Thailand Time Machine: A glance back at this week LAST year in top Thai news: Dine-in shuts, Covid restrictions increase, and more

PHOTO: Thaipost

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The following is a weekly feature article looking at this same time period LAST year in Pattaya and Thailand news.

This weekly feature takes a look back at news from the same period last year (and sometimes different time windows, such as six months or three months) to see how things have changed, follow up on the progression of stories, as well as look at potentially broken promises or things that didn’t take place as promised in Pattaya and Thailand.

As we publish dozens of stories a week this is a quick way for people to take a look at what the biggest stories were a year ago, as chosen by our editorial team, and how they impact us today and relate to current news. They are in no particular order of importance, however, are roughly in order of publication.

This week, we cover the fifth week of April 2021, from Sunday, April 25th, 2021, to Saturday, May 1st, 2021.

Let’s go!

1.  Homeless population rising in Pattaya as Covid-19 restrictions and closures bite

Things have improved versus last year but many people are still suffering from problems due to Covid-19 related closures.

Homeless population rising in Pattaya as Covid-19 measures continue, local residents concerned

Video tour: A look at the homeless situation in Pattaya

2.  Police raid private parties, restaurants, illegally opened bars in Pattaya

As Covid-19 regulations last year prohibited sales of alcohol at restaurants and made bars close, raids were steady and regular throughout the area, including private parties.

Pattaya and Banglamung police raid private villa birthday party for allegedly violating Covid-19 rules, arrest 28 people, 25 foreign nationals and 3 Thais

Si Racha officers raid Japanese restaurant for allegedly being open past the legal time and allowing alcohol consumption

3.  Prime Minister fined 6000 baht for not wearing a mask at a meeting

Contrary to belief, there IS a mandate for mask-wearing in all public areas still, including outside, and yes, you can be fined under emergency decree laws. It isn’t a “law” per se, but a special mandate.

Thailand’s Prime Minister fined 6,000 baht after being captured not wearing facial mask during Covid-19 situation meeting this morning

4.  School opening postponed due to Covid-19 fears

They would stay closed most of the year in most areas and some even extending into this year.

Thai Ministry of Education orders school semester postponement to June 1st to more than 10,000 schools nationwide due to the Covid-19 outbreak

5.  Covid-19 measures tighten even further as cases rise

For the second year in a row, people found themselves in basically a nightmare. However, this year things are (finally) easing.

Thai Covid-19 center meeting approves stepped up Covid-19 control measures and readjusts “Dark Red Zones” in six provinces, including Bangkok and Chonburi, effective this Saturday

Frequently Asked Questions about Dark Red zone restrictions in Chonburi and Pattaya

6.  Famous Thai comedian passes away from Covid-19

  Rest in peace.

Famous Thai comedian ‘Kom Chauncheun’ passes away at the age of 64, weeks after being diagnosed with Covid-19 Coronavirus

7. Restaurants close for dine-in for “two weeks” in Pattaya and other “dark red” zones.

This would, unfortunately, last several months.

As restaurants close for at least two weeks in dark red zones for dine-in, restaurant associations warn it could cost hundreds of thousands of jobs

Video news: Chonburi restaurant owners worry about future as restaurants move to take-away only

That is all for this week, as we look back at a VERY difficult week for Pattaya. Thankfully, it is much better this year.

 

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Adam Judd
Mr. Adam Judd is the Co-owner of TPN Media since December 2017. He is originally from Washington D.C., America, but has also lived in Dallas, Sarasota, and Portsmouth. His background is in retail sales, HR, and operations management, and has written about news and Thailand for many years. He has lived in Pattaya for over nine years as a full-time resident, is well known locally and been visiting the country as a regular visitor for over a decade. His full contact information, including office contact information, can be found on our Contact Us page below. Stories please e-mail Editor@ThePattayanews.com About Us: https://thepattayanews.com/about-us/ Contact Us: https://thepattayanews.com/contact-us/