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From Bangkok Post Supercars and champagne As the coronavirus brought the global economy to its knees, Thai businessman Yod decided to buy himself a 27 million baht treat -- a lime-green Lamborghini. Mr Yod picked up the customised Huracan EVO supercar in Bangkok, a city of billionaires with a luxury economy unbroken by the crisis ripping through Thailand's wider economy. With tourism and exports in freefall, Thailand's growth could shrivel by as much as 10% this year, dumping millions into unemployment. But in a split-screen economy, there are plenty with immunity to the economic scourge caused by Covid-19. Thailand is home to the ninth most billionaires anywhere, according to the China-based Hurun Report's Global Rich List 2020. Among those with deep pockets is Mr Yod -- full name Thanakorn Mahanontharit -- who was undeterred by Thailand's "crazy" supercar import taxes of up to 80% when he made his March purchase. "This car makes me feel like David Beckham," the genial Bangkok-based petro-chemicals businessman told AFP. "When you open your door everyone looks at you like you're a superstar." Ferrari, Rolls-Royce and Lamborghini have all launched top-end models in Bangkok over the pandemic period, cars with price tags of between $750,000 and $1.2 million. It is a bet on the wealth sloshing around Bangkok. Millions of dollars of that cash were on proud display in the capital last week as an eye-catching 40-car convoy from the Thailand Lamborghini Club cut through the city's knotted traffic for a day trip to a nearby resort. But most Thais are in a different game. The kingdom is one of Asia's least equal countries. Thailand is buttressed by a handful of family dynasties with monopolies covering everything from beer and duty-free to convenience stores. Their fortunes have surged under six years of military-aligned government which has parcelled out major contracts to them, while the wider economy has backslid. "One percent of the population owns pretty much two-thirds of the country," said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political analyst from Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University, warning that inequality is kindling a political crisis. Meanwhile many more are sinking. Farmers are reeling as demand struggles to return to pre-virus levels and remittances from migrants to the cities are drying up, while the urban middle class are facing a cash crunch playing out in unpaid loans and school fees. As a result, household debt is forecast to surge to 88-90% of GDP by the end of this year, according to a Kasikornbank research note. Government figures predict the pandemic could leave 8.4 million jobless, over a quarter of them employed in the cash-cow tourism sector. That would eviscerate the gains of the last two decades, which saw millions lifted from poverty by Thailand's export, manufacturing and tourism boom. Even before the pandemic hit, the number of people living in poverty had risen by nearly two million to 6.7 million, according to a March report by the World Bank. Now, as the pandemic strips back the economy, the middle and working classes "are not well-cushioned," said Pavida Pananond, an academic at the Thammasat Business School. Yet the rich enjoy a level of "financial immunity" from the crisis. The allure of being "Hi-So" runs through Thai society, she said, explaining that money -- especially the show of having it -- is a shortcut into Thailand's elite, which was once defined by having the right "breeding" and education. "There's still very much a class system here... maybe it comes from a feudalistic history," she said.

From Bangkok Post Runners slam BMM online for racial discrimination The organiser of the Bangkok Midnight Marathon (BMM) 2020 was blasted online on Friday after its "new normal race" policy was perceived to be barring foreigners from entering the race. BMM's Facebook page and social media accounts were on Friday flooded with angry comments about the "new normal race." Now in its third year, the BBM -- which Thai authorities created to jump-start sports tourism -- introduced a "new normal race" policy for the event that will take place on Dec 13. Runners and organisers are expected to comply with social distancing rules and adhere to fever checks, screenings and mask wearing. But what has fuelled outrage is the online registration that only permits Thais to register, prompting accusations of racial discrimination. Gregor Rasp, a former running and sports endurance coach who has lived in Thailand for 20 years, said that the policy is misguided. "If you follow the news then you know that 99% of recent Covid-19 cases are imported by Thai nationals. And just like foreigners, these Thais have to spend 14 days in quarantine. One is only released from quarantine if he/she tests negative after 14 days," he said. Boonperm Intanapasat, the BMM race director, on Friday issued a statement apologising for "failing to take into account that there were many expats here who would want to take part in the race". "Offending this community is the last thing we wanted to do. We love athletes of all nationalities." Runners and organisers are expected to comply with social distancing rules and adhere to fever checks, screenings and mask wearing.

Although it's tinkering with the since rejected "travel bubble" concept, tourism planners rolled out another idea today. Unfortunately, it still relies on tourists traveling in groups and staying in designated hotels, in provinces that agree to welcome the tourists. At a cost of 100,000 bht per person, it's very unlikely to attract the 500,000 tourists the planners imagine. From Bangkok Post 'Safe and Sealed' tourism plan proposed Tourism operators are proposing a new tourism plan, called Safe and Sealed, to replace travel bubbles and keep Thailand from realising the worst-case revenue scenario of 675 billion baht next year, down from 3.01 trillion baht in 2019. At a meeting chaired by Tourism Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, tourism-related groups offered a proposal to let inbound tourists restart their trips to Thailand in the fourth quarter with safer screening and more flexibility for more countries than the travel bubble scheme. The president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents said that while Thailand has started to welcome some groups of foreigners, the total will be fewer than 100,000 visitors and cannot prevent tourism-related businesses from falling into bankruptcy. The new plan is expected to draw at least 500,000 tourists to Thailand and generate 50 billion baht in revenue. The cost of the package would be 100,000 baht per person, higher than the average price of 50,000 baht before the pandemic. "Safe means we will select only guests from a city with a record of no infections for at least 30 days, and they can travel under the sealed conditions provided by tour operators in designated hotels and provinces that agree to welcome those tourists," he said. Other necessary screening processes are also required, such as an infection-free certificate 72 hours before a flight, as well as insurance and tests. Tourism businesses want the government to help start the fund with a 100-billion-baht budget.

Foreign tourists and retirees excluded from latest approval list to come to Thailand By Barry Kenyon August 4, 2020 This week the powerful Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSU) has updated the groups of foreigners able to apply to board a plane to Thailand. Mostly they are categories who have business or work-related documentation or are thought to be affluent, such as those holding a Thailand Elite privilege card. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kenyon doesn't understand that many Elite cardholders are indeed foreign tourists. They are citizens of other countries who opt to pay the membership fee in exchange for the privilege of being able to stay for periods of their choosing. His headline above is misleading. From Thaivisa / Banghkok Biz News There are a total of 10,363 members of the Elite Card program, with China, Japan, USA and UK accounting nationalities with the largest number of card holders.

From Thai Enquirer New study by think tank shows coronavirus pandemic could have political ramifications A new study by the International Crisis Group released this week shows that the economic ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic could have knock-on political consequences in Thailand. According to a study by the Brussels-based think tank, the current financial crisis stemming from the pandemic will “strain a society simmering with discontent and a political order designed to thwart popular political participation.” The group said that even before COVID-19, the economy was “faltering” and the crisis will likely exacerbate Thailand’s political and economic divide which in turn could trigger a social and political “reckoning.” The group recommended political reform to encourage mass participation and accountability but said that significant challenges remain before such reforms could take place. “The fundamental problem is political: the reforms necessary to upgrade Thailand’s economy run counter to the interests of the country’s elite,” the report said in its executive summary. The writers of the ICG report also said that any political change would be meaningless without addressing the 2017 charter. “Reform will have to start with amending the 2017 constitution,” the report said before saying that outside pressure is the most likely vehicle of change. “This is unlikely; the drafters made it effectively un-amendable. Consequently, popular pressure remains, for the moment, the most viable mechanism to bring about change.” With student protests increasing in recent weeks and with opposition parties finally getting their act together, the Prayut administration will likely face its first sustained challenge since Prayut Chan-ocha took power in a 2014 military coup. To view the study https://www.crisisgroup.org/asia/south-east-asia/thailand/309-covid-19-and-possible-political-reckoning-thailand

It's possible that some of the tourists entered Thailand via the medical tourism provision that went into effect last month. From Bangkok Post (July 3) Local tours planned for medical tourists The government is planning for local tours for medical and wellness tourists from overseas from next month, and the start of tourism "travel bubbles" in September, a senior spokesman said on Friday . Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said medical and wellness tourists would be welcomed from this month on. If they were properly handled during their 14-day quarantine-treatment at hospitals, they could then go anywhere in the country. The government was arranging for public and private hospitals to cater for medical and wellness visitors. Sixty-two private hospitals had applied to participate, he said. About 1,700 foreigners from 17 countries had already registered for admission to Thailand for medical and wellness services. They would have to arrive by air to ensure effective disease control, Dr Taweesilp said.

From The Nation / Asia News Network All local and Chinese tourists saved along with crew BANGKOK — A three-story-high cruise ship sank in the Chao Phraya River near a pier late in the evening on Sunday, but all 75 passengers and staff were evacuated to a nearby pier. At 8pm on Sunday, Pak Khlong San Police Station was alerted about the High Season 1 sinking near a private pier in Soi Somdet Chaophraya 1 in Bangkok’s Khlong San district. Jakkri Sriraksa, 31, a staff from Khlong San Rescue Volunteer Foundation who had arrived at the scene before the police, reportedly told officials that the boat had picked up Thai and foreign tourists from a pier of a hotel on Rama III Road for a cruise on the river. “The ship made a U-turn to return to the hotel when it reached Phra Pok Klao Bridge. The operator noticed that the ship was tilting to the right side, probably caused by a leak,” he said. “They radioed the nearest pier for emergency embarking and safely evacuated all 75 passengers and staff on the shore.” An initial investigation revealed that the boat was registered by High Season Resort Co located in Trad province, while the boat operator was being interrogated at the police station to find the cause of the accident. “The ship was carrying 60 passengers, most of them Thai and Chinese tourists, while the rest were staff,” said Pol Maj-General Samrid Tongtao, chief of Metropolitan Police 8.

Do you have any evidence that it isn't? It's not difficult to get the outcome that you wish. That's how pollsters get a lot of repeat business. You get what you pay for. Like the rest of us, Barry Kenyon is writing opinion pieces, not objective news. He has a bigger megaphone but is still putting his personal spin on topics.

Pollsters know they can greatly influence results by adapting the poll with a combination of the following: (1) Who do we poll? (2) How do we poll? (3) What questions will we ask? (4) How will we frame those questions? Example: If you ask "Are you in favor of the government admitting foreign tourists to the country?" will likely get a different response than if you ask "Are you in favor of the government saving hundreds of thousands of jobs by increasing international tourism? In Bangkok, where most of nation's bureaucrats (and those who owe their jobs to them), middle class and hi-so reside, the picture is a lot rosier than in the northeast and the south. Those with good jobs aren't feeling the pain--at least not yet. Politicians know that the virus will at some point in the future cease to be a big issue. But there are no vaccines or antidotes to other lingering issues.

Gaybutton said: "The only thing that counts is what Thailand is gonna do and when they're going to do it, regardless whether their decisions make sense to us." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- While I agree that's accurate, I'm reminded that "they" are politicians. Like politicians everywhere, they are influenced by public opinion. What they say today should not be confused with what they are inclined to say--or do--tomorrow or next week or next month. This is the greatest challenge the country has faced since the financial crisis of 1997. The swelling ranks of the unemployed and underemployed, coupled with graduating students with little hope of finding a job, creates political forces any politician can ill afford to ignore. What has changed in the 23 years since the last crisis is the emergence of social media. Ideas and opinions get circulated instantly among a younger and disenchanted audience. No one should underestimate their potential to influence the behavior of government. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From The Nation UTCC predicts 9.4% GDP contraction, up to Bt3trn in losses The Covid-19 outbreak has punched a Bt2-trillion hole in the Thai economy, according to the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), which has cut its projection for this year’s GDP to a 9.4 per cent contraction. The coronavirus outbreak has already cost Thai economy Bt2.1 trillion, which could rise to Bt3 trillion if the economy does not recover in the second half of the year, said Thanawat Polvichai, rector at UTCC. The university has almost doubled its projection of economic contraction in 2020 from 4.9 per cent to 9.4 per cent, said Thanawat, who is also chief adviser to the Centre for Economic and Business Forecasting at the UTCC. The pandemic has severely impacted tourism, hotels, restaurants, trade, logistics and entertainment worth about Bt1.5 trillion. Meanwhile manufacturing and exports have taken a Bt500-billion hit. Drought has caused extra damage worth Bt76 billion, he said ====================================================================================== From Bangkok Post Hotels urged to end dual pricing scheme The Tourism and Sports Ministry is encouraging hotels in Thailand to offer fair packages to expatriates, avoiding price discrimination as the country aims to attract 2 million foreign residents to travel more domestically. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the tourism and sports minister, said the ministry urged expatriate associations to travel domestically instead of going abroad, as they may face back-to-back 14-day quarantines when arriving at other destinations and then upon returning to Thailand. The idea has received some positive feedback from expatriates, but points of concern remain regarding local sentiment towards foreigners during the outbreak and overpriced accommodations. He said the Tourism Authority of Thailand is working with hoteliers and the Tourism Council of Thailand to ensure expatriates will receive the same hotel rates as locals.

From The Nation Thailand lifts barriers for more foreigners Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration said on Monday (August 3) that more types of foreigners will be allowed to return to Thailand, such as: • Foreigners who hold a residential permit as well as their spouse and children; • Foreigners who hold a work permit and their spouse and children, as well as migrant workers who hold official documents allowing them to stay and work in Thailand; • Foreigners granted entry under special agreements, such as Thailand Elite cardholders. These groups are required to follow the Public Health Ministry’s measures strictly and spend 14 days at an alternative state quarantine site. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand confirmed these measures. ====================================================================================== From ThiaVisa News and Bangkok Insight Thailand must welcome back Chinese tourists now says leading tourism chief A leading tourism chief has said that it is time Thailand opens up again to foreign tourists and Chinese tourists in particular. The pandemic has left the Chinese largely friendless around the world and it's time that Thailand's "special relationship" with the Chinese was resumed. But it is also time that the Thais get more of their hands on the tourism dollar and not let cash seep out of the country. Surawat Akaraworamat, the secretary general of the Tourism Council of Thailand and vice president of ATTA was speaking at a seminar about Thai tourism and the economy. He said that if Thailand opened up its airspace the Chinese would come in good numbers. There was no need for a high level of marketing. They know very well about Thailand and would flood back in. Surawat said it was time for those in tourism areas to be asked their opinions about reopening the country. But Surawat said it was time for the Thais to review how to ensure that more tourism revenue stays in the country and does not flow abroad. He was referring to companies - many of them Chinese owned or owned in Thailand through proxies - who are involved in organising group tours. Much of the money ends up abroad and not in the hands of Thais. This needs to be addressed, he said at the seminar, particularly in the booking of accommodation.

From Reuters Philippines to reimpose stricter coronavirus lockdown in capital as cases spike MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines will reimpose a stricter coronavirus lockdown in and around the capital for two weeks from Tuesday, authorities said on Sunday, as the country struggles to contain infections that have jumped to more than 100,000 cases. President Rodrigo Duterte has approved placing Metro Manila and nearby provinces such as Laguna, Cavite, Rizal and Bulacan under so-called “Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine” (MECQ) until Aug. 18, his spokesman Harry Roque told reporters. Some businesses and public transport are expected to be closed in the capital, which is currently under the less restrictive General Community Quarantine classification. Work and quarantine passes will also be required, as authorities seek to restrict movements. Duterte’s move came after 80 local groups representing 80,000 doctors and a million nurses called for tighter controls, saying the country was losing the fight against the coronavirus. “I have heard you. Don’t lose hope. We are aware that you are tired,” Duterte said late on Sunday, addressing the medical frontliners during a televised speech after meeting cabinet members and his coronavirus task force.

From Manila Times Coronavirus infections in the Philippines surged past 100,000 on Sunday in a troubling milestone after medical groups declared that the country was waging “a losing battle” against the virus and asked President Rodrigo Duterte to reimpose a lockdown in Metro Manila. The Department of Health (DoH) reported a record-high daily tally of 5,032, bringing the total confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) case s in the country to 103,185, including more than 2,000 deaths. The Philippines has the second most cases in Southeast Asia after Indonesia and has had more infections than China, where the pandemic began late last year. Duterte eased a tough virus lockdown in Metro Manila — a city of more than 12 million people — on June 1 after the economy shrank slightly in the first quarter, its first contraction in more than two decades. After shopping malls and workplaces were partially reopened and limited public transport was allowed, infections spiked sharply with increased virus testing. More than 50,000 infections were reported in less than four weeks, and leading hospitals began warning that their coronavirus wards were fast being overwhelmed to capacity again as they were when cases soared alarmingly in April. After the President further relaxed quarantine restrictions and allowed more businesses — including gyms, internet cafes and tattoo shops — to reopen, leaders of nearly 100 medical organizations held an online news conference on Saturday and warned that the health system might collapse as many medical personnel could fall ill or resign out of fear, fatigue or poor working conditions. “Our healthcare workers are burnt out with the seemingly endless number of patients trooping to our hospitals,” the member-groups of the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) on Saturday appealed to Malacañang in a letter to President Duterte, which they read at a news conference. They pleaded for the President to reimpose a lockdown in Manila from August 1 to 15 to give health workers “a time out” and allow the government to recalibrate its response to the months-long pandemic. “We are waging a losing battle against Covid-19 and we need to draw up a consolidated, definitive plan of action,” said the groups, which represent more than a million nurses, doctors and other medical personnel.

From The Nation Rental condos priced at under Bt15,000 a month are seeing over 20 per cent growth while there is a big drop in demand for rental units priced at above Bt25,000, an industry executive said. Wathayut Thongphorm, managing director at Primo Service Solution, a subsidiary of Origin Property, said that the rental condominium market is growing in the price range of Bt10,000-Bt15,000 per month while condos in the range of Bt25,000 to Bt150,000 per month are seeing significant drop in customers. “Rental condos priced lower than Bt15,000 per month are growing at over 20 per cent, especially in the BTS-MRT zones,” he said. “The reason behind this is financial institutions' loan-to-value regulations, which limit the loans granted to each buyer. When people cannot get loan to buy property, they go for rental options instead.” “In contrast, luxury rental condos in the range of Bt25,000 to Bt150,000 per month are suffering from a drop in customers, as their main target groups are foreign travellers and executives of multinational companies, who are not able to enter Thailand at the moment due to the Covid-19 lockdown measures,” Wathayut added. “Sales of units in this sector have plummeted by more than 50 per cent, prompting some property owners to drop their prices by 20 to 30 per cent to attract other groups of customers.” Wathayut said that an estimate of 40 condominium projects under its management showed that the return on investment (ROI) on condos in the range of Bt10,000-Bt15,000 per month could rise to 4-5 per cent in the second half of 2020, while the ROI of luxury condos could fall from 5 per cent to 3 per cent in the same period. “It could be the second quarter of 2021 before foreigners are allowed into the country and this segment jumps back up again,” he said.

Sponsored by the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand, this event will be carried on the club's Facebook page (see link below) on Wednesday, August 5, 2020 beginning at 7p.m. Bangkok time. The program should also be available on demand followimg the live broadcast. Two of the most familiar faces for expats and foreign media in Thailand during the lockdown period were Richard Barrow, a long-time resident of Bangkok and inveterate Tweeter, and Natapanu Nopakun, of Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who conducted regular English-language briefings for foreign media on behalf of the CCSA (Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration). For many in the foreign community, they have become a familiar and trusted source of information and commentary on efforts to contain Covid-19 and the impact of the lockdown. In this free-wheeling discussion, they will give personal perspectives on the challenges of engaging with media and the public in this period, and insights into the high and low points of maintaining a constant flow of information during an unprecedented public health crisis. They will be joined by correspondents May Wong, CNA (Channel News Asia) Thailand bureau chief and senior Indochina correspondent, and Gwen Robinson, FCCT president and editor-at-large of Nikkei Asian Review, who reported on pandemic-related issues. https://www.facebook.com/events/292467982067797/ ============================================================= Richard Barrow is a British expat living in Thailand for twenty-five years who has been blogging about life and travel in Thailand since 1998. http://www.richardbarrow.com/

Were any of the Vietnam waiters around? Can't imagine Freshboys without them.

Việt Nam recorded its first COVID-19-related death today, a 70-year-old man with a number of underlying conditions. The patient died of a heart attack at Huế Central Hospital in Thừa Thiên Huế Province, where he was being treated for coronavirus. Singapore reported 396 new COVID-19 cases today, with three infections in the community, the Ministry of Health said in a preliminary update. The vast majority of the new cases are work permit holders staying in foreign worker dormitories. A spokesman for the Thai Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration warned today that with burgeoning Covid-19 infection rates overseas, Thailand also could not expect to remain permanently free of new local community infection. Authorities could only hope to prolong the infection-free period as long as possible, and then cope effectively with any outbreak as it occurs. It's becoming increasingly clear that the virus will continue to re-emerge even in countries that initially followed the most aggressive measures to suppress it. Vietnam, like Thailand, promoted local tourism as a way of compensating for the lack of foreigners. A popular beach resort, Danang was among the locations to benefit most from the effort that brought locals from all over Vietnam to enjoy its attractions. Not surprising, in retrospect, that latent cases would emerge there. Because Vietnam has acted immediately and aggressively, it stands a good chance of stemming the new outbreak. Nevertheless it's a stark reminder that the virus will be with us longer than we care to think about. There's no free lunch.

From The Thaiger Key witness in the Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya case dies in motorbike incident One of the key witnesses of the 2012 hit and run incident, involving Red Bull heir Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya, died this morning as a result of a motorbike incident in Chiang Mai. He was one of two main witnesses identified by police in the case. The incident happened this morning just after 2am in the main city area of Chiang Mai, involving 2 motorbikes. Both riders were injured in the collision, sustaining serious injuries. But 40 year old Jaruchart Martthong was later pronounced dead after being rushed to hospital. Police claim that CCTV footage shows that Jaruchart tried to overtake a second motorbike, lost control and crashed. Alcohol was found in blood samples of both drivers, according to a police statement. The name of the other driver involved in the incident has not been released at this time. Jaruchart Martthong was from Chiang Rai and identified by police as one of two key by-standers who witnessed the hit-and-run collision involving “Boss” Yoovidhya, grandson of Chalerm Yoovidhya, the co-founder of energy drink empire Red Bull. 47 year old policeman Wichian Klanprasert was riding his motorbike on September 3, 2012 in Thong Lor Bangkok, when the Ferrari, driven by Boss, collided into the back of his bike and dragged him around 100 metres along the road. Boss eventually admitted to be driving the car at the time after the Yoovidhya family’s chauffeur initially claimed he was driving the Ferrari. Last week, it came to light that the Office of the Attorney General decided to drop the ‘reckless driving, causing death‘ charges in the case. One of the main reasons behind the charges being dropped was the alleged testimony of Jaruchart and a second major witness, who is still alive. The man’s death comes in the middle of a reassessment by a team of prosecutors who have been reviewing the decision by the office of the Attorney General to drop charges against Boss. The committee said the findings of the review would be published by August 4. Jaruchart’s death could significantly impact the case at this time as his testimony will not be able to tested in court or questioned by investigators. His testimony alleged that Boss was not speeding during the incident, contradicting the earlier forensic evidence and investigations at the scene of the accident.

From Vietnam.net Bars, club, and cinemas have been suspended in Hanoi, Thua Thien-Hue and Dak Lak provinces for virus prevention after Danang outbreak. Ngo Van Quy, vice chairman of Hanoi People's Committee, said the risk in Hanoi was still low. The city authorities are searching for people that have made contact with the two new patients who returned from Danang. In the meantime, Hanoi authorities will suspend religious, cultural and sports events with large crowds. Online meetings are encouraged. Hanoi Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung also asked to suspend bars and fairs from July 29. The people's committees in Thua Thien-Hue and Dak Lak provinces issued an urgent document about Covid-19 prevention and control as Hue City is adjacent to Danang while a new case has been detected in Dak Lak. Phan Ngoc Tho, chairman of Thua Thien-Hue Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control, asked everyone to maintain prevention rules such as wearing face masks and washing hands regularly. Starting from July 30, bars, clubs, cinemas, massage parlours will be suspended. Crowded events will also be suspended until new notice. The provincial authorities also asked the public to scale down the scope of their weddings or funerals. Besides special cases, all people who go to Thua Thien-Hue from outbreak areas must be quarantined. Communal authorities and police must review the people who come from outbreak areas after July 10.

From The Thaiger All foreigners will have to serve 14 day quarantine “in the foreseeable future” – Minister Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports, Pipat Ratchakitprakan, is reassuring Thais by explaining that all foreigners, regardless of their status or origins, will have to serve a mandatory 14 day quarantine, at least “in the foreseeable future”. Thailand officials are currently prepares phase six of the re-opening of the country, loosening the restrictions imposed in April when the country closed its borders and went into a ‘lockdown’. The next phase, posed for introduction in early August, will allow migrant workers, film production crews and Thailand Elite Visa holders to return to the country amongst other categories that have previously been approved for a return to the country. The Minister’s comments follow announcements yesterday that Vietnam is ‘evacuating’ 80,000 people from the central coastal city of Da Nang after a new cluster of community spread cases and the accelerating rise of new cases across parts of the world, notably, India, Russia, US, South American countries and South Africa. And small 2nd waves that have arisen in places like Singapore, Japan, Spain, Hong Kong and Australia. Thailand has recorded no locally transmitted cases of Covid-19 for over 2 months. But it does continue to identify newly infected Thai repatriates who have flown back from overseas. All are being identified whilst serving their 14 day quarantine. His comments also pour cold water on the proposed “travel bubbles” indicating that they will be shelved until later this year, if they’re introduced at all. The Thai government, under the leadership of the Covid-19 Centre for Situation Administration, has shown itself to be extremely risk-averse when it comes to its ongoing handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and has publicly said it is putting public health ahead of reviving its economy.

Other than plans already in the works announced last week to bring certain categories of foreigners back, expecting any change before next year is optimistic. Travel bubbles (corridors or whatever term you care to apply) are unlikely to succeed. The conditions on which they're based can change in a heartbeat and international air carriers can't build capacity on a shaky basis like that. Thailand also has another issue lurking in the background. There's a segment of those who run the country that want it once and for all transformed into a destination for the affluent like Dubai. They tired of welcoming the hoi polloi from around the world and seek a giant makeover. The virus breaths life into the dream but it's a scheme destined to fail because it can't provide the employment for the masses of citizens of of work. The current 14-day quarantine requirements won't attract many comers unless they plan an extended stay of 45 days or more. I'd be watching Vietnam and how it handles the new outbreak of community transmissions in the resort city of Da Nang.where 15 cases have been uncovered. No ASEAN country has enjoyed greater success in suppressing Covid and how it responds now could well become a blueprint of how Thailand may react when the virus reappears in local transmission there. From The Associated Press and MSN Vietnam locks down its 3rd-largest city as virus cases grow HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam on Tuesday locked down its third-largest city for two weeks after 15 cases of COVID-19 were found in a hospital, the government said. The new cases in the central city of Da Nang are the first confirmed to be locally transmitted in the country in over three months. Public transport into and out of Da Nang was canceled. Over the weekend, thousands of mostly Vietnamese tourists cut short their summer holidays in the popular beach destination. The lockdown has dealt a hard blow to the city’ tourism industry, which was just being revived after earlier coronavirus cases mostly subsided at the end of April. Hotel guests quickly ended their stays and canceled upcoming trips upon the news of the first case, one hotelier said on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. “Our hotel is now empty,” the hotelier said. “But we had to help our guests leave the city when they still had the opportunity yesterday.” Da Nang beaches, which host some 50,000 people a day, are now closed. Only security personnel were seen on the beaches Tuesday as they patrolled to ensure no one was gathering. Authorities estimated several thousand people would be stranded by the transportation shutdown and asked hotels to shelter them. “We did not want to rush to the airport to leave the city because of the risk of being in a crowded place. So we are now stuck here,” said Lien Nguyen, who is traveling with her family of four for their summer vacation. On Sunday, the government ordered unessential business to close and required people to practice social distancing in the city of 1.1 million people. All 15 cases in the new outbreak are patients and health workers at Da Nang hospital. With the new infections, Vietnam has reported 431 cases of COVID-19 without a death. It had recorded no local transmissions of the virus since April, with all new cases coming from overseas. Vietnam on Tuesday dispatched an aircraft to Equatorial Guinea to repatriate 129 workers who have COVID-19, the health ministry said.

From CNN China reports its highest number of local Covid-19 infections since March China recorded 57 local Covid-19 cases on Sunday, the highest number the country has seen since it brought the coronavirus largely under control in March, according to figures released by the National Health Commission on Monday. Among the locally transmitted cases, 41 were found in the far western region of Xinjiang, where the coronavirus resurfaced on July 15 after nearly five months of no new cases. The remaining cases were discovered in the country's northeast, including 14 in Liaoning province and two in Jilin province. Sunday's figure is the highest number of local infections the country has reported since March 6, surpassing the daily spikes during a coronavirus outbreak in Beijing last month. ===================================== From Reuters Vietnam goes on coronavirus alert after first local infection in 100 days HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam was back on high alert for the coronavirus on Saturday after medical officials in the central city of Danang detected the country’s first locally transmitted case for three months. Vietnam has imposed strict quarantine measures and carried out an aggressive and widespread testing programme during the pandemic, keeping its total tally of reported infections to just 417, with no deaths. It had reported no locally transmitted infections for 100 days until Friday, when the Health Ministry said a 57-year-old man from Danang, a tourist hot spot, had tested positive. State media reported late Saturday that the man was in critical condition, and specialised doctors had flown from Ho Chi Minh City to Danang to treat him. Authorities said 50 people the patient came into contact with have been isolated. The ministry said 103 people connected to the patient were tested for the virus but all returned negative results. It said more than 11,800 people are being quarantined throughout the country, including 147 at hospitals.

From Bangkok Post New witnesses key to charges being dropped New specialist and motorist witnesses who made statements that Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya did not drive his Ferrari over the speed limit and that the policeman who was killed abruptly cut in front of his vehicle are the key factors which convinced prosecutors to drop charges against the Red Bull scion. In a leaked document outlining public prosecutors' reasoning for their decision to drop the charge against Mr Vorayuth of reckless driving causing death, information from the new witnesses was given more weight than previous evidence, including forensic results. The document said Nate Naksuk, chief justice of the Department of Appealate Litigation in his capacity as acting attorney-general, signed the order to drop the charge. After the statute of limitations of three charges expired, the National Legislative Assembly's committee on justice and police affairs petitioned the Office of Attorney-General (OAG) for a fair investigation over the last charge, prompting the attorney-general to step in. Mr Nate reviewed the investigation results and came to the conclusion the new evidence presented enough grounds to revoke the previous indictment order. Based on a statement given by a police major who initially examined the speed the suspect's Ferrari was travelling at -- an average of 177 kilometres per hour at the time of the hit-and-run -- the margin for error was 17km/h. The speed was beyond the legal limit of 80km/h and this led prosecutors to determine that Mr Voratyuth was driving recklessly and indicted him on the charge of reckless driving causing death of which the statute of limitation would last until 2027. Two new specialist witnesses, police majors, inspected the damage to the Ferrari and the victim's motorcycle, compared it to other accidents, and agreed the Ferrari could not have been travelling at 170km/h at the at the time of the crash and was not exceeding 80km/h. Another specialist who is a university engineering lecturer was brought in to calculate the speed of both vehicles involved in the crash in 2017. He told investigators the Ferrari was likely travelling at 76.175km/h. In December last year, two other witnesses were interviewed. They told investigators they were driving behind the suspect and the victim just before the accident happened. The victim was travelling at no more than 20km/h [as shown in CCTV footage] while Mr Vorayuth was driving between 50-60km/h. The statements from these two witnesses echoed those of the specialist witnesses, leading investigators to conclude the Ferrari was travelling at under 80km/h in the far-right lane. Prior to the crash, the victim's motorcycle, which was in the far-left lane, abruptly changed lanes. One of the witnesses who was driving a pickup truck at the middle lane had to brake and managed to swerve to the left to avoid hitting the motorcycle. According to his statement, the motorcycle then changed lanes and cut in front of the Ferrari in the far-right lane, causing the Ferrari to crash into the motorcycle. Prosecutors said the crash was a "force majeure" and that "the victim's reckless driving contributed to the crash". The prosecutors concluded the crash was not caused by reckless driving on the part of the suspect and the suspect did not commit an offence under Section 291 of the Criminal Code. The decision reversed the prosecutors's earlier decision to indict. The family of the victim reached a compensation agreement with the suspect.

From Bangkok Post Anti-govt protests continue in provinces Anti-government demonstrations by students and other young people were held in several provinces outside Bangkok on Saturday. Protesters called for a House dissolution, an end to intimidation of the people and the rewriting of the constitution. In Kanchanaburi, at about 5.40pm a group of about 50 young people comprising secondary school and university students in this western border province gathered at an open ground on Lak Muang road in Muang district. The protesters held aloft placards and banners with messages attacking the government and military dictatorship. They called for the House of Representatives to be dissolved to make way for a new election, for the government to stop all forms of intimidation of the people and for the constitution to be rewritten. The demonstration was peaceful. About 50 police and military personnel were deployed to ensure law and order. At 6pm, the demonstrators sang the national anthem and flashed the trademark three-finger sign with their hands. They yelled, "Down with dictatorship. Long live democracy" three times before dispersing. In Samut Prakan, near Bangkok, at about 5pm a group of students and people gathered at the open ground in front of the city tower in Muang district. Student leaders took turns on a stage to call for a House dissolution and for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to resign. At 7pm the protesters switched on the lights of their mobile phones and flashed the symbolic three-finger sign before ending the demonstration. In Phetchabun, at about 6pm about 10 youths staged a brief gathering in front of the clock tower in Lom Sak district of this central northern province to voice the same demands.

From The Irrawaddy and Global Voices Out of work, out of options: Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand scrape by during COVID-19 Migrant workers at this construction camp work for a Chinese company but their pay has been docked and is always late. They don’t want to make any claims against their employer because they are afraid they will get fired. If they are thrown out of the job, they won’t be able to find other work and won’t be able to return home because borders are closed due to the coronavirus outbreak. Chiang Mai, Thailand, March 2020. Photo and caption by Jittrapon Kaicome/The Irrawaddy --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This article by Jittrapon Kaicome is from The Irrawaddy, an independent news website in Myanmar, edited and republished on Global Voices as part of a content-sharing agreement. With the decline in the Thai and worldwide economy, businesses and factories have closed and migrant workers have been among the first people laid off. As Thailand has entered the worst economic recession in its history, migrants who normally work for daily wages are facing tough times. After Thailand announced an Emergency Decree to control the outbreak of COVID-19 in late March, the country closed its borders, leaving millions of migrant workers stranded in the country. Some workers were later able to head back across into Myanmar but many are still in Thailand, trapped without jobs and few options to help them get by. Myanmar migrant workers in northern Thailand are among them. These workers are also faced with the challenge of overcoming local language barriers. Many lack the technical and computer skills to access useful information and guidance or support. They have limited rights to access government social welfare schemes, including those intended to help people through the coronavirus crisis. Their lives hang on uncertainties. Along the Thailand-Myanmar border in Tak Province, villages went into lockdown and the crisis forced migrant workers from Myanmar to abandon their farms, becoming largely dependent on food handouts. They said the amount of rice handed out wasn’t enough to feed them, lasting only around three days. Twenty-six-year-old migrant worker Cho Zin Win said: "The villagers have come to buy sacks of rice on credit five times already, and it will take at least a year for them to pay back the installments." In the city of Chiang Mai (located northeast of Thailand) during lockdown, it became a common sight to see people, a mixture of local people and migrant workers, lining up for food handouts. A visit to one of the construction camps in Chiang Mai showed that business closures have forced the wives of construction workers out of their jobs as housekeepers at hotels, while only a few of their husbands have been hired. Some families have less than 1,000 baht left (US$32.08), but they still have to bear the burden of expenses and debts. By July, restrictions on businesses were lifted and most businesses reopened. But with the economic collapse brought by the coronavirus crisis, businesses are still unable to hire back many of their workers. Hundreds of thousands of migrant workers in the country—if not more—are still unemployed and many are unable to adapt to the economy’s “new normal.” Continues with photos https://globalvoices.org/2020/07/22/out-of-work-out-of-options-myanmar-migrant-workers-in-thailand-scrape-by-during-covid-19/