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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004036

Thais lending helping hand to those struggling under pandemic

In July, with the help of the main kitchen in the temple and several other small kitchens, the organization managed to provide 10,000 meals every day to those who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic and could not afford food. In a country known as the Land of Smiles, Thai people are extending helping hands to support each other through the hard times.

BANGKOK, Aug. 1 — At 9:00 a.m. every morning, Tassaneeya Visupakarn arrives at a temporary kitchen in a temple in northern Bangkok and starts her new daily routine to help those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a former human resources officer at various international hotel groups with more than 30 years of experience, Tassaneeya decided to leave her cooperate life and move to a place near the forest for an early retirement.

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However, her dream was disrupted by the COVID-19 outbreak as she had to stay idle in the Thai capital of Bangkok and wait for the situation to improve.

As the number of infections continued to surge, especially in Bangkok and neighboring provinces, Tassaneeya soon found herself a purpose to fulfill — she signed up as a volunteer in May at a non-governmental organization (NGO), which supplies food and other daily necessities for people struggling during the pandemic.

Working in turns with more than 300 other volunteers at the NGO, the Up for Thai, Tassaneeya hoped to render the help she could offer to those in need.

“Everything you see here is volunteer-based and donation-based,” said Chalermchatri Yukol, a Thai film and television series director and founder of the organization. “It’s all about the willpower to help each other.”

Recalling his decision to set up the organization, Chalermchatri said he wanted to help avoid tragedies like his friend who failed to secure a hospital bed after being infected with COVID-19 and passed away.

“There are some minor flaws in the system,” he said, and he wanted to try his best to push for a change.

Chalermchatri and his colleagues got much busier, with new COVID-19 infections and deaths continually breaking records since the latest surge in early April, weighing down the already flagging economic growth.

Photo taken on June 8, 2021 shows two volunteers of Up for Thai cooking vegetables in a temporary kitchen set up in a temple in northern Bangkok, Thailand.

The prolonged outbreak has led to an increasing number of people losing their jobs with many trying to find a new way to earn a living, while exacerbating the situation for those who have already been struggling under the poverty line.

In July, with the help of the main kitchen in the temple and several other small kitchens, the organization managed to provide 10,000 meals every day to those who have lost their jobs and could not afford food.

Besides relief measures from the government in a country known as the Land of Smiles, Thai people are extending helping hands to support each other through the hard times.

Chalermchatri said the organization has been attracting more volunteers from all walks of life, including journalists, engineers, chefs and housewives.

“There are lots of people who we have helped coming back to join us and help more others,” he said.

Besides providing boxed food, the volunteers also took turns to provide information and answering inquiries on hospital beds and patient transportation through hotline setup. They are also working to provide oxygen tanks as well as other necessary life-saving devices to COVID-19 patients, especially those waiting for hospital beds.

While feeling tired from time to time, Tassaneeya has been deeply content with what she is doing and has learned a lot from other volunteers.

“Most of the volunteers have their own jobs, but they still take time to join us and contribute to this work. It’s beautiful to share, so that we could have a better chance to go back to normal life,” she said.

Although the outlook remains dim and uncertain, Chalermchatri believes the silver lining might just lie under the current clouds. “I’m quite happy that what we do has been quite effective as we try to improve things here.”

Photo taken on June 8, 2021 shows a volunteer of the Up for Thai packing eggs in a temporary kitchen set up in a temple in northern Bangkok, Thailand.

Published : August 01, 2021

By : xinhua

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004027

Phuket police officers transferred for alleged involvement in illegal hotel gambling

Three police officers in Phuket suspected of involvement in a hotel room being converted into a gambling den have been transferred, Provincial Police Region 8 said on Saturday.

On July 17, 28 people were arrested when the Crime Suppression Division raided the Nchantra Pool Suite Residences hotel in Muang Phuket district after getting a tip-off that a hotel room had allegedly been converted into a gambling den.

Provincial Police Region 8 Commissioner Pol Lt-General Kitrat Punpetch has set up a committee to investigate the case.

“Provincial Police Region 8 has evidence that three police officers — Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pol Maj-General Pornasak Nuannoo, Phuket Provincial Police Superintendent Pol Colonel Bundit Khaosutham, and Chalong Police Sub-Inspector Pol Lieutenant Pornprasit Waenthong — were involved with the suspects in converting the hotel room into a gambling den,” Kitrat said.

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Phuket police officers transferred for alleged involvement in illegal hotel gambling

He added that Provincial Police Region 8 Deputy Commissioner and Deputy Commander, Pol Maj-General Saksira Phuak-am and Pol Colonel Prawit Sutthiruengarun, will act as Phuket Provincial Police Commander and Superintendent, respectively, until new appointments are made.

Published : August 01, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004025

Technical issues force cancellation of vaccine registrations via app

The Public Health Ministry on Saturday cancelled reservations for Covid-19 vaccine jabs via the Mor Prom application on July 30-31 due to technical issues.

Instead, the ministry advised people to register for vaccine jabs via hospitals nationwide.

“The ministry would like to apologise to the people and hospital staff for any inconvenience,” the Public Health Ministry said.

Published : August 01, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004024

China, Thailand support each other in fighting COVID-19: Thai deputy PM

“With the good cooperation that we have had with each other, we will continue to help each other to the best we can, and this will continue endlessly,” said the Thai deputy PM.

Thai Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said China and Thailand have had good cooperation on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and the two countries will continue to support each other in this regard.

Expressing his gratitude for China’s assistance in fighting the pandemic, Anutin said “the Chinese government has always supported our country to the most extent, and we have received lots of contributions.”

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“I could say loudly that Thai people always feel the wonderful brotherhood between the Chinese and the Thais,” Anutin said in a recent interview with Xinhua.

“With the good cooperation that we have had with each other, we will continue to help each other to the best we can, and this will continue endlessly,” said Anutin, who is also the country’s public health minister.

China’s Sinovac vaccine is the first COVID-19 vaccine that entered Thailand, and has helped the Southeast Asian country kick-start its national inoculation program, with Anutin taking the first shot.

Citizens wait to receive the COVID-19 vaccines developed by Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac in Bangkok, Thailand, May 31, 2021.
 

The Chinese vaccines are the major vaccines that Thailand is using to inoculate its people, said Anutin, expecting that by the year end, the vast majority of the people could be vaccinated.

As Thailand is grappling with the worst wave of the COVID-19 outbreak, with its medical system being overwhelmed, the country needs speedy vaccine rollout to control the situation.

As of Saturday, China has provided to Thailand 19 batches of vaccines, according to data from the Chinese Embassy to Thailand.

Despite the current COVID-19 situation, Anutin said “the plan to open up our country is still there,” hoping that the situation could get better in the next few months and Thailand could welcome tourists from China as ever before.

To reboot the tourism-reliant economy and revive the tourism sector, Thailand aims to open up to fully-vaccinated foreign tourists later this year.

On Saturday, the country reported 18,912 new cases, the highest single-day tally since the pandemic began, raising the total number of infections to nearly 600,000. Cumulative fatalities have risen to 4,857, up by 178 over the last 24 hours, also a record high. 

Published : August 01, 2021

By : xinhua

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004022

Online registration for vaccination opens for expats

Foreign residents in Thailand can now register for the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccination via https://expatvac.consular.go.th.

The Department of Consular Affairs said the data of foreign residents aged between 60 and 74 who had registered for vaccine jab via https://forms.gle/ULAqvx8eiDoX3v5Q9 will be transferred to the new website.

Published : August 01, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004020

Thundershowers forecast for Bangkok, isolated heavy rain in some North, Northeast, South provinces

Isolated heavy rains are expected in the North, the Northeast and in parts of the South, the Thailand Meteorological Department said on Sunday.

Arather strong southwest monsoon prevails over the Andaman Sea, Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand while a low-pressure cell covers upper Vietnam.

People should beware of the severe conditions and flash floods, the department said.

Strong winds and waves up to 2-3 metres high are likely in the upper Andaman Sea and above three metres high during thundershowers, as well as about two metres high in the lower Andaman Sea and the upper Gulf of Thailand with waves above two metres high during thundershowers.

All ships should proceed with caution, and small boats in the upper Andaman Sea should keep ashore, the department said.

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The weather forecast for 24 hours:

North: Scattered thundershowers with isolated heavy rains in Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai, Nan and Tak provinces; minimum temperature 23-26 degrees Celsius, maximum 31-35°C; southwesterly winds 10-25 km/hr.

Northeast: Scattered thundershowers with isolated heavy rains in Bueng Kan, Sakon Nakhon and Nakhon Phanom provinces; minimum temperature 25-26°C, maximum 33-36°C; southwesterly winds 10-25 km/hr.

Central: Scattered thundershowers mostly in Ratchaburi, Kanchanaburi, Suphan Buri, Ayutthaya, Nakhon Pathom and Samut Songkhram provinces; minimum temperature 24-26°C, maximum 33-36°C; southwesterly winds 10-25 km/hr.

East: Scattered thundershowers mostly in Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Chanthaburi and Trat provinces; minimum temperature 24-28°C, maximum 31-34°C; southwesterly winds 20-35 km/hr; waves about two metres high and above two metres during thundershowers.

South (east coast): Scattered thundershowers mostly in Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat provinces; minimum temperature 24-26°C, maximum 32-34°C; southwesterly winds 15-35 km/hr; waves about 1-2 metres high and about two metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Fairly widespread thundershowers with isolated heavy rains in Ranong, Phang Nga and Phuket provinces; minimum temperature 21-27°C, maximum 29-32°C.

Phang Nga northwards: Southwesterly winds 20-40 km/hr; waves 2-3 metres high and above three metres during thundershowers.

Phuket southwards: Southwesterly winds 20-35 km/hr; waves about two metres high and above two metres during thundershowers.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Isolated thundershowers mostly in the afternoon to evening; minimum temperature 25-27°C, maximum 33-36°C; southwesterly winds 10-25 km/hr.

Published : August 01, 2021

By : The Nation