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SINGAPORE (AP) — Singapore, a tiny city-state of less than 6 million people, had one of the earliest and biggest clusters of cases of the coronavirus in early February, before it began its rapid, inexorable expansion around the globe. Within weeks, the country’s tally of infections with the highly contagious virus that causes COVID-19
Thailand’s Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana has self-quarantined after he learned that one of his protection officers has been admitted to the Police Hospital for treatment for COVID-19. The minister’s secretary, Mr. Thanakorn Wangboonchana, said today that he had learned that the officer reported to work on March 11th and then took leave. He added that
A massive coronavirus prayer session with tens of thousands of devotees sparked an outcry in Bangladesh Wednesday as the South Asian nation reported its first death from the global pandemic. Local police chief Tota Miah said some 10,000 Muslims gathered in an open field in Raipur town in southern Bangladesh to pray “healing verses”
Foreign visitors, who are treated for COVID-19 in Thailand, and those who are placed under investigation pending COVID-19 test results, will have the right to claim back the medical expenses they actually paid from the state, according to Mr. Poomisak Aranyakasemsook, director-general of the Comptroller Department. Thais and foreigners, including expatriates, who are covered
Thailand’s cabinet has taken the initiative by implementing social distancing as a preventive measure to protect against contracting COVID-19, as fears of the deadly virus grip the nation. At the cabinet meeting on Tuesday, all ministers, including Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, were seen wearing face masks and seated about a metre apart The same measure
LONDON (Reuters) – Schools across Britain were struggling to stay open on Wednesday, with some forced to partially or fully close as staff and students stayed at home because of the spread of coronavirus. The closures come amid confusion about why schools are being advised to stay open when the government has stepped up
“Stop it. It’s not sensible, it’s not helpful and I’ve got to say, it’s been one of the most disappointing things I’ve seen in Australian behavior in response to this crisis. That is not who we are as a people.” Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on panic buying triggered by Covid-19 outbreak
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has designated ten more countries as “high-risk” for COVID-19, and citizens of these countries travelling to Thailand are now required to produce proof of health insurance and doctor’s certificate to enter Thailand. They could also to be subjected to 14-days of quarantine at locations designated by the Thai
The Thai Ministry of Public Health today reported 35 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 212. In the north-eastern province of Khon Kaen, Dr. Somchaichote Piyawatwela, the provincial health chief, said that one man, who attended a boxing match at the Lumpini stadium, has tested positive for
Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said today that his government is ready to close the country’s borders to all foreign arrivals, if the COVID-19 pandemic worsens to Stage 3. The Prime Minister visited the command centre managing the COVID-19 situation today, to monitor operations and to get updates on the virus situation. The centre is
Thailand claims to have developed 500 baht COVID-19 test kits which are capable producing a result in under an hour. The CRISPR diagnostic kits are a joint development by the Wittayasirimethi Institute, the Faculty of Medicine of Siriraj Hospital and PTT Public Company. Assistant Professor Chayasith Uttamapinan, one of the researchers who worked on the
BERLIN (AP) — Governments grappled Wednesday with how to implement border closures, travel restrictions and lockdowns that have caused transportation chaos and imperiled economies, but which authorities say are needed to slow the coronavirus pandemic. European Union leaders agreed to shut down the bloc’s external borders for 30 days, while the U.S. and Canada
The European Championship, due to be played in June and July this year, has been postponed until 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic, European football’s governing body UEFA said on Tuesday. UEFA announced that the new proposed dates for the tournament were June 11 to July 11 next year, as Euro 2020 becomes Euro
What humans young or old assume to be “important” are going out one by one. Some stock market activities have been suspended. Sport events around the globe, with enormous commercial interests attached to them, have been cancelled or postponed. Youngsters are choosing to stay home. Chinese New Year or Songkran traditions are being abandoned. Political
