Thailand approves more measures to soften COVID-19 blow

Thailand has approved more measures to cushion the blow of the pandemic on the country, which is tackling a rise in COVID-19 cases.

The new measures include soft loans and lower utility bills, and aim to boost liquidity for businesses, as well as provide debt relief and unemployment support, said Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha.

Electric and water bills will be subsidised until March, while higher internet speeds and data would also be rolled out to support working from home.  The government will also consider an additional sum of 3,500 baht (US$117) per person per month for two months next week, the prime minister said. 

On Tuesday, Thailand reported 287 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the nationwide number to 10,834. So far, 6,732 patients have recovered and 67 have died.

New COVID-19 cases in the country have been increasing since December, when an outbreak involving over 1,000 people happened in a seafood market in Samut Sakhon. Last year, the country reported zero cases consecutively for several months. 

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Thailand plans to begin its vaccination programme in late February when the first 200,000 doses of China’s Sinovac vaccine is set to be delivered.