Thailand bans specific sunscreens to protect its coral reefs
In a bid to protect coral in its waters and help it flourish, Thailand issued a regulation on Wednesday banning sunscreen containing specific chemicals.
Under a proposal issued by the Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), sunscreen containing oxybenzone (benzophenone-3, BP-3), octinoxate (ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate), 4-methylbenzylid camphor (4MBC), and butylparaben will be banned.
Studies show that these chemicals do not just bleach coral, but also destroy its reproductive system.
As of Wednesday, anybody violating the regulation can face a fine of up to 100,000 baht.
Phuket Sandbox: 14,055 foreign tourists visited in July
Phuket welcomed 14,055 foreign tourists who reserved a total of 190,843 room nights from July 1 to 31, according to Tourism and Sports Ministry statistics on the province’s sandbox programme published on Tuesday.
The top five countries from which foreign visitors arrived during the period were the United States (1,802), followed by the United Kingdom (1,558), Israel (1,455), Germany (847) and France (839).
In the past month, Phuket earned THB829 million from tourists, including THB282 million for accommodation, THB194 million from tourism related products and services, THB124 million from medical or health related services, and THB54 million from other services, the ministry’s statistics showed.
Each foreign tourist spent on average THB58,982 throughout the visit.
The ministry’s economic division estimated that tourist spending in the province in the past month will help generate up to THB1.92 billion of rotating revenue in the local economy both inside and outside the tourism sector, such as agriculture, manufacturing, and energy.
The division also estimated that tourist spending would help increase the province’s GDP by THB816 million, generate more than 2,700 jobs for locals and increase workers’ salaries by a total THB210 million.
The government can expect to collect an additional THB87 million in taxes from all kinds of economic activities in Phuket thanks to the sandbox programme, the division added.
The scheme reopened Phuket to foreign visitors from July 1, aiming to rehabilitate the local tourism industry.
Vaccinated tourists can fly into Phuket and move around freely in the province without having to quarantine. After spending 14 days in Phuket and if they still tested negative, they could then travel to other parts of Thailand.
Cabinet okays THB32 billion aid for schools, students
The Cabinet on Tuesday approved a budget of THB32 billion to support educational expenses of schools and students during the first semester of academic year 2021 amid the Covid-19 crisis, government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said.
“The Education Ministry will receive THB22 billion while the Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Ministry will receive THB10 billion,” he said.
Here are some details of the educational subsidy:
1. Tuition fees will be reduced for the first semester of 2021 for schools under the Education Ministry, which have approximately 10.95 million students, at THB2,000 per student.
2. Supporting schools that have classrooms will receive THB10,000 each. Approximately 30,879 public schools and 4,008 private schools will be eligible for this subsidy.
3. Tuition fees and other expenses of students at the university level will be reduced under the budget of THB10 billion. Some 1.78 million students will be eligible for this subsidy – 1.45 million from public universities, 285,000 at private universities and 44,544 from other institutes under the Higher Education Ministry.
4. Other education-related aid include scholarships, extension of repayment deadlines for student loans, reduction of dormitory fees, and providing employment to students so they can earn extra income.
“The measures aim to help students, parents and education institutes that have been affected by the Covid-19 crisis and the lockdown measures as well as to make sure that students continue to receive quality education despite the pandemic,” Anucha said.
Daily infections and deaths reach new high on Wednesday at 20,200 infections and 188 deaths
Ministry of Public Health reported on Wednesday (August 4) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 20,200 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 187 of whom have been found in prisons.
Death toll increased by 188, which is the country’s new high, while 17,975 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.
Cumulative cases in the country are at 672,385 with 5,503 total deaths.
Daily infections and deaths reach new high on Wednesday at 20,200 infections and 188 deaths
Isolated heavy rains forecast for North, East and South west coast
The North, the East and the South’s west coast are likely to experience isolated heavy showers as a rather strong southwest monsoon prevails over the country, the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, the Meteorological Department said on Wednesday.
It warned people in those areas to beware of the severe conditions that may cause flash floods.
The department also advised all ships to proceed with caution and small boats to keep ashore as waves in the upper Andaman Sea are 2-3 metres high and more than 3 metres during thundershowers.
Here’s the weather forecast for the next 24 hours:
North: Thundershowers in 70 per cent of the area with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees and highs of 30-34 degrees Celsius.
Northeast: Thundershowers in 30 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 24-27 degrees and highs of 32-35 degrees Celsius.
Central: Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 24-26 degrees, highs of 31-35 degrees Celsius.
East: Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the area with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 25-28 degrees, highs of 30-34 degrees Celsius; waves 2 metres high and over 2 metres during thundershowers.
South (east coast): Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 24-26 degrees, highs of 33-35 degrees Celsius; waves 1-2 metres high and 2 metres during thundershowers.
South (west coast): Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the area with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 20-26 degrees, highs of 28-33 degrees Celsius; waves 2-3 metres high and over 3 metres during thundershowers.
Bangkok and surrounding areas: Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 26-28 degrees, highs of 32-34 degrees Celsius.
Thailand and Switzerland cooperating to produce Covid-19 vaccine
Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai met with his Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis on Tuesday for talks on investment in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) and cooperation to produce Covid-19 vaccine.
Ignacio agreed to push Swiss investment in the EEC as well as cooperate with Thailand to support recovery from the impacts of Covid-19. No details were given of Switzerland’s vaccine-production plans in Thailand.
Cassis is on a tour of Southeast Asia to coincide with Switzerland’s donation of 100 respirators and 1 million antigen test kits to help Thailand’s battle against Covid-19. The 26-tonne shipment of medical equipment was flown from Zurich to Bangkok last week.
Don took the opportunity to push for cooperation with Switzerland under the BCG concept (bioeconomy-circular economy-green economy) and discuss the European Free Trade Agreement (EFTA) that focuses on clean energy.
Cassis, who is also vice president of Switzerland, is on an official visit to Thailand to mark the 90th-anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Unsold govt housing to become low-rent accommodation for elderly
Thousands of unsold units from the government’s Baan Eua Arthon (BEA) housing programme will be turned into low-rent accommodation for the elderly, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Tuesday.
There are currently 5,848 unsold BEA units among almost 1 million homes built for the programme.
Of these, 4,089 units will be turned into rental accommodation in four phases, under a three-year project set for completion in 2023.
The low-rent accommodation is being piloted at the “Sukkasem Housing” project in Samut Prakan, where 45 unsold BEA units will be offered to the elderly, civil servants and retired government employees.
Government spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek said the Cabinet on Tuesday approved a budget increase of 11 million baht for the National Housing Authority to upgrade the pilot project for elderly living.
The low-rent project would help reduce debts and boost income for the BEA programme, Prayut said.
Sukkasem Housing will comprise four, 5-storey buildings serviced by elevators. Residential units will be offered in two sizes – 33 square metres and 27 square meters – at a rent of 2,500-3,000 baht. The pilot project will include a healthcare centre, common areas, event areas, etc.
Restaurants in malls can open for delivery: Health Ministry
The Public Health Ministry has given the green light for mall restaurants in 29 “Dark Red” provinces to resume their food-delivery service.
Eateries in malls can open for delivery-only until 8pm, according to a Facebook announcement by Health Department chief Suwanchai Wattana Yingcharoenchai on Tuesday.
Lifting the restriction on food delivery would help reduce the impact of lockdown measures on restaurant workers and operators, he added.
Thai mushroom-pickers who strayed into Laos not injected with Pfizer: Foreign Ministry
The Foreign Ministry on Tuesday debunked rumours that a group of Thais detained in Laos after sneaking across the border have been injected with Pfizer vaccine.
Ministry spokesman Thani Saengrat confirmed that seven Thai mushroom pickers had been detained in Champasak province on August 1 after straying over the border from Sirindhorn district in Ubon Ratchathani.
However, reports in the Thai media that Lao authorities had vaccinated all seven mushroom pickers with Pfizer were false, he said. Thani added that such fake news risked encouraging other Thais to follow in their footsteps.
Laos began mass vaccination on June 16 with Pfizer jabs procured via Covax. Pfizer, which is not yet available in Thailand, is an mRNA vaccine that offers high protection against the Delta variant of Covid-19.
Health authorities in Laos had yet to decide whether to vaccinate the seven Thai encroachers, Thani said.
The seven Thais are being held at Detention Centre 21 in Champasak province. They will be detained for 14 days in line with Lao disease-control measures before being deported back to Thailand.
The Foreign Ministry is coordinating with Champasak authorities to provide assistance to the detainees and ensure all seven can return to Thailand as soon as possible.
Daily infections and deaths reach new high on Wednesday at 20,200 infections and 188 deaths
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