Thai Prime Minister Approves Tuition Cost Reduction Plan at Public Universities
Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has approved a plan to cap tuition payments at public universities at 50% each semester, to lessen the financial burden on students and their parents amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and is expected to pass the proposed plan to the Cabinet for a budget allocation on…
Antigen COVID-19 Test Kits Have Sufficient Accuracy for Self-testing at Home
Thailand’s National Health Security Office (NHSO) says that the accuracy of Antigen Test Kits (ATK) for COVID-19 testing has been found to be adequate for self-testing at home. NHSO Secretary-General Dr Jadej Thammatacharee said the NHSO, along with the Public Health Ministry and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, conducted COVID-19 tests…
Thailand’s Public Health Ministry Declares Effectiveness of Sinovac Vaccine
Thailand’s Public Health Ministry has declared that the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine was more than 90% effective in preventing infections and severe symptoms, after conducting a study on recipients of Sinovac jabs. The ministry said the study was conducted in Phuket, Samut Sakhon and Chiang Rai provinces, as well as among…
Looking Beyond 2021: Vaccine Access for Thailand
Article by Silada Rojratanakiat It is a challenge to comprehend Thailand’s COVID 19 vaccine strategy in the big picture, as nowadays, the headlines overwhelm society with criticisms, such as the slow pace of vaccinations and vaccine shortages. It is understandable that an increasingly complex environment should not be ignored, and…
Thai Government Asks Universities and Schools to Reduce Tuition Fees
Thailand’s Ministry of the Higher Education Science Research and Innovation has asked universities and schools to reduce their tuition fees by up to 50%, to help families cope with the difficult situation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Minister Anek Laothammatas said the government will also provide subsidies to the universities and…
Phang Nga and Krabi Prepare Andaman “Sandbox” Scheme for Foreign Tourists
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has revealed that Phang Nga and Krabi provinces are preparing to welcome foreign tourists back under the “Andaman Sandbox” scheme, which is scheduled to launch on 1 August 2021. TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said the proposal for the Andaman “sandbox” scheme was submitted to…
Thailand’s State-run Transport Company Suspends All Bus Services until 2 August
Thailand’s state-run Transport Company has suspended all bus services on the northern, northeastern, eastern and southern routes, except parcel deliveries, until 2 August. Company president Sanyalak Panwattanalikit said the move is in compliance with the government announcement of 17 July, requiring people to suspend or delay interprovincial travel to help…
Three COVID-19 Vaccines Produced in Thailand Will Be Ready for Administration by Next Year
The Thai government announced, via the Thai Khu Fah Facebook page on 20 July, that three locally produced COVID-19 vaccines will be ready for administration by next year. The first, CU-Cov19 (mRNA), is being developed in collaboration with Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine and the University of Pennsylvania, and is…
Phuket Heightens COVID-19 Control Measures
Phuket province has strengthened COVID-19 control measures as the number of new infections has reached about a dozen each day, while the Phuket “sandbox” tourism reopening program continues. Provincial governor Narong Woonsiew said a set of new COVID-19 control measures, aimed at stemming the spread of the highly contagious Delta…
Interprovincial travel services adjusted from 21 July 2021
According to the newest round of COVID-19 restrictions, air, boat, and bus services see suspension; some continuing as normal. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) would like to provide an update on interprovincial air, bus, and boat travel within Thailand following the newest round of COVID-19 restrictions for the Maximum…