World News-
The spread of COVID-19 is no longer a worldwide public health emergency, the World Health Organization said Friday, May 5th, 2023 at night time in Bangkok, Thailand.
“For over a year, the pandemic has been on a decreasing trend with population immunity increasing from vaccination and infection, mortality decreasing, and the pressure on health systems easing,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a media press conference in Geneva.
The Covid-19 pandemic emergency saw literally years of business closures, restrictions, lockdowns, and hardships for millions in Thailand, especially the tourism industry which TPN Media’s home market of Pattaya, Thailand depends on for over 90 percent of its GDP.
Thailand ended all of its Covid-19 restrictions in the middle of 2022 but even now, well into 2023, many Thais continue to wear face masks and Covid was most recently a discussion point in the media in April after Songkran, the Thai New Years attracted millions to celebrate with water fights, concerts, parties, and festivals.
Songkran had been canceled for three years in a row except for traditional and religious activities, costing the Thai economy billions. Borders were closed, minus quarantines and restrictions, for basically two years decimating Thailand’s bread and butter tourism industry. With Covid finally in the rear view mirror, the Thai economy continues to recover.
