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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016771

Thailand’s Covid-19 alert level was reduced from 3 to 2 on Friday thanks to the constant decline in new infections, patients with severe symptoms and fatality.

“Despite the easing of many disease control measures, such as the reopening of entertainment venues, there has been no spike in cases or clusters,” Public Health Ministry’s permanent secretary Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit said on Friday. “This is thanks to the fact that most business owners are following the ministry’s Covid Free Setting practices and other related regulations.”

He said the current hospital bed occupation level of Covid-19 patients in yellow (few Covid symptoms but other chronic conditions) and red (severe symptoms) categories is less than 10 per cent, while most hospitals are reporting adequate stocks of medicines and equipment. Kiattiphum said these factors have prompted the ministry to adjust the alert level.

“Under alert level 2, people at risk should avoid going to crowded places, participating in public activities, using public transport and travelling overseas,” he said. “These include people over 60, those with chronic health conditions, pregnant women, the unvaccinated and those who have yet to receive their booster shot.”

As for people not at risk, they can live their lives as normal under universal prevention practices, including maintaining social distancing, washing hands regularly and wearing facemasks in public or crowded places.

Under level 2, entertainment places can operate under relevant Covid regulations, temperature screening is no longer required and mask-wearing is not mandatory but encouraged.

Though all provinces have been marked “green zones” or under surveillance, public gatherings will only be allowed based on each province’s outbreak situation.

As of July 1, travellers will no longer have to register via Thailand Pass, and though the US$10,000 insurance will not be mandatory, it is still recommended.

On Saturday Thailand recorded 2,272 Covid-19 cases and 23 deaths, while 1,964 patients recovered and were discharged from hospitals. Cumulative cases in Thailand this year come in at 2,273,717.

Published : June 18, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016765

Ministry of Public Health reported on Saturday (June 18) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 2,272 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 6 of whom have arrived in Thailand from abroad.

Death toll increased by 23, while 1,964 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 2,273,717.
 

The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 4,497,152 – 4,445,392 of whom have recovered, 21,315 are still in hospitals and 30,445 have died.

Separately, another 8,345 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 16,548 their second shot and 38,249 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 138,978,703.

According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 543.71 million on Saturday, 518.85 million of whom have recovered, 18.51 million are active cases (36,099 in severe condition) and 6.34 million have died (up by 1,056).

Thailand ranks 26th in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 87.97 million, followed by India with 43.28 million, Brazil with 31.67 million, France with 30.08 million and Germany with 27.12 million.

Published : June 18, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016762

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rejected speculation that Thailand is joining a so-called “Nato 2” or “Nato of Asia” military alliance led by the United States in a move against the region’s superpowers China and Russia.

The ministry’s spokesman, Tanee Sangrat, said on Friday that the Kingdom only has bilateral cooperation with friendly countries regarding security matters, with no agreement on collective defence in case of military aggression, as is the case with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato).

“The rhetoric about a so-called Nato 2 is not based on truths,” he said.

He said such rhetoric has caused uneasiness for Thailand’s friendly countries like China, Russia and Iran, as the Kingdom could be perceived as leaning towards the US.

“Thailand has maintained a policy of balanced ties with all friendly countries, based on the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia,” said Tanee, who also serves as director-general of the ministry’s Department of Information.

“Thailand has had a close and smooth relationship with both China and the US,” he added, pointing to recent high-level visits involving both the superpower nations.

Tanee said official US documents regarding the Indo-Pacific Strategy have been unilaterally prepared by Washington, with no formal agreement with any country.

Meanwhile, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) involves economic matters covering trade, supply chains, clean energy, taxation and the fight against corruption.

In May, the Thai government decided to join talks on rules and procedures for the IPEF. Asean members, including Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia, have shown interest in becoming founding members of the IPEF.

Published : June 17, 2022

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016759

Relevant authorities are scrambling to issue new regulations to control the use of marijuana a week after the plant was removed from the narcotics list before a regulating law was in place.

The Public Health Ministry on Thursday issued a ministerial directive prohibiting the sale of cannabis and hemp to people aged under 20, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers.

The directive, which describes marijuana as a “controlled herbal plant”, also bans smoking weed in public.

Regarding practitioners of traditional medicine, the ministry’s new regulation also prohibits possession of marijuana over the legal limit. It refers to the 1999 Act for the Protection and Promotion of Traditional Thai Medicine Wisdom regarding the penalty for violators. The law stipulates that violation carries a maximum of six months in jail and/or a fine of up to 10,000 baht.

Just a day before the directive was issued, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt had announced that all schools under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration are off-limits to marijuana from June 15.

Effective from June 9, marijuana is no longer considered a narcotic plant, except for its extract containing over 0.2 per cent of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) — the psychoactive compound that makes people feel “high”.

A draft bill on cannabis and hemp, which is to regulate the use and sale of the newly legalised plant, just passed the first reading by the House of Representatives on June 8.

Unlike cigarette smoking, no law exists to prohibit smoking marijuana in public. So, health authorities plan to apply the Public Health Act of 1992, which prohibits any “act of public disturbance” caused by smoke and smell, for example. Violators risk a maximum of three months in prison and/or a fine of up to 25,000 baht.

Separately, the Department of Health issued two directives on the use of marijuana as a cooking ingredient in food shops and on the storage of the plant.

However, the new directives are viewed as recommendations rather than regulations, as they set no penalties for violators.

One of the department’s directives requires food shops that sell cannabis dishes to display warnings, such as “Not recommended for persons under 18, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers”, “Stop eating immediately in case of unusual condition”, and “Persons allergic to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD) should take precautions when eating”.

Published : June 17, 2022

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016758

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha met with the new governors of Bangkok and Pattaya for the first time on Friday, for talks on cooperation “in all aspects”.

Prayut was speaking after chairing the weekly Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) meeting – the first attended by Bangkok governor Chadchart Sitthiphunt and Pattaya’s Poramase Ngamphiches.

Prayut said it was a good opportunity to meet with the governors for the first time since they took office, adding he was already acquainted with both men.

“Bangkok [representatives] have always been present at CCSA meetings, and today Pattaya has joined too as it is a special administrative zone,” the PM explained.

“After talks, we will have no trouble working together for the sake of Thai people, and we are on the same page regarding Covid problems,” he added.

Chatchart said Bangkok would fully cooperate with government efforts to tackle outbreak problems, adding that the CCSA’s further easing of restrictions was a sign that the Covid-19 situation is improving.

The CCSA on Friday approved scrapping the Thailand Pass and the mask mandate from July 1.

Poramase said he would present proposals to promote Pattaya’s tourism and economy by further relaxing disease controls at the next CCSA meeting.

After the meeting, Prayut, Chatchart and Poramase posed for photos together in front of Government House.

The CCSA also approved extending the opening hours of pubs and clubs to 2am from July 1.

Published : June 17, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016757

The Thailand Pass entry system and mask mandate will be scrapped from July 1, Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn announced on Friday.

He said the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) decided to lift the preventive measures to help boost foreign tourist arrivals in the second half of the year.

The relaxation of entry rules is expected to help raise daily arrivals from 20,000-25,000 at present to 25,000-30,000, according to the minister.

He said daily arrivals could jump to 50,000 per day in the high season in the last quarter of the year, when as many as 1.5 million visitors per month are forecast to enter Thailand.

The Tourism and Sports Ministry expects at least 7.5 million foreign tourist arrivals this year.

“We will speed up to make it 10 million,” Phiphat vowed.

At its meeting on Friday, the CCSA also cancelled the requirements for Covid-19 insurance and vaccination certificates, although some airlines may require passengers to prove their vaccination status at check-in.

From July 1, people will not be required to wear face masks in public, although the CCSA advises mask-wearing in crowded places or large gatherings like concerts, the minister said.

Air travellers are no longer required to fill in the Tor Mor 6 immigration form.

Meanwhile, from July 1, nighttime entertainment venues will be allowed to stay open until 2am, the legal closing time before Covid-19 hit.

Also, hotels can serve alcoholic drinks to their guests from 2pm-5pm, the period when sale of alcohol is otherwise prohibited.

“Let me stress that this [relaxation] applies to hotels only, as they serve tourists. For other places like food shops or tourist destinations, the decision will be made by the provincial governor after consulting with the Interior Ministry,” Phiphat said.

Published : June 17, 2022

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https://www.nationthailand.com/pr-news/in-focus/40016755

Ministry of Social Development and Human Security of Thailand hosted the first meeting of the APEC Policy Partnership on Women and the Economy (PPWE1) on 15 and 16 June 2022.

The meeting was held virtually under the theme of “Women’s Empowerment through the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy”.  The meeting was chaired by Ms. Renee Graham, Chief Executive, Social Wellbeing Agency, New Zealand, who delivered a keynote address focusing on women leadership and inclusivity and how we can explore new frontiers and models. Mrs. Patcharee Arayakul, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security of Thailand, delivered the opening remarks during the meeting. And Mrs. Jintana Chanbamrung is the Head of Delegation of PPWE Thailand.

On the first day of the two-day meeting, member economies focused their discussion on how to continue advancing women economic empowerment while pursuing COVID-19 recovery, which remains a challenge in Asia-Pacific. The meeting also considered a draft of Women and the Economy Forum (WEF) statement and agreed on the drafting process and timeframe.  

On the second day of the meeting, Thailand’s co-chair, Dr. Juree Vichit-Vadakan presented the topic of the policy dialogue, which is “Towards balanced, inclusive, and sustainable growth: empowering women through BCG”.  The discussion of women empowerment, opportunities and challenges through the BCG models was further discussed in the breakout sessions where member economies shared their views and experience through three different tracks; the Bio Economy track, the Circular Economy track and the Green Economy track. These discussions will be brought forward to the next PPWE meeting which will be held on 16 to 18 August 2022.
 

Published : June 17, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016752

Over 100 people in Khon Kaen have been hospitalised with suspected cannabis allergies or overdose since the drug was legalised in Thailand eight days ago.

The Public Health Office in the Northeast province has responded by rolling out a campaign on using cannabis responsibly.

Health Office pharmacist Cherdchai Ariyanuchitkul said treatment with cannabis should only go ahead under the supervision of medical staff.

He said people have also been advised to avoid recreational use of the drug, as this can result in a fine, imprisonment or both under the Public Health Act.

Recreational use of cannabis in public is still illegal.

Government and private hospitals in Khon Kaen will erect banners displaying information on the risks and the benefits of cannabis, he added.

Cherdchai Ariyanuchitkul

Cherdchai said that the 100-plus people hospitalised were suffering side effects from cannabis they either smoked or consumed in food or beverages.

He added that most patients developed only mild symptoms, although one suffered mental health issues after smoking the drug.

Meanwhile, Bangkok authorities reported on Tuesday that four people had been admitted to hospital in the capital with suspected cannabis overdose and one later died of heart failure.

As of Tuesday, 21,432 people in Khon Kaen had registered to cultivate cannabis – 15,498 at home, 1,326 for medical use, 642 for commercial use and six for research.

Published : June 17, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016745

The Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) is expected to start producing the antibody nasal spray solution to prevent Covid-19 by the third quarter of this year.

“GPO’s Viral Vaccine Division under the Department of Biological Products received a certificate of registration on June 6, allowing it to start manufacturing the solution containing the human IgG1 Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody,” GPO director Rangsee Padlee said on Thursday.

GPO’s nasal spray was first introduced for trials in February in cooperation with the Chulalongkorn University, Silpakorn University, Health Systems Research Institute and High Bioscience Ltd.

The spray is currently in its last clinical trial phase conducted by the National Cancer Institute.

The GPO had earlier been given the go-ahead by the Thai Food and Drug Administration.

“We are glad to offer people another option in preventing Covid-19, which will help Thailand overcome the pandemic in a safe, sustainable manner. Furthermore, the ISO certificate we received will pave the way for future research and manufacturing of new medicines for the treatment of respiratory diseases,” Rangsee said.

Published : June 17, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016743

Thailand’s first McDonald’s branch will be shuttered for two years from June 30 as the shopping complex is renovated.

The branch is located in Amarin Plaza in downtown Bangkok, which will be closed for renovations and linked with Gaysorn Village.

The branch, which was opened 37 years ago in 1985, is giving away gift vouchers to winners of the best picture and caption. The campaign runs until June 22 and gifts will be handed out on June 24.

Patrons who spend more than 200 baht at the branch will also get a limited-edition T-shirt.

Other branches nearby are operating as usual.

The first McDonald’s restaurant was opened by Richard and Maurice (Mac) McDonald in 1940 on Route 66 in San Bernardino, California. They later sold their company to Ray Kroc in Des Plaines, Illinois.

Currently, there are around 36,000 McDonald’s restaurants in 119 countries and territories.

Published : June 17, 2022

By : THE NATION