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294 local patients among 315 new Covid-19 cases

NationalJan 03. 2021

By The Nation

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) announced 315 new cases on Sunday, with 21 of them in quarantine facilities.

Of the domestic cases, two were linked to the Samut Sakhon cluster, one was linked to the Rayong cluster, 37 had occupations or went to areas that exposed them to risk of infection and 20 migrant workers tested positive during proactive testing in Nonthaburi and Samut Sakhon provinces.

CCSA spokesman Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin said 234 patients are under investigation to find the source of infection — two in Bangkok, one in Nonthaburi, 38 in Samut Sakhon, 43 in Rayong, 62 in Chonburi, 8 in Samut Prakarn, 68 in Chanthaburi and 12 in Trad.

The 21 patients in quarantine facilities included five foreigners — two Czech Republic nationals coming from Qatar, and two Russians and an Indian from their home countries.

The Thai nationals included four coming from the United States, three each from Egypt and Pakistan, two from Bahrain, and one each from Italy, Indonesia, Kuwait and the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, 38 patients have recovered and been discharged.

The total number of confirmed cases in Thailand has risen to 7,694 – 5,650 of which were contracted domestically, including 1,440 migrant workers and 2,044 returnees. So far, 4,337 have recovered and been discharged, while 64 have died.

According to Worldometer, as of 10am on Sunday, the total number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 84.97 million (up by 549,080), 60 million have recovered, 23.03 million are active cases (106,510 in severe condition) and 1.84 million have died (up by 8,140).

Thailand ranks 136 in the global list of most cases, while the US tops the ranking with 20.9 million, followed by India 10.32 million, Brazil 7.71 million, Russia 3.21 million and France 2.63 million.

The spokesperson said some proposals had been submitted to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to consider for relaxing measures such as allowing eating at tourist places or interprovince travel without quarantine. However, people still need to listen to their provincial administration, he said.

“Each province has its own problem like Tak, which faces illegal border crossing, or Rayong dealing with gambling dens. The local governments have a better understanding of the local risk. So, listen to the provincial announcements also,” said Dr Taweesin.

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Disabled passenger missing as boat sinks in Chao Phraya

NationalJan 03. 2021

By The Nation

One passenger was missing after a long-tailed boat sunk in Chao Phraya River on Saturday night, officers from Pakkred Police Station in Nonthaburi province said.

The incident occurred at the Tha-it Suksa School pier in Pakkred district. The driver and four other passengers survived.

Payom Pumpuang, a 44-year-old villager, said she decided to row a boat to help the four passengers as she heard their appeals for help in the middle of the river.

A police officer said the five passengers aboard the boat were disabled and were unable to talk.

“When the long-tailed boat arrived at the pier, it hit a stump or a log before sinking. The boat driver swam to the shore, but the passengers who could not swim struggled in the boat until the villagers came to save them,” police said.

Police said they had asked divers at Ruamkatanyu Foundation to search for one missing passenger, but they were not successful due to the strong tide.

Kwanchai Pintokaew, the 43-year-old driver of the long-tailed boat, said five disabled people had hired him to visit temples in Koh Kret Island, adding that he didn’t intend to escape from the scene.

“While the boat was sinking, I shouted for help to the villagers before swimming to the shore,” he said.

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Buriram makes quarantine mandatory for flyers from Bangkok

NationalJan 03. 2021

By The Nation

The Department of Airports (DOA) has notified passengers on the Buriram route from January 2 that they will have to quarantine for 14 days according to the provincial announcement.

Apirat Chaiwongnoi, deputy director-general of the Department of Highways and acting director-general of the Department of Airports, said the announcement by the Buriram Communicable Disease Committee stated that passengers travelling from Bangkok via Buriram Airport must go through the following screening process which will be effective from January 2:

1. Register in the health records.

2. Check-in with MorChana application.

3. All passengers must be quarantined in a residence or a place designated by the Buriram Communicable Disease Committee for 14 days without leaving the quarantine area. If they get sick, they must notify the communicable disease control officer within three hours.

4. In the case of passengers who do not wish to quarantine, they must be examined in a laboratory where they will be screened by Rapid Test method at the place designated by the communicable disease control officer or a competent official. The passenger must pay the cost of Bt600 per person. If they test negative, they are not required to quarantine.

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Pub in Bangkok closed as owner tests positive for Covid-19

NationalJan 03. 2021

By The Nation

The owner of Memory 90’s, a pub on Lasalle Road in Bangkok’s Bangna district, said he was infected with Covid-19.

In a Facebook post on Saturday, he said that the restaurant was being closed, while employees were instructed to undergo 14 days of quarantine.

“My Covid-19 test showed positive in the morning and I don’t know which customer spread the virus, so I would like to ask customers who visited the pub from December 21-31 to undergo self-quarantine and monitor their health,” he said.

He added that the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration would announce his case on Sunday.

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New strain of Covid-19 from UK found in four Britons in quarantine

NationalJan 03. 2021

By The Nation

An expert virologist at Chulalongkorn University has said that the mutant coronavirus in the United Kingdom has now been found in Thailand.

Dr Yong Poovorawan said in a Facebook post on January 3 that the Centre for Specialisation in Clinical Virology at the Faculty of Medicine in Chulalongkorn University had decoded the strain of the virus and found a UK coronavirus mutant, also known as B.1.1.7 mutant.

The virus was obtained from a British family of four from Kent, England. They were isolated in an alternative state quarantine hotel under a private hospital care, to ensure the virus does not spread.

Genetic decoding shows that this British mutated virus, which is viewed warily all over the world and has led to suspension of flights from the UK, have two genetic transcripts — mutations at the human cell receptor-binding domain (N501Y), mutation in the spike protein (P681H), spike 69-70 deletion, and other positions.

This strain made the transmission easier and spread rapidly in this family, infecting all four people.

However, this strain will not aggravate the disease in Thailand and is not related to vaccine efficacy. The four British patients are under close watch in controlled conditions, to prevent the virus from spreading. The patients are still in a negative pressure room to ensure they come out without infection.

He added that Thai people should stay assured that the virus has not yet had a chance to spread in the country.

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All department stores to close at 9pm from Monday to help fight Covid-19

NationalJan 03. 2021

By The Nation

The Thai Retailers Association (TRA) and Thai Shopping Centre Association (TSCA) have jointly agreed on a series of steps to help control the spread of Covid-19.

Their agreement covers all shopping centres, including shops in the shopping centres, and involves raising the level of screening measures for stricter safety and sanitation, as well as closing all shopping centres at 9pm beginning Monday.

The moves follow a second wave of Covid-19 outbreak that has spread to over 50 provinces across the country.

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Rains lash South while temperature edges up in cool upper Thailand

NationalJan 03. 2021

By The Nation

The strong high-pressure system that covered upper Thailand has weakened, the Thailand Meteorological Department said on Sunday.

The temperature is expected to go up by 2-4 degrees Celsius, but the weather will remain cool to cold, with strong winds.

People should watch their health in this variable weather, the department said.

The strong northeast monsoon still prevails over the Gulf and the South bringing more rain and isolated heavy rain to the South. Strong winds trigger waves 2-3 metres high in the upper Gulf of Thailand, 2-4 metres high in the lower portion and more than four metres high in thundershowers. All ships should proceed with caution, and small boats should keep ashore, the department said.

From January 4-8, the strong northeast monsoon still prevails over the Gulf and the South, accompanied by the low cell over the lower South China Sea will move to cover Malaysia. More rain and isolated heavy to very heavy rain is forecast for the lower South.

The weather forecast for different regions of the country:

North: Cold in the morning; minimum temperature 10-15°C, maximum 28-31°C; cold to very cold on mountaintops with minimum temperature 2-10°C; northeasterly winds 10-20 kilometres per hour (kph).

Northeast: Cool to cold with strong winds and 1-3°C rise in temperature; minimum temperature 11-17°C, maximum 26-30°C; cold to very cold on mountaintops with minimum temperature 4-8°C; northeasterly winds 20-35kph.

Central: Cool with strong winds and 2-3°C rise in temperature; minimum temperature 16-20°C, maximum 30-32°C; northeasterly winds 15-30kph.

East: Cool with strong winds and a 2-4°C rise in temperature; minimum temperature 20-23°C, maximum 31-33°C; northeasterly winds 20-35kph; waves about two metres high and 2-3 metres offshore.

South (east coast): Cloudy with scattered thundershowers and isolated heavy rain in Songhkla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat provinces; minimum temperature 20-24°C, maximum 29-30°C; Surat Thani northwards: northeasterly winds 20-40kph; waves 2-3 metres and above three metres in thundershowers.

Nakhon Si Thammarat southwards: Northeasterly winds 20-45kph; waves 2-4 metres and above four metres in thundershowers.

South (west coast): Cloudy with isolated thundershowers mostly in Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun provinces; minimum temperature 22-24°C, maximum 30-33°C; northeasterly winds 15-35kph; waves1-2 metres high and about two metres offshore.

Bangkok: Cool with strong winds and a 2-3°C rise in temperature; minimum temperature 20-22°C, maximum 30-33°C; northeasterly winds 15-30kph.

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Schools in 28 provinces to be closed until Jan 31

NationalJan 02. 2021

By The Nation

The Education Ministry on Saturday announced the closure of state and private schools in 28 provinces from January 4-31 in its efforts to curb the second wave of the Covid-19 outbreak.

They are mostly the provinces that the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration has classified as red code. 

The provinces are: Bangkok, Tak, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Lopburi, Singburi, Ang Thong, Nakhon Nayok, Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Ratchaburi, Suphan Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi, Samut Songkhram, Samut Sakhon, Chachoeangsao, Prachinburi, Sa Kaeo, Samut Prakarn, Chanthaburi, Chonburi, Trat, Rayong, Chumphon and Ranong.

During the closure, the schools will have to provide courses via a long-distance learning method or an online channel.

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14 checkpoints set up on routes from Bangkok to other provinces

NationalJan 02. 2021

By THE NATION

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has ordered districts in the province to set up checkpoints on the routes that connect Bangkok to other provinces in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19 during the New Year holidays.

BMA permanent secretary Silapasuay Raweesangsoon on Saturday named the 14 checkpoints to be established at the following locations:

1. In front of Big C, Chaeng Wattana Road, Laksi district

2. Warehouse Gate 7, Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Don Muang district

3. Don Muang Tollway entrance, Don Muang district

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

5. Near BTS Bearing station, Sukhumvit Road, Bangna district

6. In front of Interlink Tower (formerly Nation Tower), Bangna-Trad Road, Bangna district

7. Bangchak entrance of Burapha Withi Expressway, Phra Khanong district

8. In front of Toyota service centre, Ratchaphreuk Road, Taling Chan district

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

10. Under Bhumibol Bridge, Suksawat Road, Ratburana district

11. In front of PTT gas station, Rama II Road Soi 92, Bang Khuntian district

12. In front of Bangkok Local Museum, Liab Khlong Phitthayalongkorn Road, Bang Khuntian district

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

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

“The checkpoints will be set up from January 2 and will operate 24 hours a day. Travellers passing through the checkpoints must undergo Covid-19 screening procedures,” she added.

Related stories:

Bangkok orders closure of 25 types of venues to curb Covid-19 outbreak

One patient succumbs to Covid-19 while 216 new cases found

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PM concerned about drunk driving during New Year holidays

NationalJan 02. 2021

By THE NATION

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has expressed concerns about the increasing number of road accidents during the New Year holidays with drunk driving emerging as the leading cause, Government Spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said on Saturday.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported on Friday that 186 people were killed and over 1,600 injured in road accidents during December 29-31, with 38.04 per cent of accidents caused by drunk driving.

“The PM has urged officials at police checkpoints to strictly follow the screening protocols in inspecting travellers to make sure that their vehicles are in safe condition, motorcyclists wear helmets, the legal speeding limit is respected and there is no drunk driving,” said Anucha. “Officials have also been told to monitor sellers of alcoholic beverages to make sure that they are following the laws.”

Police checkpoints nationwide will also serve Covid-19 preventive efforts, as officials will scan the temperature of the motorists as well as enforce the mandatory face mask policy in public vehicles.

“General Prayut also urged all citizens to prevent road accidents by being extra careful on the road and taking it easy on partying during the New Year festivities,” added Anucha. “Never drive if you had a drink, and always think about your family and the safety of other road users whenever you are behind the wheel.”