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Thai jasmine rice exports up 1.57% from last year

NationalDec 30. 2020

By THE NATION

Thai jasmine rice exports in the first 11 months of 2020 grew 1.57 per cent from a year earlier, the Commerce Ministry revealed on Wednesday.

Jasmine rice exported from January to November totalled 1.29 million tonnes, or $1.312 billion in value, said the Department of Foreign Trade.

The export rate remained stable despite its high price and the Covid-19 crisis, especially in the four major markets of the United States, Canada, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Jasmine rice exports to these markets rose by 10.46 per cent in quantity and 4.69 per cent in value during the first 11 months.
The Thai rice market in Canada also grew, reaching over 100,000 tonnes for the first time this year.

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Number of train passengers halved since fresh outbreak

NationalDec 30. 2020

By The Nation

The volume of rail passengers has almost halved since the fresh outbreak of Covid-19, the Department of Rail Transport (DRT) said on Wednesday.

On Tuesday (December 29), 703,489 passengers rode trains nationwide and in Bangkok, compared to 1,287,763 passengers on December 18 just before the outbreak emerged in Samut Sakhon.

DRT deputy director-general Pichet Kunathamaraks said rail transport operators had been instructed to impose measures to prevent the virus from spreading, such as cleaning trains and stations regularly.

“Meanwhile, the DRT asks passengers to wear face masks, refrain from talking and use hand sanitising gels,” he said.

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Fisheries dept to endorse operators using extra measures in bid to boost confidence in seafood

NationalDec 30. 2020

By The Nation

The Department of Fisheries is issuing certificates to stores that comply with additional measures to curb Covid-19 contamination, with the first going to Siam Makro.

Meesak Pakdeekong, director-general of the Department of Fisheries, said the certificate of compliance was presented at the Makro Nakhon-In branch during the launch of a special programme to promote shrimp consumption. Also present at the ceremony were Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit and Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chalermchai Sri-on.

People cut their consumption of seafood after a main shrimp market in Samut Sakhon was found to be the source of new Covid-19 infections. As a result, the fishing community has been suffering both economically and socially.

In a move to build confidence among consumers, the Department of Fisheries has come up with guidelines to ensure seafood is safe to consume. The new measures will be applicable to:

• Businessmen and manufacturers like aquaculture farms, fishermen and fishing boat;

• Delivery personnel;

• Fish market operators;

• Vendors;

• Exporters.

Businesses and operators that comply with the general measures set by the Public Health Ministry as well as the additional measures set by the Department of Fisheries will get a certificate of good practice.

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Foreign Ministry offering free translation, certification of docs

NationalDec 30. 2020

By THE NATION

The Foreign Ministry is offering a free translation service and also waiving certification fees for 19 types of documents, in what it calls a “New Year gift” for customers.

“The free translation service is available from December 21 until January 20, while the Bt200 document certification fee will be waived for the first two weeks, or 10 working days, of 2021,” he said.

Documents covered are ID card, civil registration particulars, house registration, birth certificate, death certificate, marriage certificate, registration of marriage, divorce certificate, registration of divorce, registration of family status, record of family status, certificate of personal title, certificate of surname change, certificate of name change, certificate of surname joint usage, certificate of surname registration, certificate of marital status, certificate of child custody, and letter of consent for child’s foreign travel.

“The services will be available at the Department of Consular Affairs in Bangkok’s Lak Si district and at the Office of Legalisation Division in four locations, namely MRT Khlong Toei station, and Temporary Passport Offices in Chiang Mai, Ubon Ratchathani and Songkhla,” he added.

The Foreign Ministry will also install the country’s first automated passport application kiosk at the Pathumwan Temporary Passport Office in Bangkok’s MBK shopping centre. The kiosk will open on January 29 and operate daily, from 10am to 6pm.

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Traditional cold medicine, Fah Talai Jone, to be used on Covid patients in five hospitals

NationalDec 30. 2020

By The Nation

The Department of Thai Traditional Medicine is joining up with five state hospitals to start using Fah Talai Jone (Andrographis Paniculata) as a treatment option for early stage Covid-19 patients.

Dr Amporn Benjaponpitak, director-general of the department, said on Wednesday that finding an alternative was necessary now that there are so many new Covid-19 infections.

Tests on animals show that the herb contains substances that can reduce inflammation and may inhibit the replication of the virus. Tests on Covid-19 patients whose symptoms were not very severe showed them improving in three days without any side-effects.

The five state hospitals the department is cooperating with are Nakhon Pathom Hospital, Samut Sakhon Hospital, Ratchaburi Hospital, Ban Pong Hospital in Ratchaburi and Somdej Phra Phutthlertla Hospital in Samut Songkhram.

The herb can be used for patients aged between 18 and 60, who have mild respiratory symptoms such as cough, runny nose, sore throat. Patients can consume 180mg of Fah Talai Jone for five days in combination with modern drugs.

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Many Bangkokians brave new Covid wave to return home for holidays

NationalDec 30. 2020

By THE NATION

Despite the new wave of Covid-19 infections, many people were seen taking interprovincial buses from Bangkok to their hometowns for the holiday period.

Bus operators were also seen strictly complying with mandatory health measures to secure passengers’ safety.

Before the new wave of infections, the Tourism Authority of Thailand had said it expected some 2.75 million people to go on trips over the December 31 to January 3 long weekend.

It also said that tourism during the holiday period would inject more than Bt10.74 billion into the economy and result in 37 per cent hotel occupancy.

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25 tourist attractions temporarily closed in bid to curb Covid-19

NationalDec 30. 2020

By The Nation

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) on Wednesday released a list of tourist attractions that will be temporarily closed to contain the spread of Covid-19.

The 25 attractions in 10 provinces to be closed are:

• Doi Phui Kho, Mae Hong Son

• Thung Non Son flower field, Phitsanulok

• Pao Tung farm, Nakhon Sawan

• Wat Boromracha Kanchanapisek Anusorn (Wat Leng Noei Yi 2), Nonthaburi (closed until January 8)

• Pong Leuk-Bang Kloy village, Phetchaburi

• Phra Ram Ratchaniwet (Ban Puen Palace), Phetchaburi

• Laem Phak Bia royal project, Phetchaburi

• Tham Khao Luang cave, Phetchaburi

• Guangzhou floating market, Phetchaburi

• Sirinart Rajini Mangrove Ecosystem Learning Centre, Prachuap Khiri Khan

• Kham Chanot, Udon Thani

• Wat Pa Phu Kon, Udon Thani

• Walking street, Udon Thani

• Sai Kaew beach, Chonburi

• Toei Ngam beach, Chonburi

• Nang Ram and Nang Rong beaches Chonburi

• Sor beach, Chonburi

• Wat Khao Tabaek skywalk, Chonburi

• Thai Island and Sea Natural History Museum and Samae San island, Chonburi (Closed until January 3)

• Wang Chan Forest Learning Centre, Rayong

• King Taksin the Great Knowledge Park, Rayong

• Rayong Museum, Rayong

• Phra Chedi Klang Nam mangrove forest and sky view tower, Rayong

• Ban Nam Chiao community, Trat

• Thai Red Cross Society’s Rachakaroon Centre, Trat

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Pattaya, rest of Bang Lamung district locked down

NationalDec 30. 2020

By THE NATION

Chonburi authorities have decided to put Bang Lamung district, which covers the municipal area of Pattaya, under lockdown in a bid to contain the spread of Covid-19.

In an announcement released on Wednesday, the authorities ordered the temporary closure of pubs, bars, schools, tuition centres, child development centres, pools, amusement parks, nurseries, amulet markets, fitness clubs, internet café, parks, playgrounds, theatres, and snooker clubs.

Shopping complexes are allowed to keep supermarkets and pharmacies open. Banks in the complexes as well as shops selling IT gadgets, electrical appliances and construction materials can also stay open.

Dining in at restaurants and cafes is not allowed, though takeaways are still available. However, restaurants in hotels or resorts can continue serving.

Convenience stores are required to close between 10pm and 5am.

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241 of 250 new Covid-19 cases transmitted locally

NationalDec 30. 2020

By The Nation

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) reported 250 new cases over a 24-hour period from various sources on Wednesday.

Of the 241 local cases, only two were migrant workers in Nonthaburi.

Of the 241, nine were linked to the central shrimp market in Samut Sakhon and three to a gambling den in Rayong.

Of the new cases, 29 work in high-risk areas like entertainment venues, crowded communities or are medical personnel, comprising 15 in Bangkok, five in Nakhon Pathom, one in Samut Prakan, three in Saraburi, one in Nakhon Nayok, one in Nonthaburi and three in Phetchaburi.

Of the 198 patients under investigation, 12 were found to have been infected in Samut Sakhon, 17 in Nonthaburi, 53 in Rayong, seven in Chanthaburi, one in Trat and 108 in Chonburi.

CCSA spokesperson Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin said the large number of infections in Chonburi can be possibly be linked to a new gambling den, adding that the Department of Disease Control will provide more details later.

Meanwhile, eight travellers tested positive in quarantine facilities, including one Indian national and two Americans who arrived from the US, a Thai national from Australia, two Eritreans from Kenya, a Turkish man from Russia and Kuwaiti diplomat.

A Myanmar man, 30, who was caught trying to cross the border illegally and tested positive was deported.

Meanwhile, 28 patients have recovered and been discharged.

The total number of confirmed cases in Thailand has risen to 6,690 (1,469 in state quarantine and 1,383 from hunt for active cases), of whom 2,417 are in hospital, while 4,212 have recovered and been discharged. The death toll remains at 61.

According to Worldometer, the total number of confirmed cases globally has increased to 82.32 million (up by 611,717). Of them, 58.33 million have recovered, while 22.19 million are active cases (105,939 in severe condition) and 1.79 million have died (up by 13,450).

Thailand ranks 140th for most cases in the world, while the US tops the list with 19.97 million, followed by India 10.24 million, Brazil 7.56 million, Russia 3.1 million and France 2.57 million

Dr Taweesin is calling on people to be careful as the age range of new patient is higher or around 40 on average.

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ERC expects draft rules on buying electricity from communities to be announced by Feb

NationalDec 30. 2020

By THE NATION

The Office of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) expects the draft on regulations for purchasing electricity from community power plants to be announced by February, secretary-general Komkrit Tantravanich said on Wednesday.

“The office had on November 16 finished drafting the principles and conditions for buying 150 megawatts of electricity under the feed-in tariff method from VSPPs [very small power producers] under the community power plant campaign,” Komkrit said.

“However, the office is awaiting a verdict from the Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives Ministry as to whether or not the community power plant project should be classified as contract farming under the Contract Farming Promotion and Development Act BE 2560,” he said.

If the ministry rules that community power plants are contract farming, then the ERC will have to adjust its regulations to comply with the act, including setting a ratio of energy crops – a minimum of 80 per cent – that power plant operators must purchase from farmers in surrounding communities, Komkrit said.

Under the ERC draft, power producers must supply electricity to the power grid within 36 months of the date on which they sign an agreement.

“We set the amount of electricity to be purchased from plants using biomass fuel at 6 megawatts per plant, totalling 75 megawatts throughout the contract period of 20 years, and electricity from plants using biogas fuel at 6 megawatts per plant, totalling another 75 megawatts throughout the contract,” Komkrit said.

“Producers under the community power plant campaign will comprise a private company that holds 90 per cent of shares, while the remaining 10 per cent will be preferential shares held by a community enterprise that comprise farmers from at least 200 households in the community who grow energy crops to serve the plant,” he added.