A viral wake-up call : Representatives of the tourism, retail and commerce industries offer their views on the state’s handling of the epidemic. Managing a virus epidemic can be a daunting task for any administration, but inefficiency by the government for its perceived failure to contain the coronavirus outbreak in Thailand has drawn waves of criticism both online and offline. Bangkok Post
EEC panel OKs water management strategy : The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Policy Committee yesterday approved water management plans for both the short and long terms to ensure sufficient water supply. Bangkok Post
Looming face mask crisis at state hospitals : Ramathibodi Hospital runs the risk of facing a crisis in less than a week if it cannot acquire more face mask to serve the burgeoning demand fuelled by fears over potential Covid-19 infections. Bangkok Post
Govt takes flak over Thamanat : No mask trade talks, says deputy minister. The government has come under fire after Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thamanat Prompow admitted yesterday that his assistant had met a man who was said to be hoarding face masks, but he denied they discussed the mask trade. Bangkok Post
B400bn booster shot given nod : Stimulus package to ease virus impact. The cabinet has given the green light to a stimulus package expected to inject 400 billion baht into the economy to reduce the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic. Bangkok Post
EC targets Thanathorn : Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the leader of the disbanded Future Forward Party, may face a jail term of up to 10 years and a 20-year ban from politics over his media shareholdings now that the Election Commission (EC) has decided to pursue criminal charges against him. Bangkok Post
330 tonnes of masks permitted for export : The Department of Internal Trade (DIT) authorised the export of 330 tonnes of face masks in January and February when the items were in short supply and declared controlled products, according to the Customs Department. Bangkok Post
Tom Hanks tests positive for virus : Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks and his wife, actress Rita Wilson, have both tested positive for coronavirus in Australia, the actor said on Twitter. Bangkok Post [Forrest Gump lead to the market drop]
No ‘Stage 3’ despite spike in virus cases : The Public Health Ministry yesterday insisted that the country has yet to enter Stage 3 of the coronavirus outbreak, despite the discovery of a new cluster of infections which brought the total number of cases in Thailand to 70. Bangkok Post
Operators slam inefficient measures : Tourism sector warns over half of employees could face layoffs. The tourism sector has derided the government’s inefficient measures in battling the coronavirus, warning that unemployment could rise as over half of the 4.3 million people in the industry may lose their jobs. Bangkok Post
