After months of calm, Thailand grapples with COVID-19 outbreak Toggle share menu
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After months of calm, Thailand grapples with COVID-19 outbreak
A vendor wearing a face covering to help prevent the spread of coronavirus sells fish from a pushcart outside a produce market in central Bangkok on Dec 23, 2020. (Photo: AP/Adam Schreck)
23 Dec 2020 06:27PM (Updated:
23 Dec 2020 06:47PM) Share this content
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BANGKOK: After managing against the odds to keep the coronavirus largely in check for most of the year, Thailand has suddenly found itself challenged by an expanding outbreak among migrant workers on the doorstep of the capital, Bangkok.
Grant Peck And Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul
A worker wearing a face mask to help prevent the spread of coronavirus prepares an artificial Christmas tree outside a shopping mall that would normally be busy with foreign tourists in Bangkok on Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020. Thailand has kept the coronavirus largely in check for most of the year but is facing a challenge from a large outbreak that threatens to undo months of efforts to contain the virus and hasten recovery of an ailing economy that relies heavily on tourism.(AP Photo/Adam Schreck) December 23, 2020 - 5:04 AM
BANGKOK - After managing against the odds to keep the coronavirus largely in check for most of the year, Thailand has suddenly found itself challenged by an expanding outbreak among migrant workers on the doorstep of Bangkok, the capital.
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BANGKOK After managing against the odds to keep the coronavirus largely in check for most of the year, Thailand has suddenly found itself challenged by an expanding outbreak among migrant workers on the doorstep of Bangkok, the capital.
The surge of cases in Samut Sakhon province threatens to undo months of efforts to contain the virus and hasten recovery of Thailand’s ailing economy.
Seeking to slow the spread of the virus by isolating infected patients, the army and navy have been ordered by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to help set up a 1,000-bed field hospital in the province, Defense Ministry spokesperson Lt. Gen. Kongcheep Tantrawanit said Wednesday. It would be located as close as possible to where the most patients already are in order to reduce the risks of transmission by transporting them elsewhere, he said.
Economic fire continues to rage
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The struggles and successes amid the pandemic may be permanent.
published : 23 Dec 2020 at 04:02
10 The yak (giant) statue at Suvarnabhumi airport wears a face mask as part of the campaign to encourage mask wearing and the observation of social distancing to prevent infection. (Photo by Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)
Fighting the pandemic and keeping the ailing economy going have been almost insurmountable tasks for Thailand this year. The Bank of Thailand has forecast a GDP contraction of 7.8% in 2020, crucially weighed down by the outbreak.
After wading through the first lockdown and fending off new local infections for months, a sudden spike in new infections this week is expected to drag businesses back towards the circling the drain, where many are likely to be gutted by the outbreak, and a lucky handful will manage to reap windfalls.
Virtual buyer-seller meet held to boost India-Thailand agri-food trade ANI | Updated: Dec 22, 2020 20:28 IST
Bangkok [Thailand], December 22 (ANI): In a move to boost the exports of India s agricultural and processed food products, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), in collaboration with the Indian Embassy in Thailand, organised a virtual Buyer Seller Meet (BSM) on Monday, where key stakeholders from both governments and trade participated for strengthening strategic cooperation between India and Thailand in agri-food sector.
According to an official release, presentations were made during the summit by trade associations from India on potential products for exports to Thailand such as grapes, pomegranate, vegetable, dairy products and other ready-to-eat products. The Thailand Trade Associations and importers explained their requirement or standards for agri imports from India.