<p>Thai students in the UK are struggling to return home after the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), in an effort to combat the spread of COVID-19, announced that Thais returning from overseas will be required to present a Fit to Fly certificate and a certifying letter from their local Thai Embassy before being allowed to board a flight home.</p>

<p>As governments in Southeast Asia increase measures in response to the spread of coronavirus, regional lawmakers have today urged authorities to ensure that human rights are at the forefront of their responses.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bangkok&rsquo;s Governor announced today (21 March) that malls, educational institutions and places of entertainment are to close for 22 days, while the number of COVID-19 cases in Thailand has risen to 411.</p>

<p>The <a href="https://www.who.int/southeastasia/news/detail/17-03-2020-who-calls-for-urgent-aggressive-actions-to-combat-covid-19-as-cases-soar-in-south-east-asia-region?fbclid=IwAR1gHdbYIbzD_hvkpvPof_doIMblOblYQ3hl7C0brLH5YnScDh3bUPauE5k">World Health Organization</a> today (17 March) called on Member states in South-East Asia Region to urgently scale-up aggressive measures to combat COVID-19, as confirmed cases cross 480, and the disease claims eight lives.</p>

<p>The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Thailand rose to 177 over the past three days, while a cabinet resolution ordered all Bangkok Metropolitan Region&nbsp;educational institutions and places of entertainment are to close for 14 days.</p>

<p><em>Some stories that probably won&rsquo;t be appearing in the next few weeks.</em></p>

<p>Regional lawmakers have today called on authorities in Southeast Asia to stop using broadly worded anti-fake news laws to prosecute those accused of spreading disinformation about the coronavirus health emergency, and instead invest in public messaging campaigns to ensure their citizens are reliably informed about the issue.</p>