, Pattaya, Si Racha, Si Chang, and Sattahip – only Na Jomtien and Bang Saray) and Trat (Ko Chang), we will provide more details as soon as possible.
15. A Certificate of COVID-19 Vaccination/Recovery
16. Everyone 18 years of age and older must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 with an approved vaccine at least 14 days before travelling to Thailand.
17. Travellers 12-17 years of age travelling to Thailand unaccompanied must get vaccinated with at least 1 dose of an approved vaccine. Those travelling with parents are exempt from this requirement.
18. Travellers 6-11 years of age, travelling with parents, are exempt from this requirement.
19. For arrivals by water, everyone on board must be fully vaccinated. This is except for travellers under 18 years of age, travelling with parents or guardians. *We will provide an update on this as soon as the official information becomes available.
20. Travellers with a history of COVID-19 infection who have recovered by medical treatment and travellers who have received at least 1 dose of an approved vaccine after post-infection must have a certificate of COVID-19 recovery.

All travelers must undergo ‘exit screening’ at the point of departure, i.e., at the airline check-in counter, and present the required documents to the person in charge to carry out the checks.

On-Arrival Requirements / During the Stay

1. All travellers must undergo ‘entry screening’ including body temperature check at the point of entry.
2. Travellers arriving on a direct flight to an international airport at the Sandbox destination must present the required documents to the Immigration/Health Control officer to carry out the checks, then proceed through the Immigration procedures.
3. Travellers with a transit flight to the airport at the Sandbox destination (Currently only Samui Airport, and from 1 February 2022 also at Phuket International Airport) must undergo entry screening at the first point of entry or at the final destination:
   • At the first point of entry, present the required documents to the Immigration/Health Control officer to carry out the checks, then proceed through the Immigration procedures before boarding the transit flight;
   • At the final destination of entry, present the required documents to the Immigration/health Control officer to carry out the checks, then proceed through the Immigration procedures.
4. Proceed to the prearranged accommodation or medical facility to undergo the first RT-PCR test. The trip must be by a prearranged vehicle on a sealed route. Then, all travellers must wait for the test result within the hotel only. Travellers under 6 years of age, travelling with parents, can have a saliva test.
5. Travellers with a negative test result can enjoy travel activities within the Sandbox areas throughout the 7 days, but must return to their prearranged accommodation on a nightly basis. They are not allowed to stay overnight in any other places. In addition, they must undergo their second RT-PCR test on Day 5-6, or when they experience respiratory symptoms.
6. Travellers whose test result returns as positive will be referred for appropriate medical treatment in accordance with Thailand’s Communicable Diseases Act B.E. 2558 (2015). The expenses must be covered by the required insurance for foreign travellers, or national healthcare coverage for Thais and eligible foreign expatriates.
   • Pending on their conditions, they may be medically advised to receive treatment in either hospital hotel isolation or community isolation.
   • While receiving the medical treatment – at least 10 days, they must remain in their accommodation only. They should not leave their accommodation unless utmost necessary, and must notify the Communicable Disease Control officer in-charge.
   • After having recovered from COVID-19, they will receive a medical certificate of recovery.
7. Travellers must stay at least the first 7 nights within a Sandbox destination if planning to continue the journey to other destinations in Thailand. If staying less than 7 nights, the traveller must leave Thailand to another country immediately.
8. While in Thailand, travellers are advised to strictly follow standard, good personal hygiene practices; such as, wear a mask in public, maintain hand hygiene (washing with soap and water or using hand sanitiser), and keep physical distance of at least 1 metre from others.
9. Travellers who experience COVID-like symptoms should get tested. If testing positive, they must get the appropriate medical treatment. Those with a COVID-19 testing appointment must get tested.
10. All travellers must download and install the MorChana application, and set it on at all times for the COVID-19 precautionary measures and to record the result on Day 5-6 in the application.
11. Travellers who intend to stay less than 7 nights in a Sandbox destination must undergo the second RT-PCR COVID-19 test 1 day prior to their departure date to another country. A negative RT-PCR test result (COVID-19 not detected) issued no more than 72 hours before travelling is required when exiting/entering the Sandbox destinations.
12. Travellers who intend to stay more than 7 nights and to continue their journey to other parts of Thailand must undergo the second RT-PCR COVID-19 test on Day 5-6. After receiving a negative test result on Day 7, travellers can obtain a ‘Release Form’ and from Day 8 continue their journey domestically.

Stay tuned for Thailand Sandbox updates.

The post Thailand Sandbox Extended appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

In light of the COVID cases continuously increasing, CCSA approved an alcohol ban in 69 provinces. The alcohol ban begins on Sunday, January 9, 2022. Pubs and karaoke bars are expected to remain closed. They were provided an option to obtain a permit to operate as a restaurant. The permit can be requested through the provincial communicable disease committees. Provinces that are part of the sandbox schemes are allowed to serve alcohol until 10:00 PM.

The TEST and GO program has been suspended indefinitely. In compensation, additional provinces were added to the sandbox scheme. The provinces are Koh Samui, Koh Pangan, Koh Tao, Krabi, Phanganga and Phuket.

The public is still encouraged to continue vaccination, observe social distancing, wear masks, and sanitize their hands as often as possible. These are simple steps that can strongly help prevent the spread of the virus.

Stay tuned for more Thailand COVID situation updates.

The post Thailand COVID-19 Cases January 8, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

The Public Health Ministry raised the alert level from 3 to 4 after two consecutive days of high cases. Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister will present the proposal to CCSA. The curbs include the banning of alcohol along with mandatory quarantine to all returnees. This is to prevent any outbreak of the omicron virus.

The ban on alcohol consumption has been identified as one of the risk factors, especially among the high-risk areas. Many COVID clusters in Thailand have sprung from events and gatherings that involved alcohol.

Tightening the quarantine system would greatly prevent the entry of any imported variants. This however might affect the tourism industry who still trying to recover.

The public is still encouraged to continue vaccination, observe social distancing, wear masks, and sanitize their hands as often as possible. These are simple steps that can strongly help prevent the spread of the virus.

The post Thailand COVID Cases January 7, 2022 Update appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.