Coronavirus Precautions/News/Updates for Hua Hin/Prachuap

[PeteC]

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30383576

......."The Flying Training School will be ready on March 10 to serve as a quarantine area for Thai labourers returning from South Korea, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) said on Saturday (March 7).

Air Force spokesman Air Marshall Pongsak Semachai said that local people had opposed the use of the Air Force Residence Bor Fai to be the quarantine area for Thai labourers who could be at risk for Covid-19 infection from South Korea but they don’t have to worry anymore.

“We will use the Flying Training School in Kamphaengsaen district, Nakhon Pathom province, to be the quarantine area for returnees from South Korea instead of the Air Force Residence Bor Fai,” he said."........

[HHTel]

Just read a headline stating that 'drive thru' virus testing is now available in Seattle. The US is finally catching up I thought. Good on them.
Then I read further down:

For now, the drive-through clinic is limited to health care workers in the university's health care system. And they need to have a fever, dry cough, or other symptoms of COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus.

"If they had symptoms, they would go and fill out a survey online," Nakahara says. "And then if the screeners thought it sounded like it was a possibility of coronavirus, then they were given an appointment today."

The next stop at the testing clinic is in front of the three white medical tents.

So not as great as it first appeared.

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-sho ... or-workers

[PeteC]

CORONAVIRUS: KHAOSAN ROAD CANCELS SONGKRAN EVENTS

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/life/202 ... an-events/

BANGKOK — No event celebrating the Thai New Year festival will be held at a popular backpacker street this year, a business guild said Monday.

Sa-nga Ruangwattanakul, an advisor of the Khaosan Road Business Association, said that the group decided to cancel the annual stage event because he did not think the district would approve it. Similar programs for the Thai New Year, or Songkran, were also cancelled in a number of provinces due to the coronavirus epidemic.

“Every time we hold an event we have to ask for approval from the local district office, and I don’t think it will be approved this year,” Sa-nga said. “Songkran events in other provinces are cancelled too.”

There will be no stages or parades set up at Khaosan like in other years, though Sa-nga said the massive waterfight, which draws tens of thousands of participants each year, will likely continue to take place.

“People can’t be stopped if they want to splash a bit of water,” he said. There will also be a ceremony to give alms to monks on the morning of April 13, the first of the three-day holidays.

Although the Tourism Authority of Thailand said Songkran fairs and events organized by the government would still go ahead, albeit some possible adjustments, local businesses and organizers in some parts of Thailand already called off their programs.

Cancellations include events in Khon Kaen, Chonburi, and Buriram provinces.

The organizers of the S2O Music Festival in Bangkok announced Friday that the three-day music festival for 2020 is also cancelled.

[Big Boy]

Got hit by the panic buying syndrome today. We use a lot of Dettol, and usually buy in 5 litre containers. It wasn't until our 5th shop today that we found any. Even then, we only managed 2 x 1200 ml bottles (almost the same as we usually pay for 5 litres). I wonder if it is being snapped up just in case the virus hits big time, or whether people are using it as a preventative measure.

[Dannie Boy]

Dettol is not cheap out here at the best of times, so now the price must have gone through the roof, especially for 5 litre bottles. Tesco and Makro do their own versions of disinfectant, but I doubt that it’s as good.

[Big Boy]

No, we've tried it, it isn't anywhere near as good. Incidentally, Tesco didn't have any of that either.

[hhinner]

Got hit by the panic buying syndrome today. We use a lot of Dettol, and usually buy in 5 litre containers. It wasn't until our 5th shop today that we found any. Even then, we only managed 2 x 1200 ml bottles (almost the same as we usually pay for 5 litres). I wonder if it is being snapped up just in case the virus hits big time, or whether people are using it as a preventative measure.

The old shopping mall had lots of 1 litre(?) bottles yesterday.

[Big Boy]

That was 2 stops further on, so we didn't try them. However, Home Pro had loads last week of all sizes.

[PeteC]

Thailand cancels visa on arrival for 18 countries, visa exemptions for 3

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... ions-for-3

Thailand on Wednesday cancelled the grant of visa on arrival for 18 countries and visa exemption for three others to contain the spread of the coronavirus, the country's interior minister said.

Previously, nationals of 18 countries or territories could use their passports or travel documents to apply for Visa on Arrival (VoA) at Thai immigration checkpoints.

The 18 places include Bulgaria, Bhutan, China (including Taiwan), Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mexico, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Vanuatu.

Visa exemption will be cancelled for South Korea, Italy and Hong Kong, the minister said.

[PeteC]

They fail to inform readers when it comes into effect, they use the term "will be cancelled". People are driving to the airport as we speak, or perhaps on flights already, or have tickets in hand that can't be refunded and no time before departure to apply for a visa in their home country. I hope there is a grace period as not to ruin their vacations or business trip.

[Big Boy]

I've just pointed this article to a couple of Russian friends who mum is visiting soon. They say they get 30 days visa exemption like many of us. A strange announcement.

[hhinner]

Not quite like many of us. Russia along with 5 others have 30 day visa exempt by bilateral agreement with Thailand. The others are: Vietnam, Mongolia, Macau, Hong Kong and Laos. PDF :- https://www.immigration.go.th/img/visaexempt.pdf

[Big Boy]

So are you saying the Russians will no longer get their 30 day exemption as a result of this ruling?

[hhinner]

No. I only pointed out that the visa exemption is on a different basis. The report about suspension is obviously wrong in its detail. Russia only had 20 cases of covid-19 as of today so it doesn't seem reasonable to suspend the visa exemption. So, either the Bangkok Post is wrong or the government source is mistaken. Maybe the Russian Embassy will seek clarification.

[HHTel]

Just read on another forum, that the road blocks opposite MV yesterday had around 150 police checking temps of every car and bike rider on both sides of the road.

Anyone see this?