40 new Covid cases confirmed in Yala
The provincial public health office has confirmed 40 new coronavirus cases after thorough testing among at-risk groups, including those recently returned from neighbouring countries.
— Bangkok Post
Media, don’t be fooled by protesters – Finance secretary
Media outlets are being duped by highly visible protesters trying to attract media attention in their efforts to receive the 5,000 baht “No One Left Behind” handouts, according to Finance permanent secretary Prasong Poonthanate.
— The Thaiger
Economy Contracts in Q1, to Worsen in Q2, Bank of Thailand Says
Thailand’s central bank on Thursday said in a press briefing that the Thai economy has shrunk in the first quarter and will further contract in the second quarter, factoring the downfall to weakening exports and tourism, both sectors hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
— Khaosod English
More foreign flights allowed
More airports have been given permission to operate special international flights between 7am and 7pm each day, according to a new order issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) yesterday.
— Bangkok Post
Baby steps for reopening businesses
City Hall has issued guidelines on the implementation of the government’s relaxation of Covid-19 containment restrictions for 10 clusters of businesses and venues starting on Sunday.
— Bangkok Post
Air passengers should check destination restrictions prior to travel
As Nok Air, Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air and Thai VietJet have resumed domestic services from Lampang, Mae Sot, Phitsanuloke, Buriram, Sakhon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Roi-Et, Khon Kaen, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Trang, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani and Krabi regional airports, Thailand’s Ministry of Transport is advising passengers to check advisories on local conditions and restrictions applicable at their destination prior to making their journey.
— Thai PBS News
Activist Srisuwan cries foul over plan to fell Yang trees in Yasothon province
Thailand’s renowned social activist, Srisuwan Janya, has voiced his strong objection to the planned felling of several Yang trees, some of which are thought to be over 100 years old, in the northeastern province of Yasothon.
— Thai PBS News
Six new COVID-19 cases as Thailand prepares to ease lockdown tomorrow
Saturday saw 6 new COVID-19 infections recorded in Thailand, but no fatalities. Two of them caught the disease from previously infected people, two were discovered during Active Case Finding in Phuket and two are in state quarantine, having returned Japan and India.
— Thai PBS News
Thai exports to the US are forecast to contract by 9.2% this year
Thailand’s exports to US market are forecast to contract by as much as 9.2% this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and the GSP privilege removal for some Thai products, according to the Kasikorn Research Centre (KRC).
— Thai PBS News
Yala province awaiting results of tests on 40 possible COVID-19 cases
A second set of swabs, taken from 40 asymptomatic in-patients at a hospital in Thailand’s Yala province, have been sent to a laboratory in Songkhla for analysis.
— Thai PBS News
Over 500 Thais fly home today and straight into quarantine
A spokesman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration announced today that 581 Thais have returned from 5 countries.
— The Thaiger
First month in 16 years with no insurgency attacks in Thailand
Last month was the first in 16 years in which there were no insurgent attacks on Thai forces or civilians, either in Thailand’s restive Deep South or elsewhere.
— The Thaiger
Thai government gets high marks for its handling of coronavirus pandemic
The majority of respondents to an opinion poll support the Government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the assistance provided to help ease the resulting economic hardships.
— Thai PBS News
Booze rush at shops as ban ends
Liquor sections at supermarkets and convenience stores on Sunday were thronged with customers eager to buy alcoholic beverages after sales resumed for the first time in almost a month.
— Bangkok Post
Thousands queue outside Finance Ministry for relief cheques
People began arriving before sunrise. It was around 5am on Friday that 49 year old Bawonlak Rasameebunsrisuk from Samut Prakan, just south of Bangkok, started the queue outside the Finance Ministry.
— The Thaiger
Thailand eases lockdown but noodle lovers divided by partitions
The streets of Bangkok hardly returned to business as usual Sunday, the first day of relaxed COVID-19 restrictions imposed in late March for such establishments as restaurants and hair salons.
— Nikkei Asian Review
Covid-19 crisis casts shadow over graduate futures
The coronavirus outbreak casts a shadow over the future of approximately 300,000 soon-to-be graduates this year.
— Bangkok Post
THAI loan ‘a temporary fix’
The government should offer a loan to Thai Airways International (THAI) rather than guaranteeing one if it wants to ensure a more sustained rescue of the national carrier, according to a former THAI board member.
— Bangkok Post
FTI readies coronavirus recovery plan
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) has prepared a recovery plan to boost the grassroots economy and rebuild industry through a local economy scheme to cope with the coronavirus outbreak.
— Bangkok Post
Thung Salaeng Luang National Park sees uptick in animal activity during COVID 19 closure
The closure of many national parks due to the coronavirus has allowed recuperation of their ecosystems, with Thung Salaeng Luang National Park reporting increased sightings of animals.
— Newsline (video)
Govt quells fears over exodus
The Interior Ministry yesterday gave assurances that the thousands of people leaving Phuket for their homes in other provinces have already been screened for Covid-19.
— Bangkok Post
Thai people warned against inviting others for alcoholic drinks at home
Thai people were seriously warned on Sunday (May 3) to refrain from inviting others for alcoholic drinks at home otherwise they might be arrested by police.
— The Star Online
Corrections Hospital to develop capabilities
Police General Hospital has signed an agreement with Corrections Hospital centered around meeting international patient treatment standards and measures against the coronavirus in prisons.
— Newsline (video)
King Power trumpets B1.4bn of social projects
Duty-free retail giant King Power has answered Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s invitation to join the government in easing Covid-19 pandemic-induced hardship with a plan to inject up to 1.4 billion baht into the economy.
— Bangkok Post
BOT’s measures for SMEs now in effect
COVID-19 has destabilized many businesses, especially SMEs with limited access to funding. In a proactive move, the Bank of Thailand has introduced measures that are now in effect to help SMEs in need. Let’s find out more from this report.
— Newsline (video)
Processed food awaits snapback
Thai processed food exports are expected to recover in the third and fourth quarters this year after falling 13.3% in the first quarter.
— Bangkok Post
Taiwan-Thailand Medical Technology Collaborating Center to Ease the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) has been promoting the New Southbound Policy and funding local institutions to establish “Science and Technology Innovation Center (STIC).”
— CITES
PDMO to borrow B50bn for farmer handout
The Public Debt Management Office is set to borrow another 50 billion baht under the 1-trillion-baht royal decree to fund the cash handout to 10 million farmers this week, the PDMO’s chief says.
— Bangkok Post
China’s taste for Thai durians undiminished by coronavirus
As the durians ripen in her orchard of 180 trees, Vipavadee Teplasamee eyes a lucrative harvest in May of the fruit regarded as “green gold” in Chanthaburi, a province southeast of Bangkok.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
Almost all support 14-day quarantine, flight ban: Poll
A huge majority of the population approves of the requirement that all people arriving in Thailand from abroad be quarantined for 14 days and the temporary ban on flights to the country, according to an opinion survey by the Suan Dusit Rajabhat Univerity, or Suan Dusit Poll.
— Bangkok Post
Govt to hire jobless to offer health advice
The government may employ public health volunteers to advise on how to prevent disease transmission as certain business activities reopen from the lockdown today.
— Bangkok Post
United in kindness, Thais launch food campaign for those left out of government’s COVID-19 measures
Pattawadee ‘Dao’ Boonsamak and her husband have spent the past three years selling rice and omelette on the roadside of Bangkok.
— CNA
Thanathorn and the politics of pandemic
Many Thai politicians have jumped on the pandemic bandwagon to offer relief for struggling members of society and subsequently boost their own popularity.
— Thai PBS News
Will impoverished children lose out on education in new normal?
The wide education gap dividing the haves and the have nots threatens to become a chasm now that schools have been closed as part of measures to contain the Covid-19…
— Thai PBS News
Pattaya City Entertainment venue owners meet to discuss suggestions for Covid19 safety measures for potential reopening
At 5:00 PM yesterday at the Hollywood Disco located in Central Pattaya over twenty local bar and entertainment venue owners of some of the cities largest establishments such as Ibar, Hollywood and others met to give ideas around safety measures to be suggested to the local, provincial and national government’s to help allow venues to hopefully reopen in the near future.
— The Pattaya News
Chonburi list of businesses to remain open and closed under current Covid-19 restrictions
The Chonburi Communicable Disease Relation Committee released an order this morning, No. 21/2063, which lists the current businesses that are ordered to remain closed until at least May 31, 2020 or if the Committee releases a new order.
— The Pattaya News
Masks, hand gel and PPE valued at 5 million baht seized in Bangkok
Police in Bangkok have confiscated face masks, hand sanitiser and protective clothing valued at 5 million baht and arrested a man in a raid on a townhouse in Thawi Watthana district.
— The Thaiger
Krabi’s deputy governor apologizes for derogatory comment about Phuket
The deputy governor of Thailand’s Krabi province has offered a public apology to the people of Phuket for his derogatory and unproven claim that they had spread coronavirus to his province.
— Thai PBS News
Billionaire highlights social contributions
Thai billionaire and senior chairman of Charoen Pokphand Group (CP) Dhanin Chearavanont has donated over 700 million baht to fund the company’s projects to fight the spread of Covid-19 and insisted the company has no plans to lay off staff.
— Bangkok Post
Loei governor rises as “savior” in Covid-19 struggle
Given his humble background and inspirational rise to the top, Loei governor Chaiwat Chuenkosum knows exactly where to find people in dire need.
— Thai PBS News
Bangkok Hairstylist Gives Free Haircuts to Health Frontliners
Scrubs may be in fashion during the coronavirus crisis, but split ends — never. That’s where Pornsupa Hattayong comes in.
— Khaosod English
Chonburi residents rush to purchase alcohol as sales open for the first time in weeks
Local residents flocked to supermarkets and department stores this morning, some lining up well in advance of the legal selling time of alcohol at 11:00 AM, to purchase alcohol today across the province of Chonburi after the national and local government allowed sales for the first time in about three weeks.
— The Pattaya News
Bar raided in Pattaya area for allegedly being open in violation of Covid-19 emergency decree, eight arrested
Nongprue police raided a small bar located near Village Number 6, just outside of Pattaya City, at 9:00 PM last night for being open and selling alcohol which is against current restrictions in place meant to help control the potential spread of the Covid-19 Coronavirus.
— The Pattaya News
Two of five escaped prisoners recaptured in Sakon Nakhon
Two of the five prisoners who escaped from a prison in Sawang Daen Din district of this northeastern province on Friday have been recaptured, according to media reports.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand’s monsoon and wet season explained
Unlike much of the rest of the world, north and south of the equatorial regions with the four reliable seasons of winter, spring, summer and autumn, Thailand has just three seasons: hot, not-quite-so-hot and wet. The rainy season is caused by the southwest monsoon that sweeps out of the Indian Ocean with moist air heading […]
— The Thaiger
Officials give thumbs up to reopen 2 Bangkok malls today
Officials from the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, City Hall and police yesterday inspected two luxury shopping malls in Bangkok, to ensure their readiness to reopen for limited business today.
— The Thaiger
Those heading home to the provinces face 14 day quarantine
Those ignoring the PM’s request to travel only for essential reasons and heading to their home in the provinces for the long weekend may be in for a shock.
— The Thaiger
Remembrances of Red Trauma (2) – The room on the 7th floor
In the second part of our series Remembrances of Red Trauma, we publish the short story The room on the 7th floor by northeastern writer and SEA Write Award nominee Phu Kradat.
— Isaan Record
Feature photo Tris_T7
This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo focuses on Coronation Day, May 5.
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.
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Governance, not government; policies not politics.
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