#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40006789

A cabinet meeting on Tuesday approved the Public Health Ministry’s proposal to purchase 60 million AstraZeneca Covid-19 doses in 2022, Prime Minister’s Office spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said.

“According to the purchase contract with AstraZeneca Plc, the first lot of 15 million doses will be delivered within the first quarter of 2022, followed by 30 million doses in the second quarter and 15 million in the third quarter,” he said.

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“The cabinet also gave approval for the Department of Disease Control to buy an additional 165,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine from Spain, on top of the 449,500 doses previously approved for purchase from the country on September 14, taking total vaccine doses from Spain to 614,500,” he said.

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Thanakorn also said the vaccines from Spain are a result of Thailand’s negotiations to buy vaccines from the European Union, and that all 614,500 doses will be delivered in October.

“Besides AstraZeneca, Thailand has more plans to buy/accept via donation other types of Covid-19 vaccines until the end of this year to complement the national vaccine procurement plan of 2021,” Thanakorn added.

From February 28 to September 27 (212 days), Thailand has administered 51.3 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine, with 31.8 million people receiving their first jabs and 18.4 million getting their second jabs. Some 1.1 million people have received a booster shot or the third jab.

Published : September 29, 2021

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40006786

Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai met with US Senator Tammy Duckworth on Tuesday to thank the Congresswoman for helping push the donation of one million more doses of Pfizer vaccine to Thailand, and to exchange views on important issues including cooperation on tackling climate change.

The discussions took place on Tuesday, during Don’s trip to New York for the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The meeting came after the Thai government was accused of going slow on processing the relevant documentation, reportedly delaying the US Covid-19 vaccine donation.

The incident caused both countries’ embassies to ask the US government to clarify whether the US side had not yet at that time cleared the documentation and the donation.

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The Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson then announced on Thursday that Minister Don would discuss the issue with Senator Tammy in person at the White House.

Don thanks US Senator Tammy for coordinating vaccine donation

At the meeting, Don thanked the Congresswoman for coordinating the donation of an additional one million vaccine doses, bringing the total donation of the Pfizer vaccine to 2.5 million doses. Don and Tammy also discussed guidelines for promoting cooperation on climate change, as Thailand will host the APEC summit in 2022.

They also discussed cooperation on reviving the economy and strengthening supply chain stability, besides exchanging views on promoting free trade.

Related news:

• US donation of Pfizer delayed by lack of response from Thai govt: Congresswoman Duckworth
• Singapore delivers AZ doses; Anutin says US not ready to ship Pfizer donation
• BMA starts inoculation of students with Pfizer vaccine

Don thanks US Senator Tammy for coordinating vaccine donation

Published : September 29, 2021

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40006784

Daily Covid-19 infections are now showing a downward trend thanks to lockdown measures and should drop to around 5,000 people per day before the end of October, Public Health permanent secretary Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit said on Tuesday.

“The number of severe cases that require respirators have also declined to about 3,000 per day, from 4,000 to 5,000 in previous weeks,” he said.

“The reason for this is due to the increased vaccination rate that helps prevent against severe symptoms.”

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Kiattiphum said that currently about 50 per cent of Thais have received their first jabs while 25 per cent have been fully vaccinated.

“We expect this ratio to increase to 60 per cent and 50 per cent, respectively, by the end of October, and then to 80 per cent and 70 per cent by December, which is the vaccination target to achieve herd immunity,” he said.

“If we can keep up this trend, it is estimated that by around March 2022 the outbreak will be at a fairly controllable level and people can continue their daily lives almost similar to the normal situation in the past, but they still need to wear face masks in public,” Kiattiphum pointed out.

“These are just mathematically based estimations. There are still factors that could cause a spike in daily infections, such as emergence of new clusters, a new mutated variant, and people letting their guard down after lockdown measures are lifted,” he added.

On Wednesday morning the ministry reported 10,414 new infections in the past 24 hours and an additional 122 deaths.

Published : September 29, 2021

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40006778

Ministry of Public Health reported on Wednesday (September 29) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 10,414 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 178 of whom have been found in prisons.

Death toll increased by 122, while 11,580 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country are at 1,591,829 with 16,620 total deaths.
 

Published : September 29, 2021

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40006777

A cabinet meeting on Tuesday approved the extension of Special Tourist Visas (STV) for another year or until September 30, 2022, said deputy government spokesperson Traisulee Traisoranakul.

The move had been proposed by the Tourism and Sports Ministry to attract foreign tourists with high purchasing power who wish to stay in Thailand from 90 days to 270 in a bid to revive the tourism industry that has been hammered by the Covid-19 crisis.

Cabinet okays extension of Special Tourist Visa for another year

The ministry reported that in the past year 5,609 foreign tourists applied for the STV, generating an estimated income of Bt1.24 billion for the economy. Most of the long-stay tourists are from China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain and Croatia.

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The average visiting period of STV holders are 90 days, while the most visited provinces after quarantine are Bangkok, Surat Thani, Phuket, Udon Thani, Chonburi, Chiang Mai and Rayong.

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The Special Tourist Visa was first approved on October 1, 2020.

Applicants must be from a Covid-19 low-risk country and must undergo alternate state quarantine in hospitals or hotels for at least 14 days before embarking on travel in Thailand.

Published : September 29, 2021

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40006770

Easterly and southeasterly winds prevail over Thailand while a weak southwest monsoon lies over the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, resulting in less rain across the country, the Meteorological Department said on Wednesday.

The department advised all ships in the Andaman Sea to proceed with caution and keep away from areas experiencing thundershowers as waves are about 1-2 metres high and over 2 metres in areas with thundershowers.

Here’s the weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Thundershowers in 30 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 25-26 degrees, highs of 33-34 degrees Celsius.

North: Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 22-25 degrees and highs of 32-35 degrees Celsius.

Northeast: Thundershowers in 30 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 22-25 degrees and highs of 34-35 degrees Celsius.

Central: Thundershowers in 30 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 23-26 degrees, highs of 32-35 degrees Celsius.

East: Thundershowers in 30 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 24-25 degrees, highs of 33-35 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

South (east coast): Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 24-25 degrees, highs of 32-35 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 33-34 degrees Celsius; waves 1-2 metres high and over 2 metres during thundershowers.

Source: Thailand Meteorological Department

Published : September 29, 2021

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40006764

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved immediate registration of undocumented migrant workers in a bid to curb further outbreaks of Covid-19.

The move means foreign workers who do not have work permits can be registered quickly so they are covered by disease controls.

Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin explained that the Covid-19 infection rate remained high in industrial areas of Bangkok and surrounding provinces.

The large number of undocumented migrant workers in these areas triggered a high risk of outbreaks.

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The Labour Ministry had therefore proposed guidelines for managing workers from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.

Under the Cabinet-approved proposal, employers of unregistered migrant workers are required to register them with work permits. The move will enable authorities to keep tabs on migrant workers so as to strengthen disease controls.

Published : September 28, 2021

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40006763

In a bid to encourage investment in electric vehicles (EV), the Industry Ministry is joining hands with Siam Cement Group (SCG) to boost the use of EVs in the industrial sector.

The ministry is also in the process of inviting other large companies like PTT and Thai Beverage to promote the use of EVs to create domestic demand and attract more investment.

SCG will gradually start replacing its fleet of trucks and buses with electric vehicles as part of its aim to become 100 per cent electrified by 2035.

Published : September 28, 2021

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40006761

The price of a pack of cigarettes is expected to rise 6-8 baht from next month after Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting approved the new tobacco tax structure.

The new tax will be effective from October 1 (Friday), according to Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith.

On September 30, the Excise Department will check stocks of cigarettes in tobacco factories and import warehouses to combat hoarding that seeks to exploit the old tax rate. All cigarettes in stock will be subject to the new tariffs from October 1.

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Since 2017, two tax rates have been imposed on cigarettes: 20 per cent for packs priced Bt60 or less, and 40 per cent for packs over Bt60. The Excise Department has not yet said whether the new structure will be a single or double rate, only that the tax will be higher.

Published : September 28, 2021