BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand will waive its mandatory quarantine requirement in Bangkok and nine regions from Nov. 1 to vaccinated arrivals, authorities said on Monday, as the country tries to boost its immunisation rate and revive its battered tourism sector.
The regions include popular tourist areas Chiang Mai, Phangnga, Krabi, Hua Hin, Pattaya, and Cha-am, and follow the successful reopening of Phuket and Samui islands to vaccinated people in pilot schemes since July.
The country is keen to welcome back foreign visitors, after nearly 18 months of strict entry policies that contributed to a collapse in tourism, a key sector that drew 40 million visitors in 2019.
Authorities will also reduce the quarantine time nationwide for visitors arriving from Oct. 1, the COVID-19 task force said, halving it to seven days for vaccinated arrivals, and cutting it to 10 days for those not inoculated.
It will also further ease restrictions from Friday in 29 "dark red" provinces under maximum control, including Bangkok, to allow more businesses and activities to reopen, such as spas, libraries, cinemas, indoor sports venues and nail salons.
The easing of measures come as the country tries to increase the rate of vaccinations, after initial supply shortages. Less than a third of the population has been inoculated so far.
The task force also approved a plan to procure a combined 3.35 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, although no delivery timeframe was provided.
Pending Cabinet approval, Thailand will seek to buy 2.79 million doses of the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccines and 165,000 AstraZeneca shots from Spain and 400,000 AstraZeneca doses sourced from Hungary, a spokesperson said.
CCSA English briefing on Monday 27th September 2021
1. The number of new confirmed cases today is 10,288 cases. There are currently 120,156 active cases with 12,494 new recoveries and 101 new fatalities. The accumulated number of fatalities is 16,275.
2. Yesterday, a total of 175,926 doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered with 62,276 having received their first jabs, and 97,061 having received their second dose, with 16,586 and 3 receiving their third and fourth booster doses, respectively. The aggregate total of vaccines administered stands at roughly 50.56 million does, inclusive of expatriate community.
3. Dr. Taweesilp has shown graphs to stress about the importance of strict compliance with universal protection measures, comparing covid-free setting and covid-free situation and realities on the ground with infection rates somewhat stable and lower death rates than forecast.
4. Earlier this morning the Prime Minister chaired the CCSA General Meeting to consider a number of measures that would be adjusted to enable all of us here in Thailand to better cope with living with COVID-19.
Although the rates of infection in the country have become stable, the fatality rates and other factors continue to call for a limitation on the movements of people. The CCSA General Meeting resolved to extend the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situation from the 1st of October until the 30th of November 2021. This is carried out with a view to enable the transition from the use of the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situation until such time that the new Communicable Disease Control Act is fully in place in November. A new body might also be established in lieu of the CCSA as the situation becomes more stable.
A number of measures have also been adjusted starting from the 1st of October 2021 with appropriate physical distancing and preventive measures as decreed by respective province's Communicable Disease Committee including universal prevention and COVID-free setting.
Despite the extension of the Emergency Decree, the curfew hours will be decreased to 10 pm to 4 am starting from the 1st of October, not at 9 pm as it is the case currently. Shopping malls, convenient stores and markets can remain open until 9 pm as opposed to 8 pm. The sales and consumption of alcoholic beverage remains prohibited in the dark red zone. Exhibition centres remain closed for the time being. The adjustment of measures also includes the opening of additional venues including movie theatres, nail salons, health establishments and other types of establishments.
5. A number of provinces involved in the tourism pilot scheme such as the Phuket Sandbox scheme – the so-called Blue Province scheme – are now slated to be open on the 1st of November including Hua Hin in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, Bangkok, Chiang Mai and other provinces. For the 1st of December, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Sorn, Nakhon Sri Thammarat and Ayutthaya and other provinces will also be open under the same tourism pilot scheme. The entire country will then be open for tourism starting in January 2022, provided that appropriate criteria is met.
6. Quarantine measures for those travelling into Thailand have also been adjusted. These can be separated into two groups. First, those who have vaccine certificates and have duly been vaccinated for over 14 days willbe subject to a minimum of 7 days of quarantine with two RT-PCR tests conducted on the first day of arrival and on the 6th or the 7th day of quarantine. The other group of those who have not received full vaccination travelling into the country via sea or air will be subject to a minimum of 10 days of quarantine and two RT-PCR tests; while those have not received full vaccination travelling into the country by land will be subject to a minimum of 14 days quarantine with two RT-PCR tests.
The alternative quarantine measures have also been relaxed as those in quarantine can now order food for delivery and are also able to exercise while they are in quarantine.
7. The Ministry of Public Health has revealed that the vaccine stockpile will exceed 125 million doses by the end of the year as vaccination picks up pace across all segments of the population. The nationwide inoculation drive is speeding up as more vaccine arrives and the rollout will be accelerated to cover all population segments. COVID-19 vaccinations in Thailand have surpassed 50 million doses after a record 1.44 million doses were administered on Friday alone.
8. In terms of the outlook for vaccine supply from October to December 2021, the plan for October is that the vaccination will have covered at least 50 per cent of both Thais and foreign nationals residing in every province and at least one district with above 70 per cent coverage. A model covid-free district will also be set up in each province. The expansion of vaccine coverage is expected to reach 70 per cent for school age students, those over 60 years of age, and those with 7 underlying diseases, and pregnant women. Booster shots will also be made available to the aforementioned groups. For November, the plan is for the first dose of vaccine to cover at least 70 per cent of each province, especially for children and youngsters aged 12 to 17. For December, the aim is at least 80 per cent of people in each province will have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccines, and 70 per cent of people in each province will have received their second dose. The booster shots will also be available for people in each province.
9. An additional of 60 million doses of AstraZeneca will have arrived in Thailand by the third quarter of 2022. This purchase can also be adjusted to become the second-generation vaccine when and if the research is successful and has duly been approved. Up to 30 to 50 million will have been sent to Thailand by the third quarter of 2022, this procurement can be adjusted to the purchase of pediatric vaccines once the research has duly been approved.
10. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that the purchase of AstraZeneca and Pfizer from Spain and AstraZeneca from Hungary have already been negotiated at a cost-effective price.
Meanwhile, Thai ambassador to the United States, H.E. Manasvi Srisodapol, said US authorities will call a meeting of the Thai-US working group next week, to discuss how to proceed with the US donation of an additional one million doses of vaccines earmarked for Thailand.
11. The Ministry of Public Health is closing down Bussarakham Field Hospital, at Impact Muang Thong Thani exhibition center in Nonthaburi province, because of the decrease in the number of COVID-19 patients. This 3,700-bed hospital will be closed by September 30th, after the last patient was sent home on September 20th. The hospital opened on May 14th and treated 20,436 COVID-19 patients with mild to severe symptoms in Bangkok and its vicinity for over 130 days. New infections in Bangkok have steadily decreased in recent days, with only 5-6 people being admitted to the hospital daily since September as lockdown measures, working-from-home approach and new strategy of sending new patients with mild or no symptoms into home isolation or community isolation have taken effect. Public and private hospitals in Bangkok and surrounding provinces are, thus, no longer overwhelmed.
The mandatory quarantine period will be shortened, the curfew will be cut, more businesses will be reopened and the emergency decree will be extended, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) decided on Monday.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha presided over the CCSA meeting, which approved these measures. The cabinet meeting will consider the measures on Tuesday.
If approved by the cabinet and announced in the Royal Gazette, the new measures will come into effect on October 1.
The state of emergency decree, which has been in effect since March 2020, has been extended for the 14th time, from the end of September to the end of November.
Mandatory quarantine period
The mandatory quarantine period for fully vaccinated visitors with vaccine certificates in all quarantine facilities and tourism sandboxes (such as the Phuket Sandbox) will be shortened from 14 days down to seven days.
For air and sea passengers without a vaccine certificate or air and sea passengers who have yet to be fully vaccinated, the quarantine period will be ten days.
For land passengers without a vaccine certificate or land passengers who have yet to be fully vaccinated, the quarantine period will continue to be 14 days.
All visitors will be subjects to two RT-PCR tests during the quarantine period.
The measures for people in alternate quarantine (AQ) facilities have also been relaxed where they will be allowed to exercise in an open-air facility, swim, riding bikes on designated routes, order food and other products online and conduct short meetings.
For people in state quarantine (SQ) and organization quarantine (OQ), they will only be able to exercise in an open-air facility and order food and other products online.
Twenty-nine highly controlled and restricted provinces
The curfew, which is now in effect in 29 highly-controlled and restricted provinces, including Bangkok, will be shortened from 9 pm – 4 am to 10 pm – 4 am.
Gatherings are still capped at 25 people.
The temporarily closed businesses in the highly-controlled and restricted provinces that will be allowed to reopen include:
Children daycares (based on permission and regulations from related agencies)
Tutorial schools (based on permission and regulations from related agencies)
Libraries (social distancing of four square meters, no more than 75 per capacity, mask on and no food)
Museums and historical sites (social distancing of four square meters, no more than 75 per capacity, mask on and no food)
Education, science, culture and art center sites (social distancing of four square meters, no more than 75 per capacity, mask on and no food)
Beauty and nail parlors (advance booking)
Tattoo parlors (advance booking)
Massage parlors and spas (advance booking, customers must be fully vaccinated or tested negative for Covid within 72 hours prior to service and no more than two hours service per person)
Cinemas (closing time 9 pm, no more than 50 per capacity, social distancing between seats for a single customer and people can sit together if they come together, mask on and no food)
Restaurants with live bands (no more than five musicians per band, singers do not have to wear mask when performing, other musicians must wear mask all the time, musicians cannot mingle with customers, 50 per cent capacity limit for air-conditioned venues, 75 per cent capacity limit for outdoor venues and no alcohol sales)
Malls (closing time 9 pm but some venues are still close including sit-and-play gaming shops, arcades, fun parks, water parks and ballrooms)
Convenience stores (closing time 9 pm)
All open-air exercising venues and sports stadiums (closing time 9 pm with limitation on the number of people based on the size of the venue and the type of sport and can have vaccinated audiences or spectators that have tested negative for Covid 72 hours prior to the match but no more than 25 per cent capacity)
All indoor exercising venues and sports stadiums (closing time 9 pm but no spectators)
Exhibition and meeting halls are also still closed.
Reopening the country
The plan to reopen 10 provinces, including Bangkok, Krabi (entire province), Phang Nga (entire province), Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi, Chonburi, Ranong, Chiang Mai, Loei and Buriram, has been pushed from October 1 to November 1.
Thailand to reopen to more vaccinated visitors from November
FILE PHOTO: People wait in front of a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) mobile vaccination bus set-up to serve the elderly and disabled groups in Bangkok, Thailand, September 8, 2021. REUTERS/Juarawee Kittisilpa
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand will waive its mandatory quarantine requirement in Bangkok and nine regions from Nov. 1 to vaccinated arrivals, authorities said on Monday, as the country tries to boost its immunisation rate and revive its battered tourism sector.
The regions include popular tourist areas Chiang Mai, Phangnga, Krabi, Hua Hin, Pattaya, and Cha-am, and follow the successful reopening of Phuket and Samui islands to vaccinated people in pilot schemes since July.
The country is keen to welcome back foreign visitors, after nearly 18 months of strict entry policies that contributed to a collapse in tourism, a key sector that drew 40 million visitors in 2019.
Authorities will also reduce the quarantine time nationwide for visitors arriving from Oct. 1, the COVID-19 task force said, halving it to seven days for vaccinated arrivals, and cutting it to 10 days for those not inoculated.
It will also further ease restrictions from Friday in 29 "dark red" provinces under maximum control, including Bangkok, to allow more businesses and activities to reopen, such as spas, libraries, cinemas, indoor sports venues and nail salons.
The easing of measures come as the country tries to increase the rate of vaccinations, after initial supply shortages. Less than a third of the population has been inoculated so far.
The task force also approved a plan to procure a combined 3.35 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, although no delivery timeframe was provided.
Pending Cabinet approval, Thailand will seek to buy 2.79 million doses of the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccines and 165,000 AstraZeneca shots from Spain and 400,000 AstraZeneca doses sourced from Hungary, a spokesperson said.
Reporting by Patpicha Tanakasempipat and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by Martin Petty
🔴 BREAKING: The CCSA meeting has agreed to reduce quarantine period for vaccinated international travellers to 7 days from 1 October. For those who have not been vaccinated will quarantine for 10-14 days. This needs to be approved by the cabinet tomorrow and published in the Royal Gazette a few days later. But it seems certain.
UPDATE ONE: This is for all types of quarantine whether it be in hotels or tourist destinations like Phuket and Samui.
Group One: Fully vaccinated people need only do seven days before they can freely travel. RT-PCR tests will be done twice. On Day 0-1 and on Day 6-7.
Group Two: Not vaccinated and arrived by air or sea need to do 10 days. RT-PCR tests will be done twice. On Day 0-1 and on Day 8-9.
Group Three: Not vaccinated and arrived by land need to do 14 days. RT-PCR tests will be done twice. On Day 0-1 and on Day 12-13.
Standby for more updates
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🔴 CCSA has approved extending the emergency decree until 30th November. Curfew to remain but hours will be shortened. Start from 10pm until 4am. This will be reviewed after 15 days. Expected to be approved by the Cabinet tomorrow and then published in the Royal Gazette a few days later.
🔴 New regulations expected to start on 1st October:
✅ Curfew from 10pm-4am
✅ No activities with more than 25 people in dark red zone, 50 in red zone and 100 in orange zone
✅ Restaurants can open until 9pm in dark red zone and 11pm in red zone. No. Restrictions in orange zone. Alcohol cannot be served in any zone
The government spokesperson also tweeted that fitness, spa, cinema, beauty treatment, music in the shop can open with conditions. I will post an update as soon as more details come out in the press briefing later this afternoon.
Chonburi new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 drop to 587 with 6 new deaths
PHOTO: Covid-19 Center
Highlights:
587 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Chonburi today
655 people recovered and were released from medical care
6 new deaths
The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 587 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with 6 new deaths, September 27th.
Additionally, 655 people were also released and recovered yesterday in Chonburi. 72,567 people in total have now been released from medical care and recovered in Chonburi since this current wave of Covid-19 began.
This makes a total of 85,024 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 11,862 people still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 595 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April. The details on yesterday's 6 new deaths were not given, which is standard for the health department.
The district-level new cases were as follows today:
Mueang Chonburi 218, Si Racha 136, Banglamung (Pattaya) 91, Panat Nikhom 24, Sattahip 26, Ban Bueang 9, Pan Thong 33, Bor Thong 4, Nong Yai 6, Koh Sichang 1, and 39 people transferred from other provinces for medical care.
The details on the cases are as follows:
Cluster, SP Inter Marine company (In the sea Si Racha – Koh Si Chang) in Si Racha, 9 cases
Cluster, Meyer Industries company in Si Racha, 5 cases
Cluster, Yongyu Wood Industry Company in Panat Nikhom, 5 cases
Cluster, Thai Gulf Jelly Fish Company in Mueang Chonburi, 4 cases
Active case finding at the Tiwson community in the Samet subdistrict, Mueang Chonburi, 4 cases
A risky occupation, meeting a lot of people, 26 cases
Many establishments in Rayong Province brought to Chonburi for medical care, 31 cases
Close contacts of confirmed patients in the family – 217 cases, in workplaces – 129 cases, close friends – 17 cases and joined parties – 1 case
Close contacts of confirmed patients (under investigation), 34 cases
97 cases are under investigation in general as to the cause of the disease
There are currently clusters of outbreaks in 75 establishments and five markets, 10 construction worker camps, and four communities.
🔴 IMPORTANT: If you are planning on flying to #Thailand during October, you should be aware that the entry regulations including the quarantine period are being revised. According to this notice on one Thai Embassy website, the issuing of COE's has been suspended until further notice.
We are expecting the quarantine period to be reduced to 7-10 days and also the number of tests that you need to do. From what I understand this is also for Phuket Sandbox. More information soon.
The week ahead in Thai news: Monday's high-level Covid Center meetings to set the stage for October
The following is our weekly feature in which we take a look at the top developing stories and things to follow over the next week. We are focusing on what is happening for the fourth week of September, ending October 1st, 2021.
As we publish dozens of stories a week, this allows our readers to get a quick glimpse of the most important stories taking place in Thailand and Pattaya and to monitor and follow for the week ahead, as chosen by our editorial team.
Let's get right into it:
This week, the main story to follow is a scheduled meeting of the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, or CCSA, in Bangkok set for tomorrow morning, September 27th, 2021.
This highly anticipated meeting is scheduled to discuss and potentially make final decisions on multiple items of extreme interest for both tourists and residents of Thailand. Although some of the decisions may be deferred, postponed, or delayed…many will likely get semi-final decisions. It's important to note that these decisions will need final approval from the Thai Cabinet at their weekly meeting on September 28th, 2021 before going into the Royal Gazette and becoming "official." Finally, in reference to any changes of Covid-19 restrictions, they also need Governor level approval before becoming official, which usually comes a day or two later than CCSA orders. Governor's have the ability to strengthen rules in their provinces, but not ease them.
Here are just some of the high-level items on the agenda for this week that we will be keeping a close eye on. We will link articles as references for more information where appropriate, click on the colored text for more:
A decision on the Emergency Decree and if it will be extended for several more months as proposed. This comes as the Thai Cabinet had approved a new communicable disease act to eventually replace the decree but it will need to go before Parliament to be debated and the earliest expected date for that is November.
The curfew in the 29 "maximum control" zones will be discussed. Early meetings point to it likely staying, despite extreme criticism, as the government believes it helps stop parties and social gatherings at night. There may be some adjustments from the current time of 9:00 P.M. to 4:00 A.M.
It is possible the government changes some zone color codings, although early meetings pointed that they may leave them the same. The CCSA sets each of the 77 provinces by a color code which helps mandate what restrictions and rules are in place to control Covid-19. They have not changed in well over a month, despite some "dark red" provinces recording almost no cases.
We may learn more about a proposed plan to only allow vaccinated customers into "high risk" venues in maximum control "dark red" provinces which was originally proposed for September but shelved after both widespread criticism and lack of enough people fully vaccinated. The CCSA has repeatedly said they have considered bringing this into effect in October.
More information about the Samui Plus potentially becoming a Phuket-style sandbox may be discussed. This, however, is also likely to be delayed like other provinces until November.
As our readers can see, this is a very full agenda and will have ramifications not just for next week but for all of October. We will be monitoring tomorrow's meetings closely and will be posting the accurate, official information when it is released as always. Have a safe week ahead!
THE impact of tropical storm Dianmu has led to heavy flooding in many provinces with Nakhon Ratchasima, or Korat, hit by its heaviest inundation in 50 years and people panicking after 22 villages were cut off, Thai Rath newspaper said today (Sept. 26).
The people in this province urged Prime Minister Prayut Chan–cha who is currently visiting Sukhothai province which too is badly flooded to also come and help them.
Forest runoff flooded a four-kilometre stretch of a road between Ban Wang Pong in Dan Khun Thot district and Ban Nong Waeng in Thepharak district leading to 22 villages being cut off.
The forest runoff from Phang Hoei Mountain Range in Chaiyaphum province is gushing violently with large waves forming and the mass of water stretches as far as the eye can see.
Villagers here said they had never seen this large mass of water for the past 50 years. It is flowing into Lam Chiang Krai Reservoir but this has reached 117 percent capacity and is overflowing.
Mrs. Yalada Wangsupakijkosol, chairman of the Provincial Administration Organisation, said residents in over 10 districts and 20 subdistricts are suffering particularly those in Dan Khun Thot, Non Thai and Non Sung districts.
Sukhothai is still in critical condition with a five-kilometre stretch of Jarot Withithong Road in the city flooded and the water a metre high in front of Sukhothai Hospital.
Rescuers with difficulty managed to take the body of a young man who got electrocuted at the hospital to the temple for funeral rites.
Meanwhile the Thai Meteorological Department forecast continuous rain with isolated heavy to very heavy downpour over the country during September 27 to October 2.
Currently a monsoon trough lies across the lower North, the Central and the lower Northeast regions with there also being a low-pressure cell over the Central region.
Moreover a monsoon trough will be moving down and covering lower lower Central, the East and the South while a southwesterly monsoon prevails over the Andaman Sea, Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand throughout the period.
Up to 60-80 percent of Bangkok faces thunderstorms today and tomorrow and 40 to 60 percent of the area from Tuesday to Saturday October 2.
THE Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) said today (Sept. 26) 50,101,055 doses of Covid vaccines have administered across the country so far, Siam Rath newspaper said.
Altogether 31.3 million people have received their first Covid jab, 16.9 million their second, 773,603 their third and 800 their fourth.
Yesterday 112,215 people were vaccinated with 40,659 getting their first jab, 67,821 their second, 3,735 their third and none their fourth.
There were 12,353 new coronavirus cases and 125 deaths over 24 hours to this morning taking the death toll to 16,268.
Of this batch of cases 10,809 were new patients, 1,000 were found through proactive search in communities, 532 fell sick in prisons and detention centres while 12 overseas arrivals were placed in quarantine.
This takes the cumulative confirmed total since the start of the pandemic to 1,561,638 and in the current wave that began in April 1,532,775
Another 14,305 patients were cured taking total recoveries to 1,422,907. Still undergoing treatment are 122,463 patients with 35,051 being in hospitals and 87,412 in field hospitals while 3,324 are critically ill with 724 being on ventilators.
It was also revealed that there are Covid cases in 74 of 77 provinces today with Nan, Mukdahan and Bueng Kan not logging any new patients.
Bangkok still has the most cases but today's total of 1,987 is an almost two-month low. Samut Prakan rose to second place with 713 cases while Chonburi is at third place with 651 cases.
Four southern provinces are among the 10 top with most infections today, namely Yala, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla and Narathiwat with health officials saying this region remained worrisome.
Meanwhile 36 provinces in the east and west reported over a hundred cases covering almost the whole of the two regions.
"All I want is a room somewhere, far away from the cold night air."
Thailand's disease control committee has proposed a halving of the two-weeks' hotel isolation requirement for vaccinated tourists. Health ministry official Opas Karnkawinpong said that Covid tests would still be required and explained that the move would help business travel and foreign students, not just tourism. The unvaccinated will still be subject to 10 days hotel isolation (air) or 14 days (land).
But travel agents point out that most foreign governments are not remotely keen on their nationals coming to Thailand right now. The US issued a red negative alert for Thailand and the UK even forces its own returning residents to quarantine in an hotel if returning from the Land Of Smiles. The cost is an extra 2,285 pounds payable in advance. EU countries have not banned visits to Thailand, but most warn of the Covid risks and/or the lack of entertainment opportunities after dark. Australia has banned its nationals from going on holiday anywhere abroad.
Many countries are discouraging vacations in Thailand right now.
There has been speculation that China and India will fill the void. But China does not permit group tours, the mainstay of the market prior to 2020, and warns of up to three weeks' compulsory quarantine for individual visitors returning from abroad. It is true that India does not require automaticquarantine for returning Indians. But the country's health ministry website requires prior uploading of negative PCR report, thermal health tests at the Indian airport and the "possibility" of quarantine in individual cases.
Thai tourist authorities have also raised the possibility of a mass Russian return. The Moscow Times points out that returning Russians are screened on arrival and must self-isolate until they can prove they are negative for Covid infection. Separately, there has been talk of an upcoming travel bubble between South Korea and Thailand. But, so far at least, it's just talk. Vietnam has recently agreed to resume international air routes with several Asian countries, but not yet Thailand.
Bars and entertainment palaces remain padlocked in forlorn Pattaya.
The Phuket-Samui Sandbox showed that around 30,000 foreigners did make it to Thailand in the last three months, although some of these appear to have been returning residents who cannily used the initiative to avoid formal quarantine and get back home. It's equally true that these numbers are a tiny drop in the ocean if aggregated across Thailand. In 2020, the overall number of visitors neared 40 million.
A start has been made. Covid infection numbers in Thailand appear to be falling and progress in vaccination is now plain to see. The next two months could witness Thailand being burdened with fewer restrictions imposed by the governments of its erstwhile international tourist markets. But, to date, only about a quarter of the 72 million people living in Thailand have been vaccinated, according to World Health Organization figures. Not enough of course.
The remaining Thai tourist problem is what vacationers will do once they get here. The beaches are mostly fine in the main resorts and there is a host of commendable opportunities to visit historic temples, exotic gardens and proud monuments. That takes care of mornings and afternoons. But the country's ongoing obsession with banning alcohol remains a major stumbling block. A country which threatens punishment of diners for having a glass of wine with their evening meal is not ready to open its international gates. Not by a long way.
Chonburi new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 drop to 651 with 4 new deaths
Highlights:
651 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Chonburi today
853 people recovered and were released from medical care
4 new deaths
The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 651 new and confirmedcases of Covid-19 today with 4 new deaths, September 25th.
Additionally, 853 people were also released and recovered yesterday in Chonburi. 71,912 people in total have now been released from medical care and recovered in Chonburi since this current wave of Covid-19 began.
This makes a total of 84,437 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 11,936 people still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 589 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April. The details on yesterday's 4 new deaths were not given, which is standard for the health department.
The district-level new cases were as follows today:
Mueang Chonburi 176, Si Racha 137, Banglamung (Pattaya) 102, Panat Nikhom 32, Sattahip 101, Ban Bueang 21, Pan Thong 40, Bor Thong 5, Nong Yai 4, and 33 people transferred from other provinces for medical care.
The details on the cases are as follows:
Construction camp of Porn Phra Nakhon Company in Bang Lamung, 9 cases
Cluster, Yongyu Wood Industry Co., Ltd. in Phanat Nikhom, 6 cases
