This week: entry relaxations, Porsche kills motorcyclist, new Omicron mutation and a hazing death.
Pre-travel tests to be dropped
While Russia continued its bombardment of Ukraine, the top story on the Bangkok Post this week was the proposed relaxation of travel entry rules.
The Public Health Ministry proposed 4 phases of rule relaxation, with the first dropping the need for an RT-PCR test before arrival.
Subsequent phases will further relax entry requirements, with the last phase, tentatively planned for July, allowing all travellers entry without restrictions.
The first phase will begin following approval by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration.
Top cop's son crashes Porsche into motorcycle, rider killed
Another police-related death on the kingdom's roads this week, as a motorcyclist was killed by a Porsche driven by the son of a former deputy national police chief.
The Porsche, driven by Pornmet Songmetta, son of Police General Wirachai Songmetta, crashed into Waseem Ahmad's motorcycle around 1am. The 40-year-old motorcyclist later died at Taksin Hospital.
Mr Pornmet admitted that he had made a sudden lane change before the incident.
Fear over 'new bug strain'
Health experts sounded the alarm after the discovery of a new mutation of the Omicron coronavirus variant in Hong Kong.
The variant has already been detected in Thailand.
The Public Health Ministry on Monday reported four cases which it suspects may be caused by the new mutant strain, the Omicron BA.2.2 subvariant.
With the mortality rate appearing higher for the new mutation, health authorities said they are keeping a close watch on the situation.
Freshman dies from beating during hazing
A 19-year-old freshman died during a brutal hazing beating by seven senior students in Nakhon Ratchasima's Rajamangala University of Technology Isan.
Padyos Chonpakdi, 19, was forced to drink liquor and then beaten by the students until he became unconscious.
The seven students involved in the lethal hazing have been charged with physical assault causing death.
