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From Bangkok Post Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha says Thailand will open the country to visitors from 46 countries instead of only 10 Covid-19 low-risk countries announced earlier, starting from Nov 1. He did not name the countries in the post on his Facebook page on Thursday evening, but wrote it was now necessary to speed up the opening. "If we wait until everything is fully ready, we'll be too late. Besides, tourists may choose to go elsewhere," read the post. He added that he was aware the acceleration brought with it the risk of more local infections. "But this is a risk we must accept. I think, like other countries, Thailand is now better equipped to deal with the risk. And we need to learn to live with it." Visitors from the 46 countries, described as the first low-risk group, may enter Thailand by air without quarantine, provided they have been fully vaccinated and have evidence of negative test results before taking flights. They must also agree to take another test upon arrival. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2201875/thailand-welcomes-visitors-from-46-countries-from-nov-1 =============================== I read last night that the Aviation Authority of Thailand is planning exercises at international airports, simulating arrival of international tourists under the seven conditions previously released. The exercises are scheduled for Oct. 25. Those will presumably determine fine tuning of how tourists will be received andprocessed.

From Channel News Asia TOKYO: Tokyo will lift curbs on bar and restaurant opening hours as COVID-19 cases in the Japanese capital hit their lowest level this year, officials said on Thursday (Oct 21). It is the latest softening of coronavirus restrictions in Japan, where cases have been in free fall for weeks, which experts ascribe to a rapid increase in the vaccination rate. Nationwide, new infections have plunged from record highs of more than 25,800 in August to fewer than 400 in recent days. And Tokyo, a city of 14 million people, has reported an average of 47 daily cases over the past week - lows not seen since June 2020. The country has never imposed a blanket lockdown, but for most of this year, a COVID-19 state of emergency was in place in major cities and other areas, targeting alcohol sales and crowd sizes at large events - including the Tokyo Olympics, held mostly behind closed doors. The emergency measures ended three weeks ago, but some restrictions have remained, including Tokyo's restaurants and bars being asked to close by 9pm. From next Monday, establishments in the capital that take sufficient anti-infection measures will be free to open late, Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike said, after surrounding regions announced similar steps. Although Japan's vaccine drive started later than in many other developed economies, about 68 per cent of its population is now fully inoculated - more than the United States' 57 per cent. The borders of the world's third-largest economy remain shut to almost all foreign nationals, and mask-wearing is not mandatory but ubiquitous in public places. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/japan-covid-19-tokyo-ditch-nightlife-curbs-2259061

From Bangkok Post Health cover perks for foreigners The Public Health Ministry is expanding the health insurance ceiling, covering Covid-19 treatment, to at least US$100,000 (3 million baht) for non-immigrant visa O-A applicants, to bolster their confidence to stay in the kingdom. Deputy Public Health Minister Sathit Pitutecha said on Wednesday the health insurance criteria have been revised for foreigners who hold the non-immigration visa type O-A for a one-year stay. The change came into effect on Tuesday. In addition, visa holders can also submit an application for this health insurance from their countries, Mr Sathit said. The proposal was submitted by the ministry and other related agencies to the cabinet which approved it on June 15. The health insurance ceiling for foreigners holding this type of visa would be expanded from 40,000 baht for outpatient care and 400,000 baht for inpatient care to at least 3 million baht which covers medical expenses and Covid-19 treatment. Mr Sathit said the move was to follow the government's policy to promote health tourism and turn Thailand into a global medical hub. The development will also focus on Thai herb products, traditional Thai massage and spa, and boost the potential of the hospitality sector to attract more foreign tourists. Since last year, 3,768 elderly foreign nationals have applied for the non-immigration visa for a one-year stay, Mr Sathit said. Tares Krassanairawiwong, director-general of the Department of Health Service Support, said this type of visa is granted to elderly people from overseas who cannot take out insurance in Thailand or where their insurance certification form is not valid for Thailand's systems. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2201423/health-cover-perks-for-foreigners

From Thai PBS World From November 1st, foreign tourists arriving in Thailand, without being required to enter quarantine, must meet seven conditions, according to the Bureau of Risk Communication and Health Behavior Promotion of the Disease Control Department, today (Wednesday). Foreign arrivals must: Come from countries specified by the Thai Public Health Ministry as being low risk and arrive by air. Have certificates to confirm that they have received two doses of a recognised COVID-19 vaccine. Have negative COVID-19 results from RT-PCR tests conducted within 72 hours prior to arrival in Thailand. Have a minimum of US$50,000 health insurance coverage. Have written/electronic confirmation of hotel bookings in Thailand. Download and install a specified app upon arrival at the airport and undergo RT-PCR tests within 24 hours of arrival. Have negative test results before travelling domestically without quarantine. The government’s policy of reopening the country to foreign travellers is based on three models. The first is that arriving tourists, who are not fully inoculated, will be required to be isolated for 7 to 14 days depending on the case. The second is the “sandbox” model, which will be on trial in 17 provinces and the third is no quarantine for tourists who meet the seven conditions set by the Thai government. Although foreigners can enter Thailand with the fewest possible restrictions, the government attaches importance to the safety of the Thai people and the country’s health system, which must be capable with coping with the new challenge, said the department. https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-sets-out-seven-conditions-for-foreign-arrivals-without-quarantine/

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon A news report that some visas based on retirement could now require two insurances has stirred confusion on social media. Deputy public health minister Sathit Pitutecha, in comments first relayed by ThaiPBSWorld, is quoted as saying that applications for one year 0/A visas would carry the extra requirement of “health” insurance of US$100,000, or over 3 million baht. However, the minister did not provide any backup information. O/A visas are one year (usually multiple entry) permissions of stay issued by Thai embassies abroad to wannabe retirees aged 50 and above. In 2019, a pre-pandemic era, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs introduced a general medical insurance requirement of 400,000 baht (inpatient) and 40,000 (outpatient). The Thai insurance companies and consortia offering such a specific deal imposed an age limit of 75. However, some retirees had their own foreign-based policies which covered these requirements. The 400,000 baht insurance was made mandatory in 2020 for renewals (actually extensions of stay) of the 0/A visa at Thai immigration offices. This has caused great difficulty for elderly expats who found that the insurance was simply not available, or was subject to exclusions, which meant that claims were impossible as the self-payment conditions amounted to the totality of the policy. However, some immigration offices allowed a flexible interpretation which permitted acceptance of insurance policies designed to cover accidental injuries or death payouts. The deputy health minister appears now to be requiring a second policy, specifically for Covid-related illness, to be added to the required 0/A documentation. This is the same US$100,000 cover presently required of all entrants to Thailand, no matter what visa or permission they apply for. However and crucially, we still do not know what, if any, changes will be introduced from November 1 when the Thailand Pass replaces the Certificate of Entry. So the minister seems to be referring to renewals/extensions of stay of 0/A visa holders already here. Most expat retirees with one year extensions do not in fact have 0/A visas, but 0 visas based on retirement. What concerns them is whether the latest 0/A regulations apply to them when they attend immigration for their annual extension of stay. Currently the answer is no. Many 0/A visa holders have sought to transfer to an 0 at their immigration office, only to discover that they cannot change without first leaving the country in a complicated procedure. The Covid-specific US$100,000 insurance is available outside Thailand for entrants up to the age of 99, for example at http://covid19.tgia.org/ a Thai consortium which bases the cost only on duration of stay and country of departure. However, that popular policy is not available for retirees applying from within Thailand, whilst some other companies have a cut off age date around 75. So the whole insurance issue for foreigners based in Thailand is now extremely complex. Some commentators believe that Thai authorities are attempting to move retirees as a group from one year extensions to the Elite visa which lasts for five years, or more, but requires a non-refundable registration of at least 600,000 baht. Whether the squeeze is now taking root without escape tunnels remains to be seen. https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/news/new-financial-headache-for-some-retirement-visa-holders-376327 re

From Thai Enquirer Thai netizens have been engaged in an online debate that has gone viral on Wednesday involving the use of real-life people and celebrities in works of fan fiction. The hashtag #การติ่งและGender (obsessed fan and gender) trended on Twitter after some netizens expressed outrage at erotic fan fiction which depicted celebrities or other real-life famous people. Some of the works of fiction are sold for money. One netizen expressed his concern that rights were being violated when these celebrities were featured in erotic stories without consent and then shared. Many of these stories involve an LGBTQ+ angle. Many have come out to stand their ground to support the authors stating that reader discretion is required as this is only an imaginative story, moreover, this helps the popularity of the subject matter and the celebrities. https://www.thaienquirer.com/34197/viral-debate-over-y-y-fiction-in-thailand-and-the-use-of-celebrities-in-erotic-fiction/

The answer to the confusion lies in all the actual political (jurisdictional) entities that make up the metropolitan Bangkok area. The Province of Bangkok, however is smaller and does not encompass Samat Prakan (where BKK airport is located), Nakhon Phathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samat Sakhon. Taken together they form what is considered the metropolitan Bangkok planning area as described in this chart: https://citypopulation.de/en/thailand/bangkokmetropolitan/ As with population figures anywhere, they are fluid. As you look at all the smaller jurisdictions in the listing above (and even these figures are estimates dating back to 2019) you get a feel for the complexity of what metropolitan Bangkok looks like. In any case, the deputy governor in the Bangkok Post article was speaking for his province (Bangkok). Now if Samut Prakan was included in the inoculation zone because travelers arriving by air would have to pass through it to get into Bangkok, you'd come up with a total population in the vicinity of roughly 7.6 million, about the number that z909 cites in his post above.

From Bangkok Post Seventy percent of the population in Bangkok -- 5.43 million people -- have so far received a second dose of Covid-19 vaccine. Deputy Bangkok governor Sophon Phisutthiwong said on Tuesday that Bangkok was ready to reopen in line with the government’s policy to admit fully vaccinated foreign tourists next month. Pol Lt Gen Sophon spoke during a meeting with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation via a teleconference. He said 5.43 million people, or 70.63% in the capital have also received a second shot to date. It was expected that 80% of the population would receive the second dose by Oct 30. BMA health and district officials had inspected 247 businesses at shopping malls between Oct 14 and Oct 15 and found that 244 of them strictly followed Covid guidelines. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2200559/70-of-population-in-bangkok-now-fully-vaccinated

From Thai Enquirer Thailand’s central bank and bankers’ association on Tuesday vowed to repay money lost to a recent e-commerce fraud within five days, and to tighten the security system to detect unusual transactions. Last weekend, local media reported fraudulent debit and credit card transfers in various commercial banks that drained money from bank client’s accounts in successive transactions. The central bank said those transactions were not associated with leaks in bank databases but third-party overseas e-commerce platforms. (Read more here) Since October 1, the central bank revealed that around 10,700 debit and credit cardholders had seen money transferred, amounting around 130 million baht of losses. The banks will reimburse the money to affected debit cardholders within five days in accordance with a request from the central bank, Payong Srivanich, chairman of the bankers’ association, said. For credit cardholders, the banks will cancel all fraudulent payments and freeze the card immediately. Commercial banks have mechanisms in place to detect suspicious transactions, said central bank’s assistant-governor Siritida Panomwon Na Ayudhya. “Recently, there have been a lot of strange transactions, prompting banks to not alert their customers in time, with some cardholders finding the fraud themselves,” Siritida said. https://www.thaienquirer.com/34135/commercial-banks-given-five-days-to-repay-fraund/

From Thai Enquirer Transgender celeb on the run from religious authorities gives thanks to Thailand after being resettled A Malaysian transgender entrepreneur who received asylum status in Australia after fleeing religious authorities in her native country posted a special thank you to Thailand for hosting her while her asylum request was processed. “Kap kun kap Thailand ka,” Muhammad Sajjad Kamaruz Zaman, better known as Nur Sajat, wrote on her Twitter page on Tuesday. Attached to her post was a message by a Thai news reporter who said that she has reached Australia. She also wrote “Good Morning universe!!! Now Im freedom yaaaahoooo” on October 18. https://www.thaienquirer.com/34096/transgender-celeb-on-the-run-from-religious-authorities-gives-thanks-to-thailand-after-being-resettled/

From The Star First of its kind: The Lane Xang train passing the China-Laos borderline inside a tunnel. — Xinhua VIENTIANE: The dream of the Lao people to transform the land-locked country into a land-linked hub in the region is coming true as the streamlined “China-standard” bullet train for the China-Laos railway arrived in Lao capital Vientiane. The electric multiple unit (EMU) train was officially delivered to the Laos-China Railway Co, Ltd, a joint venture in charge of the railway’s construction and operation, at a handover ceremony in the newly-built China-Laos Railway Vientiane Station with the attendance of Chinese Ambassador to Laos Jiang Zaidong and Lao Minister of Public Works and Transport Viengsavath Siphandone on Saturday. Jiang said Laos has received the first modern train in its history which is a decisive progress in the construction of the China-Laos railway. He said it is also a landmark achievement of the strategic docking between the Belt and Road Initiative and Laos strategy to convert itself to a land-linked hub. The construction of the railway started in December 2016 and is scheduled to be completed and operational in December. According to the China State Railway Group, the new train, with the maximum operating speed of 160kph, consists of nine carriages, including a locomotive, a dining coach, a first-class and six second-class coaches, and has altogether 720 seats. It will be put into a trial run soon. The train is called Lane Xang (million elephants) as Laos was once called the Lane Xang Kingdom. https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2021/10/18/china-laos-bullet-train-arrives-in-vientiane

From Bangkok Post Thailand will stop using the Covid-19 vaccine of China's Sinovac when its current stock finishes, a senior Public Health Ministry official said on Monday, having used the shot extensively in combination with Western-developed vaccines. Thailand used over 31.5 million Sinovac doses since February, starting with two doses to frontline workers, high-risk groups and residents of Phuket, the holiday island that reopened to tourists in July in a pilot scheme. In July, Thailand started inoculating people with Sinovac as a first dose followed by the Oxford University-developed AstraZeneca. Thailand was the first country to combine a Chinese and Western shots, a strategy its health officials said has proved effective. "We expect to have distributed all Sinovac doses this week," said Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, the Department of Disease Control director-general, adding the programme will switch to combining the AstraZeneca vaccine with that made by Pfizer and BioNTech. Thailand next year plans to buy 120 million Covid-19 vaccine doses in total and has already booked 60 million doses of AstraZeneca, a vaccine it manufactures locally. Thailand has said it will only procure vaccines effective against new variants. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2199827/thailand-to-cease-sinovac-vaccine-use-when-stocks-end-this-month

Many it seems are asking the same thing. But the powers that be may yet avoid snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

From The Star BANGKOK, Oct 17 (Bernama): Discussions will be held to add Malaysia in the list of low-risk countries where fully vaccinated visitors will skip the 14-day mandatory quarantine when entering Thailand. Malaysian Ambassador to Thailand Datuk Jojie Samuel said Thailand wanted to end quarantine for fully vaccinated visitors from low-risk countries travelling by air starting Nov 1, as the Covid-19 situation in Thailand continued to improve. However, Malaysia is not included in the list. "Malaysia’s infection has dropped due to higher vaccination rate. To date, more than 90 per cent of the adult population in Malaysia have completed their COVID-19 vaccination. https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2021/10/17/discussions-will-be-held-to-add-malaysia-in-thailand039s-list-of-low-risk-countries

From Bangkok Post Bangkok is set to reopen to fully vaccinated international visitors next month with "swab hubs" being set up to test tourists upon their arrival in the capital. Bangkok governor Pol Gen Aswin Kwanmuang said that the government has laid down a policy to reopen the country on Nov 1 and precautions include testing and quarantine measures. As for the shortening of nighttime curfew hours starting on Saturday, City Hall will wait for an official announcement of the easing of virus curbs to be published in the Royal Gazette, Pol Gen Aswin said, adding that details regarding countdown events will then be discussed. Pol Capt Pongsakorn Kwanmuang, City Hall spokesman, said that City Hall has put in place measures to welcome back foreign visitors that are in line with the government's reopening plan. Bangkok needs to try and prevent transmissions among residents and foreign visitors so City Hall will set up Covid-19 screening points in the capital, similar to Phuket, he said. In Phuket, screening points are set up at hotels where tourists check-in. But City Hall plans to set up swab hubs across the capital to carry out swab tests on foreign visitors. They will then be quarantined at hotels and wait for the result of RT-PCR tests, the spokesman said. Measures will also be in place to contain transmissions, particularly at night entertainment venues which may be allowed to resume operations on Dec 1. Measures include carrying out rapid antigen tests and administering vaccines in Bangkok's popular tourist spots, Pol Capt Pongsakorn said. Asked about the Tourism and Sports Ministry's plan to invite Andrea Bocelli, the world-renowned Italian opera tenor, to perform at a countdown event in Bangkok, Pol Capt Pongsakorn said that City Hall cannot make a decision on the matter as approval must be sought from the Public Health Ministry and the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). She also said the CCSA on Friday discussed a proposal by the Foreign Affairs Ministry for foreign visitors who have received two vaccine shots with the result of RT-PCR test before arrival to use the Thailand Plus tracing app instead of the certificate of entry, Dr Apisamai said. She added that this will reduce their time of seeking permission to enter Thailand from 3-6 to 1-3 days. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2198587/swab-hubs-for-arriving-tourists ==================================== Clear entry edicts demanded now Tourism operators urged the Thai government to issue clear and definitive entry regulations for foreigners as soon as possible or the country stands to lose out on lucrative markets in the high season. The Russian government indicated it plans to lift the ban on international commercial flights with Thailand from Nov 9. Thanet Supornsahasrungsi, acting president of the Chon Buri Tourism Council, said tour operators such as Pegas Touristik cannot sell packages to Russians nor operate charter flights here without clear regulations. He said if the government plans to replace the certificate of entry (CoE) system with the Thailand Pass, tour operators need to know more details about the new system to prepare their operations in advance. "If complete travel requirements are not announced soon, the country might lose the chance to welcome the Russian market this high season, as they will choose destinations with more convenient entry," Mr Thanet said. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2198779/clear-entry-edicts-demanded-now

Until I had an opportunity today to view the National Geographic documentary about the rescue of the Thai Wild Boars football team, I thought I had a pretty comprehensive idea of what happened three years ago. After all, I’ve read whatever I could find on the incident and saw an earlier film about it when it debuted in Bangkok. I was wrong. “The Rescue” approaches the event from the viewpoint of the rescuers themselves. With never seen before footage- much of it from the cameras of the UK lead cave divers, the chaos, the disillusionment and near failure are described in chilling detail. But so are the final three days that saw all 13 saved. They were unlikely heroes. Mostly middle-aged, grey and balding, who shared the eccentric hobby of cave diving. It’s a small circle and those who have been at it for any length of time eventually get to know the others regardless of where they come from. Without those connections, the mission would not have succeeded. The first handful to arrive about three days into the event. After persuading the Thai Seals that they really could take care of themselves, they were allowed to venture inside. As they made their way toward a chamber known as Pattaya beach where authorities believed the team may have found refuge, they came upon a chamber where they discovered four stranded Thai pump workers who had become marooned there when rapidly rising water levels blocked their escape. In an account I don’t recall hearing before, the divers used a spare mouthpiece that allowed them to share their air. They managed to get all four safely out despite panic attacks when they had to briefly had to submerge them through very tight quarters. That panic experience with the four men would eventually become the key factor that ended up making the removal of the 13 possible. What is well known by all is that moment when the UK divers advanced further into the cave than anyone had done so far. They reached Pattaya beach but found it empty. They ventured on and at one point surfaced and removed their masks to sniff the air. Experienced divers know that odors in confined spaces can be a telltale clue as what to expect. What they smelled told them that they were close to their goal. Shortly after they emerged at the next chamber and were greeted by a sight that they had come to doubt was possible. When they spoke in English, a youth from Myanmar responded in kind. When they got word back to the command center, all the world knew about it within the hour. But the battle to get them out was just beginning. At first, the Thai Navy seals took the lead and managed to get medics to the chamber where the team was trapped. But because they lacked the rare skills and specialized equipment to operative effectively in that environment for extended periods, the rag tag volunteers increasingly became the go-to guys in tight situations. At one point, a monk from Myanmar, much revered in the local community, was brought to the scene to pray for the boys and their rescuers. He blessed bracelets that Thais wear on their wrists for many reasons and asked that they be brought to the boys. When the divers distributed them to the boys, they immediately put them on and were visibly comforted. Since they shared the same tongue, they collaborated easily with the US military personnel who helped them strategize and, along with the Thai seals, set up staging areas for supplies and air bottles in chambers between the boys and the entrance. The operation nearly came undone by disagreement about how to get the boys out. The Thais were initially favoring the idea of waiting until the monsoon season ended, while keeping the boys supplied with food and medicine. But the reality was that the cave would flood completely and all would drown before then. In the meantime, one of the UK divers, who had been keeping in touch with another diver in Australia. A surgeon by profession, the Aussie was asked if it would be possible to sedate the boys because of he was sure that they would panic during the long ordeal of underwater removal. At first the doctor came up with a dozen ways the sedation could backfire (i.e., aspirating into their masks). But his friend told him that he could visualize no other way they boys could be removed. The surgeon agreed to come to see for himself and arrived within a few days. After visiting the chamber and examining the boys, he reluctantly agreed it was the best alternative. Then it became the task to convince Thai authorities. It was highly risky he told them. Such a thing had never before been attempted, but the plan was their last best hope. The go ahead was given and the rest is history. If you get an opportunity to see “The Rescue,” you won’t be disappointed. It’s as inspirational a film as I’ve ever seen.

From The Thaiger Beleaguered national airline Thai Airways says they’re resuming full service on 36 foreign routes to destinations in Europe, Asia and Australia, many of which will resume from October 31. The implementation is in step with the Thai government’s commitment to reduce many of the impediments and restrictions to international arrivals from November 1. The decision was announced today by Thai Airways Executive Vice President for Commerce Non Kalinta. The massively expanded and updated schedule will operate as the airline’s winter flight plan, going into effect on October 31 and following the flight schedule until March 26, barring any unforeseen circumstances. The airline launched a set of flights planned specifically to support the Phuket Sandbox programme, as well as a wide range of flights hubbed in Bangkok, connecting the capital city with key locations throughout Asia, Australia, and Europe. Thai Airways will operate 7 routes to support the Phuket Sandbox, 19 across Asia – particularly Southeast Asia and South Asia – 9 to Europe, and 1 to Australia. They will fly to Sydney from Bangkok and return, with flights departing from Bangkok on Wednesdays and Sundays. Complete list of destinations and flight frequency at this link https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thai-airways-adding-39-international-flight-routes-on-october-31

Although there's no reported connection between this arrest and "Only Fans," this seems like the appropriate thread to post it under. With jobs still hard to come by in the entertainment sector, why such victim-less acts are so vigorously pursued remains a mystery. Transgender live-streamed sex with boyfriend to subscribers From Bangkok Post Crime Suppression Division police have arrested a transgender woman in Tak for allegedly live-streaming sex with her boyfriend to paying subscribers in a Line group. Karnklao Klomkan, 30, known as Nong Phrai, was detained while walking along a dirt road in Sam Ngao district of Tak on Thursday, Pol Maj Gen Montri Khetkhan, CSD commander, said on Friday. The suspect was wanted on an arrest warrant issued by the Criminal Court on Aug 2 for putting pornography into a computer system for commercial purpose or distribution, producing pornography, and related charges. The arrest followed a complaint that a website was encouraging people to join an online group that featured sexual shows. Interested people were directed to pay a subscription to view the shows via a Line group. The shows featured live sexual acts by a couple at various locations, the CSD chief said. Investigators identified one of the people in the shows. Karnklao was also wanted on an arrest warrant issued by Wang Thong Lang police in Bangkok for similar offences. The suspect lived in Sam Ngao district. During questioning, Karnklao allegedly admitted the offences. The man in the videos was her boyfriend, the suspect said. The suspect said they started streaming live sex last year. The subscription rate was 700 baht per person and many people had joined the Line group. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2198463/transgender-live-streamed-sex-with-boyfriend-to-subscribers

I recommend that they read both the Post and Enquirer reports in addition to the announcement and then decide on their own. Or maybe we could just debate how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?

From Bangkok Post he Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Digital Government Development Agency are developing a new system to replace the certificate of entry (CoE) for Thais and foreigners who wish to enter the country through an airport. Tanee Sangrat, spokesman for the Foreign Affairs Ministry, said on Thursday a new web-based application called the Thailand Pass system, where people can gather information and upload documents, is being developed for the kingdom's Nov 1 reopening. Mr Tanee said the Thailand Pass will replace the CoE system and facilitate the filing of an immigration form known as the TM6 and a health declaration form known as T8. However, the CoEs are still required for certain groups of people, including those who wish to enter the country via land or sea, he said. As for vaccination certification, certificates will be approved online by the Department of Communicable Disease Control under the Public Health Ministry, he said. According to Mr Tanee, his ministry has approved more than 400,000 CoEs for Thai and foreign nationals so far. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2197899/thailand-pass-set-to-replace-coe

Here's the Bangkok Post take: Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said the CCSA resolved on Thursday to allow in fully vaccinated visitors from Britain, the United States, Germany, Singapore and China if they pass an RT-PCR test before arrival - for an initial period from Nov 1 to Dec 31. Here's the Thai Enquirer take: Despite expectations that more countries identified as “low-risk” would be released on Thursday, the centre’s spokesman Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin said the CCSA is still reviewing them. The current list includes the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, China, and Singapore. “There are no more countries to be announced,” he said during a briefing. Judging by these statements, we can speculate that more countries may or may not be added. We know, from earlier reporting, that 10 nations were initially under consideration. With the Nov. 1 reopening only a few weeks off, there's precious little time remaining for those interested in returning to make plans.

The PM Thursday affirmed that Nov. 1 would be the reopening date for tourists from five countries to visit Thailand without quarantine but was silent on other issues many were hoping would be cleared up after the meeting of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration at Government House. As reported a few days ago, the countries are Britain, the United States, Germany, Singapore and China. There had been talk about five additional countries but none were announced. It was also unclear if the covid test on arrival would be administered at the airport or another location. No mention of other requirements such as COE or insurance were released. Also disclosed was that Thailand will reduce the duration of the nightly curfew and allow more provinces to welcome fully vaccinated visitors, with more businesses reopening, ahead of the November reopening. The CCSA agreed to shorten the curfew from 10 pm – 4 am to 11 pm – 3 am starting from October 16 for at least 15 days. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2197799/quarantine-being-lifted-more-provinces-being-opened https://www.thaienquirer.com/33954/covid-measures-eased-further-ahead-of-thailands-reopening/

From Coconuts Bangkok Architects in New York have designed a massive expansion to the U.S. Embassy compound that incorporates shaded outdoor Thai terraces and Lanna features from the north. Ground was broken Friday in a ceremony overseen by Charge d’ Affaires Michael Heath and Thai VIPs on what’s modestly coined an “annex” to the embassy property on Wireless Road, a US$625 million (THB20.21 billion) development aiming for a 2025 opening. The New Office Annex, dubbed The Nox, will be used to house additional diplomatic, security and commercial services while also modernizing the 1960s-era embassy’s consular services. It will also house U.S. agencies currently spread across Bangkok, with the embassy saying it will help centralize operations and strengthen bilateral ties. Continues with photos https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/nox-rises-check-out-washingtons-20-billion-baht-bangkok-embassy-add-on/

From Reuters / BP Asia's airlines ramp up flights, offers SYDNEY/SINGAPORE: Asia-Pacific airlines have lost billions of dollars this year, with jets grounded in Covid-19 transportation freezes. Now, as some of the world's strictest pandemic-related travel rules begin to ease, they're ramping up flights and ticket offers. Asian travel agencies and carriers told Reuters they're seeing a surge in bookings and travel enquiries as countries like Malaysia and Vietnam allow domestic flights to resume from this week after months of strict lockdowns. India is lifting a domestic capacity cap, while Singapore, Thailand and Fiji are opening without quarantine to vaccinated international travellers from select countries. While airline industry group IATA does not expect a significant improvement in Asia-Pacific international travel until "later in 2022", predicting cumulative losses of $11.2 billion this year, narrowing to $2.4 billion next year,carriers from AirAsia Group to VietJet Aviation , Singapore Airlines, Fiji Airways and Qantas are already increasing capacity. "The most important thing is practically all governments in the Asia-Pacific region with maybe one or two exceptions are abandoning their Covid-zero strategies and moving to a sort of Covid-normal framework," said Association of Asia Pacific Airlines director-general Subhas Menon. "Vaccination rates are also beginning to ramp up." While curbs are easing, a full return to normal operations is a long way off. IATA estimates global aviation industry losses from the pandemic will be a towering $200 billion for 2020-22, and losses in Asia alone were close to $50 billion in 2020. International travel in the Asia-Pacific region was at around 4% of 2019 levels in August. And though the relaxation of restrictions will open the way for some tourism, initially it will mean a comparative trickle: Thailand expects only around 100,000 foreign visitors this year, down from nearly 40 million in 2019. Still, there's pent-up demand from those who have longed to be able to take a break overseas. Dickson Ng, a 24-year-old consultant based in Singapore, said he plans to travel to Europe in January. "We don't know if these VTLs (vaccinated travel lanes) could be rescinded, right now there's opportunity and there's Covid-19, so I think getting out of the country will be a good thing," he said. Meanwhile, Fiji Airways has had thousands of bookings since the country on Sunday announced it would open borders to vaccinated travellers from some destinations on Dec 1, the vast majority from Australians, an airline spokesperson said. Some carriers are already promoting bargain fares. Vietnamese low-cost carrier VietJet is offering some free domestic one-way tickets, excluding taxes and fees, while Malaysia's AirAsia has fares as low as 12 ringgit ($2.88) as it ramps up flights. AirAsia said traffic to its mobile app had surged by more than 140% since the government relaxed domestic travel rules. But Singapore has capped the number of arrivals under its VTL programme at 3,000 a day in total, a tiny fraction of pre-pandemic traffic, a move that has kept ticket prices higher. Singapore tour agency Chan Brothers Travel said enquiries had increased 50-fold in the last week since VTLs were added to more countries including South Korea, the United States and Britain. Return economy-class fares from Singapore to South Korea have nearly doubled to around S$1500 ($1,107.50) from S$800 previously, a spokesperson at Singapore's Dynasty Travel said. "Some travellers may wait for the initial price surge for flights to pass, but we can expect quite a number of travellers taking to the skies by the first half of 2022," she said. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2197207/asias-airlines-ramp-up-flights-offers

NOTE -- There seems to be a discrepancy with the headline (above) from Bangkok Post website and the bold-faced paragraph in text below. From Bangkok Post The National Blood Centre said on Tuesday that it empathises with an appeal by the LGBT community regarding their right to donate blood but Thailand is not yet ready to relax the strict criteria for blood donors from this higher-risk group. The centre, which operates under the Thai Red Cross Society, issued a statement after Nikorn Chimkong, who serves as chairman of both the HIV Foundation Asia and Bangkok Rainbow Organisation, urged the society to broaden its scope to be more inclusive of these oft-marginalised groups, especially at a time when donated blood is in short supply. "The Thai Red Cross Society is committed to its mission and resolution to take care of people with compassion in line with the fundamental principles of the International Red Cross Movement. We respect the human rights of every person equally and without discrimination," the statement said. During the transitional period of blood donation criteria for men who have sex with men (MSM) in many countries over the last decade, the National Blood Centre has been monitoring the advance of medical science in order to initiate improvements at home. In Thailand, the HIV rate among first-time donors stands at 130 per 100,000, compared to 40 among the same number of regular donors. These numbers are, respectively, 14 and 27 times higher than the US, 22 and 72 times higher than in Western Europe, and 10 and 80 times higher than Singapore, Taiwan, Macau, South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan. In Bangkok, the HIV rate among gay men is over 30%. It described this as a practical move rather than one rooted in discrimination, as transgender women who have no history of sexual intercourse with a male partner can apply to be donors, as can lesbians. Before the criteria for gay men and others in this group can be relaxed, the HIV infection rate among donors must drop to below one in 100,000 donors per year, it said, adding this would require better sex education and cooperation from all sectors in society. "These statistics are key factors that must be analysed before any changes are made to our blood donor selection criteria," the statement read. It added that an advisory group comprising specialists and experts in transfusion medicine decided Thailand is not ready to take the risk of relaxing the criteria for MSM blood donors. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2196875/donations-from-lgbt-too-risky