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157 new Covid-19 cases confirmed, including 21 Thais who sneaked back into country

NationalJan 13. 2021

By The Nation

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration on Wednesday reported 157 new cases, including 25 people who tested positive at border areas and in quarantine.

Of the 157, Bangkok confirmed 24 cases, Samut Sakhon 25 and Samut Prakan 15.

Some 90 of the 157 contracted the virus after visiting high-risk places or being in occupations that exposed them to virus patients.

Proactive testing led to the discovery of 42 positive cases in Samut Sakhon (six foreigners and four Thais), Pathum Thani (nine from Myanmar, three other foreigners and one Thai), Rayong (12 Thais), Chon Buri (five Thais), and Samut Prakan (one Thai and one from Myanmar).

Meanwhile, 21 Thais caught returning from Myanmar without permission on January 11 have Covid-19 with five of them are asymptomatic.

Also, two Thais who flew back from Iceland and the United States as well as a Dutch man from Germany and a man from Qatar have Covid-19.

As of Wednesday, 211 patients in the second wave have recovered and been discharged.

The number of confirmed cases in Thailand has now increased to 10,991. Of these, 8,791 contracted Covid-19 domestically, including 3,006 found after proactive testing. Some 2,200 were returnees.

So far, 6,943 patients have recovered and been discharged, 3,981 are presently being treated in hospital, and 67 have died.

According to Worldometer, as of midnight on Tuesday, the number of confirmed cases globally has risen to 92 million (an increase of 663,353 in 24 hours), 65.82 million have recovered, 24.21 million are active cases (110,135 in severe condition) and 1.97 million have died (up by 15,711).

Thailand ranks 128th on the global list of most cases. The US tops the list with 23.37 million, followed by India 10.49 million, Brazil 8.19 million, Russia 3.44 million and the United Kingdom 3.16 million.

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Alleged ‘K Nomphong’ sellers say they bought deadly drug on Facebook

NationalJan 13. 2021

By THE NATION

Three narcotics sellers, arrested from allegedly selling the deadly “K Nomphong” powder, confessed that they had purchased the powder via Facebook.

The police reportedly arrested the three on Wednesday. Two of them, aged 19 and 20, were charged at a condominium located in Lam Luk Ka district, Pathum Thani.

The third suspect, named Rattanachot (his surname was not revealed), 21, was arrested at a village in Bangkok’s Sai Mai district.

The three arrests came after an alleged dealer named Sirikarn, 23, was nabbed on Monday in the district.

The three dealers confessed they had bought K Nomphong from a Facebook user called “High”, said to be aged around 20.

K Nomphong is a mixture of ketamine, methamphetamine, heroin and a sleeping pill called “Rose”. It is believed to be popular on the outskirts of Bangkok near Pathum Thani province.

The drug is called K Nomphong because it looks like milk powder, or “nomphong” in Thai.

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Govt plans to create 1,000 SMEs in five years with revenue exceeding Bt1 billion per year

NationalJan 13. 2021Kittipong Promwong

By THE NATION

The Education Ministry will work with the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) in setting up an innovation fund for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), with the aim of creating at least 1,000 start-up SMEs with revenue exceeding Bt1 billion per year within five years.

Kittipong Promwong, director of the Office of the National Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy Council (ONES), said the campaign would be financed by two funds.

One is the Research and Innovation Promotion Fund, from which the government has allocated Bt20 billion per year to research-based government agencies.

“This fund would be used to promote research on products that can be marketed immediately. Related research agencies will join hands with private partners to come up with these products, which will yield commercial profit as soon as the research is completed,” he said.

The other fund will be established by ONES and the FTI and will be managed by private partners.

“The innovation fund for SMEs will be replenished partly by large corporations, which the government aims to attract by granting up to 200 per cent tax exemption privileges based on their contributions to the fund,” Kittipong said.

“In addition, the government will help support the fund at a maximum Bt1 billion per year for three years.”

According to Kittipong, the innovation fund will help SMEs create marketable innovations and cooperate with large corporations to mass manufacture them for wider markets, including government procurement.

“We expect the fund to be fully operational by 2022,” he said.

Kittipong also said there are about 5,000 SMEs which earn Bt400 million-Bt500 million per year and cannot expand any further because they lack innovation and funds to upgrade existing manufacturing technologies.

“The Education Ministry will task agencies under its administration, including universities, research centres and innovation funds, to help these SMEs create innovations that will push their revenue to Bt1 billion,” he said.

“We expect to create at least 100 Bt1-billion SMEs this year and steadily improve until we achieve a target of 1,000 SMEs in five years,” he added.

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Diving paradises Kra, Losin islands to become protected areas

NationalJan 13. 2021

By The Nation

The islands of Kra and Losin in the Gulf of Thailand will become coastal marine protected areas, government deputy spokeswoman Ratchada Thanadirek said on Tuesday.

The Cabinet has approved two ministerial regulation drafts covering protection of marine animals and coral reefs at the two small islands in the gulf.

Kra island falls under the administration of Nakhon Si Thammarat province and Losin island comes under Pattani.

The drafts focus on prohibiting any individual from using sea mines, releasing waste into the sea, land reclamation or any other activity that would harm rare sea creatures or coral reef, Ratchada said.

She added that the two islands have one of the most healthy ecosystems in the Gulf of Thailand. They are well known for being the best hotspots for diving. Kra island is a vital area for rare sea creatures such as the green turtle and hawksbill turtle because this is where they lay eggs.

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The Thai currency is likely to move between 29.93 and 30.13, said Jitipol Puksamatanan, the head of the Easy Invest team at SCB Securities.

NationalJan 13. 2021

By THE NATION

The baht opened at 30.04 to the US dollar on Wednesday, strengthening from 30.10 at close on Tuesday.

On Tuesday night, the S&P 500 and Stoxx 600 indexes rose only 0.04 per cent, supported by bank and energy stocks.
At the same time, investors did not rush to sell stocks that benefit from Covid-19 policies. Most investors did not move, waiting to see in which direction US politics was headed, Jitipol said.

The gold price meanwhile rose to $1,858 (Bt55,903) per ounce after the dollar index dropped by 0.47 per cent to 90 points. The yen strengthened to lower than $104, reflecting the fact that investors were still confident in Asian markets despite the Covid-19 situation.

The US Ten-Year Treasury yield stayed at 1.15 per cent.

In Thailand, foreign investors decided to buy Thai stocks after China’s CSI 300 index rose by 2.85 per cent yesterday, Jitipol said.

He added that there would be more investment in Asian markets if returns were better than their western counterparts, and this would be to the baht’s advantage.

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Driving licence renewal rules relaxed

NationalJan 13. 2021

By THE NATION

Those who need to renew their driver’s licence will not be required to undergo written or driving tests for now in a bid to curb Covid-19 from spreading, the Department of Land Transport announced on its Facebook page @PR.DLT.News on Tuesday.

The tests have been cancelled for people whose licence has expired as per the following:

> The holder of a licence that has expired more than a year ago but not exceeding three years to the dates between January 4 and March 31, 2021, will not be required to take a written test. However, they will need to pass a physical checkup and classroom training.

> The holder of a licence that has expired for more than three years to the dates between January 4 and March 31, 2021, will not be required to take a driving test. However, they will need to pass a physical checkup, classroom training and a written test.

The department will also accept required documents (a doctor’s certificate, classroom training certificate) that have recently expired to be usable when renewing a licence until March 31.

It has informed the Royal Thai Police that holders of expired licences can still use these for identification when required by police until March 31.

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Bangkok surveys areas to set up more field hospitals with up to 1,700 beds

NationalJan 13. 2021

By THE NATION

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is converting the Bangkhuntian Geriatric Hospital into a field hospital for quarantine and Covid-19 treatment, with a capacity of up to 600 beds, Bangkok Deputy Governor Pol Lt-General Sophon Phisutthiwong said on Tuesday, adding that the BMA aims to set up more field hospitals.

“We are surveying other areas to set up 3-4 more field hospitals, with an estimated capacity of 1,700 beds,” he said after a key meeting. “Officials are in talks with local communities to ensure mutual understanding.”

The meeting also acknowledged 32 new Covid-19 patients in Bangkok on Tuesday, most of whom travelled to high-risk provinces such as Samut Sakhon, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat, and urged officials working at eight checkpoints across the province to maintain strict screening procedures for travellers coming from other provinces.

The eight checkpoints are:

– Phutthamonthon Sai 3 intersection, Borommaratchachonnani Road, Thawi Watthana district.

– In front of Asia University, Phetkasem Road, Nong Khaem district.

– In front of PTT gas station, Rama II Road Soi 92, Bangkhuntian district.

– In front of Suksa Naree Wittaya School, Ekachai Road, Bang Bon district.

– Warehouse Gate 8, Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Don Muang district.

– Intersection under Maha Nakhon Expressway, Suwintawong Road, Nong Jok district.

– In front of Je Ngor Restaurant, Bang Na-Trat Road.

– In front of PTT gas station, Kanchanapisek Road, Talingchan district.

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Authorities crack down on used medical gloves racket in Pathum Thani

NationalJan 13. 2021

By THE NATIONA Pathum Thani warehouse owner was arrested for allegedly manufacturing and selling used medical gloves.

The Consumer Protection Police Division in cooperation with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) raided a warehouse in Pathum Thani’s Khlong 7 subdistrict on Tuesday after receiving a tip-off that the establishment stored used medical gloves for the purpose of reselling.

“Officials found 654 bags of used rubber and nitrile gloves and more than 30,000 empty boxes as well as repackaging equipment,” said FDA deputy permanent secretary Suphatra Boonserm.

“The estimated market value of these gloves is over Bt100 million.”

Police charged the warehouse owner with violating the Medical Device Act BE 2551 for manufacturing medical equipment without a licence and making and selling unsafe medical equipment. The maximum punishment is three years imprisonment or a Bt300,000 fine, or both.

Suphatra said the reselling racket has resurfaced following rising demand for gloves after the new wave of Covid-19 in Thailand. She urged consumers to verify the manufacturer before buying gloves.

“You can visit www.fda.moph.go.th to check the list of FDA approved manufacturers or call FDA hotline 1556,” she said. “You can also call 1556 to report illegal manufacturing, importing or selling of health-related products.”

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Cool-to-cold weather with strong wind in most parts of Thailand

NationalJan 13. 2021

By THE NATION

The high-pressure system over upper Thailand is weakening, but the area will continue to experience cold weather with strong wind, while mountaintops are still cold to very cold, the Meteorological Department said on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the strong northeast monsoon prevails across the Gulf of Thailand and the South, with waves 2-4 metres high in the lower Gulf. The department advised all ships to proceed with caution and small boats to stay ashore.

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

North: Cold weather with strong wind; temperature lows of 10-15 degrees and highs of 18-27 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 4-11 degrees Celsius.

Northeast: Cold to very cold weather with strong wind; temperature lows of 7-12 degrees and highs of 20-23 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 2-10 degrees Celsius.

Central: Cold weather with strong wind; temperature lows of 14-15 degrees, highs of 25-27 degrees Celsius.

East: Cool to cold weather with strong wind; temperature lows of 14-18 degrees, highs of 26-31 degrees Celsius; waves 1-2 metres high and over 2 metres offshore.

South (east coast): Cool weather with strong wind and thundershowers in 20 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 18-24 degrees, highs of 27-30 degrees Celsius; waves 2-4 metres high and over 4 metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 22-24 degrees, highs of 29-34 degrees Celsius; waves 1-2 metres high and 2 metres offshore.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Cool to cold weather with strong wind; temperature lows of 15-16 degrees, highs of 26-27 degrees Celsius.

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Govt urged to lure novice investors with Super Savings Funds

NationalJan 13. 2021

By THE NATION

The Federation of Thai Capital Market Organisations (Fetco) has suggested that the Super Savings Fund Extra (SSFX) should be made available again, since the total value of SSFX purchased last year was low at Bt9.9 billion.

Fetco chairman Paiboon Nalinthrangkurn said federation members will discuss this idea before taking it to other organisations such as the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

The chairman also added that the low rate of savings creates difficulties for capital market operators.

Meanwhile, the Association of Investment Management Companies (AIMC) added that a random survey last year showed some 20 per cent of SSFX investors were young people or investment novices.

Hence, the AIMC said the government should support SSFX so more novice investors can be pulled into the capital market.