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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016787

Public Health Ministry reported on Sunday (June 19) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 1,892 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, four of whom have arrived in Thailand from abroad.

Death toll increased by 22, while 1,874 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 2,275,609.

The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 4,499,044 – 4,447,266 of whom have recovered, 21,311 are still in hospitals and 30,467 have died.

Separately, another 15,095 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 33,291 their second shot and 82,160 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 139,109,249.

According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 544.05 million on Sunday, 519.23 million of whom have recovered, 18.47 million are active cases (36,080 in severe condition) and 6.34 million have died.

Thailand ranks 26th in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 87.98 million, followed by India with 43.29 million, Brazil with 31.69 million, France with 30.07 million and Germany with 27.20 million.

Published : June 19, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016786

Renowned virologist Yong Poovorawan said on Saturday that Thailand should be on alert for cases of monkeypox as the country will open fully to foreign arrivals from next month.

Authorities estimate at least 500,000 tourists will arrive each month between now and September.

Yong said that although no confirmed cases have been reported in East or Southeast Asia, Thailand must keep monitoring for monkeypox to prevent a potential outbreak.

Writing on Facebook, the doctor said it would be difficult to curb the spread of the disease if an outbreak occurs.

Since the first monkeypox case was detected outside Africa in early May, more than 2,000 infections have been confirmed, mostly in men aged between 20 and 50, said Yong.

Cases have been found in about 30 countries with the majority of infections reported in Europe and North America.

Countries that have registered more than 100 cases include the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal and Canada. However, no deaths have been reported outside Africa, where the disease is endemic in central and western areas of the continent.

Yong noted that the disease can be spread through close contact, but in most cases the symptoms are not life-threatening.

Published : June 18, 2022

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016785

Billionaire socialite Nualphan Lamsam, aka “Madam Pang”, revealed on Saturday that she had tested positive for Covid-19 and was recovering at home.

In a message posted on her Facebook page, Nualphan said she had developed “clear symptoms” the previous night, with a high fever, sore throat and heavy cough.

“I am being treated at home. I would like to inform everyone who has been in close contact with me [about the infection],” she wrote.

She also apologised for having to cancel her appearances at public functions.

“Please stay safe and take care of yourselves,” she added.

Her Facebook post drew a tide of get-well-soon messages from netizens.

The 56-year-old is CEO of Muang Thai Insurance Plc and manager of the Thailand men’s national football team – the first woman to take the role.

She also owns the Port Football Club, along with companies that import high-end fashion brands including Hermes and Emporio Armani.

Nualphan boasts assets worth more than 4.6 billion baht, according to her declaration to the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

Published : June 18, 2022

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016784

All 77 provinces in Thailand will be declared Green (surveillance) zones on July 1, when business and entertainment activities will be permitted to return to normal.

The Thailand Pass entry system and mask mandate will also be scrapped on July 1, according to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. 

Meanwhile, pubs and clubs will be allowed to serve alcohol until 2am. 

Also, businesses will be able to transport migrant workers without seeking permission. 

However, gatherings of more than 2,000 people must be registered with the Provincial Communicable Disease Committee, while authorities advise mask-wearing in enclosed areas or large gatherings, especially for those in at-risk groups.

Published : June 18, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016783

An overwhelming majority of Thais say they will continue wearing face masks after mandatory face-covering is scrapped next month.

The government has announced that from July 1, it will no longer be mandatory to wear a face mask in public.

However, 93.3 per cent of Thais said they will continue wearing masks in public places, according to a recent Department of Health survey.

Only 6.7 per cent of those surveyed said they would stop covering their faces.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha thanked members of the public for wearing masks in great numbers, which he credited for Thailand’s success in curbing Covid-19 and other respiratory diseases, according to Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA spokesman Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin.

The PM suggested mask-wearing should be voluntary, adding that many should continue wearing them to help reduce the risk of infection, Taweesin said on Saturday. Prayut pointed to elderly people and those with chronic diseases who are unvaccinated, as well as Covid-19 patients and others in high-risk groups.

The CCSA spokesman said masks could be removed outdoors in uncrowded spaces. Mask-wearing is still recommended indoors with people who are not from the same household.

Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul insisted that the move to scrap mandatory mask-wearing did not come from his ministry.

However, Dr Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai, director-general of the ministry’s Department of Health said easing of Covid-19 restrictions across the country meant people could remove their face masks while outdoors and at a safe distance from others.

The elderly, people with chronic diseases and those infected with Covid-19 are still advised to wear masks in public, he added.

Published : June 18, 2022

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016781

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is happy with the latest effort to tackle Thailand’s chronic problem of lottery overpricing by using technology, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Saturday.

The PM was responding to the online sale of government lottery tickets, which launched early this month via the state-sponsored Pao Tang mobile app.

However, Prayut also urged lottery gamblers to avoid overspending or placing too much hope on the lottery, warning that it could put them and their families in financial difficulty, according to the spokesman.

All 5.1 million digital lottery tickets made available via Pao Tang at the legal retail price of 80 baht were sold out in just five days ahead of the June 16 draw.

Another 5.1 million digital lottery tickets were issued for sale on Friday for the next draw on July 1. Thanakorn said they were expected to sell out even faster than the previous batch.

The spokesman said lottery winners would be notified by the app and could choose whether to claim their prize money at the Government Lottery Office or have it transferred into their bank accounts.

The June 16 draw saw total prize money of 247.4 million baht shared between 41,419 people holding 73,191 winning tickets.

Thailand has been plagued by lottery overpricing for years, with tickets routinely sold at many times their face value.

Published : June 18, 2022

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016778

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt on Saturday invited music lovers to attend outdoor concerts being held at various locations in the city at the weekend.

He particularly recommended live performances by the Royal Thai Army Band at Benjakitti Park and Suan Luang Rama IX Park on Saturday and Sunday evenings, respectively.

The governor, elected with overwhelming support in late May, conveyed his message to his followers in a live Facebook broadcast during his morning jog at Benjakitti Park in Klong Toei district.

Chadchart also suggested that concert-goers take public transport.

Weekend outdoor concerts by the Army Band are being held from June to August on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, from 5pm to 7pm, at Benjakitti Park and Rama IX Park.

This weekend, other outdoor concerts are also being held at Siam Square, Suan Luang Rama IX Park and Benjasiri Park. They are organised separately by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Sugree Charoensook Foundation, and Spectrum.

Published : June 18, 2022

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016776

The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) has come up with six guidelines to help improve the capital, and the proposal was welcomed by Bangkok’s new governor Chadchart Sittipunt.

UTCC chairman Sanan Angubolkul said on Friday that Chadchart and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) execs were also invited to discuss the proposal with the university’s board and the Young Entrepreneur Chamber of Commerce.

The six guidelines are:

• Set up a public-private board to create a strategy to boost Bangkok’s competitive abilities and decrease inequality. For instance, turning Bangkok into a smart city or making it easier for residents to get documents.

• Create an ecosystem that helps business operators, like street food vendors, contribute to the improvement of Bangkok.

• Prepare to host APEC 2022 in November. UTCC, which will participate in the APEC CEO Summit, has called on the BMA to improve road conditions as well as venues.

• Train teachers in BMA schools to become active global citizens with a better thought process, analysis abilities and knowledge about social issues. It is also important to teach Mandarin to students at the 400 BMA schools.

• Review the median price of government procurement processes because the current median price does not reflect the real price and can affect several ongoing projects. UTCC urged Chadchart to discuss this issue with the Comptroller General’s Department.

• Get BMA execs to join the Top Executive Program on China Business Insights and Network course. This course provides lessons on trading, investment and tourism between the two countries. Chadchart has apparently voiced interest in having the BMA permanent secretary attend this course.

While welcoming the proposal, Chadchart said several points are already included in the BMA guidelines. However, he said, his key principle is to listen to the private sector and get them to participate.

As for the joint public-private sector board, he said it should be established in two weeks, adding that capable people should help improve Bangkok.

He added that Bangkok’s street-food scene is interesting because it affects people’s livelihoods and work on it will begin in a month.

Published : June 18, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016775

Restaurants are required to clearly indicate if they are using cannabis as an ingredient, the Health Department said.

Dr Suwanchai Wattanaying-charoenchai, the department’s director-general, warned on Friday that if an eatery has not clearly indicated the use of cannabis and if a diner develops an allergic reaction, the operator will be held responsible for the damage.

Restaurants are required to clearly display that cannabis products cannot be sold to people below the age of 20, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers.

Food delivery services and applications are also required to seek permission to carry cannabis-spiked products and must clearly display warnings.

Businesses wishing to install vending machines selling cannabis products must seek permission under Section 33 of the Public Health Act. The authorities have the right to inspect and take legal action if an operator is found violating these orders.

Suwanchai said the Public Health and Education Ministries have also discussed concerns about cannabis-spiked edibles being sold in schools.

He explained that cannabis was legalised because it is beneficial medically, but can affect health if not used properly.

Suwanchai added that despite the initial challenges in controlling the consumption of cannabis, related agencies will soon find a way to manage and regulate it properly.

Violators of existing regulations can face up to a year in jail and/or a fine of 20,000 baht.

Published : June 18, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016773

A low number of tourists and a massive drop in revenue is forcing Chiang Mai’s famous shopping complex “Kad Suan Kaew” to temporarily shut down from July 1.

In a letter issued to tenants, the management said it has been suffering a severe drop in earnings since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Despite adjusting opening hours, reducing salaries and implementing scores of other measures, we can still not afford to stay open. Plus, the government is no longer offering subsidies to help entrepreneurs.

“Hence, we have decided to temporarily close from July 1 and will consider reopening once the situation improves.”

Kad Suan Kaew, a one-stop shopping complex in Chiang Mai’s Muang district, opened its doors in 1992. The 2-billion-baht property, which includes a cineplex, office building and the Lotus Pang Suan Kaew Hotel, covers an area of 290,000 square metres. The project was spearheaded by Thailand’s well-known real-estate developer Suchai Kengkankha, who is currently the complex’s managing director.

Published : June 18, 2022

By : THE NATION