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Foreign minister sheds light on diplomacy in the ‘new normal’ (nationthailand.com)

Foreign minister sheds light on diplomacy in the ‘new normal’

NationalDec 23. 2020

By THE NATION

The Covid-19 outbreak has changed the landscape of modern diplomacy as many countries have employed lockdown measures and prohibited international flights, prompting diplomats to adapt their working style and rely on digital technology to keep in touch with their counterparts, Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said in an exclusive interview with The Nation recently.

“Without Covid-19, the shift to digital technology would have been gradual and possibly at a smaller scale compared to what we are experiencing now,” he said. “Though face-to-face meetings are the best mode of communication for diplomats, meeting via video conferencing is the next best thing to keep diplomatic workflow continue uninterrupted during the outbreak.”

Don, who doubles as deputy premier, added that the Thai diplomats’ most important mission in the past year has been to seek cooperation in handling the outbreak. “Meeting with foreign partners has helped us learn more about the virus and its impact from several aspects,” he said. “All parties agree that we need to work together at an international level to prevent the virus from spreading.”

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Thailand in October, when the Covid-19 situation began improving in his country and Thailand had been successful in effectively controlling the outbreak.

“This visit helped strengthen ties between Thailand and China, as well as push forward the development of a high-speed railway line that will connect the Eastern Economic Corridor with Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau,” Don said. “The Thai and Chinese diplomats also discussed strategies to promote the transportation of Covid-19 vaccine to ensure comprehensive and impartial distribution among people of both countries.

“The lockdown measures imposed earlier this year have brought travel to a halt, but this does not mean all foreign policies will be put on hold too,” he said.

“We should view the lockdown as an opportunity to show foreign partners that Thailand’s efficient handling of the outbreak has resulted in fewer infections and high recovery rate. This will help make Thailand a medical and healthcare hub in the region as well as lead to cooperation in other aspects such as political, national security, trading and investment in countries that have been hit by the outbreak.”

The Foreign Ministry is committed to implementing the government’s 20-year national strategy based on security, sustainability, standard, status and synergy, he added.

“In terms of security, the ministry has been seeking cooperation from foreign superpowers and maintaining a balanced relationship with all parties to avoid creating an international conflict. We have also been working with Asean members to strengthen our negotiating power as well as boost regional collaboration to fight the Covid-19 outbreak,” said Don.

“As for sustainability, the ministry has been using diplomatic strategies to build economic links both regionally and globally by means such as promoting a multilateral cooperation in Mekong region, attracting investors in targeted industries to establish their facilities in Thailand, as well as promoting qualitative tourism with foreign partners by using food stability and health tourism to penetrate new markets.

“In the [international] standards aspect, the ministry has been working with related agencies in revising Thailand’s laws and regulations to be in compliance with international standards and obligations, which will help us achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals [SGDs],” Don added. “In the past year, Thailand ranked first among Asean countries in terms of progress in fulfilling the UN SGDs.

“In terms of status, the ministry has presented Thailand’s success in Covid-19 prevention and healthcare management to international audiences and the Kingdom is now recognised as a responsible member of the global community. Thailand was also named ‘a champion of soft power diplomacy’,” he added.

“Lastly, in the synergy aspect, the ministry has gathered best practices in Covid-19 handling from foreign partners around the world and adapted it to Thailand’s situation. It has also collaborated with other countries in vaccine research and sharing of treatment plan and medical equipment.”

The foreign minister further added that Thai missions overseas are at the forefront of helping Thais stranded overseas during the Covid-19 outbreak.

“Furthermore, they will be the first ‘Thailand Team’ to be responsible for building international ties to revive Thailand’s economy once the situation improves,” he said.

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Police hunting for evidence to arrest labour traffickers, says chief (nationthailand.com)

Police hunting for evidence to arrest labour traffickers, says chief

NationalDec 23. 2020

By The Nation

National Police chief Pol General Suwat Jangyodsuk said on Wednesday that though police have some idea who might be trafficking migrants across the border, solid evidence is still necessary to make arrests.

Police will first focus on the traffickers instead of the actual illegal Myanmar migrants, because Thailand has to address the problem in a humanitarian manner, he said. As for Myanmar migrant workers, whether legal or illegal, they will need to obey official guidelines, he said.

Meanwhile, in an announcement on Tuesday night, the prime minister said any government official found to be involved in labour trafficking will be punished. However, he said, police need time to find evidence first.

Suwat said this problem has been continuing for a long time. “If we pour our resources in dealing with illegal migrants, the numbers will drop but not disappear. There are many limitations to our work, but this has become a priority. We will first focus on traffickers, especially those who use natural channels,” he said.

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Mega Bangna ‘free from Covid risk’ (nationthailand.com)

Mega Bangna ‘free from Covid risk’

NationalDec 23. 2020

By THE NATION

Mega Bangna complex announced on Wednesday that it is completely free of the risk of Covid-19 transmissions despite a recent patient visiting the shopping centre 10 days ago.

The complex announced on Facebook that Samut Prakan health officials explained that judging by the patient’s infection timeline, she was not at the transmission stage of the disease when she visited the mall.

The complex has, however, conducted a “big clean” in the premises to ensure the safety of visitors.

The authorities released a timeline of the patient’s movements on Tuesday after she tested positive for Covid-19. The timeline shows the 24-year-old Chachoengsao resident had travelled to her second home in Samut Prakan and visited Mega Bangna on December 13.

Samut Prakan province has been put under lockdown since Tuesday, though shopping malls remain open. Operators are required to screen every customer, who will also be encouraged to check in via the Thai Chana platform.

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Uttaradit province hit by second case from Samut Sakhon outbreak (nationthailand.com)

Uttaradit province hit by second case from Samut Sakhon outbreak

NationalDec 23. 2020

By THE NATION

Uttaradit province has been hit by a second case of Covid-19 linked to last week’s outbreak in Samut Sakhon.

A female seafood vendor, 37, tested positive for the virus in the northern province on Wednesday, after another female seafood seller tested positive on Monday. The latest confirmed case lives in Nam Pat district, where she had a seafood stall.

The infected woman and her husband had visited Samut Sakhon province, 500 kilometres to the south, on December 14 and 15 to purchase seafood from wholesalers.

Uttaradit health officials have traced 11 close contacts of the infected woman, most of whom are her family members.

Despite seeing two cases in one week, Uttaradit authorities said they were not planning to lockdown the province. However, the market where the first infected woman sold seafood has been shut for seven days, while the neighbourhood around the home of the second case has been temporarily closed to visitors.

Meanwhile public New Year events have been banned in the province. Bars, pubs and restaurants are allowed to open as usual but under tightened Covid-19 restrictions.

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Household items to stock during a lockdown (nationthailand.com)

Household items to stock during a lockdown

NationalDec 23. 2020

By The Nation

Bangkokbiznews on Wednesday advised households to buy six items if a new lockdown is imposed to control fresh outbreaks of Covid-19.

The media outlet listed the following items to keep at home in case restrictions are tightened in the coming weeks:

Drinking water: Water is a basic necessity since failing to drink it for three successive days can be fatal. People are advised to buy a large pack of drinking water bottles from the supermarket.

Dried foods: Everyone should keep this item in storage at home while self-isolating. Dried foods can be consumed at home instead of ordering food online, so as to prevent spreading the virus to others.

Canned foods: Buying canned foods to cope with an emergency situation is a good idea, since they will last for a long time.

Chocolate: Flavonoid in chocolate can help relieve stress during the lockdown.

Beans: Beans can be consumed instead of meat as an important source of protein and a healthy diet option. Soybean is rich in protein, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and vitamin B.

Cereals: Cereals help fill the stomach, are easy to digest, and are affordably priced. Most importantly, family members of every age can eat cereals.

Covid-19 insurance policies: Bangkokbiznews recommends buying medical and other coverage against Covid-19. Policies with various different insurance plans and cheap premiums are available. People can buy up to two insurance policies per person.

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Samut Sakhon Covid matches GH strain from India, Myanmar: Lab results (nationthailand.com)

Samut Sakhon Covid matches GH strain from India, Myanmar: Lab results

NationalDec 23. 2020

By The Nation

The Covid-19 strain responsible for the outbreak in Samut Sakhon matches the variant of the virus that is common in Myanmar and India, the Department of Medical Sciences said on Wednesday.

The department decoded the genetic sequence of Covid-19 from both Thai and Myanmar patients, and found a match between the two, said the department’s director-general Dr Supakit Sirilak.

Laboratory tests showed that the GH strain is responsible for the Samut Sakhon outbreak. This is the same strain behind the outbreak in Myanmar’s Shan state that recently spread to the Thai border districts of Mae Sai in Chiang Rai province and Mae Sot in Tak. The GH strain of Covid-19 has spread widely in India, from where it likely entered Myanmar’s Rakhine state before spreading to Thailand. It does not match the strain responsible for Covid-19 in Indonesia, Thailand’s trade and seafood partner to the south.

The GH strain was likely spread to Thailand by Myanmar migrant workers who crossed the border illegally at Mae Sot, said Supakit.

He added that most common variants of the Covid-19 virus seen in Thailand were the S strains from Europe, followed by the G, GH, and GR strains which have spread throughout the world, from the Middle East to Europe and the Americas.

The N501Y mutant Covid-19 spreading across Britain had so far not been detected in Thailand, but health authorities were keeping an eye out for this highly infectious strain, he said.

“We will continue to decode virus samples from time to time so that we can detect any unusual variants quickly,” said Dr Supakit.

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No public events allowed in Pathum Thani until Jan 5 (nationthailand.com)

No public events allowed in Pathum Thani until Jan 5

NationalDec 23. 2020

By THE NATION

Pathum Thani province announced on Wednesday that all public events, including concerts, boxing and cockfighting, will be cancelled until January 5 in a bid to curb the new wave of Covid-19 infections.

Those caught violating the order will face charges under the Communicable Disease Act and the emergency decree.

So far, three new Covid-19 cases have been found in the province.

Strict controls have been implemented in five provinces to curb infections, including Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkram, Samut Prakan, Chiang Mai and Suphan Buri.

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Phuket releases timeline of man infected in big bike event (nationthailand.com)

Phuket releases timeline of man infected in big bike event

NationalDec 23. 2020

By THE NATION

Phuket announced its first Covid-19 patient in the new wave of infections on Wednesday and released details of the patient’s movements between December 1 and 22.

The man in question is 40 years old, lives in Phuket’s Kathu district and works as the manager of an automobile shop in Muang district’s Koh Kaew area.

The timeline is as follows:

• December 1-9: Worked from home.

• December 10: Left Phuket to join a big-bike event. That day, he and four friends stop for breakfast in Phang Nga province, where they also visit a local petrol station.

The patient then stops for lunch at a PTT station in Surat Thani’s Tha Chana district. He is joined by other bikers.

The group heads to Krabi where they cross over to Koh Lanta Noi before hopping over to Koh Lanta Yai island nearby.

There the group checks into the Anda Lanta Resort.

• December 11-12: The 40 or so bikers start partying, including a Samut Sakhon resident who later tested positive for Covid-19. At the party, this man sat at a different table from the Phuket resident, and did not wear a mask at the time.

• December 13: Phuket patient heads home, but before leaving he bids farewell to his biker friends, including the one from Samut Sakhon. He was not wearing a mask at the time.

At 7pm on the same day, he dines with four family members at the Super Beef restaurant in Muang district.

• December 14-16: The patient goes to work as usual, where he interacts with 15 colleagues who do not wear a mask all the time.

• December 17: He stays home due to a headache.

• December 18: Stays home after developing a cough.

• December 19: Goes to work for two hours despite having a cough, headache, sore throat and runny nose.

• December 20: He learns that his friend from Samut Sakhon has tested positive for Covid-19. He stays in and contacts other biker friends. He also tells members of his family to undergo Covid-19 tests.

• December 21: Patient visits Vachira Phuket Hospital to get tested.

• December 22: Results find him positive.

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39 new domestic cases reported in past 24 hours, more results awaited (nationthailand.com)

39 new domestic cases reported in past 24 hours, more results awaited

NationalDec 23. 2020

By The Nation

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Wednesday reported 46 new cases over a 24-hour period, 39 domestic ones and seven in quarantine.

Spokesman Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin apologised that Wednesday’s report wasn’t comprehensive enough as test results were awaited in more cases. The Department of Disease Control would report the results around 4pm, he added.

There were 39 domestic cases in the past 24 hours – Bangkok 11, Chachoengsao 5, Nakhon Pathom 3, Kamphaeng Phet 2, Tak 2, Prachin Buri 2, Ayutthaya 2, Samut Prakan 2, Saraburi 2, Petchabun 1, Krabi 1, Khon Kaen 1, Nakhon Ratchasima 1, Nonthaburi 1, Pathum Thani 1, Phuket 1, and Suphan Buri 1.

Meanwhile, five Thais and two foreigner tested positive in quarantine.

The new cases under quarantine comprise one Thai who had returned from the United Kingdom, one from Bahrain, one from Myanmar, one from Russia and one from the United States, as well as a British man and a Pakistani businessman who travelled from their respective countries.

Meanwhile, 17 patients have recovered and been discharged.

As of Wednesday morning, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand has increased to 5,762 (1,394 in quarantine and 1,273 from active case findings). Of these, 1,607 are in hospital and ad-hoc quarantine facilities and 4,095 have recovered and been discharged. The death toll remains at 60.

Dr Taweesin said the government would take care of migrant workers, who have “helped the Thai economy and the business sector”.

He said the CCSA would hold a meeting on Thursday to consider measures to control migrant workers and apply laws so these workers have better access to healthcare and welfare.

“I want everyone to view them [Myanmar workers] as family. They have been helping us in driving our economy for a very long time. When family members are sick, we have to take care of them. Don’t hesitate to help by donating or providing necessities since they are living in hard times,” he told Wednesday’s press conference.

He also advised everyone to wear a mask, keep clean and abide by the social distancing practice.

According to Worldometer, as of 10am, the number of confirmed global cases has increased to 78.36 million (rising by 604,973). Of these, 55.12 million have recovered, while 21.51 million are active cases (106,353 in severe condition) and 1.72 million have died (an increase of 13,180).

Thailand ranks 144th for most cases in the world, while the US has the most number with 18.68 million, followed by India 10.09 million, Brazil 7.32 million, Russia 2.9 million and France 2.49 million.

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Fresh market in Buri Ram closed after vendor suspected to be virus carrier (nationthailand.com)

Fresh market in Buri Ram closed after vendor suspected to be virus carrier

NationalDec 23. 2020

By The Nation

Buri Ram province on Wednesday closed a fresh market for three days after learning that 200 people may have been exposed to Covid-19 there.

The market in Lam Plai Mat district will be sanitised over the three days.

Fear of transmission was sparked after a 57-year-old seafood vendor brought produce from Samut Sakhon to sell at the market, and initial investigation found that several people may have been exposed to the virus.

An outbreak was detected in Samut Sakhon over the weekend, where the number of cases has gone beyond the 1,000 marks.

Provincial governor Thatchakorn Hatthathayakul has also ordered shoppers who came to the market during this period to be tested for the virus.

So far, some 200 people have gone to Lam Plai Mat Hospital for tests. The 57-year-old vendor, meanwhile, has tested negative, but officials have said they will continue monitoring him.