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From Aljazeera Bangkok slum residents prepare for worst as virus grips Thailand Bangkok, Thailand - As the world grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, the phrases on everyone's lips are "social distancing", and "self-isolation", but for Bangkok resident Maliwan Kamdaeng that is a near- impossible task. The 44-year old is one of 100,000 people living in Bangkok's largest slum community, Khlong Toey, a sprawling settlement in the centre of the city. In the mornings, Maliwan works in the city at a large logistics company where she spends time with people from all over Thailand's capital. Now that the number of cases in Thailand has reached nearly 600, she is afraid that she is at risk of contracting the virus from her colleagues. "We're all scared about getting it at work. We think it's far away. But we're still very scared," she told Al Jazeera from the front porch of her home, a house stitched together with cracked wood and sheets of tin squeezed snugly between dozens of other makeshift homes. Inside, her young children were tossing a ball around while her mother watches a soap opera on television. Maliwan's concern is not only that she might get sick and expose her children to the virus, but that her office could suddenly close leaving her without any money. "I'm the main provider for the family," she said. When asked how many people she provides for, she could not help but laugh. Working from home is not an option. "I'm taking care of eight people right now. Five children, and three adults. I can't stop working. If the office closed down, I would have to find another way to make money. Maybe wash clothes, or look on the internet for something else I could do from home. I'd have to find work around here that I could do from home," she said. Maliwan's mother is 74 and healthy. "She's very strong. But there are elderly in every house around here," she said with a pause. Those most vulnerable to the coronavirus are the elderly and people with serious underlying illnesses such as diabetes or cancer. But people who lack access to healthcare, or live in a setting where sanitary systems are not adequately developed, can also be at risk. Continues at https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/03/bangkok-slum-residents-prepare-worst-virus-grips-thailand-200322074123038.html

From Coconuts Bangkok Starting tomorrow, anyone boarding commuter rail in Bangkok must wear a mask, officials ordered today. The Transport Ministry on Tuesday issued an order that all passengers boarding any type of train including the state railway, BTS Skytrain, MRT and Airport Rail Link must wear face masks at all times to help reduce the further spread of COVID-19. No similar announcement has yet been made for the city’s extensive bus services. Supplies of masks will be available for free or at “affordable prices” at some stations such as BTS Siam, MRT Silom, MRT Phra Ram 9, ARL Phaya Thai and ARL Makkasan for those who do not have one. Thailand on Tuesday reported new 106 COVID-19 cases and three deaths, bringing the total to four deaths since January and 827 cases, 766 of which remain hospitalized. https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/masks-mandatory-for-all-bangkok-rail-passengers-transport-ministry/

From Bangkok Post Migrants let through 'shut' checkpoints Thousands of migrant workers from Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam returned to their home countries after authorities reopened land borders which had been ordered shut to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The government's temporary ban on cross-border travel between Thailand and neighbouring countries failed, as it was forced to reopen shuttered crossings to allow the growing number of migrant workers which had gathered at border checkpoints to cross, out of fear of causing a riot. Most of the migrants worked in Bangkok, but decided to leave after the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration ordered businesses -- including shopping malls -- to close until April 12 as part of its effort to urge the public to stay home during the outbreak. Under the closure order, only supermarkets and food retailers at other markets are allowed to open, and restaurants can only offer take-outs to its patrons. According to Bangkok Metropolitan Administration estimates, about 90% of those who left Bangkok over the weekend were migrant workers. In Chiang Rai, the border was reopened after a group of about 100 workers from Myanmar arrived at the Mae Sai checkpoint -- which links to Tachileik in Myanmar -- only to find the border has been closed. "We must go home, or we will starve to death in Bangkok," said a 28-year-old woman in the group who was recently laid-off due to the shutdown. Their insistence forced the governor and immigration officials to grant them exemptions and allowed them to cross the border into Myanmar. In Tak, more than 4,200 Myanmar workers were allowed to cross back into their country through the checkpoint at Mae Sot district. Meanwhile, the atmosphere was tense at Sa Kaeo's Aranyaprathet checkpoint near Cambodia, where police had to prevent more than 400 Cambodian workers from protesting against the border closure. A bus terminal in the Nakhon Phanom Municipality was also packed with stranded workers from Laos and Vietnam. They were later allowed to pass over the 3rd Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge to Khammouane province in Laos. Meanwhile, Thai workers returning home from Bangkok are being told to go into 14-day self-isolation. The situation eased after Thai and Cambodian authorities decided to reopen the border temporarily to let the workers through. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1884830/migrants-let-through-shut-checkpoints

From Bangkok Post Lockdown leaves migrant workers exposed A partial lockdown in Thailand to limit the spread of coronavirus exempts construction, exposing thousands of migrant workers to the deadly disease, human rights groups warned on Monday. Thailand has more than 700 coronavirus cases, a health ministry spokesman said on Monday, the majority in Bangkok. The government has shut down malls in Bangkok for 22 days and extended the closure of schools, bars and cinemas in the capital to curb the outbreak. Several provinces also implemented similar measures. But construction work on high-rise apartments and office complexes continues, with hundreds of migrant workers seen heading to work in the morning, only a few wearing face masks or bandanas around their nose and mouth. "Very little allowance is being made for migrant construction workers — they are not being given masks or hand sanitisers or any information about the coronavirus," said Brahm Press, director of MAP Foundation, a migrant rights charity. "They should be allowed to return home if they choose to without any penalty, and come back when it is safe. They live in such cramped quarters and have limited access to healthcare; if the disease reaches them, it would be disastrous," he said. A spokeswoman for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration did not answer calls seeking comment. Elsewhere in the region, Malaysia has included construction sites in its restrictions, fining one company and asking others to shut down, while Singapore has also allowed building work to continue. Authorities must not overlook migrants who face difficulties in accessing healthcare and in protecting themselves against the virus, a Southeast Asian network of parliamentarians for human rights (APHR) said on Monday. "It is those who are the most vulnerable who will suffer the most. No one should be left behind during this crisis," said Eva Sundari, an APHR member. Thailand has more than 3 million migrant workers, according to the International Organization for Migration, with rights groups putting the figure higher. Construction is the top employer of migrant workers, with workers from Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos making up most of the nearly 600,000 documented migrants in the sector, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO). The workers generally live in refashioned containers or shacks of tin and plywood at the sites or nearby, with poor sanitation and limited access to potable water. Thailand has more than 3 million migrant workers, according to the International Organization for Migration, with rights groups putting the figure higher. Construction is the top employer of migrant workers, with workers from Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos making up most of the nearly 600,000 documented migrants in the sector, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO). The workers generally live in refashioned containers or shacks of tin and plywood at the sites or nearby, with poor sanitation and limited access to potable water. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1884785/lockdown-leaves-migrant-workers-exposed#cxrecs_s

From CNN In its second statement, the group clarified that it would keep some routes open, and the original statement was deleted from the Emirates website and social media accounts. The reason for the change was not clear. The routes to remain open included Britain, the United States, Hong Kong, Singapore, Switzerland, Bangkok, Malaysia, the Philippines, Japan, Australia, South Africa and Canada, the carrier said.

From Channel News Asia DUBAI: Emirates announced on Sunday (Mar 22) that it will “temporarily suspend" all its passenger operations from Wednesday in light of the COVID-19 outbreak that has forced countries to close their borders. The deadly coronavirus has caused the world to go "into quarantine", affecting business for the airline, the chairman and CEO of the Emirates Group Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said. "As a global network airline, we find ourselves in a situation where we cannot viably operate passenger services until countries re-open their borders, and travel confidence returns. The reduction in basic salary for most employees will range from 25 per cent to 50 per cent. The presidents of Emirates and dnata, a cargo handling company under the Emirates Group, will take a 100 per cent basic salary cut for three months. “Rather than ask employees to leave the business, we chose to implement a temporary basic salary cut as we want to protect our workforce and keep our talented and skilled people, as much as possible," Sheikh Ahmed explained. "We want to avoid cutting jobs. When demand picks up again, we also want to be able to quickly ramp up and resume services for our customers." https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/emirates-flights-suspended-covid-19-coronavirus-12565320

NOTE -- The author takes a page from Trump's playbook (blame China) while he gives voice to to a Pattaya based website that mixes old anecdotal stuff with a whiff of xenophobia. From South China Morning Post Has Thailand had enough of Western tourists and their ‘entitlement’? Thailand needs tourism. The industry that brings travellers to the country’s beaches, back alleys and Buddhist temples employed almost 6 million people, raked in US$109.5 billion and accounted for one in every five baht spent in 2018, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. But, according to a recent post on the website Pattaya Unplugged, which claims to be “the Number One Tourist info source in Pattaya”, the Land of Smiles is faking its warm welcome when it comes to visitors from the West. The snappily titled opinion piece (“Ten reasons why Western foreign tourists are not wanted as badly by the Thai Tourism Ministry versus Indians, Chinese, Russians, Koreans, etc.”) catalogues why the Southeast Asian nation doesn’t care for Western visitors – understood here to mean those hailing from Europe, North America and Australia. Compiled by an American living in Pattaya, those reasons were gleaned from “many talks with people from many different backgrounds and cultures [...] not just the view from a barstool”. Some points the writer makes are close to correct, if horribly elucidated. Ignoring the subtext of in-group superiority in the statement, “There are simply more of them then [sic] us”, statistics show that Thailand does receive significantly more non-Western arrivals than Western ones. According to Ministry of Tourism & Sports data, 27.3 million of the nation’s visitors in 2019 came from East Asia (including Southeast Asia), with 2.4 million from South Asia, while Europe, the Americas and Oceania accounted for 6.7 million, 1.6 million and 900,000, respectively. Similarly, “We often don’t spend as much as people think” has some truth to it. In 2017, Chinese tourists each spent US$192.84 per day in Thailand. The next most extravagant visitors hailed from the Middle East, who dropped US$190.60 on average in a day. Taking up the rear as the tightest tourists were those from Europe, who each parted with just US$125.47 per day. However, Western tourists do tend to stay for significantly longer – Europeans for 17 days versus eight for the Chinese – and it all adds up. Although it is not easy to quantify whether Western tourists do, indeed, “tend to complain more online, troll, write negative reviews and feedback and bicker”, it is possible that “Western foreigners are more demanding in person” with “more of a sense of entitlement than many other countries”. Certainly, beleaguered Barcelonans, who have been overwhelmed by travellers streaming in from France, America, Britain, Italy and elsewhere in Spain, can empathise. It is not the Chinese who have caused “touristphobia” in the Catalan capital, but an unsustainable influx of Westerners. The 10th point on the Pattaya Unplugged list contends that most non-Western visitors are not sex tourists, which is not to say that all Westerners are, but, according to the writer, “Most Russians and Chinese have zero interest in the red light district and come with families”, a fact that apparently “angers many of the long standing visitors and fans of the red light district”. “Some western [sic] foreigners would prefer to come and sit in a bar for two weeks s**tfaced [...] The tourists coming here for family activities and businesses are generally wanted much more then [sic] the barstool crowd.” Finally, some sense! Ultimately, however, there is little value in applying an us-versus-them mentality to Thailand’s international arrivals, or indeed to weighing the worth of one nationality against another. In times like these, when the coronavirus outbreak is crippling Asia’s tourism industry, surely every visitor should be given a big, authentic smile. The 10th point on the Pattaya Unplugged list contends that most non-Western visitors are not sex tourists, which is not to say that all Westerners are, but, according to the writer, “Most Russians and Chinese have zero interest in the red light district and come with families”, a fact that apparently “angers many of the long standing visitors and fans of the red light district”. https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3064751/has-thailand-had-enough-western-tourists-and-their

From Bangkok Post 188 new cases brings total to nearly 600 Thailand reported 188 new coronavirus infections on Sunday, its largest daily increase, taking the total to 599 cases, a senior Public Health Ministry official said. The majority of the new infections are connected to a previous cluster of cases from Lumpini boxing stadium, ministry spokesman Taweesin Wisanuyothin told a news conference. Seven are in serious condition, he said, while one has already recovered. "Most of the new cases were found in Bangkok and were among young people who continue to have social activities, which can lead to more infections," Dr Taweesin said, urging the public to stay home. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1884025/thailand-reports-188-new-coronavirus-cases-brings-total-to-nearly-600

Excerpted from Bloomberg News The Bank of Thailand is seeking to backstop market stability after a jump in bond yields stoked concerns that stresses are building up. The monetary authority pledged late Friday to ensure sufficient liquidity for markets to function well as it unveiled an emergency interest-rate cut to counter the economic shock of the coronavirus outbreak. “We have been running down international reserves and providing baht liquidity to facilitate the normal functioning of the financial market,” Bank of Thailand Assistant Governor Chantavarn Sucharitakul said in an email. The coronavirus crisis has created funding stresses across the world after upending a range of investments and sparking a dash for cash. There are indications high net-worth investors in Thailand have been making mutual fund redemptions, according to Maybank Kim Eng Securities (Thailand) Pcl. The reduction in the policy rate to 0.75% from 1% takes effect March 23. In its statement, the central bank said the overall financial system is stable but added the coronavirus outbreak had affected the functioning of Thai markets. The Thai stock market has plunged 29% this year and the baht is Asia’s second-worst performing major currency. The yield on the 10-year Thai government bond jumped to 1.68% on March 20 from 0.83% on March 9. Foreign investors have pulled out a net $4.6 billion from stocks and bonds so far in March, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The central bank has said that it spent more than 100 billion baht ($3.1 billion) from March 13 to March 19 to buy government bonds. Foreign reserves were $229.2 billion on March 13, down $7.1 billion from a week earlier, the biggest such drop since 2008. https://www.msn.com/en-us/finance/news/bank-of-thailand-vows-market-stability-after-jump-in-yields/ar-BB11vjva

From Channel News Asia The factors behind a coronavirus disaster ROME: Why Italy? Loads of people have been wondering why the beautiful Mediterranean country has become the new epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic. Experts list a range of reasons - from Italy's relatively high age to its strained healthcare system to some old fashioned bad luck - that add up to a disaster not seen in generations. None of the answers alone explain why the nation of 60 million accounts for over a third of the nearly 11,500 deaths officially reported across the 7.7-billion strong world. But other countries will want to examine each of these factors and address them through various preventive measures in their bids to avoid becoming the next Italy. One of the first factors almost everyone who looks at the figures points to is Italians' average age. It is high. The median age of the overall population was 45.4 last year - greater than anywhere else in Europe. It is also seven years higher than the median age in China and slightly above that of South Korea. Figures released Friday showed the age of Italians dying of COVID-19 averaging out at 78.5. Almost 99 per cent of them were also suffering from at least one pre-existing condition or ailment. Italy's mortality rate among those infected with the virus is thus a relatively high 8.6 per cent. "COVID-19 fatalities are hitting older age groups hard," University of Oxford professor Jennifer Dowd noted on Twitter. "Countries with older populations will need to take more aggressive protective measures to stay below the threshold of critical cases that outstrip health system capacities," Dowd said. Yet Japan's median age of 47.3 makes it an even older nation than Italy - and it has just 35 officially registered deaths. So age is clearly not the only factor. Continues at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/why-italy--the-factors-behind-a-coronavirus-disaster-12563756

From Coconuts Bangkok Bars throughout Thonglor, epicenter of infections, skirt shutdown order Around tables they sat drinking and sharing food last night, steps away from locations where dozens are believed to have been infected with COVID-19 in one of the capital city’s biggest outbreak clusters. A survey of Bangkok’s trendy Thonglor district on the first Friday night since its bars and nightlife venues were ordered shut found customers patronizing numerous venues either defying the order or operating through a loophole. The Thonglor Police Department earlier Friday said it was enforcing the order but for one giant exception: If a bar happens to sell food, then it’s fine. “We’re asking for cooperation,” said an officer answering the phone who declined to give his name. “But no bars and nightclubs dare risk to open at this time anyway or else they would get into trouble when a patron is found to have become infected with the virus.” But dare, they have. A day earlier on Thursday, several bars were seen with patrons at stools and tables. Asked about specific bars that have remained open since the order came into effect Wednesday, the officer asked if they were “a bar-bar or a semi-bar and restaurant.” “If it’s a restaurant too, then the venue can still open because the order only applies to bars and pubs,” he said. That would seem an academic distinction when it’s not alcohol but proximity that has infected dozens in what has become one of the viral epicenters of Bangkok. On Friday night, I counted at least 13 Izakaya-style Japanese bars open, with patrons seated together sharing snacks and beer towers. There were also at least three conventional bars openly flaunting the ban. One famous after-hours joint where carousing can stretch into the morning had its sign turned off but the doors open, and people seated inside. Asked if they were supposed to be open, an employee at one recently opened rooftop bar said with a grin, “Supposed to close!” As I was leaving, two cops emerged from the elevator. “Are you open?” one called out before instructing it to close. One of the officers told me they had ordered “many, many” venues to close Friday night. Continues at https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/bars-throughout-thonglor-epicenter-of-infections-skirt-shutdown-order/ ================================================================ From Bangkok Post 89 new cases in highest daily jump, total 411 The Public Health Ministry reported 89 new cases on Saturday in the largest daily jump since the coronavirus outbreak, bringing the total to 411. Of the new cases, 51 were linked to existing patients. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1883525/89-new-cases-in-highest-daily-jump-total-411

Excerpted from Coconuts Bangkok A representative of the Chatuchak Weekend Market said today that extensive efforts have been made to clean and disinfect the sprawling site where everything from live animals and food to furniture and clothing is sold, which on peak weekends draws more than 100,000 shoppers. “We know it’s tough, but the market’s team disinfects the market every day,” the admin of the market’s Facebook page wrote in reply to inquiries. “Rest assured that our market is free from the virus, and we’ll fight this together.” On Tuesday, the government ordered all entertainment venues including bars along with schools, gyms, massage parlors, large events closed or canceled through the end of the month. The order did not include shopping malls, which remain open as well. https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/chatuchak-weekend-market-to-remain-open-as-thailand-racks-up-50-more-covid-19-cases/

NOTE -- I just watched "Santi-Vina" and enjoyed it. This link will take you to the Thai Film Archive site and access to the films mentioned below. https://www.youtube.com/user/FilmArchiveThailand ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From Khaosod English BANGKOK — A host of films deemed to be “historically and culturally significant” are now available to view for free on YouTube. The Thai Film Archive is continually adding films to a Covid-19 playlist on their YouTube channel, which includes the feature length “Santi-Vina” (1954) and clips of the oldest Thai film with a katoey (transgender woman) from the same year. “Very few people have seen it ‘Santi-Vina,’ since the film was lost for so long. Young people in quaratine at home should try watching Santi-Vina, as well as other films, for education,” Orawan Chawasilp, a public relations office from the film archive said. Undoubtedly the main feature of the Covid playlist is “Santi-Vina,” the first Thai feature shot in color on 35mm with sound. It was lost for six decades and only recently restored and briefly screened at Scala Theater in 2016. Read our review here. Many other films on the playlist are documentary film clips that entered the National Film Registry for preservation in October, such as “Muay Thai” (1963) which records the teachings of Bua Wad-im, a Thai boxer known for his Korat style of muay thai. Love Thai ghost movies? “Prai Takian” (1940) is considered to be the genre’s prototype, complete with slapstick humor. The restored 12-minute clip from “It Happens Because of a Katoey” (Katoey Pen Het) (1954) is the oldest-known Thai film with a transgender woman. https://www.khaosodenglish.com/life/arts/2020/03/20/classic-thai-films-available-on-youtube-for-quarantine-watching/

From Khaosod English BANGKOK — The United States government said Friday it donated about 2 million USD for the Thai government to fight against the coronavirus epidemic. The funds were made available to Thailand by the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID. The newly appointed American ambassador to Thailand said the relief highlights yet another cooperation between the two countries amid the pandemic, which infected at least 300 people in Thailand so far. U.S. officials also donated masks, gloves, goggles, and other essential equipment to Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health, the statement said. https://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2020/03/20/us-donates-2-million-to-thailand-for-combating-virus/

From Bangkok Post Policies for Covid-19 face suspension Several insurance companies are poised to suspend sales of Covid-19 insurance products with a lump-sum payout as policy sales approach their threshold of 500,000-750,000. Some insurers have paused sales to revise protection conditions, including implementation of a 14-day waiting period, after coronavirus insurance products sold briskly, said Suthiphon Thaveechaiyagarn, secretary-general of the Office of Insurance Commission (OIC). The popularity of the policies exceeded expectations, with sales soaring the past few weeks with the spike in the number of infections, he said. The OIC has approved 25 firms to sell coronavirus insurance, with 20 already launching products. As of March 18, more than 2 million Covid-19 insurance policies were taken out, with the most popular being a lump-sum payout for insured people diagnosed with the virus. The other type covers medical bills. The OIC will tighten its approval process for future launches of lump-sum payout products. "The honeymoon is over after we offered fast-track approval for Covid-19 insurance products in recent weeks," Mr Suthiphon said, adding that he expects the free insurance coverage to no longer be available. At the Thai General Insurance Association's meeting on Wednesday, participants expressed concerns about the insurance policyholders' moral hazard and insurers underestimating risks. The OIC is closely monitoring insurers and policyholders, Mr Suthiphon said, as coronavirus insurance could encourage policyholders with high sums insured to expose themselves to the virus hoping to make claims, with insurers rejecting their claims if that is the case. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1882540/policies-for-covid-19-face-suspension#cxrecs_s

Although returning Thais do not need Covid19 test results or proof of insurance, they face multiple hurdles as they try to re-enter their home nation. Most of the Thais who find themselves in this situation are frequently contract or day-to-day workers. Much of the remittances they generate end up with their families in the north and northeast of the country. The government should be welcoming them home. Yes, quarantine them for safety but do not punish them for being citizens who had to leave the country to find a decent job.

Since the test must be dated no more than 72 hours prior to departure, doubt there's much chance of it. And the logistics of having to get verified test results within that time frame makes the whole idea of booking an international ticket all but impossible unless you're prepared to pay the most expensive, last-minute fare. And try finding the required insurance policy showing minimum coverage for coronavirus of not less than US$100,000. The new rule is just another way of saying don't even think about coming.

It now makes no difference of how low hotels and AirBNB's lower their rates. Excerpt from above link: "Since people cannot get tested for the virus in most places at the moment due to the high costs and shortages of test kits, the requirement is in effect a travel ban although the government stopped short of describing it as such. "The measure aims to minimise the number of arrivals as much as possible," said government spokeswoman Narumon Pinyosinwat."

From The Thiager Visitors from 15 locations must show health certificates, insurance before boarding flights to Thailand Clarifying earlier reports, Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAT) say that it will require air travellers, whether Thai or foreign, coming from 15 locations to show health certificates proving they are free of the Covid-19 coronavirus, and proof of insurance covering virus treatment, before boarding flights to Thailand. Earlier reports were that passengers from all locations would have to present the documents. The CAAT’s governor Chula Sukmanop announced the measure and other requirements yesterday as part of the government’s efforts to contain the disease. The conditions are to take effect on Saturday. He said arriving passengers who were in China, including Hong Kong and Macau, Iran, Italy or South Korea in the past 14 days will be quarantined. These areas have been designated as “disease infected zones”. Chula says that when passengers check in, airlines must verify whether they have visited coronavirus epidemic areas in the previous 14 days. They must require passengers from those infected zones and 11 other transmission areas to present health certificates issued no more than 72 hours before the flight departs. The certificates must guarantee that the passengers are free of the virus. The 11 transmission areas are Britain, Denmark, France, Germany, specific cities in Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the USs. The Japanese cities are Aichi, Chiba, Hokkaido, Karagawa, Kyoto, Okinawa, Osaka, Tokyo and Wakayama, according to the Bangkok Post. Airlines must also require that passengers from these places to have insurance covering Covid-19 treatment in Thailand, up to at least 3.1 million baht (100,000 US$). Passengers who cannot provide the documents won’t be allowed to board their flight to Thailand. Those who are allowed to board must also provide the address of their accommodation in Thailand, either by written forms or by the Airports of Thailand mobile phone app. The CAAT also requires airlines to seat passengers as far from each other as possible, and to regularly disinfect their planes. Chula added that Thai disease control officials are authorised to isolate aircraft and quarantine passengers. Airlines that fail to comply will have to pay for the transport, quarantine and treatment of passengers, and bear the cost of related cases of disease control. https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/visitors-from-15-locations-must-show-health-certificates-insurance-before-boarding-flights-to-thailand

From Bangkok Post Tourism minister to seek reprieve for overstayers The Tourism Ministry will seek a reprieve for some 500,000 tourists who will end up overstaying their visa now that countries in Europe have started sealing their borders to deal with Covid-19. "Most of the remaining tourists are long-stay elderly travellers from Germany, Italy and Russia who spend their winters here. They came to Thailand before the virus hit their hometowns and decided not to return home. They fear not receiving sufficient healthcare [upon returning home during such dire circumstances]," said Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn. European countries have been closing their borders since this weekend and flights have been cancelled, making it impossible for tourists to fly back home, he said. Mr Phiphat told the Bangkok Post that he is going to discuss the matter with the Interior Ministry and Immigration Bureau, as this problem comes under their jurisdiction. He plans to seek a temporary reprieve for these tourists as well as visa extensions for those whose countries have been affected. He will also ask the authorities to not have overstayers blacklisted. By law, tourists from most countries can get a tourist visa for 30 days and are fined 500 baht for every day they overstay. Serious offenders can face deportation or be blacklisted, which bans them from re-entering. Mr Phiphat said the request is for humanitarian purposes, adding that long-stay guests can also help keep local businesses running during this tough time. However, he admitted this is a "delicate" issue and could lead to future concerns about national security. As for whether Thailand will impose strict measures to stop foreigners from entering the country, Mr Phiphat said Thailand will not shut borders. "But we will intensify screening along the borders and boost medical checkups for tourists from neighbouring countries," he said. "Thailand has a good reputation for its healthcare and hospitality services, which gives foreigners more confidence. However, since Thais are worried about the outbreak, we have to carefully screen each incoming guest." https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1881580/tourism-minister-to-seek-reprieve-for-overstayers#cxrecs_s ====================================================================================================== From Khaosod English Thailand Reports 60 New Virus Cases, the Highest Surge to Date BANGKOK — The health ministry on Thursday said it discovered 60 new cases of the coronavirus infection in the country, the highest jump in number so far. In a daily news briefing, disease control department director Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai said most of the newly infected – 43 of them – were those close to individuals who previously tested positive for the virus, while the other 17 were either travelers from overseas or infected by unknown sources. The news came as Thailand inches toward the declaration of “Level 3” pandemic, which could see government enacting more restrictive measures such as travel bans and extensive business closures. The total number of confirmed infections now stands at 272 cases. Suwannachai said the new patients include: 12 people who worked at or recently visited Lumpini Boxing Stadium 14 people who worked at or recently visited nightlife establishments in Bangkok’s Thonglor, Sukhumvit, and Ramkhamhaeng neighborhoods. 12 people close to patients who worked in aviation and shipping industries. 5 people who were infected from a religious ceremony. 9 people who recently visited Taiwan, France, United Kingdom, India, Italy, Iran, Malaysia, Japan, and Germany. 3 people who came in close contact with foreigners 1 person who worked in the media And 4 other miscellaneous cases. Suwannachai also said three people are in critical condition, including a Belgian national. https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/2020/03/19/thailand-reports-60-new-cases-the-highest-surge-to-date/

FINAL UPDATE: The Viets were finally moved to an army barracks where they will begin their isolation period.

Laos/Vietnam

SECOND UPDATE: The Vietnamese (all from Ha Tinh who worked in Thailand) remain stranded in the rain at border crossing. No food in eight hours. A bus arrived to take some across but driver refused to allow them to board. He reportedly wanted assurance that his bus would be cleaned afterwards. Unsatisfied, he drove away.

UPDATE on what ggobkk posted: The quarantine facilities at the border crossing became overwhelmed with the influx of returnees. According to a report from a trusted source, about 200 returning VN nationals are in a holding area, waiting to be allowed to cross.

I hope your optimistic take on things proves to be more accurate than my conservative point of view. But I will take exception to a few points. First, don't underestimate some of these guys. Many knew what it was like to perform hard physical labor before they ever came to Bangkok. Laborer is not a "zero" skill. Second, performing half naked on stage, occasionally banging your cock against a pole and facing frequent rejection doesn't strike me as a particularly easy lifestyle.