New police division to track tourist's movements in Thailand
A new division of the Royal Thai Police is being formed to monitor tourists' movements as part of the ongoing suppression of the Covid-19 virus.
According to national police chief Chakthip Chaijinda, the newly-created department, named the Covid-19 Investigation Division, will reportedly monitor both foreign tourists and repatriated Thai citizens.
The news comes as Thailand is beginning to gradually lift international flight restrictions and initiate 'travel bubble' arrangements between countries that are deemed to be at a low-risk for the spread of Covid-19.
A report in The Pattaya News says officers are expected to be drafted in from other divisions, including the Highway Police and Thai Marine Police.
Officials are reportedly considering the viability of a tracking app separate from the existing Thai Chana contact-tracing app.
Tourists may also be subject to regular health screenings and other preventative measures.
However, there is no information as to how the division will track the targeted groups. – The Thaiger
Bangkok Poll by Bangkok University Research Centre on Saturday published a survey on "Thai people's financial status in 2020", saying that 41.1 per cent of respondents lived pay cheque to pay cheque and had no monthly savings.
28.3 per cent said they had to borrow just to support their families.
Some 17.6 per cent said they earned adequately, but their savings this year had been reduced.
The survey was conducted among 1,221 respondents from all regions of Thailand.
The majority of respondents (61.3 per cent) listed the reason for their reduced earning/savings as the soaring prices of consumer products, while 36.8 per cent said they had to pay mortgage for house or car, while 29.3 per cent said their businesses had seen fewer customers this year.
When asked how they coped with financial problems, 81.7 per cent said they had to become more thrifty and think before spending, while 55.7 per cent said they had to cut back on dining out and travelling, 22.7 per cent opted to seeking supplementary income, such as selling items online and becoming a delivery person.
When asked what expenses were still the top priority even in this economic situation, 80.8 per cent of respondents said utility bills (water, electricity, internet, telephone), followed by food (73.3 per cent) and educational expenses for their children (43.8 per cent). – The Nation
Foreign ministry: 20,000 foreign tourists a month set to come into Thailand
Picture Channel 8
A senior consular official at the Thai foreign ministry has said that the country is targeting 20,000 tourists a month.
This comes as they have proposed that extensions to 60 day visas will now be 45 days instead of 30 to account for the 14 day quarantine visitors must do.
It will apply to 56 countries including Russia, said Jaturon Chaiyakham.
Jaturon said that PM Prayuth Chan-ocha wants more foreign tourists to come in.
Right now the Covid situation is under control, he claimed, and there are 15,000 rooms for quarantine in Bangkok and Thailand can handle 1,000 visitors a day.
The target is to get 20,000 per month to add to the 45,000 already in the country, 10,000 of whom are "stranded".
In an upbeat assessment Jaturon said that the Certificate of Entry (CoE) is now easier than ever to get and can all be done online.
Thirty Miss Thailand 2020 contestants plunge into pond as bridge collapses while posing for promotional photos in Chiang Mai
PHOTO: cnxnews
Chiang Mai –
Three among 30 beautiful contestants from the Miss Thailand 2020 competition were slightly injured after a bridge accidentally collapsed while posing for promotional photography at the Pang Pao Beach Cafe and Restaurant in Chiang Mai Province yesterday, December 7.
The accident occurred around 3:00 P.M. during the sixth consecutive day of undergoing training sessions and activities in the Northern province as a small bridge constructed from ropes and a steel walkway at the restaurant entrance suddenly collapsed while all of the contestants were standing on the bridge for photography.
PHOTO: Manager Online
One of them suffered cuts and bruises on her forehead, while two others had minor scrapes. They were rushed to a hospital for a checkup and were discharged afterward, while the rest of the contestants were seen hugging, some laughing at the comical situation and comforting each other before proceeding to do other training activities.
Dr. Adisorn Suddee, the director of Miss Thailand 2020, said after the incident that the bridge might have collapsed due to their combined weight, sending them plunging into the 60-centimeter-deep water below.
"It was unexpected that the bridge would break. Meanwhile, the contest and training session would continue until December 13 and we would take the best care of the injured contestants throughout the sessions," the director added.
PHOTO: Dailynews
Worapot Chatkanjana, the owner of Pang Pao Beach Cafe and Restaurant, told the press that the restaurant had just opened for the second day, with many tourists visiting. The bridge, however, could only support the overall weight of 25 persons, causing the bridge to eventually collapse.
The owner said: "Pang Pao Cafe and Restaurant was willing to take care of what happened and to cover treatment costs for the injured women. We would also improve the stability of the bridge as well as safety measures to prevent reoccurrence of the incident in the future."
Group of prominent Chiang Rai business operators preparing to sue positive Covid-19 cases that snuck illegally over the border for 20 million baht in lost revenue
Bangkok, Thailand-
According to multiple sources, including the Thai Public Health Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, a group of prominent business owners in Northern Thailand are preparing to sue a group of primarily Thai women that worked at entertainment venues in Tachiliek who snuck over the border from Myanmar illegally bringing Covid-19 with them and causing loss of business and cancellations in the Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai area in their busiest domestic tourism period of the year.
Initial amounts being stated for lost compensation is the whopping sum of twenty million baht, although is subject to change.
This is on top of multiple legal charges for the group who, according to Anutin, set the public at risk by sneaking over from the border, mostly from the Myanmar border town of Tachiliek. The majority of the women who snuck into Thailand illegally were trying to avoid a mandatory quarantine period but inadvertently brought back Covid-19 with them, although the Ministry of Public Health says there is no widespread outbreak or sign of significant local spread after thousands of tests have been completed.
The other legal charges the group will face include illegal entry, violation of the Emergency Decree and violation of the Disease Control Act which could see the illegal returnees face potentially years in prison and harsh fines.
Anutin, speaking at a press conference this morning at Government House in Bangkok, stressed the situation was under control and cautioned the media not to "blow the incident out of proportion", pointing to the fact that all of yesterday's reported nine positive Covid-19 cases were legal Thai returnees from Myanmar/Tachiliek who crossed over the border through the proper process, went into quarantine and followed the rules. These individuals will not face legal charges or risk of lawsuits, he added, only those that snuck into the country against the law, some of who went to events, nightclubs and public venues without self isolating but appear to have avoided a widespread outbreak.
Anutin also added that Thai officials with the Ministry of Public Health have reached out to Myanmar authorities, owners of entertainment venues in Tachiliek and relatives of those still in the country and have identified Thai nationals that remain. He has warned them that they must return legally and go through proper quarantine if they wish to return to Thailand and that they know who they are. Tachiliek remains essentially in a "hard" lockdown with businesses closed and domestic travel banned due to a Covid-19 outbreak in the area, much of which seems to have stemmed from entertainment venues in the city.
Read more about the previous situation with these cases here:
Alcohol sales and advertising in online platforms banned from today in Thailand
National –
The prohibition on the sales and the promotion of alcohol online finally begins today, December 7th, following the notification of the Royal Gazette in early September.
Reminded by the Royal Thai Police at a press conference last Friday, the new regulations include the sale or advertising of alcoholic beverages through all digital and social media platforms.
Those who violate the law will be subject to up to six months in prison and a fine of up to 10,000 baht or both, according to Police Colonel Siriwat Deepor, the deputy spokesman of the Royal Thai Police.
This legal measure, as mentioned in the notification, is adapted to the current situation of the increase in online business in Thailand and it is issued to prevent minors under the age of 18 from having easy access to buying alcohol and to reduce the accidents that may have been caused by alcohol.
Dr. Niphon Chinanonwet, Director of the Office of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, said at the conference that the ban is equally applicable to both small and large retailers and assured that only alcohol sales meant to be delivered remotely on social media platforms such as Facebook, Line, and websites were being prohibited.
The prohibition, therefore, excludes paying for alcoholic beverages via electronic channels at stores, restaurants, or any licensed establishments that serve alcoholic beverages. Questions have arisen, The Pattaya News notes, on if this will affect live streaming that has become popular in many Pattaya establishments and it appears the answer so far is No, as most venues advertise simply "drinks" and not specific alcoholic beverages and there is no delivery or consumption of a beverage outside of a licensed establishment.
Previous applicable laws will still be in effect in addition to the new regulations. Any attempts to persuade and introduce alcoholic products that are violating the Alcohol Control Act are subject to a maximum of a one-year jail sentence and a fine up to 500,000 baht or both.
Tax evasion cases will be penalized based on the volume of alcohol sold, while anyone selling to minors will be violating the Child Protection Act, the deputy spokesman concluded.
BANGKOK, Dec 7 (TNA) – The government's business easing committee will propose the government extend the validity of tourist visas to 45 days from 30 days to attract visitors.
National Security Council secretary-general Gen Nathapol Nakpanit in his capacity as the director of the committee discussed with committee members the idea as well as COVID-19 situation in Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai province.
After the meeting, Chaturon Chaiyakham, deputy director-general of the Consular Affairs Department, said the prime minister ordered the Foreign Affairs Ministry to work out measures to attract visitors.
The 45-day tourist visa idea will apply to visitors from the 56 countries where Thailand has granted 30-day visa upon arrival, in order to make up for 14-day quarantine.
Mr Chaturon said the idea was aimed at stimulating the economy and expected to double the number of monthly visitors to 20,000 as the committee was confident that the Public Health Ministry was able to contain COVID-19.
Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Disease Control Department, said COVID-19 was confirmed with 38 illegal returnees, two of whom were locally infected for being in close contact with other infected people.
He assured that COVID-19 was under control in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and other provinces where illegal returnees were diagnosed with the disease.
Meanwhile, the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration reported 21 new COVID-19 cases comprising 15 Thai, two Americans and one each of Estonian, Indian, German and Nigerian nationalities.
Nine of them were from Myanmar, four from the United Kingdom, two each from the United States and Singapore and one each from Estonia, India, Germany and the United Arab Emirates.
The total cases rose to 4,107, 3,868 of whom recovered including 15 discharged over the past 24 hours and 179 were at hospitals. The death toll remained unchanged at 60. (TNA)
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha tried to allay fears of a second wave of coronavirus infections, saying the Thais who sneaked back across the border from Myanmar's Tachileik town were not super-spreaders.
The prime minister also warned that those who entered the country illegally via natural passages to avoid mandatory quarantine will face legal action.
Speaking via the government's Thai Khu Fah podcast broadcast on Monday, Gen Prayut gave assurances that the Covid-19 situation in Thailand remained under control despite some infected Thais sneaking back across the border from Myanmar.
"It is not a second wave of infections or super-spreaders. It is individual infections. We have asked the neighbouring country to screen and prevent them from entering via natural passages along the border," the prime minister said.
He said he instructed authorities to build barricades along the border and step up border patrols around the clock to stop illegal crossings by people who may bring the disease with them.
The Interior Ministry has also been told to set up additional checkpoints to watch for those who might manage to sneak back, while local residents have also been urged to keep an eye out for strangers or outsiders who enter their villages and alert authorities, the prime minister said.
"Those who sneak back will face legal punishment because they are irresponsible towards others and society as a whole," Gen Prayut said.
"I told security agencies to use aerial photography or drones to survey any new natural crossings that might be used by illegal border crossers so additional barricades and patrols can be deployed there," Gen Prayut said.
He also warned that human smuggling gangs that helped people enter the country illegally via natural passages will be dealt with severely and any officials who were involved will also be punished.
The prime minister also called for public calm, saying the government is finding ways to solve the Covid-19 problem. He added that the Covid-19 situation is expected to ease next year when vaccines are available.
Gen Nattaphon Narkphanit, head of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration's (CCSA) panel on the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, chaired a meeting to follow up on cases involving Thais returning from working at the Covid-19 hotspot hotel in Myanmar's Tachileik town.
After the meeting, Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Department of Disease Control, said that there were a total of 32 infected patients who sneaked back from Myanmar, with two local transmission cases who contracted the virus from the returnees from Myanmar.
Dr Opas said that the National Security Council had instructed security agencies to tighten curbs on illegal entry through natural passages. All must go through official checkpoints and undergo mandatory 14-day quarantine, he said.
"The situations in Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and other provinces where infections were found have been brought under control. So far, no additional cases from Tachileik have been found. Don't worry. Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai are safe for travel," Dr Opas said.
Jaturon Chaiyakham, deputy director-general of the Department of Consular Affairs, said that the prime minister had instructed the Foreign Affairs Ministry to expedite the relaxation of restrictions on foreigners entering Thailand.
In light of this, the ministry will seek cabinet approval for an extension of free visas for foreign tourists from 30 days to 45 to compensate for their 14-day-quarantine period. There are 56 eligible countries for visa exemption. This will also apply to Russia which has a visa-exemption agreement with Thailand, Mr Jaturon said.
With the extension, the number of tourists is expected to increase from 10,000 to 20,000 per month, he said.
The CCSA on Monday recorded 21 new cases of the novel coronavirus, including nine Thais who reentered the country from Myanmar, for an accumulated total of 4,107 since the outbreak began. No new deaths were reported, leaving the toll at 60.
The CCSA said the new cases comprised 15 Thais and six foreigners.
The Thai returnees included nine people who had worked at the coronavirus hotspot 1G1-7 Hotel in Tachileik, Myanmar. Unlike previous returnees, however, they re-entered Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai through the official checkpoint and were tested immediately.
With Covid-19 infection cases rising in Chiang Rai, tourism-related businesses in the northern province are starting to feel the coronavirus pinch.
A hotelier complained of tours being cancelled over fears that Chiang Rai, a northern province bordering Myanmar, where coronavirus infections are being widely reported, would become a Covid-19 hotspot.
There were 26 reported infection cases in Chiang Rai as of yesterday. Of the total, six were people who were smuggled in while the rest were found in local quarantine sites. Thailand has 38 cases directly and indirectly linked to people returning from Tachileik since the first case was detected on Nov 24.
Businesses hoping for a high season upturn after struggling from prolonged lockdown restrictions are seeing their hopes being dashed due to a second wave that should have been avoided, had all concerned elements not let their guard down. Despite the emergency decree, some state officials have failed to maintain anti-virus measures, by being lax in terms of border crossings and enforcing health guidelines like temperature checking and mask wearing.
Fears over Covid-19 began in Chiang Mai last month after an infected woman working in the Myanmar town of Tachilek bypassed border checkpoints to sneak into the country near Mae Sai, together with a few friends. She recklessly travelled to Chiang Mai after developing Covid symptoms and testing positive. It will take another week to know if the woman is a superspreader.
But it's now clear that Mae Sai district opposite Tachileik is now on the virus frontline. Local authorities have expected more Thais to flee Tachileik in fear of catching the virus. Several who have done so have lied to authorities which makes it harder to control the disease.
As a result, all state agencies must be prepared for a rise in cases.
It was reported that a second hospital has been prepared to receive Covid-19 patients while the military said it has deployed drones to monitor border movement. However, these measures are probably not enough.
On the ground, it's necessary that the authorities tighten border controls. Prospective returnees should be told to go through official checkpoints and cooperate with the authorities by entering local quarantine sites. The government must ensure that Thais in the Myanmar town know that anyone failing to comply risk stiff penalties. Businesses potentially affected by this border debacle should consider file complaints against the reckless returnees who intentionally avoided health protocols.
At the same time, the government should also take action against officials who turn a blind eye to illegal border crossings.
In an apparent bid to ease public anxiety over a second coronavirus wave, Provincial public health chief, Thossathep Boonthong yesterday tried to assure people that health authorities would be able to handle matters as the strains in the northern area appeared "not to be serious".
Such a claim gives an impression the health chief in being optimistic to protect the province's image, rather than facing up to the facts. The doctor also said that a lockdown is still unnecessary.
Of course, a lockdown should be enforced as a last resort to avoid further damage to the local economy.
In the meantime, local authorities must be on full alert, exercise precautions and plug the gaps, especially in the border areas.
Opening to foreign tourists: "More convenience over visas" promised as NSC meet Foreign Ministry today
The secretary of Thailand's National Security Council Gen Natthaphon Nakphanich said Sunday that the NSC would be discussing with the Foreign Ministry today regarding the way forward for allowing foreign tourists to enter Thailand.
Though details were scant in an INN report the subject of visas was clearly at the top of the agenda.
Gen Natthaphon promised more convenience to potential foreign travellers over visas though he stressed the need for consideration for the safety and well-being of the public.
He remarked that new year "countdown" events could go ahead with the now familiar DMH protocols in place - distancing, masks and hand washing.
He also promised NSC contact with health authorities in the new year regarding possible changes to testing protocols.
COVID-19 in Thailand: Situation is under control, don't believe fake news, says spokesman
Picture: Sanook
Thailand's principal Covid-19 spokesman has said that the country's health authorities have everything under control despite 14 cases of the disease - one transmitted to a health care worker in state quarantine.
Dr Taweesin Wisanuyothin of the CCSA emergency steering committee urged his countryfolk to reject fake news.
He said that the authorities had acted well and fast in test and trace procedures to contact those who came into contact with three illegal entrants who came in from Tachilek and Myawaddy. They were among 13 returnees who tested positive.
But he urged Thais not to be complacent.
He repeated the mantra of masks, hand washing, social distancing, avoiding gatherings in enclosed spaces and the need for cleaning and using the Thai Chana tracing app.
He urged people not to sneak into the country and said that if everyone played their part the country could look forward to a good end of year tourism period.
A story that ten provinces were off limits was nonsense, he said, and should be called out as fake news.
