Thai PM allows New Year countdown event

 Thailand’s Centre of COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has been assigned by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to discuss with businesses how a New Year countdown event can be held in a way which will not lead to a COVID-19 resurgence.

The prime minster told the media that he is pleased with the slowdown in new infections over the past several weeks which, he said, is a healthy sign and that the government is preparing to ease lockdown restrictions further, citing the New Year countdown event as one example.

He said that he has told the CCSA to try to conclude talks with the private sector about the New Year event within a week and that it must be held outdoors with measures taken to prevent a new round of infections.

Although the Omicron variant has not been detected in Thailand yet, the prime minister said that he has instructed officials to try to track down the remaining travellers from eight African countries already in Thailand for RT-PCR tests, to make sure they are free from the Omicron variant. – ThaiPBS

Source - BangkokJack

 

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Confusion reigns as Thai PM announces end of quarantine and alcohol restart "spoiler"

It was supposed to be Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's chance to announce the end of quarantine and the opening of the country's nightlife and serving of alcohol.

Instead it has just created more confusion if the online reaction is anything to go by.

Posters on ASEAN NOW seemed more confused than ever and criticized the lack of clarity as par for the course of a government that has chopped and changed at every turn throughout the pandemic but especially over the last six months.

Many felt the proposed relaxation had not gone far enough and that nothing should have been announced before the decisions were set in stone.

Many posters said this kind of "might" and "mull" philosophy was hopeless for foreign tourists who have to plan for a visit well in advance.

Prayuth's Monday televised address was also just a precursor - a spoiler if you like - for the actual decision that will be made by the CCSA on Thursday.

Will they tweak the proposals or reverse them? Tourists both foreign and domestic, expats, and operators in the industry are all desperate to know the score.

Desperate for an ounce of clarity.

As it stands Thai Rath reported what has been announced internationally.

That tourists from ten countries including Singapore, Germany, the US and the UK will not need to quarantine but will need to have been double vaxxed and have tests before and after arriving.

But what other documents they will need and what other countries are on the list remained unclear.

China was also on Prayuth's lips - but there has been no announcement from the Asian giant that they are allowing their citizens to travel. So that is effectively a moot point.

When it comes to alcohol the situation is still utterly unclear.

About as cloudy as a Pernod and water.

The Thai media interpreted the PM's announcement that alcohol would be allowed in restaurants from December 1st.

But that pubs, bars and nightclubs would only be allowed to reopen.

It wasn't stated that the blanket alcohol ban would be lifted for all establishments.

Prayuth has stated that the tourism industry cannot stand another decimated high season. He has avowed that the risks of reopening outweigh the continuing calamity caused to the economy by the pandemic, especially its tourism sector.

But his comments about the possibility of reversing these "decisions" remains if cases spike, as they are expected to even by the PM's own admission.

Others like the Rural Doctors group have stated in the last 24 hours that Thailand's infection rate is not dropping as official stats state.

Yet another example of "you pay your money and take your choice" when it comes to believing police and stats coming out of Thailand.

Thursday's Center for Covid Situation Administration meeting may provide a little more clarity.

Source - ASIAN NOW

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#Thailand - 31 provinces now at orange or yellow levels for Covid-19 risk

 

More provinces were added to Covid-19 risk areas coded orange and yellow.

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Thursday had decided to color code provinces as red, orange, yellow or green, depending on the level of coronavirus risk and the strength of measures taken in each province.

On Friday, the CCSA did not clarify the colour assigned to each province. However, based on several official updates on patient numbers, color codes were assigned. 

Of the 32 provinces where Covid-19 cases have been confirmed, the only one marked as red was Samut Sakhon. 

Those in orange, pointing to more than 10 cases, were: Bangkok, Samut Songkhram, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan.

Provinces marked yellow -- fewer than 10 cases -- were: Saraburi, Suphanburi, Pathum Thani, Uttaradit, Kamphaeng Phet, Phetchabun, Chachoengsao, Ayutthaya, Phuket, Phetchaburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Prachinburi, Krabi, Khon Kaen, Chai Nat, Udon Thani, Phichit, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Sawan, Ang Thong, Ubon Ratchathani, Songkhla and Loei. 

The rest of the provinces were marked green to show no Covid-19 cases had been reported in the new wave of infections.

Source - The Nation

#Thailand - More easing of lockdown to be announced on Monday

The government is finalizing further relaxations in lockdown measures and will make the announcement on Monday, Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman of the government’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), said on Friday (June 26).

He said that there are five matters to be finalised on June 29, as people await further relaxations in the fifth phase for pubs, bars, entertainment venues, and massage parlours.

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Among the likely decisions are:

▪︎Limited entry into the country for foreigners, though allowing tourists under travel bubble agreements has been postponed to August;

▪︎Extension of the state of emergency;

▪︎School opening confirmation for the minority children on the border;

▪︎Easing the one-metre social distancing measure in public transport to at least one-foot distance and compulsory wearing of masks by passengers throughout the journey.

As Thailand reached 32 days without a domestic case, Dr Taweesin warned against complacency, citing the example of China which once did not have any cases for 52 consecutive days before being jolted by an outbreak last week. New Zealand also has reported new cases recently.

Source - Pataya One News