More than 150 club-goers were detained for a drugs test after Law Enforcement Operations Centre officers raided the Insanity Nightclub on Soi Sukhumvit 11 in Bangkok’s Watthana district at 3am on Thursday following a tip-off that the establishment had no permit, allegedly sold baraku and other drugs to visitors, opened beyond the legal limit until 4am and did not employ Covid-19 preventive measures.
Officers found the more than 150 club-goers, both Thai and foreign nationals, dancing in a crowded space. Most did not wear a face mask.
All exits were promptly closed off and the club-goers detained for a drugs test via urine samples.
Officers also reportedly found several baraku smoking pipes in the building as well as white powder in the bathroom, which they suspect to be ketamine. They have collected all evidence for an investigation.
Operations centre director Ronnarong Thipsiri said a preliminary urine result found some club-goers tested positive for drugs.
“Once detailed testing and investigation are complete, we will file charges against the owner and customers,” he said.
“This establishment has clearly violated several orders of the National Council for Peace and Order, and is punishable by being shut down for five years,” he added.
A Chiang Mai hospital has advised people not to believe or share news or Internet posts which claim that some Chinese nationals have tested positive for Covid-19 in Chiang Dao district, warning that sharing fake information via the Internet could violate the Computer-related Crime Act.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the Baan Arunothai Health Promotion Hospital in Chiang Dao flatly denied an Internet rumour that infected Chinese were found when they were receiving a health checkup at the hospital.
“The hospital has no Covid-19 inpatient, and it has found no infection whatsoever among persons receiving treatment at the hospital so far,” it said.
“Posting or sharing false information on the Internet is punishable by a maximum 5 years imprisonment and/or Bt100,000 fine under Article 14 of the Computer-related Crime Act BE 2560,” it warned.
The hospital also mentioned another rumour being shared online that the three provinces of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Phayao would be shut down during the New Year holidays in a bid to prevent Covid-19 from spreading.
“We have contacted the Department of Disease Control and have been informed that this is false,” it said. “The DDC confirmed that there is no lockdown or city closures enforced at the moment, and asked people not to believe unconfirmed rumours or panic.
“People should stay tuned for updates from the government and maintain preventive measures to stay safe from Covid-19, including wearing face masks, washing your hands regularly and avoiding crowded areas,” the hospital added.
Bangkok police have advised motorists to avoid routes around the United Nations building located on Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue in Phra Nakhon district on Thursday due to a planned political protest on Constitution Day.
The Ratsadon pro-democracy group announced on social media on Wednesday that they would hold a political rally in front of the UN building to force the government to revoke the draconian lese-majesty law, also known as Article 112.
“We expect traffic to be heavily congested around the UN building from early morning until the rally ends,” said deputy Metropolitan Police chief Pol Maj-General Jirasan Kaewsaeng-Ake. “Motorists are therefore advised to avoid these roads and connecting routes.”
They are:
1. Luk Luang Road
2. Samsen Road
3. Nakhon Ratchasima Road
4. Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue
5. Phitsanulok Road
6. Nakhon Pathom Road
The police recommended that motorists instead use the following routes to bypass the rally venue:
1. Krung Kasem Road
2. Nakhon Sawan Road
3. Lan Luang Road
4. Chakkraphatdi Phong Road
5. Wisut Kasat Road
6. Sri Ayutthaya Road
7. Ratchawithi Road
8. Sukhothai Road
9. Rama V Road
10. Somdet Phra Pinklao Bridge
11. Rama VIII Bridge
12. Krung Thon Bridge
Jirasan added that the Metropolitan Police would deploy officers around the rally venue to facilitate traffic flow and minimise impact on motorists and pedestrians.
To inquire about traffic routes or request roadside assistance, contact hotline 1197, visit www.trafficpolice.go.th, or download the mobile application “M-Help Me”.
The North and the Northeast is seeing cool to cold weather, with mountaintops being cold to very cold and frost in some areas, the Meteorological Department said on Thursday, adding that the Central region and the East is also seeing a cool morning.
The department also said the weak northeast monsoon prevailing across the Gulf of Thailand and the South will bring less rain to those areas, though waves in the Gulf are about 1 metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
Here’s the weather forecast for the next 24 hours:
North: Cool to cold weather; temperature lows of 12-17 degrees and highs of 29-33 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 1-10 degrees Celsius, with frost in some areas.
Northeast: Cool to cold weather with morning fog; temperature lows of 13-18 degrees and highs of 29-31 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 7-13 degrees Celsius.
Central: Cool weather and fog in the morning; temperature lows of 18-21 degrees, highs of 31-33 degrees Celsius.
East: Cool weather and light fog in the morning; temperature lows of 20-23 degrees, highs of 32-33 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres offshore.
South (east coast): Partly cloudy with thundershowers in 20 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 21-24 degrees, highs of 31-32 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
South (west coast): Partly cloudy with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 22-24 degrees, highs of 32-34 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
Bangkok and surrounding areas: Cool weather in the morning; temperature lows of 21-23 degrees, highs of 31-34 degrees Celsius.
The construction of a temporary bridge linking Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Nopphitam and Krungching sub-districts has been completed after it was destroyed by flash floods on December 2.
The bridge was built by the Department of Rural Roads to facilitate travel.
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has reported that 254,521 households in the provinces of Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Phatthalung and Songkhla are still struggling with floods.
The government’s “Rao Mai Ting Kan” campaign was Thailand’s top-trending search term on Google in 2020, the search engine’s insight on trends published on Wednesday shows.
Google’s annual Year in Search offers a unique perspective on the year’s major events, hottest trends and changes in consumer behaviour based on searches conducted in the country.
This year, Thais appeared to be most intrigued about campaigns launched by the government to help reduce the cost of living for those affected by the economic fallout caused by the Covid-19 pandemic as well as to stimulate the Thai economy.
Undoubtedly, five of the top 10 trending search terms were associated with government schemes, including “เราไม่ทิ้งกัน”, the Rao Mai Ting Kan or No One Will Be Left Behind cash-handout scheme; “คนละครึ่ง”, the Khon La Krueng or Let’s Go Halves shopping-subsidy scheme; “เยียวยาเกษตรกร” subsidy for farmers; “เราเที่ยวด้วยกัน”, Rao Tiew Duay Kan or We Travel Together tourism stimulus campaign; and the “ลงทะเบียนรับเงินค่าไฟ” power subsidy scheme.
The pandemic continues to attract the attention of Thais, as the search term “โควิด-19” (Covid-19) came in as No 3.
Meanwhile, two search terms related to education – “DLTV” (Distance Learning Television) and “สมัครสอบ ก.พ.” (OCSC exam registration) – made their way to the top 10 for the first time.
International news also drew interest from Thais as the top-trending list also includes searches for “US Election 2020”.
In addition, Covid-19 has driven Thais to get things done online as they’re adjusting to the new normal. The terms “เรียนออนไลน์” (online learning), “ลอยกระทงออนไลน์” (online krathong floating), “ยื่นภาษีออนไลน์” (online tax filing), “เวียนเทียนออนไลน์” (online light waving rite), and “อบรมใบขับขี่ออนไลน์” (online driving licence training) were the top five trending queries related to online activities.
When it comes to news, Thai netizens showed interest in several different topics. This year, the coronavirus outbreak has put people across Thailand on high alert as “โควิค-19” (Covid-19) topped the trending news list.
The list also includes search for “ไวรัส RSV” (RSV virus), which came in at No 4. Thais also showed interest in global politics with “US Election 2020” taking the second spot.
Meanwhile, four out 10 trending news are about tragic incidents that captured nationwide attention, including “ข่าวน้องชมพู่”, news about the death of three-year-old Nong Chompoo; “กราดยิงโคราช”, the mass shooting in Nakhon Ratchasima; “โจรปล้นทอง”, murder-robbery at a gold shop in Lopburi; and “รถไฟชนรถบัส”, a bus-train collision in Chachoengsao.
News about natural events like the solar eclipse “สุริยุปราคา 2563” and storms in Thailand “พายุเข้าไทย” also made it to the top 10 of trending news queries this year.
For travel-related searches, the list is dominated by domestic destinations including those with natural scenery, mountains and cold weather like “เชียงใหม่” (Chiang Mai), “เชียงราย” (Chiang Rai), “เขาค้อ” (Khao Kho), and “กาญจนบุรี” (Kanchanaburi), as people are unable to travel overseas due to Covid-19. Beach and seaside destinations like “สุราษฎร์ธานี” (Surat Thani), “พัทยา” (Pattaya), “หัวหิน” (Hua Hin), “ประจวบคีรีขันธ์” (Prachuap Khiri Khan), “ระนอง” (Ranong), and “ระยอง” (Rayong) are also among the top 10 trending destinations.
Thais also showed their eagerness to learn “how to” do things to adjust to the new normal and take advantage of government’s campaigns. The terms “วิธีใช้คนละครึ่ง” (how to apply for Khon La Krueng scheme) ranked No 1 among the top 10 how-to queries.
The list also includes “วิธีลงทะเบียนค่าไฟ” (how to register for electricity bill subsidy), “วิธีทำหน้ากากอนามัย” (how to make a face mask), “วิธีทำเจลล้างมือ” (how to make hand sanitiser), “วิธีลงทะเบียนรับเงิน 5,000” (how to register for the Bt5,000 cash handout), “วิธีลงทะเบียนเยียวยาเกษตรกร” (how to register for a subsidy for farmers), and “วิธีแก้เครียด” (how to relieve stress).
Visit g.co/2020trends/TH to learn more about Google’s Year in Search 2020.
Covid-19 cases from Myanmar’s Tachilek city have been found in seven Thai provinces, the Department of Disease Control (DDC) reported on Wednesday.
The first case was discovered on November 28, said DDC director general Opas Karnkawinpong, after Thais working in Tachilek began sneaking back over the border into Chiang Rai to escape a serious outbreak in Myanmar.
However, since December 6 new infections from Tachilek have been contained in Chiang Rai province, he added.
Tachilek-related confirmed cases now totalled 46, including two local infections.
More than 5,100 contacts of infected returnees have been tested in Chiang Rai, but only one was found to be infected.
Meanwhile, 55 close contacts of a Sing Buri woman who caught Covid-19 while taking the same flight as Tachilek returnees have all tested negative, according to Dr Sophon Iamsirithaworn, director of the Communicable Diseases Division.
Security camera footage from Chiang Rai airport shows the woman, 51, sitting close to two illegal returnees who are not wearing their masks correctly.
Elsewhere, five health workers in alternative state quarantine (ASQ) contracted Covid-19 after one of them took the temperature of a family of three in ASQ on November 24-27, said Sophon. The family was later found to be infected. The health workers eat together after work and share the same room. Their close contacts have been traced and tested. Among them are 226 workers at a private hospital (224 have tested negative while two are waiting for results), 6 co-workers (all negative), 7 at a government hospital (all negative), 14 in the first ASQ (negative), 20 in the second ASQ (negative), and 7 family members (negative).
New restrictions on food containers made from melamine come into force on Friday (December 11), with stiff penalties for violations.
Wanchai Panomchai, secretary-general of the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI), said that under the new Melamine Container Control Law, Thai businesses that make or import the product must show the TIS 2921-2562 standard mark on every container,
Those caught making or importing melamine containers without the TIS standard will be punished with up to two years in prison and/or a fine of up to Bt2 million.
Meanwhile shop owners selling non-standard melamine products face imprisonment for up to 6 months and/or a fine of not more than Bt500,000. Those caught using the TIS label without permission will be punished with up to one year in prison and/or a maximum fine of Bt1 million.
Wanchai said 22 Thai businesses – 10 manufacturers and 12 importers – had applied for TIS registration.
“From December 11 onwards, the TISI will conduct inspections via the National Single Window system and in the market, including online sellers. If any offences are found, immediate legal action will follow,” said the TISI chief.
Substandard melamine containers carry the risk of chemical contamination of food.
At least 3.11 million Thais planning to travel over four-day weekend, with ‘We Travel Together’ scheme influencing many tourists.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expects the December 10-13 weekend to see up to 3.11 million Thais travelling in the country, spending more than Bt12.6 billion and boosting hotel occupancy by up to 40 per cent, TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said on Wednesday.
A TAT survey conducted on November 25 found that the government’s “Rao Tiew Duay Kan” (We Travel Together) subsidy scheme influenced 74.15 per cent of travel decisions and “Khon La Khreung” (Lets Go Halves) affected 88.57 per cent of travel expenditure plans. The survey found that 80.4 per cent of Thais want to travel locally, with 62.83 per cent during the New Years’ break and 21.06 per cent during this long weekend.
Most respondents (87.64 per cent) opted for short trips averaging three and half days, with the average total cost coming up at Bt9,136.
Of the respondents, 63.05 per cent chose the North as a preferred destination, followed by the East, Central region, Bangkok and its metropolitan area and the Northeast. The most popular provinces proved to be Chiang Mai, Chonburi, Bangkok, Phetchabun and Krabi.
Average travel groups came in at 4.3 people, most of them families. Private cars proved to be the most popular mode of transport (56.24 per cent) followed by flights (12.05 per cent) and bus (10.89 per cent). While most travellers (60 per cent) chose to stay in hotels and resorts, 13.88 per cent preferred to stay with friends or relatives.
Yuthasak said the one factor making Thais hesitate in making travel plans during this long weekend were the Covid-19 infected Thais who sneaked across the border from Myanmar in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district. This has affected especially affected the tourism business in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai as people are anxious and unconvinced about the domestic epidemic situation. Many bookings have been cancelled since this news broke.
Tourism in the South has also been affected by flooding in several provinces, including Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani, Krabi, Trang, Phatthalung and Songkhla.
Suvarnabhumi Airport has exempted fees at its long-term car park at Zone C from Wednesday until 5pm on December 14, airport general manager Wing Commander Suthirawat Suwannawat said after the Cabinet approved a long holiday this week to compensate for Father’s Day as well as stimulate domestic tourism.
Zone C can accommodate 718 vehicles and has a shuttle bus running every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day.
The buses run a free passenger pick-up and drop-off service from Zone C to the passenger terminal at Gate 3 and 8 on Level 1 and Gate 5 on Level 2.
Passengers must continue to strictly follow anti-Covid-19 rules by wearing a face mask, social distancing and arriving at the airport two hours in advance.
For further information, contact the Airports of Thailand office via 1722, 24 hours a day.
Photos by Charoon Thongnual 
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has reported that 254,521 households in the provinces of Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Phatthalung and Songkhla are still struggling with floods.
