Deaths skyrocket while Beijing delays coronavirus hot zone evacuations (video + photo gallery)
Thailand and several other Asean member states continue waiting for approval from Beijing to launch evacuation flights for their citizens stranded in the heart of the Wuhan novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) hot zone, as the number of confirmed infections approaches 12,000; more than 90 per cent of which have occurred in the last seven days.
— AEC News Today (video + gallery)
Medical team to evacuate Thais from Wuhan city
The government has prepared medical teams, nurses and medical supplies to go on a flight to evacuate Thai nationals from Wuhan city.
— NNT
Cocktail of flu, HIV drugs appears to help fight coronavirus: Thai doctors
Thai doctors have seen success in treating severe cases of the new coronavirus with combination of medications for flu and HIV, with initial results showing vast improvement 48 hours after applying the treatment, they said on Sunday.
— CNA
Thai Foreign Minister explains why Government cannot rush Wuhan evacuation
In an effort to answer those who have accused the Thai government of being slow to evacuate its citizens from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the origin of the growing coronavirus outbreak, Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said today (Sunday) that it is not a competition to see which country will be the first to evacuate their citizens.
— Thai PBS News
Prayut puts brake on proposal to suspend visa on arrival for Chinese
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has put on hold a proposal by Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to suspend visa on arrival for Chinese tourists fearing it would have a negative impact.
— Thai PBS News
Coronavirus: Gov’t Rejects Proposal to Suspend Chinese Tourist Visas
The government on Friday declined to take up a request by the Ministry of Public Health to stop issuing visas on arrivals to Chinese visitors in order to combat the new coronavirus strain.
— Khaosod English
PM concerned about people, provides support to public health practitioners
Regarding the corona virus outbreak, the Prime Minister is concerned about the effects on the population and is ready to bring Thai people back from Wuhan as soon as possible.
— NNT
Government still pending approval to transport Thais from Wuhan
The Department of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has affirmed its readiness to transporting Thais back from Wuhan , China, however, authorities are still pending approval from China.
— Newsline (video)
Drought problems promptly solved
Water is to be distributed to drought-hit areas as a short-term measure while more reservoirs are to be constructed as a long-term measure against drought.
— NNT
Activities against coronavirus
Many provinces have produced video clips in Thai and Chinese to cheer up Wuhan residents in China in the face of a coronavirus outbreak, and urged villagers to wash their hands properly to prevent infection.
— NNT
DIT asks people not to hoard face masks
The Department of Internal Trade (DIT) will consult with face mask and hand washing gel manufacturers tomorrow, to ensure that the number of products being made will meet the demand of consumers.
— NNT
Public Health Ministry sets up war room to combat coronavirus
The Ministry of Public Health has set up a war room to tackle the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019 nCoV), as well as to coordinate efforts against the spread misinformation about the presence of the disease in Thailand.
— Newsline (video)
More airports, seaports raise coronavirus prevention measures
U-Tapao International Airport in Rayong is another airport in Thailand handling flights to and from many Chinese destinations.
— Pattaya Mail
Thai interns in Chongqing arrives home, now in self quarantine
A group of 12 students from Chonburi Technical College who joined a 3-month internship program in Chongqing , China since November has safely returned to Thailand.
— Newsline (video)
Thais in Wuhan to be evacuated by air
Air Asia is ready to evacuate Thai nationals without fare from Wuhan city while a total of 135 Thais have requested to return home from China.
— Newsline (video)
Thai Airways suspends flights to six Chinese destinations as coronavirus outbreak grows with 304 deaths
Thai Airways has moved to cancel flights to 6 Chinese destinations until the 29th of February as the latest figures from China announced on Sunday show another jump in deaths and infections as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
— ThaiExaminer.com
Water chiefs to wind up floods study
The Office of National Water Resources (ONWR) expects to finish its study of nine major flood-fighting plans for the lower Chao Phraya River basin this month.
— Bangkok Post
Talks Between Thailand, Insurgents to Resume in March-Thai Official
Talks will resume in early March between representatives of the Thai government and the main insurgent group fighting for independence in the country largely Muslim-Malay south, the head of the government team on Friday.
— The New York Times
Agreements signed to develop medical cannabis smart city
Rajamangala University of Technology Phra Nakhon has joined hands with private companies to develop a smart city and medical cannabis research facilities.
— Newsline (video)
Stop bickering and start working, anti-corruption panel told
Members of the House Anti-Corruption and Misconduct Committee should stop their constant bickering and start doing their job, critics say.
— Bangkok Post
For Thailand’s female land rights defenders, activism is a dangerous and daunting necessity
Growing up, cassava farmer Nittaya Muangklang did not think she would ever become an activist – let alone that she would lead a group of land rights defenders in the first-ever bid to challenge Thailand’s government and its “take back the forests” policy at the Supreme Court.
— South China Morning Post
Coronavirus Delivers Severe Blow to Thai Tourism Industry
The governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has reported that China’s new coronavirus has dealt a sever blow to the Thai tourism industry.
— Chiang Rai Times
WHO praises Thailand’s efforts to combat PM2.5
The World Health Organization (WHO) has commended Thailand on its efforts to address high levels of particulate matter of 2.5 microns or less (PM2.5), while suggesting the country adopt its air quality guidelines.
— Pattaya Mail
KBank uses digital for Asean retail
Kasikornbank (KBank) looks set to use digital banking to make inroads into the regional retail market, tapping higher-yield business.
— Bangkok Post
Pushing for accountability
The Future Forward Party (FFP) will add a new dimension to the upcoming no-confidence debate against the government, as it has an ace up its sleeve which will deal the government a knockout blow, said party secretary-general Piyabutr Saengkanokkul.
— Bangkok Post
KTB offers measures to assist business suffering from coronavirus outbreak
Krung Thai Bank (KTB) has introduced measures to assist local tourism-related business operators and exporters suffering from the economic side-effects of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak in China.
— Newsline (video)
Thailand, Malaysia organize product fair, business matching
The Ministry of Interior has joined hands with the Department of Internal Trade of Malaysia to host a product fair and a business matching event to boost the economy along the southern border.
— Newsline (video)
Commentary: Tourism in Asia takes a beating after Wuhan coronavirus outbreak
The timing could not be worse. The coronavirus outbreak occurring during the Chinese Lunar New Year, one of the biggest travel seasons in Asia, says Lisa Wan.
— CNA
Thai doctors deploy HIV drugs: Virus update
A 44-year-old man from Wuhan died in the Philippines on Saturday as a result of coronavirus, the first known death outside China.
— Bangkok Post
Thai Airways considers leasing planes and outsourcing cabin staff
In its attempts to restructure the legacy national airline, senior staff of Thai Airways may lease aircraft and cabin staff.
— The Thaiger
Hazy days and Sundays – Bangkok has fifth highest air pollution in the world
“Unhealthy”. That about sums up the air Bangkokians are breathing this morning, a situation almost completely avoidable but allowed to continue by the Thai Government.
— The Thaiger
Drought cuts Thai sugar output to 9-year low
Sugar production in Thailand is expected to fall 28% to a nine-year low of 10.5 million tonnes in the current crop season as drought curtails cane supplies, according to Rangsit Hiangrat, director-general of Thai Sugar Millers Corp.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand eyes trade deal with UK
Brexit could pave the way for a free trade agreement between Thailand and the United Kingdom, says Auramon Supthaweethum, director-general of the Trade Negotiation Department.
— Bangkok Post
Grab brings ‘Mini-GC’ to more Thai secondary cities, provinces
Grab has kicked off 2020 by announcing its expansion plan to more secondary cities and provinces across Thailand through a new, innovative Mini-Grab Centre business model or “Mini-GC”.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Well-known Phuket medium found hanged
An elderly woman, a well-known medium for the highly revered spirit of “Toh Phra Thaew”, was found hanged in her house in Thalang district of this island resort province on Sunday morning. She was believed to have committed suicide.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand confirms first human-to-human coronavirus transmission, total cases rise to 19
Thailand has seen its first case of human-to-human transmission of the new coronavirus inside the country, a health official said on Friday (Jan 31), as it raised its total number of cases to 19, the second-highest after China.
— CNA
Prayuth, Prawit, 4 Others Face No-Confidence Censure
The opposition said Friday it is sighting its gun on PM Prayut Chan-o-cha and four other ministers for the first no-confidence debate in nearly seven years.
— Khaosod English
HRH Princess Sirivannavari opens Bangkok Design Week 2020
Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya opens Bangkok Design Week 2020
— NNT
HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn marks birthday anniversary of King Rama II
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has opened the Chalerm Phra Kiat ceremony on the occasion of the birthday anniversary of King Rama II.
— NNT
Outstanding inventions displayed at Thailand Inventors Day 2020
February 2nd marks Thailand Inventors’ Day on which the National Research Council grants awards to outstanding researchers and inventors, while innovation in the prevention of PM 2.5 airborne dust and coronavirus are put on display.
— NNT
Commentary: Weaker growth prospects herald bad news for businesses and financial markets
What’s the outlook for the global economy this year? Downside risks and the lack of a cushion throw questions on optimistic projections, say Stephen S Roach.
— CNA
Phuket, Bangkok and Chiang Mai hard hit over ‘palpable’ tourism drop
The 2019-nCoV coronavirus, the official name for the Wuhan or Novel Corononavirus, is resulting in dozens of high-season flights to Thai southern beach resorts being cancelled.
— The Thaiger
Thai embassy staff to arrive in Wuhan on Sunday to facilitate evacuations
Three staff from the Thai embassy in Beijing have left the Chinese capital by car heading to Wuhan, the epicentre of novel coronavirus outbreak, to facilitate the evacuation of some 160 Thais stuck in the Chinese city.
— Thai PBS News
Phuket’s governor appeals for calm, issues warning over fake virus news
Amid the flurry of news stories about the Wuhan Coronavirus outbreak, Phuket’s Governor Phakaphong urged people this week to beware of fake news and reports that don’t cite their sources.
— The Thaiger
King sends message of his deep concern over coronavirus outbreak in China
His Majesty the King of Thailand has expressed his concern over the outbreak of the novel coronavirus 2019 in China and has wished the Chinese government success in overcoming this medical crisis and in restoring to the country normal.
— Thai PBS News
Over 300 Phuket tour buses idled
More than 300 tour buses in Phuket have been parked for over a week with no Chinese tour group arrivals because of the coronavirus outbreak.
— Bangkok Post
Woman drowns in Kalasin canal
A woman drowned in an irrigation canal in Kamalasai district while cooling off with fellow villagers on Sunday, police said.
— Bangkok Post
Opinion: Why Did Statues of a Former PM Have to Go?
Although I am not a fan of former Prime Minister and autocrat Field Marshal Pibulsongkram, the removal of two bronze statues of him is something all Thais should be worried about.
— Khaosod English
Coronavirus deals severe blow to tourism industry
Thai tour operators are weathering the storm after China imposed travel restrictions on group tours until late next month in a move to control the spread of the novel coronavirus, which the World Health Organisation has declared a global emergency.
— Bangkok Post
7-year-old Thai artist unleashes imagination through colourful fabric
When Typhoon Mangkhut hit southern Thailand two years ago, six-year-old Winny saw it differently from most people in her country.
— CNA
Religious Holiday this Saturday, February 8th in Thailand will bring a 24 hour alcohol sales ban
This upcoming Saturday, February 8th, 2020, is a religious holiday in Thailand which means many religious events and an alcohol sales ban for 24 hours.
— The Pattaya News
Woman Who Faceswapped Heroine Statue Faces Criminal Charges
A provincial governor said Friday he will file legal actions against a woman who photoshopped her face onto a statue of a heroine widely revered by the locals.
— Khaosod English
Man walks into his own funeral in southern Thailand
It was the double-take of the year. In the middle of a funeral at a local temple in Nakhon Si Thammarat, southern Thailand, the man, who was the main attraction at the event, walked into his own funeral.
— The Thaiger
Feature photo Suvarnabhumi Airport FB page
This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo focuses on the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak.
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).
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Thailand morning news for February 3 added by John Le Fevre on
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John Le Fevre
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.
Latest posts by John Le Fevre (see all)
- COVID-19 in Asean: update for July 26 — 16 mln case barrier breached, Vietnam records community transmission – July 26, 2020
- COVID-19 in Asean: update for July 25 — new high for daily infections, 16 mln infection barrier to break today – July 25, 2020
- COVID-19 in Asean: update for July 24 — Asean tops 230,000 cases, nudges 90,000 active – July 24, 2020
- Thailand morning news for July 24 – July 24, 2020