Thailand morning news for April 17, 2020

Confidence dips again as recession looms
Large-cap stocks listed on Thailand’s stock market saw another day of sell-off following the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) grim economic forecast and a fall in crude prices.
— Bangkok Post

Thai Prime Minister reassures public that 5000 baht will be paid for three months as part of financial stimulus plan
The Thai Prime Minister, Prayut Chan-O-Cha, addressed the public this afternoon and reassured the Thai people that a financial stimulus program of 5000 baht a month will be paid for three months, not only for one month.
— The Pattaya News

At Wit’s End, Poorest Thais Turn to Charity for Survival in Pandemic
A grandma selling shirts on Facebook Live for 3 baht. Blind masseuses struggling to navigate the government website for cash handouts. A taxi driver breaking down in tears on the news when he admits he has no food to eat.
— Khaosod English

Covid-19 patient puts 28 medics in Narathiwat at risk by concealing history
A Covid-19 patient, whose identity is concealed, has put 28 medical personnel in Narathiwat’s Ruso Hospital at risk by not revealing their complete medical history, the hospital director announced on Wednesday (April 15).
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

29 new cases confirmation Covid-19 curve flattening in Thailand (Updated)
Thailand’s total number of Covid-19 patients rose to 2,672 with 29 new cases confirmed over a 24-hour period, and two more deaths, Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman of the government’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said on Thursday (April 16).
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Loophole closed – more unemployed to receive payments from Thai government
The loophole for employees whose businesses were not ordered to close, but are still affected by Covid 19 pandemic, has finally been addressed.
— The Thaiger

Call for help as orchid export industry wilts badly
The ongoing pandemic has hit orchid exports and orchid growers are so badly off now that they need financial assistance from the government, the Thai Orchid Exporter Associationâs vice president Jade Meeyarnyium said.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Official Says ‘No Animals Harmed’ In Fire at Controversial Zoo (Photos)
The environment minister said Thursday no animal was harmed or killed in a fire that broke out at a shopping mall-operated zoo.
— Khaosod English

Index at 33-month low point
Business sentiment plunged to a 33-month low in March as the sector worried that the escalating coronavirus outbreak would drag the country’s economy into a deeper contraction than Thailand saw during the 1997 financial crisis.
— Bangkok Post

Product presenter caught selling over-priced face masks
A woman product presenter has been arrested in Wang Thong Lang district of Bangkok for selling face masks, which are on the price control list, at inflated prices.
— Bangkok Post

Migrant workers in Thailand can now stay until November 30
Yesterday the Thai government officially announced a blanket extension for the country’s migrant labourers. They will now be permitted to stay until November 30 this year and will be exempted from any sort of overstay penalty.
— The Thaiger

Thai-Malaysian border set to open this weekend
The Thai-Malaysian border is set to reopen this weekend to assist the struggling rubber trade, causing locals to express concern that a spike in new Covid 19 cases could result in Thailand because of the move.
— The Thaiger

SRT heeds request from Uttaradit authorities to cancel train service
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has temporarily cancelled the Bangkok-Den Chai trains No 111 and 112.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Covid control measures likely to stay
Disease control measures that restrict everyday life are unlikely to be relaxed, but it will depend on how well people cooperate, a government spokesman said on Thursday.
— Bangkok Post

Thousands of prisoners released ‘to ease crowding in jails
The release of nearly 8,000 inmates in recent months is aimed at reducing the crowdedness inside prisons, Corrections Department director-general Narat Sawettanan said on Thursday (April 16).
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Panel mulls rescue plan for virus-hit Thai Airways
A working group has been formed to help financially-troubled national carrier Thai Airways International (THAI), said Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak.
— Bangkok Post

Protesters force end to quarantine
About 50 people in Phuket province on Wednesday forced the closure of a hotel used as a Covid-19 quarantine facility in Muang district’s Rawai village, despite an appeal for understanding by a local health official.
— Bangkok Post

Cabinet approves freeing up funds from fiscal 2021
The cabinet on Wednesday approved cutting the investment and regular budgets in fiscal 2021 by 50% and 25% respectively, a move to mobilise funding to ease the financial burden arising from the pandemic.
— Bangkok Post

Government announces plan to allow 200 overseas Thais to return daily
The government has refuted a report alleging it will allow 3,000 Thai nationals to return from Malaysia and India.
— Newsline (video)

IMF: Thai GDP down 6.7%
The IMF downgraded the economic forecast for Thailand in 2020 to a contraction of 6.7%, making it the worst performer among its Asean peers if the multinational lender’s projection holds true.
— Bangkok Post

Water meter deposit refund registration opens
Customers of the Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) can now register to obtain a refund of their water meter deposit, as one of the state measures to alleviate the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
— Newsline (video)

Govt mulls easing curfew as cases drop
The government may start to ease the curfew by the end of this month if Covid-19 cases continue to fall.
— Bangkok Post

Sheikhul lslam of Thailand issues guidelines for Muslims during Ramadan
Sheikhul lslam of Thailand Aziz Phitakkumpon has issued an announcement urging Muslims to take necessary precautionary measures to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 during the Islamic month of Ramadan, which will likely begin on either April 24th or 25th and will conclude on either May 23rd or 24th.
— Newsline (video)

Thailand’s Big Stimulus Borrowing Could Spur Yield-Curve Control
Thailand’s 1 trillion baht ($30.6 billion) borrowing program for economic stimulus could spur central bank steps to keep a lid on bond yields.
— Bloomberg

Rate of conscript retention is ‘too low’
Far too few conscripts are staying on in the military this year, according to the army.
— Bangkok Post

Prayut orders review of 5k cash scheme
The government’s 5,000-baht cash handout scheme has been placed under review due to a surge in complaints lodged by people claiming they were wrongly disqualified from the financial relief programme, according to the Finance Ministry.
— Bangkok Post

Nursing Robots developed to help medical personnel
Chulalongkorn University together with its alumni have collaborated in developing a robot to assist medical personnel across the country, working to treat COVID-19 patients in safety.
— Newsline (video)

Govt to sign Asean pact on Covid-19
The cabinet has agreed to endorse the Asean Special Meeting Declaration that underscores the region’s strength of cooperation and capabilities to deliver health protection in a collective battle against the Covid-19 pandemic.
— Bangkok Post

Unis agree on B4bn tonic to assist students, staff
Dozens of universities in the kingdom have agreed to introduce remedial measures worth more than four billion baht to cushion the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on students and faculty members, according to the Council of the University Presidents of Thailand.
— Bangkok Post

Medical Association of Thailand provides insurance coverage to medical personnel
The Medical Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage has provided insurance -cover to 280,000 physicians and nurses, should they become victims of COVID-19 while on duty.
— Newsline (video)

Reservoir drying up, 800 homes at risk
The water level at Huay Bong reservoir in Chum Phuang district, which supplies more than 800 households, is at only 1% of its holding capacity, the lowest in 15 years.
— Bangkok Post

Returnees from Malaysia jump queue
About 100 Thai workers stranded in Malaysia have illegally crossed back into the country, saying they would have starved while waiting in the queue for their turn to come home.
— Bangkok Post

33 hours for southeast Asia’s “biggest continuous foundation pour, ever”
Developers in Bangkok are celebrating what they claim is the biggest continuous Mat concrete foundation pour, ever, in southeast Asia.
— GCR

Thailand’s new Personal Data Protection Act may impacts businesses
Thailand’s Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) will come into full force on May 27th of this year.
— ScandAsia

DOE to hire unemployed labor
The Department of Employment has launched a project hiring informal laborers affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.
— Newsline (video)

‘Ranger’ the civet and friends saved from Chiang Mai forest fires
Twenty wild animals including ‘Ranger’ the palm civet, hawks, yellow throated martens, gibbons and leopards, have been rescued from forest fires in Thailand’s northern province of Chiang Mai.
— The Thaiger

Telecom stocks slide as NBTC tries to extract discount for customers
Telecom shares have reacted negatively in the past two days after the NBTC [National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission] discussed with mobile phone operators the possibility of reducing customers’ fees by 10-30 per cent to alleviate people’s financial burden during the Covid-19 situation, a market analyst said.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Private investors hold over 70% of debentures directly or indirectly: BOT
The Bank of Thailand (BOT) said on Wednesday (April 15) that individual investors held the majority of private debentures at 70.7 per cent, totalling Bt2.54 trillion.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Banglamung woman allegedly seriously injured by boyfriend in domestic incident
A local Thai woman has sustained multiple facial and arm injuries after allegedly trying to get her ten month old baby back from her boyfriend and his wife in Rayong.
— The Pattaya News

Incredible Hulk Tattoo Studio helps support those in need in Pattaya this Saturday
The Incredible Hulk Tattoo Studio, which is located on Walking Street in South Pattaya across from Marine Disco has informed The Pattaya News that they will be supporting the needy and hungry in Pattaya with a charity food give away.
— The Pattaya News

First of 620 returnees touch down in Thailand
Thailand has preparations in place for 620 Thais being repatriated from overseas this week amid the global virus outbreak, Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman of the government’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said on Thursday (April 16).
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

ISKCON Pattaya Temple is supporting the needy in Pattaya daily on Jomtien Beach
The following is a brief public notice from the ISKCON-Pattaya Temple, who is providing food daily on Jomtien Beach. They also have provided information on where they prepare and pack the food for any potential donations or questions.
— The Pattaya News

Bra-maker snaps back at virus with shapely face masks
Underwear maker Wacoal has switched its focus from pants to the pandemic, manufacturing thousands of face masks from lingerie material for free distribution.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

PM apologizes for miscommunication about 5,000 baht subsidies
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has offered a public apology for his miscommunication, which has caused widespread public confusion, over the 5,000 baht monthly cash subsidy for people affected by business closures.
— Thai PBS News

Songkhla hotel braces for 300 returnees from Malaysia
Staff at a Songkhla hotel are preparing the place to welcome Thais who will return from Malaysia via the Sadao checkpoint from Saturday (April 18) onwards.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Lampang’s horses, and their caretakers, doing it tough
2020 has been a bleak year for horses and their owners in northern Thailand. Horses and their and caretakers in Lampang province are now starving.
— The Thaiger

Conman tricks vendor out of govt aid
Police have charged a young man with cheating an elderly vendor from Pak Chong district out of most of his 5,000-baht government handout.
— Bangkok Post

Ports Authority of Thailand will offer discounts
“Not only has the number of containers handled by the port decreased, but many trips have also been cancelled,” says director-general, Kamolsak Promprayoon, The Port Authority of Thailand.
— The Thaiger

Yamaha develops special Covid-19 examination booth
In collaboration with Ramathibodi Hospital, auto-making giant Yamaha has developed the prototype of a negative pressure booth for use in the detection of Covid-19 cases.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Siam City Cement to close Saraburi plant
Siam City Cement Pcl today (April 16) announced it is closing its factory in Saraburi province, as demand for cement dwindles during the Covid-19 pandemic.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Expert Proposes Re-Opening Businesses in Pandemic by ‘Zoning’
A senior economist on Wednesday said businesses should be allowed to return to normalcy at a different pace amid the coronavirus pandemic.
— Khaosod English

2.7 billion in “cash gifts” for officials working to fight Covid-19
Government Spokesperson Traisulee Traisaranakul announced the Thai Cabinet has approved “cash gifts” for government officials working to fighting the Covid 19 outbreak.
— The Thaiger

Industry Ministry begins face mask deliveries
The first batch of face masks produced by the Industry Ministry for Bangkok and other high-risk provinces has been distributed.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Din Daeng, Bang Na toll plazas closed until May 21
The Din Daeng Toll Plaza (0, 1, and 2 channels) and Bang Na Toll Plaza (1, 2, 3, and 4 channels) will be closed for maintenance from April 16 to May 21, the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) said.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Fishermen struggling as restaurants shuttered worldwide
Just one kilogramme of freshly caught squid a day was almost enough to live on for Thai fishermen like Wisut Boonnak. Now the catch has halved in price and he’s spending more time on village duties.
— Bangkok Post

Siriraj Hospital Teams Up With Huawei, Adopts 5G Tech to Fight COVID-19
Thailand’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Society and China’s Huawei Technologies on Wednesday have announced plans to provide Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions and 5G technology to Siriraj Public Hospital in the fight against Covid-19.
— Khaosod English

Financial relief approved for employees affected by Covid-19 outbreak
Employees whose businesses were not ordered to shut down by the government but are still affected by Covid-19 situation will get compensation under the social security scheme, the Cabinet agreed on Wednesday (April 15).
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Provincial Water Authority understands dire water shortage, gives current scheduled distribution of water times
We have reported several times on the water problems Pattaya is facing in the past few weeks, especially the surrounding suburbs and outskirts of the city.
— The Pattaya News

THAI liquidity support to be wrapped up next week
The government expects to conclude a capital injection plan for flagship carrier Thai Airways International next week, a government minister said on Thursday.
— Bangkok Post

Cop turns robber at Chachoengsao bank: Police
A policeman in Chachoengsao province was arrested for allegedly attempting to rob a branch of Kasikornbank on Thursday (April 16).
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Park elephant tramples farmer
A man was trampled to death by a domesticated elephant at his farm in San Sai district on Thursday.
— Bangkok Post

First lot of Thai returnees released from Bangkok quarantine
The 75 Thai nationals, who were isolated in a state-run quarantine centre for 14 days after returning from overseas, were released on Thursday (April 16), deputy Bangkok governor Sakolthee Pattiyakul said.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Man arrested for forging Covid-19 test certificates
A Thai man has been arrested for forging Covid-19 test certificates, records of 14-day quarantine and other medical documents, police said on Thursday (April 16).
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Uttaradit province extends alcohol ban till April 30
Uttaradit Governor Thanakorn Ungchitpaisarn on Thursday (April 16) extended the ban on alcohol beverage sales from April 18-30.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Distressed mother threatens to throw child off Bangkok bridge
Photographs of a mother threatening to throw her daughter off Bangkok’s Memorial Bridge and then commit suicide went viral yesterday (April 15), after being shared on the Facebook account of an eyewitness.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Sale or consumption of alcoholic drinks banned in Nakhon Pathom
Nakhon Pathom province on Wednesday (April 15) banned the sale and consumption of alcohol from April 20 to 30.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Feature photo Baifern Suchada
This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo focuses on COVID-19 in Asean

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 April 17 added by John Le Fevre on April 17, 2020
View all posts by John Le Fevre →

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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.