Thailand morning news for March 18, 2020

The nation’s schools close today
Thailand’s education minister today ordered all schools nationwide to close from today as a measure to to tackle the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus.
— The Thaiger

HealthMin Says Quarantine is Now in Effect for Travelers from 4 Nations
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday again revived the possibility of mandatory quarantine for foreign travelers from high-risk countries.
— Khaosod English

At least 400,000 infections expected
Widespread transmission will slow down until the number of infected cases per week peaks between January and February next year.
— Bangkok Post

18 injured in two explosions in front of SBPAC office in Thailand’s Yala province
18 people were injured in two explosions, believed to be caused by devices detonated by southern insurgents, in front of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre in Muang district of Thailand’s southern province of Yala Tuesday morning.
— Thai PBS News

Thailand reports 30 new COVID-19 cases
Thirty new COVID-19 cases were reported by the Thai Ministry of Public Health this morning, bringing the total number of infections in Thailand to 177.
— Thai PBS News

Thailand Ready for Stage 3 Virus Outbreak, Prayut Says
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Monday announced on national TV that the government is ready to step up measures to contain COVID-19 if the country reached the so-called Stage 3 virus outbreak, or the full-blown epidemic.
— Khaosod English

Pattaya to close all entertainment venues, such as bars, nightclubs and massage shops until the end of the month
We can confirm that the Provincial Government of Banglamung and Chonburi have ordered, effective tomorrow, March 18th, 2020, that all entertainment venues must close until March 31st, 2020.
— The Pattaya News

Bangkok governor signs order closing entertainment venues in the capital
Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang today invoked the Infectious Diseases Act to order the closure of boxing stadia, bars, pubs, massage parlours, saunas, cinemas and fitness clubs, effective tomorrow (Wednesday) for 14 days.
— Thai PBS News

B130m in assets seized from suspected drug baron
The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) on Tuesday announced it has seized assets worth 130 million baht from the narcotics ring believed to be run by Chan Xue.
— Bangkok Post

City chiefs launch BTS shuttle bus pilot service
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) on Tuesday launched the first of three pilot BTS shuttle bus services, with seven more in the pipeline should these three prove a success.
— Bangkok Post

196 kilos of ganja found at north eastern Thai boarder
Local officials have seized 196 kilograms of compressed marijuana from the Mekong riverbank in Wan Yai district, Mukdahan, north east Thailand.
— The Thaiger

Thai- Lao border closed in Phayao
The border crossing to Laos in Phu Sang district of this northern province has been closed from both sides due to the Covid-19 threat.
— Bangkok Post travel

New Cluster of 30 Patients Linked to Boxing Stadium
Eleven people who went to Lumpinee Boxing Stadium with a cluster of coronavirus patients were among the 30 new cases of infection reported in Thailand, a health official said Tuesday.
— Khaosod English

Thailand at risk of economic depression in H1 due to COVID-19
Thailand is on course for an economic recession in the first half of this year, with its 2020 GDP being forecast to decrease 0.3 percent from the previous 1.8 percent as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, according to the Siam Commercial Bank’s Economic Intelligence Centre (EIC).
— Vietnamplus

Rapid test kit ready for trials
Thai researchers have developed a rapid test kit for Covid-19 and plan to launch clinical trials next month.
— Bangkok Post

Covid-19 fear fuels rush for traditional herbal medication
The rise in Covid-19 infections has people queuing to buy the traditional medicinal herb fa talai jone, or andrographis, in the hope it will protect them from contracting the virus, despite a lack of scientific proof.
— Bangkok Post

Commerce Ministry confirms Thailand has sufficient groceries supply
The Ministry of Commerce is now monitoring the stocks of grocery items closely and is asking people to refrain from panic-buying or hoarding commodity goods.
— Newsline (video)

Migrant workers warned against return to Myanmar
Myanmar wants Thailand to discourage Myanmar migrants from returning home during the Songkran festival, in a bid to prevent the cross-border spread of Covid-19.
— Bangkok Post

Water agencies lay down measures to deal with drought; rainy season
Deputy Prime Minister Gen. Prawit Wongsuwon has attended a meeting to discuss water management in lowland areas along Chao Phraya River.
— Newsline (video)

Thailand to quarantine Myanmar workers returning from Thingyan
Thailand will quarantine Myanmar workers for 14 days when they return to the kingdom after spending the Thingyan holidays in Myanmar, Myanmar’s labour attaché in Bangkok said.
— Myanmar Times

PM addresses nation, asking for solidarity to fight COVID-19
The Prime Minister has addressed the nation, asking Thais to be united amidst the continuous spread of COVID-19 in Thailand and around the world.
— Newsline (video)

In Thailand, US Threads Between Military Interest and Democratic Ideals
The demise of Future Forward, the country’s second-biggest opposition party, removes a challenge in the parliament for the military-backed government and armed forces, and has a knock-on effect to the U.S.-Thai relationship.
— VOA Khmer

Thailand long term residence options: Comparing elite status and permanent residence
This article focuses on long term Residency in Thailand in either the Thailand Elite program or in lawful permanent resident status as opposed to non-immigrant visas which, although renewable, only have an annual or bi-annual validity.
— Bangkok Post

Arrivals to get free SIM cards with internet
Mobile phone SIM cards with unlimited internet service will be distributed to inbound travellers for free before they pass through immigration counters as part of a move to help track arrivals amid the coronavirus outbreak.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand Post offers online shopping promotion
Thailand Post will charge people sending a parcel weighing up to one kilogramme 19 baht each, starting on Tuesday, as part of a measure to accommodate online shopping in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
— Bangkok Post

Thai Education Minister decides to close all schools, including private, nationwide starting tomorrow
The Thai Education Minister Natthaphon Teepsuwan has ordered all schools nationwide to be closed from Wednesday March 18 onwards, in order to tackle the spread of Covid-19, said the ministry’s permanent secretary Prasert Boonrueng today.
— The Pattaya News

Songkran is officially postponed to later this year. So, what does that mean exactly?
Songkran, the Thai New Year, was officially postponed today by the Thai Cabinet and Government out of concern for the possible spread of the novel Covid-19 Coronavirus.
— The Pattaya News

Seacon allots B1bn for massive Srinakarin revamp
Seacon Square Srinakarin is getting a 1-billion-baht upgrade to make it more fun and current.
— Bangkok Post

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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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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Thailand morning news for March 18 added by John Le Fevre on March 18, 2020
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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.