Here is a look at the top NATIONAL stories, chosen by our Pattaya News/TPN National team, from last week, May 16th to the 22nd, with some commentary. They are not in any particular level of importance but are listed in the order of date of publication.
1. Bangkok schools welcome students to on-site classes on the first day, heavy traffic reported since Tuesday morning
On-site classes have officially begun for both day schools and boarding schools nationwide for the first time in two years last week. Students, teachers, and school personnel are still required to follow public health preventive measures but one of the progressions the government made was that if an infection was found in any institution, they will not be ordered to close the entire school but the infection should conduct “School Isolation” and the classroom and risk areas in the institution must be cleaned. So far, there were no clusters or large groups of infections reported in any institution yet.
2. Thailand announces color-rezoning, Thailand pass streamlining, and entertainment venues reopening in some areas from June 1st onwards
The Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) announced more relaxed measures on Friday, May 20th. One of the most long-awaited relaxations was the reopening of entertainment venues, including bars, pubs, soapie massage parlors, karaoke lounges, and similar establishments, in all provinces/areas in the Green Zones and the Blue Zones. The trial of the cancellation of Thailand Pass registration will also be applied among Thai returnees before being considered among foreign tourists next. All of the measures will be implemented from June 1st onwards.
3. Independent candidate Chadchart Sittipunt looks set to be 17th Bangkok Governor after unofficially winning by landslide
Sunday marked one of the most anticipated days for Bangkok eligible voters who eventually had a chance to exercise their vote for their governor. Independent candidate Chadchart Sittipunt gained the most votes in all of the 50 districts of the city since the very first hour of counting. According to the unofficial tally after the 100-percent counting, the incoming governor received 1,386,769 votes from a total of 2,673,696 people who cast their votes yesterday. His votes also broke the previous highest record of Sukhumbhand Paribatra who got 1,256,349 votes in the 2013 election.
And, that is all for this week. Thank you as always for reading the Pattaya News/TPN News!
Psst….want to see more? Check out our TikTok here
