Dr. Yong proposes virtual visits to elderly over Songkran to limit COVID-19 spread

18 Sept 00:46 Key points summarised by AI

Top virologist Dr. Yong Poovorawan urges virtual Songkran visits to the elderly, citing a significantly more severe COVID-19 infection rate this year compared to last.
He attributes the worsening situation to triple-digit daily infections, primarily from entertainment venues, coupled with lax restrictions and asymptomatic young carriers unknowingly spreading the virus.
Dr. Yong warns that relaxed preventive measures this Songkran could make the pandemic 100 times more severe than last year, when the festival was effectively cancelled.
He advises avoiding unnecessary travel during Songkran to protect the elderly and highlights the conflict between promoting travel for economic stimulation and effective disease containment.

Cabinet approves ฿10.5bn central fund for flood relief

Yesterday 14:04 Key points summarised by AI

The Cabinet allocated 10.5 billion baht from the fiscal 2027 central emergency fund to provide financial relief for flood victims.
This funding will cover remaining compensation payments and relief operations for severely affected households, as fiscal 2026 funds have been exhausted.