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Beware of apps having similar names as govt campaign, ministry warns

NationalJan 18. 2021

By THE NATION

The Ministry of Finance has warned people not to download the “RaoChana” mobile application.

Kulaya Tantitemit, Fiscal Policy Office acting director and the ministry’s spokeswoman, said that the “RaoChana” mobile application is not related to the government’s monthly cash handout campaign which has the same name.

The “RaoChana” (We Win) campaign aims to hand out two monthly payments of Bt3,500 to low-income self-employed people and farmers to mitigate financial impact from the fresh Covid-19 outbreak. Those under the social security system, government officials, and employees of state enterprises will not qualify under the campaign.

“The campaign is not yet open for registration,” she said. “Please be careful not to input personal information into any mobile application that is not officially released by the Ministry of Finance.

“The Cabinet would approve the details of the RaoChana campaign on Tuesday and would officially announce the steps to register under the campaign,” she added. “Please only obtain information relating to the RaoChana campaign from the Ministry of Finance at www.mof.go.th, its official Facebook page at @MoFNewsStationThailand, or contact the Fiscal Policy Office at 0-2273-9020 ext. 3558, 3569, 3566, 3557.”

The ministry also is investigating the application as well as other applications with similar names, which might have fraudulent intentions, added Kulaya.

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Private sector contributes to field hospitals to cope with Covid-19

NationalJan 18. 2021

By THE NATION

The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) and its partners will build a field hospital in Samut Sakhon area to cope with the latest Covid-19 outbreak there.

FTI president Suphan Mongkolsuthee said the hospital will have 200 beds.

“FTI will provide all the funding, estimated at Bt6 million to Bt10 million,” he said. “We are now surveying the location and will start construction immediately if the project is approved by nearby communities.”

Suphan added that FTI chose Samut Sakhon to establish a field hospital as there are several migrant workers in the province who have contracted the virus and who might have trouble accessing the same level of healthcare services as Thai nationals.

“If the first hospital was successful, we might consider building more in other provinces,” he added.

Meanwhile, Kalin Sarasin, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) has said that the TCC in cooperation with Siam Cement Group (SCG) had donated portable toilets as well as medical equipment to the Ministry of Public Health’s field hospital in Samut Sakhon to increase its efficiency in patient care. “Entrepreneurs who are members of TCC are also considering donating lands in Samut Sakhon to build additional field hospitals in case we need more,” he added.

Amphai Hankraiwilai, president of the Samut Sakhon Chamber of Commerce, said that currently the province had three field hospitals for treating and quarantine of Covid-19 patients.

“Two government-run hospitals are at Central Prawn Market and Provincial Central Stadium, while a private-built hospital was converted from a factory of Pattaya Food Group into a 600-bed field hospital,” she said.

“Private companies in the province have so far donated more than 50 rai (8 hectares) of land and factories to build field hospitals in case the pandemic situation in the province worsens.”

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Upper Thailand gets cooler with strong winds, monsoon strengthens in South

NationalJan 18. 2021

By THE NATION

The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Monday that the rather strong high-pressure system from China covers the Northeast and will extend to cover the upper country by today, bringing temperatures down by 3-5°C, accompanied by strong winds.

Meanwhile, the strong northeast monsoon prevails over the Gulf and the South, triggering strong winds and waves up to 2-3 metres high in the lower Gulf. All ships should proceed with caution and small boats should keep ashore until January 20, the department said.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

North: Cool to cold weather with strong winds; temperature lows of 12-19 degrees Celsius and highs of 29-33°C; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 5-12°C.

Northeast: Cold weather with strong winds; temperature lows of 9-15°C and highs of 25-30°C; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 6-13°C.

Central: Cool weather with strong winds; temperature lows of 17-19°C, highs of 32-33°C.

East: Cool weather with strong winds; temperature lows of 16-21°C, highs of 30-34°C; waves 2 metres high and over 2 metres offshore.

South (east coast): Cool weather with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 19-22°C, highs of 29-32°C; waves 2-3 metres high and over 3 metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Partly cloudy with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 21-24°C, highs of 31-33 l°C; waves 1-2 metres high and 2 metres offshore.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Cool weather with strong winds; temperature lows of 18-20°C, highs of 31-33°C.

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Value of health insurance premiums to rise 1.59% this year

NationalJan 18. 2021

By The Nation

Health insurance premiums are expected to grow 1.59 per cent this year amid worries over the Covid-19 outbreak, the Insurance Commission said on Friday.

Commission secretary-general Suthipol Taweechaikarn said total premiums are expected to rise to Bt101 billion in 2021, compared to Bt99 billion last year.

“Uncertainty over the Covid-19 outbreak has triggered demand for health insurance policies as medical expenses are likely to increase every year,” he said.

Tokio Marine Life Insurance (Thailand) said demand for health coverage policies has grown among customers with high purchasing power. Deputy CEO Somphot Keitkraival said the company will offer a new health insurance policy which covers medical treatment, physical therapy, medical check-up and vaccination, with premiums starting at Bt15,000 annually.

“The company aims to increase health insurance premiums to 50 per cent this year from 40 per cent last year,” he said.

Cigna Insurance CEO Teerawut Sutanaseriporn said his company is employing digital tech to meet customer demand in the new normal era.

“Also, we will increase channels to provide information for customers and grant additional privileges for those who use digital platforms,” he said.

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Thailand’s Covid-19 situation ‘not a cause for concern yet’

NationalJan 18. 2021

By The Nation

Thailand’s Covid-19 situation is not severe, an infectious disease expert at MedPark Hospital, said on Sunday.

Asst Prof Mondej Sookpranee said the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Johns Hopkins (JHU) evaluate the situation in each country once they receive information.

According to WHO, Thailand’s number of Covid-19 cases from December 14 to January 14 and 24-hour average were 7,025 and 271 respectively, accounting for an infection rate of 10.2 per cent and 0.4 per cent respectively per 100,000 population.

Meanwhile, JHU said the country’s number of Covid-19 cases in the past 30 days and 24-hour average were 7,189 and 459 respectively, accounting for an infection rate per 100,000 population of 10.4 per cent and 0.7 per cent respectively.

“Both organisations have evaluated Thailand in “not high burden and not growing” countries, thanks to people’s cooperation to contain the spread of the virus”, Mondej said.

He urged Thais to continue following the government’s Covid-19 prevention measures.

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Nation TV provides relief to flood victims in deep South

NationalJan 17. 2021Photos: Charoon Thongnual

By The Nation

Nation TV, in collaboration with volunteer partners, launched a caravan to deliver 2000 sets of survival bags to flood victims in the three deep South provinces. Pattani got 853 bags, Yala 872 and Narathiwat 275.

At CS Pattani Hotel, the Nation TV news team brought the donations through Nation Foundation under the scheme “Nation TV: Joining together to fight flood disaster”. They were joined by Pattani Task Force to help deliver the aid to the victims.

Floodwater levels in some areas of Pattani province are still high, such as in Ban Yuemo village, Moo 8, Barahoh subdistrict in Muang district of Pattani.

Photos: Charoon Thongnual

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Isoc denies role after protesters’ guard, missing overnight, is found

NationalJan 17. 2021

By The Nation

Pro-democracy protesters and guards gathered outside the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) in Bangkok’s Dusit district on Sunday, demanding the agency investigate an officer who had detained Mongkol Santimetakul, a guard member after the demonstration at Samyan Mitrtown in Pathumwan district on Saturday.

Pompuen Panpuangkaew, another protester guard, said they had lost contact with Mongkol after he posted a Facebook message “help” at 11pm on Saturday.

“At 1am on Sunday, a person who claimed to be an Isoc officer contacted us via Mongkol’s Line account that he will blindfold the detained guard, tie his hands before releasing him in another province,” Pompuen said.

Later, the police officers asked protesters and guards to hold the demonstration outside the Metropolitan Police Bureau to facilitate traffic on the Si Ayutthaya intersection.

At11am, Mongkol posted a Facebook message that he would be released soon, adding that it was a misunderstanding.

However, the protesters and guards went to Phya Thai Police Station to lodge a complaint because they believed that Mongkol was forced to post the message.

At 1pm, a person who claimed to be an Isoc officer contacted Pompuen that he would release Mongkol at BTS Kheha Station in Samut Prakarn province.

Later, another group of guards found Mongkol without wounds and took him to Bang Pu Police Station to lodge a complaint.

Meanwhile, Isoc spokesman, Maj-General Thanathip Sawangsaeng said on Sunday that the agency was not involved in this case.

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People want police to tackle narcotics problem: poll

NationalJan 17. 2021

By The Nation

Most of the respondents of a Super Poll opinion survey want police officers to tackle the narcotics problem as soon as possible.

Noppadon Kannika, Super Poll Research Centre director, said the survey was conducted between January 10 and 15 with 1,675 respondents nationwide.

When asked which problems the police should tackle immediately (multiple choice):

91.8 per cent said narcotics;

87.8 per cent said gambling dens;

87.3 per cent said illegal migrant workers;

86.1 per cent said online crimes;

85.3 per cent said human trafficking.

When asked about reasons to reform the police force:

98.0 per cent said there were many problems, such as inequality in the judiciary system, gambling dens, illegal migrant workers and narcotics;

2.0 per cent did not respond.

When asked about ways to reform the police (multiple choice):

98.9 per cent said police should investigate corruption among its officers;

98.7 per cent said the prime minister should seek commanders who are ready to reform the police;

98.3 per cent said the police should allow citizens to participate in the reform;

95.8 per cent said the prime minister should initiate reform of police.

When asked about respondents’ confidence in the prime minister’s move to reform the police:

96.2 per cent said they had confidence;

3.8 per cent said they had no confidence.

When asked if the Covid-19 crisis was the best time for the prime minister to reform the police:

98.6 per cent said they agreed;

1.4 per cent said they did not agree.

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Safety of Thai people most important for vaccination: PM

NationalJan 17. 2021

By The Nation

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has said he would not risk Thai lives by rushing to approve vaccines that have not been fully tested

.In a message on his Facebook page on Sunday, the PM refused to let Thais be guinea pigs.

The PM alluded to recent news about side-effects or adverse effects from Covid-19 vaccine in some foreign countries. He said Thailand must wait to hear opinions of experts on whether the symptoms were vaccine-related, or other factors, such as certain medical conditions, physical condition, or age, including whether the rate of side-effects is acceptable?

He said some countries wanted to start vaccination early, even before the efficacy and safety of the vaccine had been fully tested.

“I have an important policy — to ensure that the vaccine is safe, so it can be used for Thai people,” he said.

The National Vaccine Committee will advise and closely supervise the whole process, he said.

Success in curbing Covid-19 can be better achieved by cooperation and implementation of various measures, especially wearing a mask at all times, frequently washing hands, and social distancing. In addition, if you want the disease control to be effective, scan the QR Code “ThaiChana” every time you are in public, and using the app “MorChana” will be very good, he said.

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Villagers in Mae Sot allow use of resort as Covid-19 rehabilitation centre

NationalJan 17. 2021

By The Nation

A village community in Tak province has given the green light to health authorities for the use of a resort as a rehabilitation facility for people who have recovered from Covid-19.

Some 110 villagers in Mae Pa Klang, in Mae Sot district, allowed the Tak province public health authorities to use Huen Kam Fah Resort with an area of more than 100 rai (16 hectares), located 2km away from the community, as a rehabilitation facility for patients who have recovered from Covid-19 for seven days.

Mae Sot sheriff Chaiyapruek Chianthanarak explained to the public the need for a rehabilitation facility and measures to monitor 24 hours a day, while a Mae Sot health officer clarified that asymptomatic patients who had recovered from symptoms would be kept in quarantine and supervised throughout. They said a patient who is asymptomatic and returns home, might engage in travel and increase the risk of spreading the virus. Even if there are no symptoms, the virus may be left in the body.

Villagers attending the meeting asked for a list of names and the number of people who need rehabilitation, both inbound and outbound. The villagers reportedly unanimously raised their hands to cooperate with the government sector in preventing the transmission of Covid-19.