Covid-19 News & Updates

[buksida]

THAILAND’S VIRUS DEATHS RISE TO 4; DOCTORS INFECTED
Health officials on Tuesday said three additional people died from complications associated with the coronavirus infection, bringing the total death toll in the country to four.

Lab results also confirmed 106 new cases of the coronavirus, ministry spokesman Taweesin Visanuyothin said at a daily news conference, a slight fall in number from yesterday and Sunday. Four people remain in critical condition.

Taweesin added that four physicians who work closely with the coronavirus patients tested positive for the virus.

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/cri ... -infected/

[sateeb]

From the above article...

Officials also emphasized on the importance of the “social distancing” norm, which encourages members of the public to stay home and avoid all social interactions with others unless absolutely essential.

Ministry epidemiologist Walairat Chaifoo said the total number of infections could remain in the hundreds if 80 percent of the population comply with social distancing policy. On the other hand, she said, Thailand’s cases could surge to the thousands if the measure is ignored.


Not trying to teach my grannie to suck eggs but I would advise all ex pats here to follow the advice as closely as we can regarding social distancing. We dont want to give the local people any excuse to point the finger at us, keep calm and if you find yourself in a frustrating situation, as we often do, best to walk away.

[Lost]

Just seen a few posts from Thai friends on FB. Stuff along the lines of 'Thailand should learn from the European's mistakes'.

This virus was brought to us from your side! Yes, we've made mistakes containing it, but the Chinese brought it.

Less of the European bashing! Ffs.

[PET]

Yesterday evening my wife tells me that the Govt announced there were 4 new cases in Hua Hin ( 1 being farang )

[PeteC]

Bloomberg Worldwide report (24 March)

https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/18854 ... rus-update

[buksida]

PRAYUT DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY AMID VIRUS OUTBREAK
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha said an emergency decree, along with a raft of new restrictive measures, will come into effect on Thursday.

Speaking in a televised address, Prayut said the enactment of the 2005 Royal Decree of Emergency Situations is necessary to stem the coronavirus epidemic, which claimed four lives in Thailand as of the latest count.

Under the decree, the Prime Minister will have the sole authority in implementing policies designed to combat the pandemic through the Centre for Resolution of Emergency Situation, Prayut said. The center will meet daily at 9.30am to monitor the epidemic and take necessary actions.

He said specific measures concerning the public will be detailed at a later date, though the emergency decree empowers authorities to impose curfews, ban travels, and close down buildings without warrants.

Security officers will also have the power to censor and shut down media if deemed necessary.

The emergency situation will be in place from Thursday through April 30, according to the Prime Minister.

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics ... -outbreak/

Thailand to impose curfew, declare state of emergency after cabinet meeting; government sources say
https://www.thaienquirer.com/9957/thail ... t-meeting/

[sateeb]

https://www.thaienquirer.com/9975/coron ... provinces/

Here's the breakdown by province.

Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health announced 106 new coronavirus infections on Tuesday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 827. The cases are currently spread across 46 provinces. Thailand has also reported four fatalities, three of which were confirmed on Tuesday.

Here is a break down of the confirmed number of cases of each province:

Bangkok: 349

Nonthaburi: 47

Pattani: 46

Chonburi: 30

Samut Prakarn: 26

Phuket: 21

Yala and Songkhla: 15 each

Ubon Ratchatani: 12

Prachuab Khiri Khan, Surat Thani, and Nakorn Pathom: 7 each

Narathiwat and Pathum Thani: 6 each

Buriram and Sra Kaew: 5 each

Nakhon Ratchasima, Krabi, Samut Sakhon, Kanchanaburi, and Surin: 4 each

Phetchabun, Khon Kaen, Sara Buri, and Udon Thani: 3 each

Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Roi Et, Sukhothai, Cha Cherng Sao, Prachinburi, Patalung, Rayong, Ratchaburi, and Sri Saket: 2 each

Galasinth, Suphan Buri, Chiang Rai, Loei, Phrae, Chanthaburi, Tak, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Sawan, Yasothon, Lopburi, and Nong Bua Lamphu: 1 each

Numbers will be added to this story as they’re confirmed.

[sateeb]

Love what this guy has to say. Hope he's well hidden and protected.

OPINION: You would expect a government led by soldiers to be decisive; they can’t even get that part right
Cod Satrusayang
By
Cod Satrusayang
March 24, 2020
Full article @
https://www.thaienquirer.com/9948/opini ... art-right/

[PeteC]

NBTC seeks nod for free 10GB perk

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/18 ... -10gb-perk

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) will seek cabinet approval on Tuesday for providing mobile users with 10 free gigabytes of data usage per subscriber per month until June 30 as work from home measures are being adopted broadly in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

For fixed broadband service, existing household broadband subscribers would be supported in using the better capacity package without additional charges, though details of it have yet to be divulged.

Regarding fibre-to-the-home (FTTX) service, at least 100 megabits per second for download speeds must be ensured for household subscribers.

Takorn Tantasith, secretary-general of the NBTC, said the resolution, which was approved by the NBTC board on Monday, will be tabled before the cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

The move came after Sunday's special meeting between the NBTC and mobile and telecom operators to seek ways to assist the public during this difficult time. The meeting was urged by Digital Economy and Society (DES) Minister Buddhipongse Punnakanta.

The proposed assistance is expected to cost 10 billion baht, or around 3.5 billion per month.

The 10GB of data usage per mobile subscriber a month will be funded by the first instalment payments from the 5G spectrum licence auction held last month.

Mr Takorn said the NBTC expects more than 50 million mobile subscribers would benefit from the assistance.

For fixed broadband, including ADSL, VDSL, copper as well as FTTX, telecom operators can deduct from the Universal Service Obligation (USO) fee they are normally required to pay to the regulator annually.

Operators now pay 2.5% of their yearly revenue to the NBTC.

He said 2 million household subscribers for fixed-broadband services would be entitled to the assistance.

"If the proposal is approved by the cabinet, the NBTC will hold a meeting with telecom operators to discuss the assistance," said Mr Takorn.

NBTC chairman Sukit Khamasun­thorn said supporting people staying at home and working helps combat the spread of Covid-19. This resolution would facilitate work from home measures urged by the government, Gen Sukit said.

[Big Boy]

I haven't absorbed this yet, but it's all kicking off (or should I say being postponed) on Thursday:
https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/thai ... n-march-26

[buksida]

More here ...

Emergency decree coming Thursday

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... g-thursday

[hhinner]

Wonder if there should be a Hua Hin specific covid-19 thread where HH info doesn't get lost in the clutter of general covid stuff.

[HHTel]

"Do not return to your home provinces, or you will face penalties. There will be checkpoints along the way. Please do home quarantine (at your current location). Quarantine facilities will be opened locally and also by the government." Gen Prayut said. Various places would subsequently be closed, he added.

A bit late for that after looking at those bus station pics yesterday.

State of Emergency here means we get to know even less of what's going on. Muzzle the media. Anyone spreading or publishing the truth will be arrested!

[PET]

Wonder if there should be a Hua Hin specific covid-19 thread where HH info doesn't get lost in the clutter of general covid stuff.

GOOD IDEA - I was told that the main Baguette bakery etc( nr Palace) was closed today- so were their other shops too?

[sateeb]

The government is not likely to impose curfew soon to cope with the Covid-19 crisis, government spokeswoman Narumon Pinyosinwat said today (March 24).



She said a Cabinet meeting was discussing limits on specific locations that were at risk of spreading Covid-19 and closing borders, which would be the responsibility of the Interior Ministry and governors of each province.



The government was also considering a measure that would allow foreigners to depart from Thailand, but the issue of the curfew was not raised in the meeting.



“There was no conversation about a curfew and that is all I can say,” Narumon said.



Thewan Liptapanlop, Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office, said the new measures would become clearer in two days, but a curfew was not one of them.



Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30384757