Thailand News - Corona - By Ola J.

torsdag 7 april 2022

Thailand mulls easing Covid test rules for overseas visitors. Thailand will consider scrapping a mandatory polymerase chain reaction test on arrival for foreign visitors as the country further relaxes its visa rules to attract tourists. Bangkok Post

Thailand mulls easing Covid test rules for overseas visitors

A Chao Phraya Express boat travels along the Chao Phraya River as the sun sets in Bangkok on Monday. (AFP photo)

Thailand will consider scrapping a mandatory polymerase chain reaction test on arrival for foreign visitors as the country further relaxes its visa rules to attract tourists.

The Public Health Ministry will propose replacing the RT-PCR tests with a rapid antigen test, Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters on Thursday.

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration will consider the relaxation at a meeting on Friday, he said.

Visitors to Thailand currently need to pre-book a RT-PCR test along with a one-night hotel accommodation to secure a visa. Hotel operators say the rules are a major dampener for travelers to the country.

Under the proposed rules, visitors may undergo the rapid antigen tests at the airport or any other designated venues starting May 1, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said in a statement Thursday.

Thailand was among the first tourism-reliant nations to end quarantine requirements for inoculated visitors and this month waived a pre-travel Covid test mandate, but arrival numbers have failed to meet expectations.

The Thai Hotels Association and the Federation of Thai Industries want the government to end the so-called Test & Go visa programme to stimulate the economy.

The average daily foreign arrivals to Suvarnabhumi airport jumped 66% to 11,623 so far in April from a month earlier after the government withdrew a pre-travel Covid test requirement, Mr Thanakorn said, adding inbound travel will pick up pace in the coming months to aid faster recovery of the tourism sector.

Mr Anutin said the government may further ease Covid restrictions if the annual Songkran holidays to mark the Thai New Year don't trigger a spike in new cases.

New daily infections may jump to 50,000-60,000 as people travel and hold family gatherings starting next week, the ministry warned earlier this week.

Thailand reported 26,081 new Covid infections and 91 deaths on Thursday, according to the ministry.

Thai Airways Takes Delivery Of 2 Boeing 777s On The Same Day. Today, Thai Airways is taking delivery of two new Boeing 777 aircraft, despite spending most of the pandemic under bankruptcy protection and on the verge of liquidation. Why would an airline seemingly in financial trouble make such a purchase? simpleflying.com

Thai Airways Takes Delivery Of 2 Boeing 777s On The Same Day

Published 10 hours ago

Why is an airline under bankruptcy protection receiving new aircraft?

Photo: Boeing

Today, Thai Airways is taking delivery of two new Boeing 777 aircraft, despite spending most of the pandemic under bankruptcy protection and on the verge of liquidation. Why would an airline seemingly in financial trouble make such a purchase?

New aircraft despite bankruptcy protection

It is exceptionally odd for Thai Airways to be taking new aircraft deliveries at this time for multiple reasons. The airline has been in bankruptcy protection for years, but it has also faced liquidation, retired numerous aircraft, cut routes, laid off staff, and the list goes on... Thai had three Boeing 777s on order, and in December 2020, it was in conversations with Boeing about the fate of the three new widebody aircraft. The order was never canceled, and two of the three aircraft are being delivered today.

Previously, Thai's Boeing 777 aircraft featured a business class cabin, but never first class. The three new 777s will feature a flagship first product, which Thai does not offer on its current aircraft. One Mile At A Time suggested that the reason for the new aircraft with first-class cabins is so that the king can continue flying first, using the airlines' aircraft for his private travels.

The two 777s are currently en route to Bangkok (BKK) from Paine Field (PAE) in Everett, Washington, in the United States. The aircraft are registered as HS-TTA and HS-TTB and are named "Alongkorn" (HS-TTA) and "Theparat" (HS-TTB). Both names have a royal connotation, and "Alongkorn," specifically, is part of the king's name, "Vajiralongkorn." The third 777 is still performing test flights in the United States and will be delivered soon.

2 Images

New Interiors

Since retiring its Boeing 747 and Airbus A380 fleets, Thai has not offered a first class product. There is speculation that although the new aircraft will have a first class cabin, tickets will be sold as a 'business-plus' option. It is unknown what the Thai first class cabin will look like on the new 777s, as nothing has been released. Rumors are that the airlines' first class product is very similar to British Airways' first class cabin, but with different finishes.

British Airways first class cabin on a Boeing 787. Photo: British Airways

Turbulent times for Thai Airways

Thai Airways is no stranger to financial struggle. Simple Flying has written numerous articles about Thai's financial struggles. Some examples of the airlines' financial struggles include, but are not limited to:

September 2018 - Thai Airways Significantly Reducing Flights to Australia
November 2018 - Thai Airways Losses Double Whilst Turkish Airline Profits Triple
August 2019 - Thai Airways Seeks New Turnaround Strategy
August 2019 - Thai Airways Asks Their Passengers For Cost Cutting Ideas
October 2019 - Thai Airways Places The Brakes On Major Order Plan
November 2019 - Thai Airways Chairman Resigns - Here's What We Know
April 2020 - Thai Airways Gets $1.8 Billion Government Bailout
February 2021 - Thai Airways To Lay Off 395 Employees In Restructuring Plan
March 2021 - Thai Airways To Lay Off Half Its Staff In Next Four Years
June 2021 - Thai Airways CEO Resigns As Court Approves Rehabilitation Plan
October 2021 - Thai Airways Set To Sell 3 Airbus A330s And A Flight Simulator

Thai is the third airline to announce the retirement of the Airbus A380. Photo: Thomas Boon | Simple Flying

For years, Thai has shown a pattern of immense struggles. Could it be that the airline is slowly pulling itself back from the brink? What do you think? Let us know in the comments.

Source: One Mile At A Time

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 1,247 new and confirmedcases of Covid-19 today with two new deaths, on April 6th, 2022. Pattaya News

Chonburi announces 1,247 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 and two new deaths

Wednesday, 6 April 2022, 15:06

Highlights:

1,247 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Chonburi today
6,746 positive ATK (rapid antigen) tests were reported but all require a second confirmed PCR test before being counted as official cases. The ATK positive tests are just "possible" cases until confirmed by PCR. TPN notes, however, that second confirmed tests are no longer mandatory except for high-risk groups.
1,332 (PCR) and 6,568 (ATK) recovered and were released from medical care
Two new deaths

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 1,247 new and confirmedcases of Covid-19 today with two new deaths, on April 6th, 2022.

This makes a total of 85,144 cases (PCR) and 197,330 cases (ATK) of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 12,719 (PCR) and 67,875 (ATK) people still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 162 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections at the beginning of this year, January 2022.

Additionally, 1,332 (PCR) and 6,568 (ATK) people were also released and recovered yesterday in Chonburi. 72,263 (PCR) and 129,455 (ATK) people in total have now been released from medical care and recovered in Chonburi since this current wave of Covid-19 began at the beginning of this year, January 2022.

Ten people were listed as being in serious condition in Chonburi currently, either on a ventilator or with pneumonia. Three of them were not vaccinated. According to the Chonburi Department of Public Health, the vast majority of recent cases are mild or asymptomatic at 99.748 percent.

The two new deaths were aged 41 and 50 with severe personal health problems and pre-existing conditions. Both of them were vaccinated.

In total, 2,053,105 people in Pattaya and Chonburi have received their first dose of a Covid -19 vaccine which is 88.15 percent of the total Chonburi population. Of those, 307,800 have received their first dose and are what the Thai government calls 608 groups (elders, have chronic health problems, and pregnant) which is 83.20 percent of those in these risk groups in Chonburi.

960,068 people have received their triple dose which is 41.22 percent of the total Chonburi population. Of those, 170,792 are 608 groups which are 46.17 percent of those in these risk groups in Chonburi.

The district-level new cases were as follows today:

Mueang Chonburi 211, Si Racha 407, Banglamung (Pattaya) 349, Panat Nikhom 11, Sattahip 111, Ban Bueng 51, Phan Thong 38, ฺBor Thong 9, Ko Chan 4, Nong Yai 2, and 81 people transferred from other provinces for medical care.

Covid war far from won, PM says. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has admitted that the end of the Covid-19 outbreak in Thailand is nowhere in sight and stressed the need for at-risk groups, now including unvaccinated young children, to get their Covid-19 shots as soon as possible. Bangkok Post

Covid war far from won, PM says

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has admitted that the end of the Covid-19 outbreak in Thailand is nowhere in sight and stressed the need for at-risk groups, now including unvaccinated young children, to get their Covid-19 shots as soon as possible.

The premier wants to warn the public that the outbreak is unlikely to end in the near future and has expressed concern about the rising number of infections and deaths among young children, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said yesterday.

Families with children aged five years and over should get them vaccinated to lower the chance of them developing more severe symptoms if infected with the coronavirus, said Gen Prayut in a statement relayed by the spokesman.

A number of young children who died after contracting Covid-19 were found by health authorities to not have received any vaccination against the virus, said the spokesman.

Gen Prayut also urged those who have already recovered to continue observing their health carefully and watch for any sign of Long Covid, which may include muscle pains, a persistent cough, anxiety and depression.

In another development, five medical organisations issued a joint statement emphasising the need for people to get a booster shot and even a second booster while the country is still battling the health threat associated with the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

A booster in addition to two regular jabs has been proven to further reduce the risk of hospitalisation and infection of the lungs, which may require treatment in an intensive care unit and the use of a ventilator, the organisations said.

They are the Royal College of Physicians of Thailand, the Infectious Disease Association of Thailand, the Preventive Medicine Association of Thailand, the Thai Society of Critical Care Medicine, and the Thoracic Society of Thailand.

Thailand News - Corona - By Ola J. - Palmtree