Thailand morning news for March 19

Thailand morning news for March 19
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Thailand morning newsThailand confirms 35 new coronavirus cases, total surpasses 200
Thirty-five new cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus have been confirmed in Thailand today, a new daily record, taking the total to 212 since the virus struck in January.
— The Thaiger

The fight to save Bangkok from sinking into watery depths
A green basin, an urban farm and a floating home — the programme Insight explores the solutions being devised to keep climate change and floodwaters at bay in the Thai capital.
— CNA

COVID-19 outbreak could last 2 years in Thailand but there is still time to limit impact: Expert
Half of Thailand’s population – about 33 million people – could be infected by COVID-19 over the next two years in the worst case scenario described by deputy director of the Disease Control Department Dr Thanarak Phaliphat.
— CNA

Thailand claims to have cheaper and faster virus test kits
Thailand claims to have developed 500 baht COVID-19 test kits which are capable producing a result in under an hour.
— Thai PBS News

Tourism minister to seek reprieve for overstayers
The Tourism Ministry will seek a reprieve for some 500,000 tourists who will end up overstaying their visa now that countries in Europe have started sealing their borders to deal with Covid-19.
— Bangkok Post

Thai Travelers Who Visited Laos Likely Carried COVID-19 Across the Mekong
As Vietnam and Cambodia reported increases in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, authorities in Thailand warned their Lao neighbors that a group of Thai nationals that recently visited Laos on a day trip had tested positive for the coronavirus.
— RFA

Thai-Malaysia border sealed
The Thai-language daily Khao Sod reported today the Royal Thai Army has ordered a shutdown of 13 temporary Thai-Malay border checkpoints to prevent the spread of the Covid 19 coronavirus.
— The Thaiger

Thailand to import antiviral drugs from China
Thailand’s gaffe-prone Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced today his ministry has negotiated a deal with China to supply antiviral drugs to Thailand.
— The Thaiger

Finance minister self-quarantines after his protection officer gets COVID-19
Thailand’s Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana has self-quarantined after he learned that one of his protection officers has been admitted to the Police Hospital for treatment for COVID-19.
— Thai PBS News

Markets to stay open April 13-15 as economist calls for ‘blanket rescue’
Bangkok Bank’s chief economist on Wednesday evening called for a blanket rescue to prevent bankruptcies during the coronavirus crisis after the central bank earlier announced Thailand’s financial markets will stay open during April 13-15.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand designates 10 more countries as COVID-19 “high-risk”
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has designated ten more countries as “high-risk” for COVID-19, and citizens of these countries travelling to Thailand are now required to produce proof of health insurance and doctor’s certificate to enter Thailand.
— Thai PBS News

Minister to self-isolate after team member tests positive
Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana is working from home for 14 days after a police officer working for him has been infected with the coronavirus, his aide said on Wednesday.
— Bangkok Post

40 labs certified for coronavirus testing announced
40 laboratories were named today by the Department of Medical Science of Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health as cerified to conduct testing for the Covid-19 coronavirus 15 of the labs are run by the department itself, including one under Thailand’s National Institute of Health.
— The Thaiger

PM ready to close Thai borders to entry if virus situation worsens to Stage 3
Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said today that his government is ready to close the country’s borders to all foreign arrivals, if the COVID-19 pandemic worsens to Stage 3.
— Thai PBS News

DMS warns people not to buy self COVID 19 test kits online
The Department of Medical Sciences (DMS) has warned members of the public not to purchase COVID-19 test kits being offered online and stressed that, currently, there are no such kits certified by the Thai government.
— Newsline (video)

Thailand to supply 400 more beds to accommodate COVID-19 patients in Bangkok
The Thai ministry of public health on Wednesday reassured the public that there will be sufficient hospital beds to accommodate COVID-19 patients.
— Xinhuanet

Operators call for two-week lockdown
Tourism operators are urging the state to impose a two-week lockdown to keep the coronavirus from spreading to provincial areas and creating a deeper impact on the economy.
— Bangkok Post

Doctors say drinking, smoking raises risk of COVID 19 infection
The Thai Health Promotion Foundation and its alliance have organized talks on the increased risk of contracting COVID-19 by consuming alcoholic beverages and smoking cigarettes.
— Newsline (video)

Thai returnees rush to beat border lockdown
The 4th Army began shutting 13 border posts in Narathiwat province from 5am on Wednesday as part of moves to stem the spread of Covid-19, as border checkpoints in the South were flooded with Thais returning from Malaysia, which also closed its borders on Wednesday.
— Bangkok Post

Vietjet suspends Thai, Asean flights as infections rise
Budget airline Vietjet Air said on Tuesday it will suspend its flights to major Southeast Asian destinations from Friday due to the coronavirus.
— Bangkok Post

Temperature checks for all begin at Suvarnabumi airport
Suvarnabhumi airport has begun mandatory temperature checks on everyone entering its passenger terminal, while the army will start spraying all Bangkok streets with disinfectant on Thursday, in new measures designed to curb the coronavirus disease 2019.
— Bangkok Post

Thai Travelers Who Visited Laos Likely Carried COVID-19 Across the Mekong
As Vietnam and Cambodia reported increases in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, authorities in Thailand warned their Lao neighbors that a group of Thai nationals that recently visited Laos on a day trip had tested positive for the coronavirus.
— Radio Free Asia

Thais head home as Malaysia closes
Scores of Thais working in Malaysia began returning to their homes in the southern province yesterday, after Malaysia decided to shut its borders in an effort to contain the Covid-19 outbreak.
— Bangkok Post

Army to disinfect Bangkok roads nightly
The army will on Thursday morning begin spraying roads in Bangkok with disinfectant to combat the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
— Bangkok Post

EGAT COVID 19 crisis does not affect power grid
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (E-GAT) has prepared a contingency plan in case of widespread community transmission of COVID-19 in Thailand which might affect operations at power plants.
— Newsline (video)

Deals and dams on the Salween: How China, Thailand and Myanmar shut local communities out
Media outlets in Thailand have reported that Chinese-state owned corporations are negotiating a deal to build three large dams on the Thai-Myanmar border along the Salween River, one of the longest free-flowing rivers in Asia.
— Asean Today

Red Line train trials to begin in October
Test runs for the new Red Line electric railway from Bang Sue to Rangsit will start in October on schedule as construction of the line and Bang Sue Central Station are almost complete.
— Bangkok Post

GPF boss set to lead GSB
The Government Savings Bank (GSB) board of directors has picked Vitai Ratanakorn to succeed president and chief executive Chatchai Payuhanaveechai, who will retire in June.
— Bangkok Post

PM No lockdown on Thailand
The Prime Minister has insisted that the government does not have a lockdown policy at the moment and added that the government is working cautiously to address COVID-19, and working with all sides to overcome the problem.
— Newsline (video)

Cambodian workers told not to leave Thailand amid Covid-19 fears
The Cambodian embassy in Thailand has asked its migrant workers and students in the country not to leave for home during the upcoming Cambodian New Year as Covid-19 fears mount.
— Bangkok Post

Port Authority of Thailand 32 million masks found approved for export
The Laem Chabang (แหลมฉบัง) Port Customs Bureau and related units have explained to the public that the 3.2 million surgical masks recently found in the port are approved to be exported to the US.
— Newsline (video)

All prisons closed to visitors March 18-31
The Corrections Department has ordered all prisons to suspend visits by relatives of inmates for 14 days, from March 18-31, to help stem the spread of Covid-19, department chief Pol Col Narat Sawetanan said on Tuesday.
— Bangkok Post

Interior Ministry confirms governors can put provinces on lockdown
The Ministry of Interior has confirmed that provincial governors have the power to announce the lockdown of their respective provinces, in order to protect the locals from COVID-19, after the governors of Buriram and Uthai Thani provinces recently issued the instruction.
— Newsline (video)

Thailand gives tourists SIM cards to download health declaration app
Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) will be providing SIM Cards to travellers from risk countries, allowing them to download the AOT Airports application into their mobile phones, in order to submit compulsory health declarations and enable tracking.
— Vietnamplus

Private sector donates 15M baht to fight COVID 19
The Football Association of Thailand and the Tio Chew Association of Thailand have presented 15 million baht to support the government’s procurement of supplies for medical personnel, in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19.
— Newsline (video)

Storm damages houses, cuts power
About 10 houses were damaged and the power supply cut off when a summer storm lashed a village in Kabin Buri district on Tuesday night.
— Bangkok Post

State workers to receive free internet during crisis
The government is working with four digital platform providers and six telecom operators to provide free downloadable online platforms and free internet airtime for state officials and state enterprise employees so they can work from home during the coronavirus outbreak.
— Bangkok Post

Laos border crossing in Phayao reopens
The Thai border checkpoint in Phu Sang district of this northern province and the Pang Mone international checkpoint at Muang Khob in Sayaboury province of Laos have reopened after being closed for only one day.
— Bangkok Post

Zoos closed for 14 days
The Zoological Park Organisation has been instructed to close all 14 zoos in the country for two weeks in line with the March 17 cabinet resolution to combat the coronavirus outbreak, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa said on Wednesday.
— Bangkok Post

EIC expects central bank to lower policy rate following FED
Siam Commercial Bank’s Economic Intelligence Center (EIC) has projected that the Bank of Thailand will lower the country’s policy rate, following the direction of the U.S. Federal Reserve, which has cut rates to zero while launching a 700 billion U.S. dollars quantitative easing program, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
— Newsline (video)

Narathiwat temporary border checkpoints closed
Fourth Army commander Lt Gen Pornsak Poonsawat has ordered all 13 temporary border checkpoints with Malaysia closed from March 18-31.
— Bangkok Post

TAT launches ‘The One for Nature’ project to promote responsible tourism
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), together with the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources and Ko Tao’s public and private sectors, has launched ‘The One for Nature’ project to promote responsible tourism in Thailand.
— Pattaya Mail

March-May fairs postponed
Three property-related fairs scheduled for March-May 2020 will either be postponed or held online due to the pandemic.
— Bangkok Post

Cinemas to close to stem spread of virus
The coronavirus has taken a heavy toll on Thailand’s cinema business, with two major operators pointing out the worst is not yet over.
— Bangkok Post

Army to disinfect Bangkok roads nightly
The army will on Thursday morning begin spraying roads in Bangkok with disinfectant to combat the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
— Bangkok Post

Thai Government approves a three percent reduction on water and electric bills to help people during the Covid19 Coronavirus situation
The COVID-19 pandemic has already had various impacts on society and the economy.
— The Pattaya News

Soldier Killed in Week-Long Siege at Deep South Dam
The military on Wednesday said a soldier was killed in a gunfight at a reservoir in Yala province where a group of separatists have been holed up for nearly a week.
— Khaosod English

Thai airways cancels 32 flights to 12 countries
Reports from Thai Airways International say that due to the spread of the Covid-19 disease the national airline is obligated to announce the cancellation of international flights.
— The Thaiger

Govt OKs Free Covid-19 Treatment for Foreigners – But the Money Never Arrived
Foreigners suspected of having the coronavirus or diagnosed with it are supposed to be eligible for free treatment. But no one knows what happened to the funds.
— Khaosod English

Govt risks losing trust in war against virus with poor communication
Public outcry about the government’s handling of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis has been growing louder, and the reason is clear – poor communication. And the latest package of…
— Thai PBS News

Cabinet and ThaiPBS roll out social distancing measures
Thailand’s cabinet has taken the initiative by implementing social distancing as a preventive measure to protect against contracting COVID-19, as fears of the deadly virus grip the nation. At the…
— Thai PBS News

Call for truck limits to be eased
Retailers are calling for the government to ease the limits on trucks entering the capital to allow manufacturers to keep supermarket shelves full, as panic buying in recent days disrupted the supply chain for basic necessities.
— Bangkok Post

Laos closes checkpoint at Thai border
Laos has closed its four immigration checkpoints near Thailand’s Nakhon Phanom province, saying it doesn’t have enough medical personnel to screen for the Covid-19 coronavirus at the four places.
— The Thaiger

Chanting of Anti-Plague Prayer to Be Broadcast Live on TV
The government on Wednesday said it will broadcast live chanting of an ancient prayer designed to ward off plagues next week.
— Khaosod English

Wat Sothon in Chachoegsao closed on Covid-19 fears
Famous Wat Sothon Wararam Worawihan in Chachoengsao province will be closed until March 31 for the protection of worshippers, after the chairman of the provincial administration (PAO) and his wife caught the coronarivus disease.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand Digital Ministry promotes work from home options for many companies
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues in all parts of the world, social distancing measures are being heavily encouraged, one of which is for companies to allow their employees to work from home.
— The Pattaya News

Soldier killed, 2 wounded by insurgents
YALA: One soldier was killed and two others wounded in a clash between a government patrol and a group of insurgents in Muang district on Wednesday.
— Bangkok Post

Pattaya beach clean up
Today was another of Pattaya’s “Big Cleaning Days” but considerably more serious than the usual beach cleanups.
— The Thaiger

Commentary: COVID-19 realigns everyone’s priorities
What humans young or old assume to be “important” are going out one by one. Some stock market activities have been suspended. Sport events around the globe, with enormous commercial interests attached to them, have been cancelled or postponed.
— Thai PBS News

As Bangkok Nightlife Shuts Down, Business Guilds Plead Gov’t for Help
Business associations on Wednesday urged the government to compensate those affected by a recent order to shut down bars and other nightlife establishments for two weeks.
— Khaosod English

More Infections Linked to Boxing Stadium, Raising Tally to 212
Thailand on Wednesday reported 35 new cases of coronavirus infection, raising the total number to 212 since the outbreak began.
— Khaosod English

Gov’t Approves Aids for Airlines Suffering From Coronavirus
The government of Thailand on Tuesday approved relief packages for airlines suffering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
— Khaosod English

“Corona, corona”: Thai Batman fights virus with catchy tune
If you have a fever, 37.5 or over, you need to immediately see a doctor, croons a Thai teacher cosplaying as Batman, in a music video aimed at raising awareness about the new coronavirus and how to guard against it.
— CNA

 

 

Feature photo John Le Fevre

This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo focuses on World Water Day, March 22.

 

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

 

 

About Thailand morning news.

Thailand morning news roundup is the most comprehensive hand-curated selection of Thailand English language news headlines published. Each weekday we scour hundreds of local and international news sites and websites to find the most recent Thailand English language news today.

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John Le Fevre

Thailand editor at AEC News Today

John is an Australian national with more than 40 years experience as a journalist, photographer, videographer, and copy editor.

He has spent extensive periods of time working in Africa and throughout Southeast Asia, with stints in the Middle East, the USA, and England.

He has covered major world events including Operation Desert Shield/ Storm, the 1991 pillage in Zaire, the 1994 Rwanda genocide, the 1999 East Timor independence unrest, the 2004 Asian tsunami, and the 2009, 2010, and 2014 Bangkok political protests.

In 1995 he was a Walkley Award finalist, the highest awards in Australian journalism, for his coverage of the 1995 Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) Ebola outbreak.

Prior to AEC News Today he was the deputy editor and Thailand and Greater Mekong Sub-region editor for The Establishment Post, predecessor of Asean Today.

In the mid-80s and early 90s he owned JLF Promotions, the largest above and below the line marketing and PR firm servicing the high-technology industry in Australia. It was sold in 1995.

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