The ministry’s permanent-secretary Boonyarit Kalayanamit said that demand for masks had risen sharply in response to the coronavirus outbreak and air pollution caused by the hazardous PM2.5 particulate matter.

The ministry has also asked mask manufacturers to boost production capacity to meet surging demand. .

The Department of Internal Trade’s deputy director-general Prayoth Benyasut said that mask-makers had reassured him that there would not be a shortage, saying that their combined capacity amounts to 100 million items per month.

Normally, the demand for face masks averages 30 million per month and would increase to 50 million per month in the events of haze, thick smog or an epidemic.

Some manufacturers are now making masks round the clock, he added.

He said there would be sufficient supply of masks for the next four months  while urging the public against hoarding.

He said people should call hotline 1569 to make a complain if they found any vendor selling masks at an inflated price.

The court on Wednesday (January 29) announced it was accepting the petition sent by House Speaker Chuan Leekpai after it appeared that Bhumjaithai Party MPs Chalong Toedweerapong and Natee Ratchakitprakarn, who were absent during voting on the bill, had still managed to cast votes.

The court asked all parties with an interest in the matter to submit formal arguments by February 4.

The government and private sector are worried about a further delay of the Bt3.2-trillion bill, already stalled for four months. It should have been enacted in October but became mired in political disputes.

The controversy over perceived ghost voting in Parliament is the latest in a series of factors that have caused delays.

The SET index moved between 1,511.15 and 1,528.14 during the day.

Earlier, Krungsri Securities expected the SET Index to fluctuate between 1,505-1,525 points, citing recovering US stocks, increasing oil prices, and lower gold prices.

Elsewhere in Asia, Japan’s Nikkei Index closed at 23,379.40, up 163.69 points, or 0.71 per cent.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index closed at 27,160.63, down 789.01 points, or 2.82 per cent.

South Korea’s KOSPI Index closed at 2,185.28, up 8.56 points, or 0.39 per cent.

China’s Shanghai SE Composite and Taiwan’s TAIEX Index remained closed for Chinese New Year.

He was accompanied by Public Health Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, and Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob on the visit.

The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post on Wednesday put the number of confirmed cases in mainland China at 6,055, with 132 deaths thus far.

The event, held at the agricultural office of the district, was a collaboration between the Khon Buri district office and Nakhon Ratchasima’s land development agency.

There were a demonstration of the correct steps in ploughing and a lecture on improving soil quality by using organic matters.

“Rice stubble burning not only leads to air pollution, it also deteriorates soil quality and affects the quality of agricultural produce” Wijit said.

In addition, relevant government agencies and more than 100 farmers signed a memorandum of understanding at the event on ending the practice of rice-stubble burning.

Khon Buri district has more than 90,000 rice growing areas. Local farmers burn rice stubble as an easy and cheap way to deal with straws and weeds growing on their land.

Travellers from China have been subjected to screening for coronavirus infection at the ports of entry with most passing the test.

Thailand remains a top destination for travellers around the world. However, despite reassurance from the Thai government that it could control spread of the virus in the country, travellers remain skeptical amid constant postings on the issue in social media.

A stock analyst of the company said earlier that the market remained under pressure from the coronavirus outbreak with the number of patients in China increasing to 5,974 while 132 had died from infection.

Meanwhile, foreigner investors continue to sell their holding on the SET.

“However, the market has benefited from the recovery of the US market, rebound of 10-years US Bond yield, and weakening gold price, all of which support short-term investments,” he said.

The analyst suggested investors follow the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on January 28-29, expecting the Federal Reserve (Fed) to keep interest rate unchanged at 1.75 per cent.

The analyst recommended three groups of stocks for investors:

● Energy stocks which will benefit from the increasing oil prices, such as TOP, PTTGC and SPRC.

● Electronic component importers and food stocks which will benefit from the strengthening baht, such as KCE, HANA, DELTA, CPF, TFG and TU

● Defensive stocks whose earnings in the fourth quarter of 2019 were expected to be good, inckuding GPSC, GULF, JMT, CPF, SAWAD, MTC, BTS, BEM, INTUCH, ADVANC, OSP, and CBG.

The SET Index rose 6.82 points or 0.45 per cent to 1,520.08 in the morning session on Wednesday (January 29).

checking precautions against the 2019-nCoV coronavirus and giving workers facemasks and handwash gel.

BMA permanent secretary Silapasuay Raweesangsoon noted that many ships arrive there from China, bringing crews and cargo that have to be carefully screened.

Fourteen people infected with the virus emanating from the central Chinese city of Wuhan have been detected in Thailand.

All have been Chinese tourists except for a sole Thai who recently visited Wuhan.

The Hong Kong-based newspaper South China Morning Post on Wednesday put the number of confirmed cases in mainland China at 5,974, with 132 deaths thus far.

Inspector Wachiranuson Khamphaeng of Nonthaburi Police Station said he was informed at 8am about the fire in the hospital building called “Asok 2”.

The fire occurred on the second floor, in the area where documents, old equipment and beds were stored. Hospital staff quickly moved equipment and patients.

Fire-fighters needed four trucks to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby rooms. They took approximately 20 minutes to control the flames. There were no casualties.

After preliminary investigations, police believe the fire was caused by a short circuit. “However, forensic tests will be done,” a police officer added.

“The economy in 2019 is now estimated to have grown by 2.5 per cent instead of the originally expected 4.1 per cent due to decreasing foreign demand, mainly caused by trade disputes between the US and China, resulting in the value of Thai exports declining by 2.7 per cent,” Lavaron Sangsnit, director-general of the Fiscal Policy Office, said on Wednesday (January 29).

“Meanwhile, tourist numbers in 2019 were up 4.2 per cent compared to the previous year, to 39.8 million visitors, thanks to the extended period for visas on arrival.”

Domestic consumption and private investment are expected to expand continuously due to the government’s economic stimulus policies introduced in the second half of 2019, especially the “Eat, Shop, Spend” campaign,” Lavaron said.

“Headline inflation rate for 2019 was 0.7 per cent, down slightly from 2018 thanks to a drop in the global price of crude oil.”

He attributed the 2.8 per cent rise in GDP for 2020 to an anticipated increase in private investment stemming from financial stimuli and to infrastructure mega-projects undertaken by both the state and in PPPs (public-private partnerships).

“The export sector is expected to slowly recover following the global improvement in trade,” he said. “Headline inflation for 2020 is expected to stand at 0.8 per cent, slightly higher than in 2019 due to an expected increase in domestic demand.”

Factors being monitored closely include the spread of new coronavirus, which will affect tourism and trade with China, progress in US-China trade negotiation, Brexit and industrialised countries’ financial policies.