Pattaya Move On travel scheme dead in the water – for now
The “Pattaya Move On” programme is being delayed from its original commencement date of September 1 as Covid-19 cases remain high.
The travel scheme aimed to draw foreign tourists back to the famous seaside resort, like the Phuket Sandbox programme and Samui Plus.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) revealed that the programme will not go ahead on September 1 as the private sector expected, but could take off in October instead.
Apichai Chatchalermkit, TAT deputy governor of digitalisation research and development, explained that the present number of Covid-19 cases in Chonburi province was still a problem.
He pointed out that more than 1,000 cases were being found daily in the province, 200-300 of which were in Bang Lamung and Sattahip districts.
Moreover, only 33 per cent of Chonburi’s population have been inoculated, Apichai said, adding that Pattaya Move On will steam ahead when Chonburi is removed from the list of dark-red provinces.
The deputy governor also said that TAT expected the programme to attract Russian tourists, as foreigners vaccinated with Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine are being allowed to travel to Thailand.
Apichai mentioned that Pattaya Move On was expected to run under the “bubble and seal” measure, in which tourists are required to quarantine in specific hotels during their initial stay.
However, official conclusion on this operation was expected in the next two weeks, he added.
Sinovac effective against Covid-19, Chinese Embassy insists
The Chinese Embassy in Bangkok took to Facebook on Sunday to reiterate that the Sinovac vaccine is effective against the raging coronavirus.
In a Facebook post, it also said 25.55 million doses of Sinovac have been delivered to Thailand by the Chinese government since February, with the latest lot of one million doses being delivered on August 21.
“In the past six months China has held on to the promise of delivering more than 60 per cent of all vaccines to be administered in Thailand to keep Thai people safe from the pandemic,” the post said.
“The Sinovac vaccine is effective against Covid-19 and has been approved by the World Health Organisation for emergency use and by more than than 100 countries,” the embassy said.
“A study by Thailand’s Department of Disease Control also revealed that Sinovac jabs have shown 98 per cent efficacy in keeping patients safe from developing severe symptoms and/or death,” the post said.
“Sinovac’s efficacy in preventing infection after two doses is generally 72 per cent. When divided by months, the infection prevention rate of Sinovac from May to July was still above 70 per cent on average, which means the vaccine is effective despite the spreading Delta variant,” it insisted.
Established medical journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine and The Lancet also published articles confirming that both Chinese vaccines, Sinovac and Sinopharm, are effective against Covid-19, the embassy said.
“China aims to deliver 2 billion doses of vaccine worldwide this year and will also donate $100 million [THB3.32 billion] to the Covax programme to procure vaccines for developing nations,” the post went on to say.
“China’s vaccine cooperation with other countries has no political motives other than the ultimate goal of overcoming the Covid-19 crisis as soon as possible,” the embassy post added.
Man holds Bangkok bus conductor, passenger hostage at gunpoint
A 24-year-old jobless gunman took a Bangkok bus conductor and passenger hostage on Sunday night but peacefully surrendered early on Monday after a hours-long standoff with Lat Phrao police, thanks to his mother who talked him into finally giving up.
Police were alerted at 9.30pm on Sunday that the gunman was holding a conductor and passenger of public bus No 8 hostage on Happy Land 1 Road in Bangkok’s Bang Kapi district.
Officers rushed to the scene and found the bus parked on the rightmost lane of the road, with three persons in the vehicle.
Nuanphan Muangjeeb, 30, the bus conductor, said the gunman boarded the bus at Victory Monument on Sunday evening but refused to get off when the bus service terminated at Happy Land.
“Instead, he pulled out a gun and ordered the driver to drive the bus back to Victory Monument to drop him off,” she said.
Man holds Bangkok bus conductor, passenger hostage at gunpoint
According to Nuanphan, driver Sayan Reugphichit, 39, told the gunman that he had to get his timesheet signed by an official at the bus stop and then quickly scooted away before the gunman could do anything, leaving only the conductor and the passenger on the bus.
“The gunman then told me to shut the bus doors,” she added.
Police subsequently arrived at the scene and surrounded the bus until 11pm, when the gunman finally got off the vehicle and promptly squatted on the footpath, still armed with his weapon. He refused to surrender.
Man holds Bangkok bus conductor, passenger hostage at gunpoint
Officers managed to locate his mother and at 1.55am on Monday took her to the scene to convince her son to turn himself in. He eventually complied.
No one was injured in the incident.
Man holds Bangkok bus conductor, passenger hostage at gunpoint
At 2.30am police revealed the gunman’s name is Pheeranat Saengchan and he is 24 years old. He was a temporary worker at a company but is now out of a job and mired in financial problems.
“A preliminary investigation revealed that he robbed a convenience store in Bang Sue on July 7, using the same 11mm handgun, and escaped with THB8,000,” the police said.
“We are investigating whether or not the suspect had ever participated in the anti-government rallies at Victory Monument,” police added.
Thailand recorded 17,491 Covid-19 cases and 242 deaths on Monday
Ministry of Public Health reported on Monday (August 23) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 17,491 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 398 of whom have been found in prisons.
Death toll increased by 242, while 22,134 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.
Cumulative cases in the country are at 1,066,786 with 9,562 total deaths.
Police arrested 35 individuals on Sunday for participating in an anti-government rally at Sam Liam Din Daeng junction in Bangkok’s Ratchathewi district, said Metropolitan Police deputy chief Pol Maj-General Piya Tawichai.
The Thalu Fah group protesters, who had gathered at Victory Monument on Sunday evening, blocked traffic until Din Daeng Junction. They reportedly threw firecrackers, flares and ping pong bombs at crowd-control police, who have been deployed in the areas to control the situation.
35 held for anti-government rally
“Two police officers were injured on Sunday,” Piya said. “After the protesters dispersed at around 7pm, officials arrested 35 of them, confiscated 20 motorcycles as well as some guns and explosives.”
According to the police, the suspects were charged with public gathering of more than 10 people in violation of the Emergency Decree on Public Administration during an Emergency Situation. Those possessing explosive devices will also be charged for violating the Explosives, Fireworks and Imitation Firearms Act.
35 held for anti-government rally
Piya added that from July 1 till August 22, police had issued summons to 118 individuals – 16 of whom are protest leaders and 102 rally participants – so they can be informed of the charges before officers pursue legal action against them for their roles in previous anti-government protests.
Thundershowers forecast for some areas in all regions across country
A weak southwest monsoon prevails across Thailand, the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, and will bring thundershowers to some areas in all regions across the country, the Meteorological Department said on Monday.
It added that tropical storm Omais over the East China Sea is moving north and will have no effect on Thailand.
Here’s the weather forecast for the next 24 hours:
North: Thundershowers in 30 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 23-27 degrees and highs of 33-37 degrees Celsius.
Northeast: Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 23-26 degrees and highs of 32-38 degrees Celsius.
Central: Thundershowers in 30 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 24-26 degrees, highs of 36-37 degrees Celsius.
East: Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 24-27 degrees, highs of 33-36 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
South (east coast): Thundershowers in 30 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 22-25 degrees, highs of 31-35 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
South (west coast): Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 20-25 degrees, highs of 31-32 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
Bangkok and surrounding areas: Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 25-27 degrees, highs of 33-37 degrees Celsius.