The Department of Disease Control has announced that COVID-19 cases continue to appear regularly and urges the public to prioritize personal hygiene, especially those showing respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, or fatigue. Anyone with symptoms or a confirmed infection should isolate at home, avoid close contact with others, and refrain from attending school or work while ill.

If necessary to leave home, people should wear masks, wash hands frequently, avoid crowded or poorly ventilated areas, and stay away from elderly people, those with chronic conditions, or immunocompromised individuals. Rest not only aids recovery but also reduces transmission to others.

Direk Khampan, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Disease Control, noted that although COVID-19 is now treatable, severe illness remains possible, particularly in high-risk groups including the elderly, people with chronic diseases, those with weakened immunity, and pregnant women. These individuals should monitor their symptoms carefully, isolate immediately if ill, undergo rapid screening, and follow medical advice strictly to reduce the risk of serious complications.

The Department recommends the public maintain good hygiene by washing hands regularly, avoiding crowded or poorly ventilated spaces, and staying home to rest if symptomatic. Those with illness should limit close contact with others and wear masks at all times, especially around vulnerable groups. Anyone experiencing severe symptoms or concerns should see a doctor for proper evaluation and treatment. For questions, the public can call the Department of Disease Control hotline at 1422.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchat Chomklin announced on August 20, 2026, that a resort owner has become the sixth capitalist to face legal enforcement in Thab Larn National Park after voluntarily agreeing to demolish illegal structures. The owner submitted a formal request to Thab Larn National Park officials to remove 12 structures: six residential buildings, two worker houses, one storage room, one restroom unit, four pavilions, and two water tanks.

Task force leader Tewin Meisap and Thab Larn National Park Chief Prawatsart Chantheap reported that demolition work is approximately 70 percent complete, with heavy machinery now on site. The entire removal is expected to finish within 10 days, well before the end of August 2026.

This enforcement operation follows Minister Suchat's policy to transparently and fairly resolve land-use disputes in Thab Larn National Park in line with cabinet resolutions from November 22, 2022, March 14, 2023, and the National Parks Committee resolution of June 15, 2026. The process distinguishes between legitimate residents who occupied land before and after the park's boundaries were established, and those illegally encroaching for profit, while allowing affected parties to present evidence and prove their land rights under the rule of law and individual circumstances.

A 30-year-old Chinese woman died suddenly after a 11-hour flight. Doctors identified the cause as acute pulmonary embolism (PE) and warned of the dangers of prolonged immobility, medically known as economy class syndrome. This condition can occur not only during air travel but also with long-distance driving, train travel, or extended office work.

According to reports, a 30-year-old woman named Li, living in China, was returning from New Zealand on an 11-hour flight. The aircraft landed at Guangzhou Airport in China. However, less than 10 minutes after disembarking, she collapsed and lost consciousness. Emergency responders rushed to help and transported her to the hospital.

Doctors found she had ventricular fibrillation before her heart stopped. Although the medical team attempted full resuscitation, the young woman could not be saved.

Dr. Peng Yin, head of the intensive care unit at the hospital, stated that the primary cause of death was acute pulmonary embolism, a severe cardiovascular emergency.

Upon reviewing her medical history and risk factors, doctors found that she had old blood clots in her lower leg area. Her body mass index (BMI) was above 28, classifying her as overweight to obese, and she was physically inactive. The need to remain seated for 11 hours in a confined space became a critical factor in triggering this serious event.

Doctors explained that her case falls under venous thromboembolism (VTE). When the body remains immobile for extended periods, blood circulation slows, causing blood to stagnate and increasing the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), particularly in the legs. When passengers stand up and begin moving after travel, blood clots can break loose from veins, return to the heart, travel through arteries to the lungs, and cause pulmonary embolism (PE), which can be life-threatening.

This condition is known in the medical field as economy class syndrome because it commonly occurs from prolonged immobility during travel. However, Dr. Hua Cui, a cardiovascular specialist from an air force hospital in eastern China, noted that the risk is not limited to aircraft alone. Long-distance driving, train travel, or even prolonged office work can increase the risk of pulmonary embolism.

Research indicates that sitting continuously for 3 hours may increase the risk of blood clots by approximately 4 times, and sitting for 5 hours can increase the risk up to 10 times.

Experts warn of 4 high-risk groups for whom prolonged sitting may lead to serious complications. Pulmonary embolism can have a mortality rate exceeding 50% in high-risk groups. Doctors Peng and Hua identified these 4 risk categories.

Tops, part of Central Retail, has announced exclusive intellectual property rights for its "Stick and Save" sticker campaign after achieving record results in March and April 2026, including a 15% boost in average basket size, 13% increase in new customers, and 16% rise in repeat purchase frequency. The campaign's success stems from its "Customer Empowerment" strategy, which shifts control from the brand to customers, allowing them to choose which discounts apply to products they want, creating personalized value.

To celebrate 58 years in business, Tops is launching "Stick and Save Plus," running from now through September 30, 2026, with over 200 partner brands offering discounts up to 30%. The campaign uses gamification elements to boost customer participation and spending during the second half of the year, aiming for a 30% sales increase. According to Jakkarit Chatupanyachotigun, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Central Food Retail, the strategy reflects findings from the Thai Smartsumer 2026 study showing that 90–97% of Thai consumers plan purchases carefully and 71% use AI to compare prices, indicating a shift from promotion-seeking to strategic spending based on personalized value.

On August 20, 2025, Buriram Highway Rescue Police responded to assist an elderly couple who had run out of money for their return journey home to Sakon Nakhon province. Grandma Thueang, 68, and her husband Tarujee, 74, had been sleeping outside Building 4 of Nangrang Hospital for two days. The couple originally from different provinces—Thueang from Pak Am, Buriram and Tarujee from Nangrang—now live in Sakon Nakhon. They arrived at the hospital on August 17, 2025, so Tarujee could see a doctor for his chronic conditions including heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and asthma.

Their son had given them 400 baht for the trip, but nearly all of it went toward transport to the hospital. With no money left for the return journey, they decided to wait outside, hoping their son could transfer bus fare on Monday. During their wait, they were left with just 25 baht—10 of which they spent on sticky rice to share. Fortunately, donations from visitors and rescue personnel provided them meals.

When Aranya, a 51-year-old community volunteer delivering fruit to hospital patients, discovered their situation, she alerted Buriram Highway Rescue Police. The rescue unit donated 500 baht, and another kind donor contributed an additional 100 baht, totaling 600 baht. The couple was then taken to Nangrang District's bus station, where staff informed them that senior citizens qualify for free passage. This allowed them to keep the assistance money for expenses during their journey home, and they were able to return safely.

On August 20, Asawin Sannatritiyapho, a Phumi Thai Party member of parliament from Sisaket and chair of the House Anti-Corruption and Misconduct Committee, announced findings from an investigation into fraud in local government official recruitment examinations. Representatives from the National Anti-Corruption Commission, the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission, and the Department of Local Administration presented evidence of systematic corruption occurring across three phases: before, during, and after the examination process, totaling 32 stages of irregularities.

The committee has forwarded six proposals to the Prime Minister. First, the Interior Ministry and Department of Local Administration should pursue criminal, civil, and administrative cases against all individuals involved in the fraud, with additional fact-checking required to fully cover all offenses by related officials. Second, the examination board should be reconvened with corrected data and the department should seek damages from Srinakharinwirot University. Third, a database of exam fraudsters should be created by the Civil Service Commission to bar them from government service for life. Fourth, the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission should expand investigations, as multiple organized networks were detected. Fifth, the Comptroller General's Department should establish standardized procedures for all future competitive examinations. Sixth, the Civil Service Commission and development office should establish additional safeguards.

The investigation revealed that fraudsters organized applicants into approximately 100 groups of 100 to 200 people each, with substitute applicants paying examination fees collected by network organizers. Primary money flows ranged from 100,000 baht to 1 million baht per transaction. Financial investigators traced these networks across dozens of groups, with cash payments flowing from 100 groups down to 80, then further dispersed to 40 to 60 additional groups in an interconnected scheme.