COVID-19: Into the abyss as global recession looms (video)
The declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) represents nothing short of a total failure by the top global body that nations rely on to formulate public health policies and protect citizens to do its job.
— AEC News Today
BREAKING NEWS – 32 new COVID-19 cases in Thailand’s biggest one day jump
Thailand reported 32 new COVID-19 cases today. This is the biggest jump so far in a single day, raising the number of infections in the country to 114.
— Thai PBS News
SCB warns of recession sparked by virus epidemic
Siam Commercial Bank’s Economic Intelligence Centre (EIC) has warned Thailand is on course for a technical recession in the first half of the year as the centre cuts its 2020 GDP forecast for the country to -0.3% from the previous 1.8% due to the increasing gravity of the Covid-19 epidemic.
— Bangkok Post
Prime Minister moves Internal Trade Department Chief to inactive post over mask shortages
In a move that many expected to be coming after multiple mask shortages across the country, long queues to get masks that were available and many statements that the public alleged to be misleading, Internal Trade Department Chief Vichai Pochanakit has been moved to an inactive position at the Prime Ministers office effective immediately.
— The Pattaya News
Prayut calls for calm amid growing virus fears
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Sunday appealed for calm as escalating fears over Covid-19 are driving people to stockpile food and other daily necessities.
— Bangkok Post
Government tries, fails to clarify visa-on-arrival confusion
After days of rumours, assertions and flip-flops, Thailand’s Foreign Ministry in a press briefing yesterday provided some much-needed clarity regarding visa-on-arrival (VOA) status for 18 countries and visa exemption for three countries with high infection rates of the Covid-19 coronavirus: they are cancelled.
— The Thaiger
PM appeals for unity to overcome COVID-19, drought and economic crises
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha has appealed to the public to unite and join the Government in its attempts to overcome the scourges of COVID-19, drought and slowing economy.
— Thai PBS News
PM: Nightlife stays open for business
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-cha announced he has rejected, for the time being, the suggestion from Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to temporarily close the country’s massive nightlife industry.
— The Thaiger
South shoreline still darkened by tar balls, oil slicks
The sea and a 20-kilometre stretch of beach in Hua Sai district of this southern province are still darkened by the tar balls and oil slicks that have blanketed the area for over a month, local residents said.
— Bangkok Post
Suvarnabhumi International Airport deserted as fear of virus grips travellers
It was eerily quiet at Suvarnabhumi at 9pm on Saturday night, as both the arrival and departure halls were virtually deserted.
— Thai PBS News
Health minister denies racist tweets
Deputy PM and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul certainly knows how to grab the spotlight: just days after messages posted on his Twitter account caused a social media uproar and prompted the account to be shuttered, he has denied making the tweet. In a short interview with the BBC, Anutin claims he didn’t post the now infamous “Dirty Western Foreigner” tweets late last week.
— The Thaiger
Thailand’s face mask manufacturers boost production to 2.2 million a day
All 11 face mask manufacturers are working to maximize production in a bid to reach the target of 2.2 million in total pieces per day to meet high demand in response to the Covid-19 outbreak.
— Pattaya Mail
Panel to mull closing all entertainment outlets after pub outbreak
Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul says he will ask a Covid-19 outbreak management committee to close all entertainment venues nationwide in the wake of cluster infections involving people drinking together in a pub.
— Bangkok Post
Bangkok hopes extended railway will ease traffic chaos
A city known for traffic gridlock and confusing roads, Bangkok has been trying to improve traffic and the quality of life for its residents by rapidly expanding its rail system.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
Thailand’s push to be an international headquarters hub gains steam
THAILAND has been tweaking its regulations to attract more international headquarters, trading and treasury centres to the kingdom since 2015, with reasonable results.
— The Business Times
SIM Cards Tracking Travellers from Covid-19 High-Risk Countries
Thai telecom provider DTAC is now providing SIM cards that will track foreigners arriving from countries with the Wuhan virus.
— Chiang Rai Times
50 MPs join Move Forward
Fifty former Future Forward MPs have applied to join the Move Forward Party and elected Pita Limjaroenrat as the leader of the opposition party.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand to give away anti Covid-19 hand gel, 500,000 bottles first lot
The Excise Department and the Government Savings Bank (GSB) will distribute the first lot of 500,000 bottles of alcohol-based hand sanitizing gel to the public at the GSB branches, starting on March 27.
— Pattaya Mail
Thai media networks urge all news outlets to observe rules of engagement in crisis situations
Six Thai media associations on Saturday (March 14) issued a joint statement to remind all news outlets to adhere to ethical standards in their reporting of the Covid-19 (coronavirus) outbreak and to exercise caution to avoid creating widespread panic amongst readers and viewers.
— The Star Online
83 Thai students back from Italy quarantined, 6 sent for COVID-19 tests
A group of 83 Thai students, part of the American Field Service (AFS) program, were taken from U-Tapao international to Sattahip naval base this morning (Sunday) for COVID-19 screening, after their arrival on a special Thai Airways International flight from Italy.
— Thai PBS News
Prisons to be powered by solar electricity
Solar panels will be installed at all 143 prisons throughout the country in a bid to reduce their electricity costs after the Corrections Department was found to have not paid the power bills in full in 2019, Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin said on Sunday.
— Bangkok Post
Khon Kaen University students in anti-government demonstration
Adding to a growing trend, students at Khon Khaen University in northeastern Thailand held a second demonstration last night, despite fears of the Covid-19 coronavirus spread, saying they’ve “had enough” of the government. Students from all departments gathered at the multi-purpose ground near the Law Faculty at about 6:30pm. Large sheets of white cloth were laid at the entrance for students to write messages to the government and express their opinions.
— The Thaiger
Mask shortage ‘baffling’
The prospect of the Covid-19 outbreak turning into a Stage 3 full-blown epidemic in Thailand is deepening worries over the dire shortage of face masks.
— Bangkok Post
Pita leads 49 other former Future Forward MPs to the Kao Klai party
Former Future Forward rising star Pita Limjaroenrat led 49 other MPs of the now defunct party, including dissident MP Kharom Polpornklang, to apply for membership of the Kao Klai (Move Forward) party today.
— Thai PBS News
Private sector asked to cancel Songkran events if virus status no better by end of March
Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports will seek cooperation from the private sector to cancel their Songkran celebrations if the rate of COVID-19 infections does not subside by the end of March.
— Thai PBS News
Summer storms batter Korat, Buri Ram
Sudden summer storms caused extensive damage in two provinces in Thailand’s northeast yesterday: many villages in tambon Nong Ma Nao in Khong district of Nakhon Ratchasima, also known as Korat, were struck by a summer storm late last night.
— The Thaiger
Government advised to stop all crowd activities and events
Thailand’s well known virologist, Dr. Yong Poovorawan, has proposed that the Government stop all social events and activities that attract crowds, and to provide easier public access to COVID-19 tests, in order to prevent a wider spread outbreak.
— Thai PBS News
TV Celeb Among New Confirmed Cases of Covid-19
Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health on Saturday reported seven new COVID-19 cases, including four members of the same family and celebrity TV actor Matthew Dean.
— Khaosod English
Opinion: Thailand Must Fight Coronavirus With Kindness and Calm
We must be kind, responsible and calm, not selfish and hysterical. The survival of any society depends on having more altruistic people than selfish ones.
— Khaosod English
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).
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Thailand morning news for March 16 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