Samut Sakhon governor threatens to close private hospitals over no COVID testing policy

21 Sept 04:41 Key points summarised by AI

Samut Sakhon Governor Veerasak Vichitsangsri threatened to close private hospitals for refusing to provide free COVID-19 tests, citing their claim of no available beds for infected patients.
The governor's action followed a frustrated Facebook post by a Samut Sakhon Hospital official, "Aeh," who detailed the overwhelming influx of people seeking free tests at the provincial hospital after being turned away by private facilities.
"Aeh" highlighted the burden of treating numerous non-residents and social security patients who should be served by private hospitals, leading to long queues and staff reprimands.
Governor Vichitsangsri also noted that state hospitals were predominantly treating non-residents, questioning the province's current predicament.

Bai Lu meet-and-greet cancelled days after China’s safety warning

Yesterday 15:28 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Tourism and Sports Minister announced the government will seek clarification from the Chinese Embassy regarding its recent travel advisory warning Chinese nationals about safety concerns in Thailand.
The travel advisory is anticipated to negatively impact the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand, despite recent increases in arrivals.
A meet-and-greet event featuring Chinese actress Bai Lu, a WeTV Global Ambassador, was abruptly cancelled just days after the Chinese Embassy issued its safety warning, though no official reason was provided.
The Chinese Embassy's advisory urged citizens to beware of job scams, fraudulent investments, suspicious travel arrangements, and the risk of illegal detention or being lured to the Thai-Myanmar border.
Chinese nationals were advised to verify job offers, use legitimate transport, avoid high-risk border areas, protect personal documents, and keep family informed of travel plans.