Here's the last one for this video series on revisiting Thailand's APEC host year theme and priorities.
Throughout #APEC2022THAILAND year, you'd have seen the promotion of the bio-circular-green economy model.
It ties together with the final priority - Balance in all aspects, pursuing economic recovery is balanced with inclusive and sustainable growth.
"Connect in all dimensions" #APEC2022THAILAND
As the region bounces back from the pandemic, connectivity is key to ensure recovery. The second #APEC2022THAILAND priority - "Connect in all dimensions" sees the promotion of safe and seamless resumption of cross-border travel as well as reinvigorate tourism and the services sectors.
Watch the video to find out more.
As we count down to the main event of #APEC2022THAILAND, let's revisit the theme and priorities of Thailand's APEC host year. This series of videos highlights discussions by officials and ministers to lead the APEC region toward a sustainable and inclusive recovery.
Let's start with the first #APEC2022THAILAND priority - "Open to all opportunities."
Learn how Thailand is leading APEC's work in facilitating open trade and investment as well as reigniting discussions on the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific. Press play to watch the video!
Covid-19 Daily Briefing: 23 September 2022 / 13.00 hr
23 September 2022 -- An update from the Thai government regarding Thailand's #COVID19 situation, reporting from the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)
Highlights:
• CCSA has resolved not to extend the invocation of the Emergency Decree, imposed at the start of the pandemic, as part of Thailand’s transition to the post-pandemic phase beginning on 30 September 2022.
• Other public health measures including entry requirements implemented during the pandemic will also be done away with starting from the same date. This in effect means visitors coming to Thailand will no longer need to show their COVID-19 vaccination certificates or COVID-19 test results.
• Those found to have been infected with the COVID-19 virus belonging to the green group, in other words those who show mild or no symptoms and are not part of the 609 at-risk group, will also no longer have to self-isolate. They’re instead encouraged to strictly follow the DMHT measures for five days. Those who are high-risk contacts will have to self-monitor for 10 days and conduct self-ATK on day 5 and day 10.
• The wearing of masks in crowded areas is still encouraged but no longer mandated. The general public is still urged to follow DMHT measures during the transition to the post-pandemic phase.
• The Ministry of Public Health assesses that Covid-19 situation will gradually ease into the same level as influenza, meaning it will easily transmitted but won’t cause severe symptoms in those who are fully vaccinated.
• The CCSA meeting approved the proposal to extend the period of stay to 45 days for travellers from countries/territories entitled for visa exemption, and to 30 days for those eligible for a Visa on Arrival. This will be effective from 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023.
• National vaccine drive is mainly focused on procuring booster shots to children aged 5-11 years old, medical personnel, and the 608 vulnerable groups to ensure the safety of the public. However, ev
"Road Trip," a short film presenting Thailand's readiness to host APEC 2022.
Let's listen to Thai Rice story in the BCG concept!
Covid-19 Daily Briefing: 1 September 2022 / 13.00 hr
1 September 2022 -- An update from the Thai government regarding Thailand's #COVID19 situation, reporting from the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)
Highlights:
- At the global level, the number of cases and fatalities from the BA.4 and BA.5 variant of COVID-19 is on a downward trend and more countries are relaxing their entry requirements.
- The COVID-19 alert level remains at level 2 nationwide. This means that people are encouraged to wear face masks in public areas when other people are present and people with chronic diseases are encouraged to be completely vaccinated. That is, to receive the number of vaccinations prescribed by the vaccine manufacturer. Vulnerable groups who have not been completely vaccinated, or have not yet received their booster dose, are discouraged from going to crowded areas, or attending activities with a large number of people.
- During the Thai language briefing, Dr. Sumanee mentioned new applications for telemedicine services, including Clicknic and MorDee or Good Doctor. Thailand continues to improve and to expand medical services as much as possible to strengthen the country’s public health infrastructure. And these new applications help to ensure access to those services.
- Thailand still plans to downgrade COVID-19 from a dangerous communicable disease to a communicable disease under surveillance from 1 October onwards.
🇹🇭 Thailand to host the Fifth APEC Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Forestry (MMRF5) to bring about sustainable forest resource management in Chiang Mai from 23 -25 August 2022. 🇹🇭
The results of APEC Finance and Central Bank Deputies's Meeting in March 2022
Covid-19 Daily Briefing: 19 August 2022 / 13.00 hr
19 August 2022-- An update from the Thai government regarding Thailand's #COVID19 situation, reporting from the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)
Hightlights
1. Recap from the Thai briefing
-The CCSA took note that the situation in Thailand is getting better gradually, as new infections in all provinces are declining with small waves and clusters.
-On the global situation, as many countries are opening up and international travel is on the rise, there is also a rise in new cases, particularly in the US, India, France, Brazil, as well as Germany, but this development was foreseen and remains under control.
-The meeting noted that Thailand is approaching the “post-pandemic stage”, and in this context, the Prime Minister reiterated the importance of universal prevention and vaccination.
-The number of date has been reduced from seven to five days of quarantine.
-Even with the re-opening and relaxing of measures, we should continue to observe universal prevention to ensure that we can move forward safely to the post-pandemic stage all together.
2. Post-Pandemic Plan
-At the meeting this morning, the Ministry of Public Health explained the plan they have drafted and prepared for the country’s transition to the post-Pandemic stage.
-In specific terms, this transition stage begins in September – October 2022, during which the focus of our public health effort will continue to monitor new variants of concern, and to ensure that everyone can access COVID-19 medical treatments and medication.
-In November – December 2022, measures will be further relaxed, and our COVID-19 response will shift back to normal mechanism.
-The Government’s vision for a post-Pandemic Thailand is one where everyone is able to live safely with the virus and return to life and our regular routines, a return in effect to normalcy.
3. APEC
-In this month of August, where we are seeing a steady increase of tourists – part of this influx also comprises delegations attendi
Thailand to host APEC Tourism Mettings in 2022
#APEC2022THAILAND
BCG Economy
A BCG Economy for Thailand focuses mainly on 4 cluster industries. With the first group being agriculture and food. The second group involves health and medical issues. The third group is about biomaterials. The fourth group involves tourism and the creative economy.
Lamtakong Wind Turbines
The Lam Ta Khong Wind Turbine Project is the first wind hydrogen hybrid power generation system in Asia, which is considered an important project within the scope of renewable energy.
Covid-19 Daily Briefing: 4 August 2022 / 13.00 hr
4 August 2022-- An update from the Thai government regarding Thailand's #COVID19 situation, reporting from the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)
1. Recap on Thai Briefing
- The CCSA General meeting chaired by Prime Minister will be held on Friday, 19 August 2022.
- The precautionary measures for Monkeypox are quite similar to the precautionary measures for COVID-19. The Public Health authority is monitoring the situation, while urging people to maintain precaution public health measures.
2. General Situation
- New confirmed cases is 2,166, making 21,377 active cases. The number of accumulated cases stands at 4,598,725 cases with 4,545,856 cases total recoveries. There are 29 new fatalities, with the accumulated total at 31,492 cases.
- The current top ten provinces with the highest number of COVID-19 patients are Bangkok (1,228), Samut Prakarn (135), Chonburi (106), Khon Kaen (70), Nakhon Si Thammarat (60), Pathum Thani (44), Nonthaburi (27), Chumphon (25), Chiang Mai (24), and Nakhon Pathom (22).
3. Vaccination Progress
- On 3rd August 2022, we administered 42,088 doses of vaccines, increasing the accumulated number of vaccination to around 141.72 million doses.
- The total number of first vaccine dose administered now amounts to 57.1 million doses, covering 82.2% of the total population.
- The total number of second vaccine dose administered now amounts to 53.5 million doses, covering 76.9% of the total population.
- The total number of booster dose administered now amounts to 31 million doses, covering 44.7% of the total population.
4. Update on COVID-19 prevention measures
- The Royal Gazette recently published a revision in the emergency decree’s Article 9, which goes into effect on 1 August 2022. The article was revised to prepare for an expected surge in infections worldwide due to the highly transmissible Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants now that countries are reopening and easing restrictions.
- Therefore, agencies have been instr
Covid-19 Daily Briefing: 31 January 2022 / 13.00 hr
📣📣 31 January 2022-- An update from the Thai government regarding Thailand's #COVID19 situation, reporting from the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)
Highlights:
- On 1 February 2022 at 09.00 hrs. Thailand time, the Thailand Pass system will begin accepting registration once again, for the second, resumed phase of the Test and Go scheme. Registration for the second phase of Test and Go will open for fully vaccinated travelers from all countries. Travelers will have to book a hotel and take a COVID-19 test on day 1 and day 5 of their stay in Thailand. Hotels for day 1 and day 5 can be different hotels.
- In cases where travelers will be in Thailand for less than 5 days, they will only have to book the hotel and test for day 1 and input their departure information in the Thailand Pass system. Please so note that while registration for Test and Go will open on 1 February, travelers will not be able to travel immediately on this date as you will not yet receive your approved QR code.
- The Department of Mental Health and Department of Children and Youth plan to launch mobile units offering mental healthcare for children and young people, as well as to create an application called "Children Protection" and a Line account called "SAVEKIDSCOVIDS-19" to help children and adolescents who have been affected by COVID-19 have access to necessary support, such as mental health support and arrangements for foster families.
- The COVID-19 situation in Thailand is stable, although CCSA expects to detect more COVID-19 cases, especially in Bangkok. The number of patients with severe symptoms and the number of fatalities is also stable at around 10 – 20 fatalities per day. The CCSA continues to closely monitor the situation in the Sandbox provinces of Bangkok, Chonburi, Samut Prakarn and Phuket.
- CCSA is promoting a VUCA approach to contain the spread of the virus, which stands for vaccines, universal prevention, COVID-free settings, and ATKs. Those
Covid-19 Daily Briefing: 28 January 2022 / 13.00 hr
📣📣 28 January 2022-- An update from the Thai government regarding Thailand's #COVID19 situation, reporting from the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)
Highlights:
*Summary of the Thai briefing br Dr. Apisamai Srirangsan*
- Attention to appearance of a number of clusters, including in eateries, religious activities, weddings and in school settings. For the school clusters, MOPH and MOE continue to work closely with all schools to ensure implementation of public health guidlines such as cleaning, isolating, testing, and avoiding large group activities and celebrations.
- Emphasis was made on Smart Living with COVID-19 and ensuring the safety measures and practices become second nature for everyone, especially if we are to continue to live and manage COVID-19 effectively and efficiently.
* Further clarifications on Test & Go *
- For travelers who plan to stay less than 5 days, they can show/upload in the Thailand Pass, a copy of the outbound air ticket showing a date within the 5 days of their stay in Thailand.
- For those who have already received a QR code, they can either travel with that code or re-apply for a new QR code under the resumed Test and Go scheme. If the travelers decide to use the old code, they can take the 2nd test, free of charge, at a government designated facility.
- For detailed information on the resumed Test and Go scheme, please go to the website of the Department of Consular Affairs, MFA.
*Vaccination progress*
- Currently, 75.1 per cent of the population has received their first dose, 69.6 per cent has been vaccinated with two doses, and 19.3 per cent has received a booster dose.
- Foreign residents in Bangkok and the surrounding vicinity can register for a booster shot via mobile services providers.
- In the coming Chinese New Year celebration this weekend and early next week, everyone is encouraged to take extra care this festive holiday weekend by following Universal Prevention measures, masking up, visiting or
Covid-19 Daily Briefing: 25 January 2022 / 13.00 hr
📣📣 25 January 2022-- An update from the Thai government regarding Thailand's #COVID19 situation, reporting from the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)
1. Summary of the Thai briefing
1.1 As Chinese New Year holiday is approaching this weekend, everyone is encouraged to continue to practice Universal Prevention.
1.2 The CCSA decided last week on the extension of the emergency decree to 31 March, rezoning areas, and adjustments to entry and other measures.
2. Clarifications on adjustments of COVID control measures and entry into the country
2.1 Registration (not travel) for Test and Go Scheme will resume on 1 February 2022 and Thailand Pass system will open at 9.00 hrs. on the same day for persons from any country/area who are fully vaccinated, wishing to do so.
2.2 For those who have already received a QR code, they can either travel with that code or register for a new one. However, all travelers are required to take two RT-PCR tets. If the travelers decide to use the old code, they can take the 2nd test, free of charge, at a government designated facility.
2.3 The hotel for the 1st and 5th nights, under the Test and Go Scheme, do not have to be the same hotel as long as they are SHA++/AQ/OQ/AHQ approved.
2.4 International travelers entering the four sandbox areas (Phuket, Krabi, Pang Nga, Surat Thani (Koh Samui, Koh Pa Ngan, Koh Tao)) are able to travel within these four areas in the first 7 days of stay in the country.
2.5 If travelers' pre-arrival PCR test result is positive, they need a COVID recovery certificate in order to board the flight. If Day 1 PCR test is positive and they have a COVID recovery certificate, the doctor will assess your health, based on the fact that your COVID recovery certificate is only valid if you arrive in Thailand on a date that is no less than 14 days and no more than 3 months from the date of your positive test or when you were infected as shown in that certificate.
3. Update on the arrival of internation
Covid-19 Daily Briefing: 20 January 2022 / 13.00 hr
📣📣 20 January 2022-- An update from the Thai government regarding Thailand's #COVID19 situation, reporting from the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)
Highlight:
The general CCSA meeting on 20 January 2022 heard the assessments and presentation from the Ministry of Public Health on the overall global and regional situation of this latest spread of the Omicron variant, which in general terms, has seen a very big spike in infections, but a stabilized and in some cases diminished rate of fatalities from those infections.
• The situation domestically in Thailand is similar. Infections have increased but at a manageable rate and is now stabilizing with trends suggesting a decrease soon. The number of patients with severe COVID-19 infections are also stabilizing and the rate of fatalities as well in relatively speaking (relative to the Delta variant), low.
• The CCSA General Meeting therefore, agreed to adjust the zoning categories for disease control measures, effective from next Monday, 24 January 2022.
• To reflect the overall positive trends we are seeing, the number of Controlled zones (Orange) will be reduced from 69 to 44 provinces and the number of High Surveillance areas (Yellow) will rise up to 25 provinces.
• The number of Pilot tourism areas/Sandbox Areas is still the same at 8 provinces.
• In the Controlled zones (Orange), restaurants and eateries can still resume normal opening hours but the consumption of alcoholic beverages remains banned.
• In High Surveillance areas (Yellow), the measures that restaurants must follow are more relaxed as dining and drinking alcoholic beverages in the stores are allowed.
• All areas will have to continue adhering to COVID free settings and universal prevention.
countrywide measures.
1. From 1 February 2022, WFH will become non- compulsory and will be implemented as deemed appropriate by each agency or employer.
2. Due to the decrease in infections in high surveillance and pilot tour
Covid-19 Daily Briefing: 17 January 2022 / 13.00 hr.
📣📣 17 January 2022-- An update from the Thai government regarding Thailand's #COVID19 situation, reporting from the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)
Highlight;
Vaccination Progress
• Yesterday, Thailand administered 172,437 doses of vaccines, bringing the total accumulated number of vaccinations to over 109 million doses, registering 71.9 per cent of the total population that has received the first dose of the vaccine while the percentage of the total population who has received their second dose stands at 66.1 per cent and 14.1% of the population has received a booster dose.
Omicron Outbreak in Thailand
• According to the Ministry of Public Health, the Covid-19 caseloads have currently stabilized, compared with a surge in infections in the first week of January due to the Omicron outbreak.
• Due to this, the government may relax some measures and defensive posture against the Omicron strain of COVID-19 in upcoming weeks.
• To fight against Omicron, the government will continue to implement the "VUCA" - Vaccine UP COVID Free Setting ATK disease control measures and working from home as well as encourage the public to avoid social gatherings in parallel to preparing isolation and medical treatment facilities for infected patients.
Measures for entering the country
• According to the slide from the Department of Consular Affairs, those wishing to enter the country now have to either register for the Sandbox scheme or the Alternative Quarantine scheme. For those joining the Alternative Quarantine scheme, the quarantine period has been reduced to 7 days for fully vaccinated persons and 10 days for unvaccinated persons.
• More importantly, in order to prevent misunderstandings
regarding entering Thailand, it should be noted that
- NO REGISTRATION FEE for Thailand Pass. It is a free service for those wishing to enter Thailand.
-Suspension of the Test & Go scheme has continued until the end of this month. But travellers who
Covid-19 Daily Briefing: 14 January 2022 / 13.00 hr.
📣📣 14 January 2022-- An update from the Thai government regarding Thailand's #COVID19 situation, reporting from the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)
Highlights:
- There have been increases in new confirmed cases whilst the fatality rate is still at around 1 per cent. This is especially true for the latest wave of infection dominated by the Omicron variant. Home isolation with close monitoring and evaluation by the competent health authority via telemedicine remains the main treatment method for those infected.
- There have been reports of people who had been asked to pay registration fee when they asked agencies or other people to register on Thailand Pass on their behalf. The government wish to affirm that there is no registration fee for Thailand Pass. It is a service rendered free of charge for those wishing to enter Thailand.
- It bears repeating that registration for the Test and Go scheme is suspended indefinitely. Those with duly approved QR Codes under the scheme may still enter the country as per their approved schedule. Those wishing to enter the country now have to either register for the Sandbox scheme or the Alternative Quarantine scheme. For those joining the Alternative Quarantine scheme, the quarantine period has been reduced to 7 days for fully vaccinated persons and 10 days for unvaccinated persons.
- As Thailand entered its fifth wave of Covid outbreak, public health authorities have announced their plan to effectively manage the outbreak in the country to an endemic by delaying its spread and switching to the use of antigen test kits or ATKs as the frontline screening method.
- About vaccine, for those who have never received COVID-19 vaccination. Those over the age of 18 should receive two doses of AstraZeneca, one dose of AstraZeneca and another dose of Pfizer, or one dose of Sinovac and another dose of AstraZeneca. Those from the age of 12 to 17 should receive two doses of Pfizer.
- For those who need a booster
Covid-19 Daily Briefing: 12 January 2022 / 13.00 hr.
📣📣 12 January 2022-- An update from the Thai government regarding Thailand's #COVID19 situation, reporting from the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)
Highlights:
* Clarification on Test and Go
• The new registration under the Test and Go scheme has been suspended indefinitely, subject to further assessment of the international outbreak. Those who already received their QR codes for travelling to Thailand can still do so as per their approved schedule.
• The latest update on entry into Thailand is that entry continues to be permitted for those who already hold Thailand Pass QR Codes prior, until further notice. The situation is being monitored on a daily basis. This is good news for those who are traveling to Thailand in the latter half of the month.
* Updated Guidelines on the treatment and management of COVID-19 patients
• The Ministry of Public Health has clarified the guidelines on the treatment and management of COVID-19 patients as follows.
IN CASE OF POSITIVE RESULT
• if you are Persons under investigation (PUI) with ‘positive’ result on the ATK test, please contact the National Health Security Office (NHSO) number 1330 or add LINE @nhso. There will be officials on standby to help give advice and assess the symptom level.
• Patients with no to mild symptoms and no other risk factors such as congenital diseases can opt to undergo Home Isolation or Community Isolation, in which officials will follow, inquire, and look after the symptoms constantly, as well as providing medicine and other necessities until recovered.
• In this case, the policy is implemented based on the fact that most people who have been diagnosed with the Omnicron variant usually have mild to no symptoms and do not need to undergo treatment at the hospital as well as to preserve the capacity of the public health system for critical cases.
• However, if the patient’s symptoms worsen during Home Isolation or Community Isolation, the officials will
The “Mor Prom” application is now available for foreigners residing in Thailand.
Covid-19 Daily Briefing: 7 January 2022 / 13.00 hr.
📣📣 7 January 2022-- An update from the Thai government regarding Thailand's #COVID19 situation, reporting from the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)
Highlights:
- The CCSA General Meeting today adjusted the zoning categories for disease control measures, effective from 9 January 2022. With this update, all 69 provinces are categorized as a controlled areas (orange zone) except the 8 pilot tourism/sandbox areas (blue zone) provinces/areas which remain the same. The blue zone includes Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, Krabi, Chonburi, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Phang Nga, Phuket and some districts in other provinces that considered as the pilot toursim areas.
- The CCSA decided to highly recommend all agencies implementing the Work from Home measure until 31 January 2022.
- The entertainment venues such as pub/bar/karaoke are are allowed to temporarily open as restaurants from 16 January 2022. The venues are required to strictly exercise the COVID-free Setting measure and need to be approved by the provincial authority before 15 January 2022.
- For the provinces/areas in the blue zone, an alcoholic beverage consumption in the restuarants is allowed until 21.00 hrs. under COVID-Free Settings and only in the restaurant that received the SHA plus certificate.
- CCSA General Meeting today discussed that the prior restrictions for travelers from Africa will be lifted. Therefore, international travelers from all countries can enter Thailand while undergoing the same measures. From 11 January 2022 onwards, travelers can register to enter Thailand through Sandbox scheme via Surat Thani Sandbox, Phang Nga Sandbox and Krabi Sandbox which is an extension from the Phuket Sandbox scheme in order to reduce limited capacities for Phuket.
- For the Test and Go scheme, the registration under this scheme is still being suspended until further notice. However, those who have already received QR code can still travel to Thailand as scheduled under test and go measures. The
Dry Port
Thailand places great emphasis on the development of logistics. It has established an agency to research and develop the rail
system and plans to develop dry ports to help improve the efficiency of land transportation.
Chuantani Cloth
The important factors that make Thai woven fabrics so
pleasing to people of all nations is the story behind how
a yarn becomes a piece of fabric. It requires meticulousness,
attention to quality, and unique weaving techniques to create stunning patterns. These factors build a distinct charm
into Thai fabrics that are engraved in the hearts of people around
the world.