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Long-stay travel packages in the pipeline
Long-stay travel packages in the pipeline
The Tourism and Sports Ministry is floating an idea to provide long-stay packages to foreign tourists who are seeking disease-free destinations.
Shoppers rush out to buy booze amid fears of further bans
Shoppers rush out to buy booze amid fears of further bans
THAILAND: Liquor sections at supermarkets and convenience stores yesterday (May 3) were thronging with customers eager to buy alcoholic beverages after sales resumed for the first time in almost a month.
Flags to be flown at half-mast in respect of passing of Order of Malta Grand Master
Flags to be flown at half-mast in respect of passing of Order of Malta Grand Master
PHUKET: Thai government offices are to fly the national flag at half-mast this week as a mark of respect for the passing of the Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, also commonly known as the Knights of Malta.
National COVID-19 report: 18 new cases, no new deaths
National COVID-19 report: 18 new cases, no new deaths
THAILAND: The government on Friday (May 1) reported 18 new coronavirus cases, all foreigners in Songkhla, bringing the total to 2,740 across Thailand. No additional deaths were recorded, leaving the toll at 54.
Phuket officials report zero new COVID cases for second day, total holds at 220
Phuket officials report zero new COVID cases for second day, total holds at 220
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) today (May 4) reported zero new cases of people infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus. It is the second consecutive day that zero new confirmed cases have been reported in Phuket.
Fugitive, 24, arrested on warrants for raping teenage girls, fraud
Fugitive, 24, arrested on warrants for raping teenage girls, fraud
PHUKET: A 24-year-old man has been arrested on three outstanding arrest warrants, for raping two teenage girls in Phuket three years ago, and for using one of the girl’s identities to create a Facebook page in order to sell products online.
Thousands head home as Phuket Check Point opens again
Thousands head home as Phuket Check Point opens again
PHUKET: Thousands of people started the journey back to their home provinces as the Phuket Check Point leading to the bridge off-island was officially re-opened at 5am today (May 3).
12 more Phuket curfew breakers arrested, bringing island total to 1,000
12 more Phuket curfew breakers arrested, bringing island total to 1,000
PHUKET: Twelve people were arrested in Phuket’s Muang District overnight for breaking the nationwide night curfew from 10pm to 4am, according to a report by the Phuket office of the Department of Local Administration (DLA) announced earlier today (May 3).
Phuket police bomb suspect run gives family of five on motorbike a lift to Yala
Phuket police bomb suspect run gives family of five on motorbike a lift to Yala
PHUKET: Patong Police officers on their way to the Deep South to pick up a suspect wanted for his role in the spate of bombings that rocked Southern Thailand, including Phuket, in 2016 came across a family of five riding on the one motorbike in Krabi heading home from Phuket to Yala, and gave them a lift.
MGM pitches plan for NBA to finish season in Vegas
MGM pitches plan for NBA to finish season in Vegas
BASKETBALL: MGM Resorts International has pitched a proposal to the NBA to complete the coronavirus-halted 2019-20 season on courts in Las Vegas convention centers, the New York Times reported.
Phuket officials report zero new COVID cases, total holds at 220
Phuket officials report zero new COVID cases, total holds at 220
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) today (May 3) reported zero new cases of people infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus.
The Play’s the Thing! Serendipity and Children’s Theatre
The Play’s the Thing! Serendipity and Children’s Theatre
Right after embarking on this stay-at-home journey of a lifetime that we are in the midst of right now, quite by chance I was asked by a friend if I would film bedtime stories for kids with the vision of posting them on Facebook weekly. I thought about it and decided this would be something worth doing. I thought it might be fun and at the very least it would keep me busy along with the online theatre classes I was beginning to teach.
Phuket Opinion: Phuket’s ‘Awesome Mix Tape’
Phuket Opinion: Phuket’s ‘Awesome Mix Tape’
The lifting of some of the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions is now causing just as much confusion as when the orders were being initially rolled out. In issuing the initial orders, the Phuket Provincial Office was announcing them publicly just hours before they were being implemented, leaving people no time to prepare. Some of the orders came less than hour before the midnight start of the order began. That may have been intentional, no matter how unprofessional, how unorganised that may have seemed, or how unwelcomed it was. Worse, nationwide orders were being issued in Bangkok that superceding the authority of any provincial governors, while many other orders were left at the governor’s discretion. Think national nightly curfew from 10pm to 4am, versus the Phuket Governor’s “request” for people to stay indoors from 8pm to 5am. For those still confused, it is the 10pm to 4am that applies in law. More recently was the confusion over the order from Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha late Thursday to issue an notice extending all health and provincial orders, just after Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana had announced the lifting of the “Tambon Lockdown” – and naming the five high-risk areas that will remain under control. That left everyone unsure as to whether the Tambon Lockdown had been lifted at all. All we needed from Phuket authorities was one simple sentence to explain the state of play in Phuket at a that point in time. If possible, a little advance notice would be even better. That clarity has not been provided. Today (May 3), a raft of businesses are allowed to re-open and a host of activities allowed to resume, within certain limits to prevent the spread of COVID-19, yet that order to allow these to resume came from Bangkok – and all the restrictions lifted as of May 3 remain at the discretion of provincial governors. The governor in each province reserves the right to keep any health orders in effect as they see fit for the province they apparently govern. All the COVID-19 shutdown orders in Phuket were ratified by provincial orders issued by Phuket Governor Phakaphong. There has been no confirmation that any of the provincial orders other than the Tambon Lockdown have been rescinded. Today, according to the national order in Bangkok, all “recreation areas” are now free to use as long as there are no gatherings of people and no group events or activities. Individual activities that do not risk the spread of the virus are allowed. Anywhere else in the world beaches are classified as “recreation areas”. Here in Phuket, today, we just don’t know if people are allowed to go to the beach or not. To be clear, no such beach ban was issued in Phang Nga, immediately north of Phuket. As for the nationwide alcohol ban being lifted today, the lifting of that restriction was another Bangkok order delivered by no less than Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, yet it came with the one rider: “But Bangkok and some provinces can extend the ban if they think [lifting it] will do more harm than good,” he said. The alcohol ban in Phuket was re-ratified by a provincial order, and there has still not been any notice that order has been rescinded. Right now, if anyone wants to know if a provincial order remains in effect in Phuket – despite whether or not the restriction has been lifted by natiownwide order announced in Bangkok – people are just going to have to try their luck. A word of warning, people may be arrested for breaking a provincial order that has not been lifted in this province, despite a national announcement saying that the restriction has been lifted. Bangkok officials have been very clear that the lifting any restrictions remains at the discretion of provincial governors. Dear Phuket Governor, we are at your discretion. We are willing to oblige by health orders that help prevent the spread of the virus, regardless of how people behave in Bang Tao, but we need to know which restrictions remain in effect, and which restrictions have been lifted. Could you please let us know? Just a little clarity on exactly what is and what is not allowed would be much appreciated.
Long weekenders ordered to self-isolate on arrival for 14 days
Long weekenders ordered to self-isolate on arrival for 14 days
BANGKOK: The Interior Ministry has issued an order for people returning to the provinces during the current long weekend to be kept under quarantine for 14 days.
Helping Thailand’s starving elephants
Helping Thailand’s starving elephants
PHUKET: The plight of animals and wildlife in Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic has been well documented as the decimated tourism sector has left many previously reliant on that field in a desperate situation.
TAT lists businesses and activities allowed to reopen
TAT lists businesses and activities allowed to reopen
BANGKOK: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has issued a summary of businesses and activities that are allowed to reopen from today (May 3) under the directives of the one-month extended Emergency Decree.
Healthy Habits: Who’s telling the health truth?
Healthy Habits: Who’s telling the health truth?
The Dieticians of Canada, a government-sponsored organisation recently came out with a Facebook COVID-19 post that read: “Please follow the advice of Public Health Officials. Do not spread misinformation. You cannot ‘boost’ your immune system through diet. No specific food, supplement or natural health product will prevent you from catching COVID-19.”
Bang Tao protest wins ‘local’ officers at lockdown checkpoint
Bang Tao protest wins ‘local’ officers at lockdown checkpoint
PHUKET: Angry residents in the lockdown areas of Bang Tao have won their preference for “local” administrative officers to be stationed at a checkpoint restricting entry to what provincial health officials have deemed to be a “high-risk area” for the spread of COVID-19.
More stranded Russians head home
More stranded Russians head home
PHUKET: More Russian tourists stranded in Phuket headed home yesterday evening (May 2) as 220 people boarded a special flight organised by Russian embassy officials in coordination with the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Phuket Poll: Majority vote to lift most COVID-19 ‘lockdown’ restrictions
Phuket Poll: Majority vote to lift most COVID-19 ‘lockdown’ restrictions
PHUKET: A clear majority of respondents to an online poll by The Phuket News want at least some if not most of the restrictions imposed to try to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus lifted.