reader

Extracted from South China Morning Post Coronavirus gives Vietnam, Cambodia a chance to boost ties with Washington and Beijing For the Southeast Asian neighbours who share a bitter past, the coronavirus pandemic has provided opportunities to cement allegiances that have a bearing on great power rivalry in our region. Cambodia is China’s staunchest ally in Southeast Asia. Beijing has kept it close with economic, political and military support. It is the only Asean country to be a dialogue partner to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a China-led security-plus organisation involving mostly Central and Eurasian countries. Relations with the West went downhill in 2017 when the ruling party accused foreign powers of sponsoring a “colour revolution” and the country’s high court dissolved the main opposition party. The European Union’s removal of preferential tariffs for Cambodian clothing and footwear exports earlier this year has hit hard. Last year, 43 per cent of the country’s foreign direct investment came from China. Growing affinity with China manifested in how Cambodia reacted differently when Covid-19 first surfaced in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year. Unlike many of its Southeast Asian neighbours, it did not institute travel restrictions against China and did not repatriate its citizens from the city, telling them to stay and show solidarity with their hosts. Vietnam, on the other hand, became a new addition to the US-led Quad-Plus countries. The 4+3 (US, Japan, Australia, India + South Korea, New Zealand and Vietnam) grouping aims to coordinate the fight against the coronavirus and plan for economic recovery in its aftermath. The inclusion of Hanoi brings Southeast Asian representation to a club dominated by major powers bent on countering China’s growing influence and challenge to regional order. As this year’s Asean chair, Vietnam also joined the US in issuing a joint statement to counter the pandemic after a high-level inter-agency video conference on April 6. This belated US effort, six weeks after the Asean-China Special Foreign Ministers Meeting on Covid-19 held in Laos, announced Washington’s entry in extending help to regional countries struck by the outbreak. Meanwhile, the great power contest in the South China Sea has continued. In late January and mid-March, the US conducted its first and second freedom of navigation operations. The US Navy also conducted Expeditionary Strike Force operations in the semi-enclosed sea, followed by live-fire missile drills in the adjacent Philippine Sea. Beijing also announced the completion of two newly-built “research stations” on its artificial islands astride the strategic waterway. Early this month, the alleged sinking of a Vietnamese fishing boat by a Chinese coastguard vessel off the contested Paracels drew sharp US and Vietnamese criticism and a statement of concern and solidarity from the Philippines. Further Western pressure can push Cambodia towards China, while Beijing’s continued incursions in the South China Sea may compel Vietnam to expand security ties with the US. But while Cambodia is dangerously becoming too dependent on China, Vietnam’s modest defence capacity and fast-growing economy provides it some legroom as it navigates relations with major powers. Although China is Vietnam’s top import source, the US is its top export market. Hanoi’s efforts to diversify its investors are also paying off. Last year, South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore were its top investors, followed by Japan and China. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3080125/coronavirus-mike-pompeo-urges-china-full-transparency-call-top

Channel News Asia reports that of Singapore's 4,427 cases, more than 2,600 can be traced to migrant worker dormitories. A record of 942 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Singapore as of noon on Saturday, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a media release. The "vast majority" of these are work permit holders living in foreign worker dormitories, it said. Of the new cases, 14 are Singaporeans and permanent residents, as the ministry noted that the number of local cases continues to decline. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/covid-19-new-cases-singapore-942-apr-18-dormitories-12655240

Well I agree that the future is impenetrable, Thailand sounds like a country preparing to emerge from the doldrums of isolation. Air Asia announced today it will begin some domestic service in Thailand May 1. The government's Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration stressed yesterday that 29 provinces have been free of new cases for two weeks. Its spokesman says guidelines for a “new normal” are being drafted amid talks of a gradual reopening of business around the country. He said the government is pleased with the dropping number of new cases and is considering relaxing restrictions, though people can not ignore “good practices” such as social distancing, wearing a mask and washing hands regularly. The Bangkok Post reports that Phuket province (that has the second-highest total of infections in the country after Bangkok) reported no new Covid-19 infections on Saturday as seven more infected patients have fully recovered and been discharged from hospitals. The Post also said today that 33 new local cases were logged nation wide but there were no new deaths. Thailand has only 0.7 deaths per million population, compared to hardest hit countries like Belgium (477), Spain (428), Italy (376), France (278), UK (219), Netherlands (200), Switzerland (157), Sweden (137), US (113) and Ireland (109). According to Khaosod English, the PM has appointed 23 senate members to a Committee on Tourism. Fifteen are military officers turned senators.

From Coconuts Bangkok 44 ‘low-risk’ Thai provinces could reopen in May, no plans for mass testing: official Forty-four Thai provinces where no new cases have been confirmed in the past two weeks could see restrictions lifted as soon as May 1, a health official said Friday. Without naming those provinces, Tanarak Plipat of the Disease Control Department said they could see restrictions lifted on travel and business operations as part of a staggered reopening of the kingdom based on perceived vulnerability. “We have now more than 44 provinces that haven’t reported any cases in the last 14 days,” Tanarak told the BBC’s Jonathan Head in an interview streamed online by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand. “Those provinces may start to relax the rules a little bit first.” He said provinces would be assessed low or high risk, with the latter likely to “be reopened later.” According to his department’s online tracking tool, provinces with no cases reported in the past two weeks include Chiang Rai, Kanchanaburi, Lopburi, Sukhothai and Buriram. https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/44-low-risk-thai-provinces-could-reopen-in-may-no-mass-testing-planned-official/ =========================================================================================== From The Nation 28 new cases offer more proof Covid-19 curve flattening in Thailand Thailand’s total number of Covid-19 patients rose to 2,700 with 28 new cases confirmed over a 24-hour period, while one more person died, Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman of the government's Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said on Friday (April 17). He said the number on Friday was the same as on Monday, the lowest in weeks. He added that 964 Covid-19 patients remained in hospitals, the first time it had gone under 1,000 in weeks, leaving many patient beds available. Over the last nine days, the average number of new cases has stayed at around 34. However, the government and the private sector have discussed reopening businesses, such as hairdressing salons and department stores. Taweesin said the shops could open, but there will have to be restrictions on the number of clients and wearing of mask must be mandatory.

From South China Morning Post Cathay Pacific to lay off nearly 300 cabin crew in US, calling bases in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles ‘no longer viable’ Cathay Pacific will lay off almost 300 employees in the United States and close its cabin crew bases there, in its biggest cutback of employees during the coronavirus pandemic Cathay has virtually grounded all passenger services, operating 3 per cent of its schedule in April and May, with just two flights a week to Los Angeles instead of the about 120 it would usually fly weekly to the US. Hong Kong’s flag carrier will also furlough 129 pilots in Australia and 72 in Britain with similar plans under consideration in the US and Canada for cockpit crew. The airline’s Australian Airbus pilots would be stood down from May 1 until June 30 and, similarly with London-based Boeing pilots, the company said it would seek to put aircrew on job protection schemes involving the respective government paying a portion of a worker’s salary per month. ============================================================================================================================ From Bangkok Post China virus epicentre Wuhan raises death toll 50% WUHAN (CHINA) - China's coronavirus ground-zero city of Wuhan on Friday admitted missteps in tallying its death toll, and abruptly raised the count by 50 percent following growing world doubts about Chinese transparency. The United States has led the charge in questioning China's handling of the pandemic and how much information it has really shared with the international community since the virus emerged late last year. Authorities in Wuhan initially tried to cover up the outbreak, punishing doctors who had raised the alarm online in December, and there have been questions about the government's recording of infections as it repeatedly changed its counting criteria at the peak of the outbreak. Wuhan's epidemic control headquarters said in a social media posting on Friday that it had added 1,290 deaths to the tally in Wuhan, which has suffered the vast majority of China's fatalities from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. That brings the total number of deaths in the city to 3,869. But the city government only added 325 cases, raising the city's total number of infections to 50,333. China has come under increasing pressure over the coronavirus pandemic from Western powers, with Washington raising doubts about Chinese transparency and probing whether the virus actually originated in a Wuhan laboratory. "We'll have to ask the hard questions about how it came about and how it couldn't have been stopped earlier," British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said Thursday. French President Emmanuel Macron told the Financial Times it would be "naive" to think China had handled the pandemic well, adding: "There are clearly things that have happened that we don't know about."

From The Thaiager Migrant workers in Thailand can now stay until November 30 Yesterday the Thai government officially announced a blanket extension for the country’s migrant labourers. They will now be permitted to stay until November 30 this year and will be exempted from any sort of overstay penalty. Government Spokeswoman Narumon Pinyosinwat says that the government has backed the Ministry of Labour’s review of the Cabinet resolution on March 24 on the period of leniency for migrant labourers and their dependents. “The migrant labourers can temporarily stay in the Kingdom until November 30.” “They can use the list of migrant employment requirements issued by the Department of Employment and the current work permit.” This has become an issue as most borders remain closed off from other countries due to the Covid-19 Coronavirus pandemic. Most migrant workers come from nearby countries like Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar and many of these workers are employed in the construction and fishing industries which is still mostly functional during the current crisis. =========================================================================================== Thai-Malaysian border set to open this weekend The Thai-Malaysian border is set to reopen this weekend to assist the struggling rubber trade, causing locals to express concern that a spike in new Covid 19 cases could result in Thailand because of the move. Security officials, however, are assuring the public that intensive screening measures are in place in anticipation of the re-opening. Commander of the Fourth Army Region, Lt Gen Pornsak said all agencies in the southern border provinces and the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre have set up a task force to screen people entering into Thailand in preparation at the checkpoint. Officers anticipate around 800 people per day to cross the border and are ready to keep everyone safe under the “manageable levels”.

From Bangkok Post Prayut: B5,000 to be paid for three months Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has made an about-turn, saying the government will hand out the 5,000-baht aid for three months as planned earlier. The premier apologised on Thursday for the “miscommunication” on the previous day. On Wednesday he said the government would have money for only a month’s worth of the handout, leading to an uproar among applicants. On Thursday, he said the government would make sure the aid was paid for three months. “If the situation improves after that period, there’s no need for the government to find more money since people could work normally. “But if the situation drags on, we will have to consider finding more money.”

From The Nation Prayut will consider easing lockdown in last week of April Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Wednesday (April 15) that he will evaluate the Covid-19 situation in the last week of April to see if some restrictions can be lifted. He has already instructed state agencies to ease restrictions if the situation gets better and what they should do if infections rise. The Centre of the Covid-19 Situation Administration will also take all factors into account before making any decision. The prime minister has warned that if people let their guard fall, the situation will worsen, adding that his government is giving equal attention to all affected groups. Thailand has around 37 million workers in the informal and formal sectors combined, plus 9 million freelancers and 17 million in the farming sector. Continues at https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30386066

From Khaosod English ‘Not Enough Money,’ Prayut Slashes 3-Month Relief Program BANGKOK — Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Wednesday said the government may be able to pay only one month of the promised three-month cash relief package for workers affected by the coronavirus epidemic. The government had earlier planned to give 5,000 baht cash handout to temporary, contract, and self-employed workers who are not covered by the social security system for three consecutive months, beginning this April. Officials also said the program might even be extended for six months, if the pandemic does not subside. But speaking to the media after the Cabinet meeting this afternoon, Prayut said the government is struggling to secure funding for the next round of handouts. “I feel sympathetic and sorry for the people,” Prayut said. “I have to admit that the government had initially planned to allocate the 50 billion baht budget to help three million people for three months.” He went on, “But since more than 9 million people signed up for the program, the government could only give it for one month to cover all affected people.” PM Prayut said he will propose slashing 10 percent of each ministerial budget and pushing a 1 trillion baht loan bill into the parliament to help top up funding for the program. However, he does not expect these solutions to arrive any time soon. Continues at https://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2020/04/15/not-enough-money-prayut-slashes-3-month-relief-program/

From Bangkok Post S&P Global Ratings has revised its outlook on Thailand to stable from positive on Covid-9 uncertainty, with a possible downgrade given persistently sluggish economic recovery. The firm, however, affirms the country’s BBB+ long-term and A-2 short-term foreign currency sovereign credit ratings. “We are revising our outlook on Thailand to stable from positive due to our expectations of slower political adjustments under the economic and social uncertainties associated with the Covid-19 outbreak,” said S&P Global Ratings. “We expect Thailand’s political transition under the elected government to be delayed during the Covid-19 outbreak-induced state of emergency.” The stable outlook reflects the ratings agency's view that the Covid-19-induced economic uncertainty and the subsequent state of emergency declaration could delay political transitions expected under the civilian government over the next 12 months. “We may raise the ratings if there is greater certainty about the evolution of the multiparty parliamentary system in line with arrangements set out in the Constitution,” said the international credit ratings agency. “Over time, we expect this to increase the responsiveness of the political system in addressing social demands and help to resolve longstanding political uncertainty in the country.” A downgrade is possible if the country’s economic recovery is persistently slower and weaker than the agency’s forecast, S&P Global Ratings said. This could increase the pressure on the current policymaking process and raise the likelihood of abrupt political changes, it added. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1899595#cxrecs_s

From South China Morning Post China bans two medical equipment exporters Beijing has banned two companies from exporting medical equipment after they were found to be selling poor quality products and “seriously tarnishing China’s national image”. Shenzhen-based Aibaoda Technology and Beijing-based Tus Data Asset, two little known players in the medical equipment industry, will no longer be able to export products relating to the control of Covid-19 after overseas buyers returned their goods, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on Monday. The ban is the latest bid by China to crack down on faulty medical exports and comes amid a flurry of bad headlines about defective masks and testing kits shipped to Europe and the United States, which now account for more than 80 per cent of the world’s nearly 2 million coronavirus infections. The ministry did not offer details on the faulty equipment sold by the two companies, but neither had worked with medical products until recently. Aibaoda, a 15-employee company backed by Taiwanese audiovisual firm Aipo International, previously sold earphones, microphones and loudspeakers, while Tus Data Asset developed blockchain technology and electronic equipment. “We started to export masks not long ago … we were not exporting any medical supplies other than masks,” an Aibaoda spokesman, who only gave his surname Li, told the South China Morning Post. “We don’t manufacture masks, we just bought the masks from somewhere else and exported them.” The company expanded its business in February to sell masks, disinfectants, protective suits, safety goggles, disposable gloves, thermometers and other medical equipment to cash in on soaring demand, although it did not make the products, according to the spokesman. The company joined hundreds of other Chinese firms in virtually transforming their businesses overnight to supply or manufacture medical equipment as the virus spread around the globe in March. Before the outbreak, China made about half of the world’s supply of masks, at a rate of 20 million units a day, according to the state planning agency. That jumped to 116 million units at the end of February. The second company subject to the ban, Tus Data Asset, was controlled by the state-owned Tus Shareholdings. Company registration records show Tus Data Asset changed its business model on March 23 to include the sale of medical equipment. China, the world’s largest producer of face masks and protective gowns, has come under fire over the export of defective medical gear recently. In late March, Dutch officials recalled 600,000 masks manufactured in China because they did not meet standards for adequate filter performance or proper fit. Spain stopped using rapid Covid-19 test kits made by a Chinese company after research showed it was not accurate enough. Turkey has also said a number of sample test kits were faulty, while the Czech Republic said that up to 80 per cent an order of 300,000 rapid coronavirus test kits did not work properly. In April, Australia seized 800,000 counterfeit masks that arrived from China by air, although most products had passed Australian regulations. https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3079887/coronavirus-china-bans-two-medical-equipment-exporters

From Bangkok Post Already reeling from shutdowns brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, the poor have found themselves facing increasing economic hardship since the government enforced social distancing measures and travel restrictions to flatten the curve of transmission three weeks ago. There have been numerous media reports depicting the depressing state of Thailand's poor. One such report concerned an electrician from Songkhla who deliberately walked towards police officers in Phuket with a methamphetamine pill in his hand, asking them to charge him and send him to jail for illicit drug possession because he had nothing to eat. The man said he was laid off but couldn't return to his family because Phuket was locked down not long after he lost his job. He was charged but it has not been reported whether he was jailed as he hoped. The government's measures to lock down cities, shut down businesses, restrict travel and impose curfews have resulted in the loss of jobs. Without income, food has become scarce among the poor -- many of whom can hardly afford to eat, let alone fill their stomachs. One such incident was that of a 25-year-old motorcycle taxi driver who was arrested last week for stealing 6,000 baht cash from a grocery store owner in Sathon district. Several reporters visited his home and found out he was the sole breadwinner for a family of six. There have been several reports of theft and burglaries in the past two weeks. The motives of many cases are linked to rising poverty and food shortages. Their plight is in stark contrast to how the middle-class, including white-collar workers, have been living during the outbreak. For them, food is not a problem. They can get food at department stores, supermarkets, grocery shops and convenience stores. They can even have food delivered without having to leave their houses. But for the poor, these are luxuries they can't afford. They survive off cheap food from street vendors, street stalls at markets or mobile food trucks -- many of which have suspended operations or closed down because of the government's restrictions on activities and movement. Recent news stories have proved that leaving the poor to deal with food scarcity by themselves can lead to social problems, such as increased crime, poverty and inequality. Without state aid, ultimately it won't just be their problem. https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1898460/virus-fight-sees-impoverished-go-hungry

From the Bangkok Post

One more reason to think twice before purchasing property in LOS. Developers struggle with ‘guaranteed returns’ in Covid-19 property crisis There is one key underlying fundamental for hotel branded residences returns, and the truism that best sums it up is that returns are a function of hotel trading performance and marketplace. In Asia, the largest branded residences market is Thailand. According to C9 Hotelworks market research, the country represents 29% of regional supply with key markets being Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Hua Hin and Chiang Mai. In an evolving hotel ownership model that has developers passing on risk to residential property buyers, the question has to be what risks are inherent in this, given the current Covid-19 crisis? The answer is twofold in that some owners of existing units are currently under guaranteed return programs or those who are buying new projects and are expecting contracted returns. Here in Thailand there are a variety of rental programs ranging from top line rental revenue splits to bottom line profit splits between the hotel and unit owner, and the increasingly popular lease-back arrangement. The latter was thought to be beneficial to the operator so that tenure is ensured in the project, and for unit owners who thought the lease amounted to a fixed-rental guarantee. Commercially in Thailand, these types of contractual obligations are reflected in civil contracts and in the case of guarantees rarely are they backed by corporate undertakings, escrow accounts or bank guarantees. So in the case of a default, the only real remedy is a direct legal action. This sadly is often too costly or time consuming for single unit buyers to pursue. With Covid-19, if force majeure is considered to be in place, a court action will have to determine who’s right and wrong. So essentially, let’s just say it’s complicated. During this past week we have seen three different projects in Thailand suspend guaranteed returns to buyers, and you can expect the number to jump in coming weeks. The warning which is important for buyers of branded residences is that they are not purchasing a traditional real estate model, with the likely end game of capital appreciation. They are becoming de facto owners in a hotel, and as such need to carefully understand Thailand’s hotel supply and demand and performance metrics. Hotels are capital intensive and require a different standard of fit-out, operation and reinvestment vs pure residences. https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/thailands-developers-struggle-with-guaranteed-returns-in-covid-19-property-crisis

From Channel News Asia Hong Kong residents flout COVID-19 rules to throng popular sites HONG KONG: People in Hong Kong thronged beaches, ferries and outlying islands on Sunday (Apr 12), many of them violating a ban on gatherings of more than four people aimed at containing the spread of the new coronavirus. Clear blue skies lured people to popular areas across the territory over the long Easter weekend and many of them were without surgical masks. People in the city of 7.4 million have made a point of wearing masks in the past months. "We always stay at home and it is quite boring," said Banny Mak, 24, a local resident. "We are social animal(s), we need to go out for some fun. I think with proper protection (for) ourselves and to protect other people. I think it is already ok to go out." Hong Kong has recorded 1,005 cases of COVID-19, which has killed four people in the city. It banned public gatherings of more than four people for 14 days from Mar 29, after recording the biggest daily increase in new COVID-19 infections, and later extended that restriction until Apr 23. Continues at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/hong-kong-residents-rules-covid-19-popular-sites-12635444

From NYTimes An employee cleans an enclosure at Auntie Ju's shelter fro stray dogs in Bangkok. Donations of food and money have dramatically fallen off since the pandemic.

From The Thaiager New Covid-19 cases fall to 45 45 new Covid-19 coronavirus cases were confirmed at this morning’s briefing by the the Ministry of Public Health and the Covid-19 Coronavirus Situation Response Centre, a slight drop from yesterday’s 50 and Thursday’s 54. Two more deaths were also reported. The total number of infections since the outbreak began now stands at 2,518. 35 patients have died. The cases span 68 of Thailand’s 76 provinces. https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/new-covid-19-cases-fall-to-45-in-thailand ===================================================================================== Chon Buri struggles with severe drought As Thailand faces its worst drought in 40 years, officials in Chon Buri met yesterday to discuss a solution regarding lack of water and low water pressure in the province’s Sattahip district, south of Pattaya, also the home to a naval base. Responding to many recent complaints, Sathira Pueakprapan, a member of the council in Chonburi, told reporters that Sattahip area receives water from three main providers – the water works authority in Sattahip, Ban Chang and Pattaya.” “Many areas in Thailand are facing drought problems as well as residents in Sattahip. This is causing some areas to have no water and some to have weak water pressure. Additionally, these problems can be unpredictable and last for extended periods of time.” “We have confirmed that the overall water supply is still enough in the area until June which will be the end of the dry season. However, please save and conserve water in the interim period.” “We are trying our best to solve the water problems and divert water from the areas with higher levels of supply.” But a spokesman for Thailand’s Meteorological Department painted a bleak picture. “There is unlikely to be any rain until the beginning of the rainy season in May, and high temperatures brought on by the climate condition known as El Nino will prevail.” The TMD predicts 2020 is likely to be worse than 1995 and 2015/2016, when water needed to be drawn up from aquifers. Residents in Bangkok and surrounding areas were affected and competed for meagre water resources. Roads cracked, riverbanks collapsed and saltwater seeped into the groundwater in Pathum Thani province, affecting the local tap water supply. https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/environment/chon-buri-struggles-with-severe-drought

I received a first-person account from a friend who just completed an extended quarantine upon reentering Vietnam. He began his journey just as venues in Bangkok were closing and outbound buses were departing full. Vietnam authorities were initially overtaxed by the arrival at their border of so many returnees. Once transportation was organized, however, citizens were dispersed to quarantine locations set up in army bases and closed school facilities. Authorities then began shifting nationals to locations closer to their homes. For many, this was Ha Tinh province. Everyone was required to wear surgical masks and their condition regularly monitored, he said. Just as he was nearing the standard 14-day quarantine, he was told that contact tracing determined that a person he was in proximity to at a camp had tested positive and his stay would be extended for an additional observation period. He was tested twice during this time and registered negative on both. He was released to his home a few days later. He tells me that the food was good and new masks were provided daily. Upon release, everyone was given a washable cloth mask to take with them.

From Bangkok Post Focus shifts to sealing off zone where 2,800 tourists are staying ATTAYA: After a chaotic first day featuring traffic jams at overwhelmed checkpoints, Pattaya City officials have been forced to adjust their lockdown as they try to curb the spread of Covid-19. In addition to changing the locations of the checkpoints, authorities will focus their attention on securely locking down an inner part of the city where about 2,800 foreign tourists are staying and most of the infections have occurred, starting on Tuesday. The full lockdown to outsiders began on Thursday with five checkpoints set up on roads leading into the city. But there was an unexpectedly heavy impact on local residents even though they gave full cooperation to officials, Pattaya Mayor Sonthaya Khunpluem conceded on Friday. People entering the town were being screened at points on five main access routes: Soi Chaiyapornvithee, Motorway Route 2 in front of the Highway Police office, Soi Pornprapanimit, Soi Chayaporn, and Sukhumvit Road near the Office of the Public Prosecutor in front of Na Jomtien temple. As it turned out, many of the people arriving at the checkpoints had no intention of entering the town, but simply wanted to travel to adjacent areas such as Sattahip, downtown Chon Buri or other municipal areas linked with Pattaya City. More than 2,800 foreigners are still staying in the inner zone of the town and this is where the new effort will be concentrated. Of the 33 Covid-19 infections recorded in Pattaya, 26 were in this area, said the mayor. He ordered the five existing checkpoints on the east side of the town scrapped and the barriers removed. New checkpoints are expected to function more efficiently and help prevent the spread of the virus. The new checkpoints would be set up at Dolphin Circle; the entrance of Pattana Nua (North Pattaya) at the Prinya Sai 3 intersection; Pattaya Klang (Central Pattaya) at Soi Arunothai; Pattaya Tai (South Pattaya) at Soi Kophai; and Jomtien checkpoint on Jomtien Sai 2 Road. The checkpoints will be manned by combined teams of health officials, Bang Lamung district officials, volunteers and police who will strictly screen people entering the town. They will start operating from Tuesday and will be in place for three weeks or until the situation returns to normal, said the mayor. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1897390/pattaya-to-adjust-lockdown

Irfan Fandi is a Singaporean professional footballer who plays as a defender for Thai League 1 club BG Pathum United and the Singapore national team. He was featured today in the Singapore Straits Times with a Covid19 message to his many fans. He's currently trying to stay in shape in his Thai apartment. Here's some other pics: You can find more at his Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/irfanfandi17/

From Bangkok Post Bangkok bans alcohol for 10 days Authorities in Bangkok have banned alcohol sales for 10 days to help prevent social gatherings that could spread the virus that causes Covid-19. The ban wiill be in effect from April 10 to April 20 and is the metropolitan region’s latest effort to contain a surge in infections since early March. The government reported 54 additional novel coronavirus infections Thursday, among the smallest daily increases in recent weeks, taking the total to 2,423. Just over half the cases are in the capital.

From Bangkok Post Thailand and the United States on Wednesday discussed “proactive” economic, trade and investment cooperation, which will be crucial for salvaging the economy in the aftermath of the new coronavirus pandemic. The discussion was carried out between Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Michael George DeSombre, the new US ambassador to Thailand, during the latter’s visit to introduce himself to Gen Prayut at Government House. The ambassador praised the Thai government for its success in implementing effective measures to bring down the number of new Covid-19 infections. Both sides expressed their gratitude towards the Thai-US active cooperation in various areas including security and public health over past decades. The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, for instance, has the largest office outside the US in Bangkok, the US ambassador said. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1895830/thailand-us-in-proactive-trade-talks

From Coconuts Bangkok The infamous beach town of Pattaya may seal itself off for three weeks starting Thursday. District chief Amnat Sricharoenannounced Tuesday that he has petitioned the provincial governor to close Pattaya’s borders to all transportation for 21 days starting Thursday to stem the COVID-19 pandemic. The popular gulf enclave is home to many foreigners, and its high numbers of commercial sex workers make it a premier destination for sex tourists. Pattaya has seen 23 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with one Russian national dying of the disease on April 1. Amnat said stricter measures, if approved, would include a travel lockdown on people coming or going for at least 21 days, with exceptions for needed deliveries. Drivers transporting necessary goods would be required to show identification and/or authorized documents at checkpoints. Pattaya’s usually raucous nightlife has already gone quiet under an overnight curfew. Thailand is under a state of emergency that allows governors to unilaterally issue orders to stem the spread of the virus. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1893510#cxrecs_s

From The Thaiager Thai Immigration seek visa relief for stranded foreigners Thailand’s Immigration Chief Pol Lt Gen Sompong Chingduang, is seeking cabinet approval for new measures to help foreigners in Thailand affected by the Covid-19 crisis. The proposal will be submitted to the cabinet for approval this week, he said. Cabinet meets each Tuesday. The proposals follow a difficult week for foreigners and immigration officials coping with long queues of panicking visitors trying to sort out their visas in a very non-social distancing environment. Long queues and frustrated tourists have been the norm at immigration offices around Thailand is recent weeks. The measures will focus on three groups of foreigners… Foreigners with resident visas who normally reside in Thailand but cannot return due to the Covid-19 crisis Foreign tourists who are unable to depart Thailand due to the crisis Visitors from neighbouring countries who hold a temporary border pass and got stuck in Thailand after the borders were shut Foreigners in the first group are typically required to return to Thailand within a year of their departure, however since they can not fly at this time, immigration will propose extending their compulsory deadline until after the pandemic subsides. The extension of the return period would not affect any immigration rights and benefits they usually receive when strictly following the one-year return period requirement though they are advised to return to Thailand as soon as possible after the crisis concludes. Foreigners who have been unable to leave and have reported to immigration authorities for a 30-day extension after their visas expired on March 26 or thereafter; their visas will be automatically renewed every 30 days until the pandemic subsides. Under the government’s social distancing policy, these tourists will no longer have to visit the immigration bureau if the policy is adopted, which would eliminate the risk of contracting the virus in a crowd, Pol Lt Gen Sompong said. This proposed measure, however, does not apply to those foreigners who are working and or have family in Thailand. They will still be required to report to immigration authorities regularly. Foreigners from neighbouring countries will be allowed to stay in Thailand until the borders are re-opened. They will be required to leave Thailand within seven days after the borders reopen. Other foreigners who are now in Thailand and affected by the Covid-19 crisis, but aren’t covered in the above three categories are advised to adhere to the usual laws. https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/thai-immigration-seek-visa-relief-for-stranded-foreigners

Rate of new infections continues downward trend From Bangkok Post Thailand has recorded 51 new confirmed coronavirus cases -- including 13 health workers -- and three additional deaths on Monday, a health official said. Total confirmed infections in the country now stand at 2,220, with the cumulative death toll at 26. The number of confirmed new cases was exactly half the 102 reported on Sunday, and the lowest number of new cases since March 20. With limited testing, it is impossible to say how fast and how widely the novel coronavirus is actually spreadinDr Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman of the government’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said the 24th death was a Thai man aged 28 who was an employee at a company in Bangkok. A colleague of his wife had earlier tested positive for the disease. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1894195/thailand-logs-51-new-coronavirus-cases-3-deaths-monday