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Hong Kong on Friday began to ease major social distancing measures with bars, gyms, beauty parlours and cinemas reopening their doors after the financial hub largely halted local transmissions of the deadly coronavirus. Queues formed outside gyms in the semi-autonomous Chinese city on Friday morning for employees to check temperatures as people celebrated the
The Thai economy has reached its low point, with the gross domestic product (GDP) forecast to contract by 3% to 5%, instead of 1.5-2% as originally estimated, and exports will shrink between 5% and 10%. The inflation rate is expected hover between 0 and -1.5%, all according to Mr. Suphan Mongkolsuthee, president of the Federation
The daily numbers of COVID-19 cases in the country have been encouraging, but the good news remains quite limited, and the biggest nightmare can still come true. What if no vaccine is available in the next two years? What if there will be no vaccine at all? The worst-case scenario features all vaccination candidates failing
Thailand’s accumulated COVID-19 cases reached 3,000 today, with 8 new confirmed cases being reported, up 6 from yesterday. CCSA spokesman Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin told a news briefing today that five of the new infections are female illegal immigrants, aged between 19 and 30, who are being held at a detention centre in Sadao district
The Chatuchak weekend market, popular with both Thai and foreign tourists, will reopen this weekend, but visitors will be required to observe physical distancing and wear face masks. Mrs. Walaya Wattanarat, deputy permanent secretary of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), said this weekend the market will be open from 5am to 6pm, for shops selling
A total of 28.8 million people have applied for the 3 months of 5,000 baht/month cash subsidies, under the “Rao Mai Thing Kan” (We Do Not Leave You Behind) scheme, but only 13.4 million have passed the qualification screening so far. Of those eligible, Mr. Lawan Saengsanit, spokesman for the Finance Ministry, said that
China’s exports saw a shock 3.5 percent rise in April despite the global impact of the coronavirus pandemic, official figures showed Thursday, partly due to rising medical exports. But analysts warned of weakness ahead as key markets suffer downturns, as well as the brewing threat of a renewed trade war with the United States.
The opposition Kao Klai (Move Forward) party submitted an urgent motion to Thailand’s House of Representatives today, demanding the setting up of a special House panel to examine and monitor the Government’s spending of the two trillion baht special budget, established to cushion the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat said today
When one of her colleagues at a Covid-19 testing laboratory developed flu-like symptoms a few weeks ago, medical scientist Thitiya Kanthadong’s worst fear was not getting infected. Her heart was heaviest about the possibility of the entire lab shutting down because all its staff had to be quarantined. “Really, that was my biggest concern
Daily new COVID-19 infections in Thailand increased to three today, as the CCSA pleaded with the Thai public to comply fully with all the regulations, in order to maintain the single-digit infection rate for the next 10 days, so the country can move to the next stage of lockdown relaxation. At today’s news briefing,
Home-sharing platform Airbnb said Tuesday it will slash one fourth of its workforce — some 1,900 people — as the coronavirus pandemic crushes the travel industry. The cuts are needed for the San Francisco-based company to survive until people start traveling anew, Airbnb co-founder and chief executive Brian Chesky said in a blog post. “We
After falling silent for more than a month under lockdown, Lek’s hairdressing salon in Bangkok is suddenly echoing to the sound of appointment calls after Thailand began relaxing restrictions on Sunday (May 3). Lek said she is delighted that she can finally open her business again following the stress of more than a month with
BANGKOK (AP) — The millions of unemployed in Thailand due to the coronavirus include elephants dependent on tourists to feed their voracious appetites. With scant numbers of foreign visitors, commercial elephant camps and sanctuaries lack funds for their upkeep and have sent more than 100 of the animals trudging as far as 150 kilometers (95
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said today that Thai Airways International should be given a last chance to shape up if the flag carrier is to get a rescue package from the Government. While acknowledging the Government’s obligation to help in the rehabilitation of the financially challenged state enterprise, the Prime Minister said that the airline
