Bangsaphan Coronavirus/Covid-19 updates

Post by **buksida** » 03 Apr 2020 08:22

At the time of writing there were no known cases of Covid-19 in Bangsaphan. Please use this topic to post any news, updates and developments (no Facebook rumours please, only hard news/facts with substantiated links/evidence. Personal observations also welcome).

Bars and restaurants are closed but hotels and everything else remains open, most offer take out or delivery services. There are no strict police checks at the moment though this may change.

The bad
The electric supply has been as flaky as ever with daily outages (Suan Luang area), the internet is even slower as everybody is on it, and the water has been cut in several areas due to reservoirs running low.

The good
People are still allowed out as long as social distancing is practiced, the town is quiet allowing quick and easy access to anything, the beach is empty which is good for exercising. There has been no panic buying here and shelves are well stocked. There are no police raids or shakedowns as you get in Hua Hin.

Bangsaphan is probably one of the better places to be 'stuck' at the moment - though that is not an invitation for everyone to flock here!

Post by **buksida** » 03 Apr 2020 08:23

This is the latest curfew order for Prachuap province. Basic translation:

1. Curfew Time is valid from 22:00 - 04:00 everyday starting on 3 April 22:00
2. All sensitive areas closing dates from 7 April 2020 to 30 April 2020
3. Areas closed until 30 April 2020 as following
3.1 All convenience stores and shop cannot open from 22:00 - 04:00
3.2 No kitesurfing, jetski, banana boat, other water sports and group activities on beach.
4. Foreigners who entered Prachuab Khiri Khan province after 14 March 2020 have to report to their local District Hospital between 3 - 10 April 2020.

Post by **buksida** » 05 Apr 2020 09:10

Prachuap province has now introduced fines for not wearing a mask outside - Hua Hin's police will be happy!

Post by **buksida** » 06 Apr 2020 09:23

Hotels now ordered closed - where do they expect people staying in them to go now?

Mike Parker · Post by **Mike Parker** » 06 Apr 2020 16:01

Same apparently for Phuket and Korat,domino effect ?As you say where are guests supposed to go or is it mis information meaning no new guests allowed ? Also rumours circulating about bringing in a 24 hour curfew. Even in Thai times that seems unlikely

bsb · Post by **bsb** » 06 Apr 2020 17:33

No new guests allowed, when people there now leave the place must close down per BKK POST

bsb · Post by **bsb** » 06 Apr 2020 17:38

Re: Bangsaphan Coronavirus/Covid-19 updates
Post by buksida » 06 Apr 2020 09:23

Hotels now ordered closed - where do they expect people staying in them to go now?

In the PM/Dictator mind if farang they can go to hell 555

Post by **buksida** » 07 Apr 2020 08:23

I think they're trying to send us all there by making farangs congregate at immigration offices and report to hospitals. Would be easier to line us up and shoot us.

More madness from immigration:

"Thailand’s Immigration Bureau announced yesterday that 9 separate documents are now required for foreigners stranded here to extend their stay for up to 30 days. New requirements include land deeds, rental contracts, even selfies of foreigners at their accommodations, even as scenes of chaos and massive queues at immigration continue unabated. A Thai Immigration spokesman defended the inconvenience on the grounds of “national security.”"

https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/oner ... -announced

Post by **buksida** » 07 Apr 2020 08:25

This Johns Hopkins map gives a good overview of the current figures: https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Note: Figures for countries that are not actively testing for Covid-19 (such as Thailand) will be wildly inaccurate.

Post by **buksida** » 08 Apr 2020 11:22

Latest update from Dan Singkhon - they are turning farangs away for 30 day extensions and sending them all to Hua Hin (report from two people that went yesterday).

Post by **buksida** » 09 Apr 2020 08:13

More mass confusion from immigration, apparently a visa extension waiver has been approved but it has raised more questions.

GOVT EXTENDS FOREIGNERS STAY TO APRIL 30 DUE TO CORONAVIRUS
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Wednesday signed the plan to grant automatic visa extensions for foreigners residing in Thailand to April 30.

According to the announcement published this afternoon by the Ministry of Interior Affairs, foreigners who entered the kingdom with visas, visa on arrival, or through visa waiver programs will be granted an extended stay from March 26 to April 30.

The 90-day reporting is also suspended until April 30. Those who entered Thailand by border permits are allowed to stay in the country until the border checkpoints are reopened.

The order is set to come into effect when it’s published in the Royal Government Gazette.

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/cri ... ronavirus/

Post by **buksida** » 09 Apr 2020 11:50

Foreigners' visas automatically extended to prevent queues, curb virus
The government approved a plan on Wednesday to allow all foreigners who entered legally to receive automatic visa extensions, to prevent long queues at immigration centres and stem the spread of the coronavirus, a senior immigration official told Reuters.

Thailand has closed its borders and banned entry to foreigners, except diplomats and work-permit holders to combat the Covid-19 outbreak.

Those foreigners who entered the country before the ban was imposed - who had visas, received visas on arrival or under visa waiver programmes - will not need to line up at often crowded immigration centres around the country to extend their stay.

The automatic visa extension has been granted until April 30, according to an interior ministry document. Police Lieutenant General Sompong Chingduang told Reuters the government could extend this deadline each month.

“The person whose visas has expired from 26th of March 2020 will be automatically extended to 30th of April 2020. There is no need to apply for a visa extension at Immigration Office for this period and will not be fined THB 500 per day for this case,” the announcement on https://immigration.go.th/content/visa_auto_extension said.

“Aliens who are due for 90 days reports between 26th of March 2020 and 30th of April 2020 are temporarily exempted from reporting in this period until further notice.”

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... curb-virus

Post by **buksida** » 10 Apr 2020 10:29

Alcohol sales banned in Prachuap province until April 30.

https://www.huahinforum.com/viewtopic.p ... &start=249

That'll keep people in ... take away one of the few pleasures they have left.

Post by **buksida** » 12 Apr 2020 10:46

There have been various reports that the police are fining violators in Bangsaphan town, but the outlying areas have been spared at the moment. There is a road block at night to catch curfew breakers and those openly selling alcohol will also get fined.

Just to clarify - it is not illegal to sit at home and have a drink with a friend or two. Social distancing is highly recommended as is regular hand sanitation. Gatherings of larger groups (5 or more) will be frowned upon (especially if farang) as such actions may cause locals to alert the authorities.

We are currently living in a state of fear, and it is not all about the virus. Stay safe.

bsb · Post by **bsb** » 13 Apr 2020 10:29

So if you have a family of 4 and over 5 is illegal , I guess you sit around with your family drinking!!