Many skeptical over PM’s ability to reopen Thailand fully in 4 months

13 Sept 13:11 Key points summarised by AI

Public skepticism surrounds Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's plan to fully reopen Thailand in four months, primarily due to high ongoing COVID-19 infection rates and a low national vaccination rate.
Citizens, including vendors and former tour operators, express deep concerns about the government's capacity to control the virus spread and ensure public safety, despite the urgent need for economic recovery in the tourism sector.
Social media users voice distrust, pointing to past unfulfilled promises and current issues with vaccine distribution, including stretched dose intervals and registration delays.
Thailand's phased reopening begins with the 'Phuket Sandbox' on July 1st for fully vaccinated foreign tourists, with other key destinations like Bangkok expected to follow suit in October.

Flooding persists in Bangkok and 22 provinces

Today 16:00 Key points summarised by AI

Persistent flooding continues across Bangkok and 22 Thai provinces, though water levels are gradually receding in many affected areas.
Over 604,000 families, impacting approximately 1.83 million people, are still grappling with the widespread flood conditions.
The national flood death toll has reached 80 since mid-September, with fatalities reported across various provinces.
Major regions like Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya, and Bangkok report significant numbers of affected households, with hundreds of thousands still in trouble.