Outside a restaurant in Thailand on April 15 (Source: AFP/VNA)
Bangkok (VNA) - The Public Health Ministry of Thailand has proposed fiverequirements for an exit strategy from the Covid-19 lockdown, starting with 32provinces.
At a joint meeting between ministry officials and deans of faculties ofmedicine on how to ease the lockdown, all agreed some measures have to berelaxed although a return to pre-crisis normality is out of the question, theBangkok Post cited Kamnuan Ungchusak, an adviser to the Disease ControlDepartment and to the public health minister on the Covid-19 situation, assaying.
The meeting came up with five pre-requisites for the exit strategy. They willbe proposed to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration for approval.
First, the screening of inbound visitors must remain stringent and facilitiesfor 14-day state quarantine must be ready at all times. Each province must havea laboratory for tests and a system to look for infections among at-riskgroups, highly populated communities, labourers and risk areas.
Second, all Thais must agree to observe good hygiene practices such as wearingmasks when going to public places, observing social distancing and refrainingfrom assembling. They must also come to terms with the fact that they can nolonger lead a normal life after Covid-19.
Third, the private sector, led by the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Board of Tradeof Thailand and Federation of Thai Industries, must consider categorising thetypes of businesses to be reopened based on their risks (high, medium and low)and rethink processes to minimise the risks.
Such changes must be based on four criteria. According to Kamnuan, the privatesector must set an appropriate ratio between the number of customers and aservice area unit. Activities must not involve shouting or a lot of verbalexchange. The places of business must be airy and well ventilated. Distancingwithin a service area must also be defined.
Fifth, the country must have in place a realtime monitoring system forinfections at the national, provincial and district levels so people know thesituation in each area.
Kamnuan said he believes that the country will move forward. However, not all77 provinces will go ahead at the same pace. They will be allowed to reopenbased on risks and by area.
Thailand reported 27 new cases of COVID-19 on April 20, lifting the country’stotal to 2,792 cases. No new deaths were reported for the third consecutiveday, according to the country’s centre for COVID-19 situation administration./.
Thailand is likely to welcome only 16 million foreign tourists in 2020, much lower than the pre-COVID-19 pandemic target of 40 million, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
Total trade between Indonesia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 reached 963.23 million USD, an increase of 21.56% compared to 792.39 million USD in the same period last year. Of this amount, Indonesia's exports to New Zealand totaled 374.89 million USD, while imports 588.35 million USD
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Outside a restaurant in Thailand on April 15 (Source: AFP/VNA) 
