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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016150

The newly eased Covid-19 regulations for travellers were published in the Royal Gazette website on Monday.

The announcement came after the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) announced on May 20 that it was lifting some regulations because the number of foreign visitors testing positive was low. Also, many countries are reopening their borders to stimulate the economy.

From June 1, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travellers can produce a negative rapid antigen or RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure. Those failing to do so will be put in quarantine until a test result is released.

Also, Thai travellers will no longer be required to register for Thailand Pass tomorrow, though registration is still required for foreigners, who must also provide proof of US$10,000 Covid-19 insurance.

The CCSA has also extended the state of emergency to July 31 to ensure a smooth transition to endemic status.

Published : May 31, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016148

The Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) comes into force on Wednesday (June 1) – whether Thailand is ready or not. In fact, surveys show there is still widespread misunderstanding of how the new law will work and how it will affect the behaviour of not just organisations but also individual citizens.

Under the PDPA, websites of governments and businesses worldwide are required to seek permission before collecting, using or revealing the personal data of anyone in Thailand.

Read More: https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016098

But how does the new law affect ordinary individuals when they use social media networks like Facebook?

The answer is that collecting or using personal data without consent is still permitted in certain cases.

On Monday, the Personal Data Protection Committee offered four examples to clear up misunderstandings.

Published : May 31, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016144

The Thai Chamber of Commerce and Thai Cruises Business Association (TCBA) on Tuesday organised an online seminar to promote Thailand as a cruise tourism hub in Asia.

The aim of the seminar was to enable Thai and foreign experts in the cruise industry to share their opinions to make the country’s port attract tourists and support cruises for at least 10 to 20 years, TCBA president Wattana Choksuvanich said.

He explained that ports in Phuket supported more than 200 cruise trips in 2018 even though the province does not have a cruise port and passenger terminal that meets the standard.

He also pointed out that building a cruise port in Pattaya would help facilitate travel in Bangkok apart from high-speed rail linking three airports.

Thailand was ranked No. 3 as a cruise destination in Asia, so cooperation with cruise lines on port development would enable the country to gain more market share and boost tourism revenue, he said.

He added that this cooperation is also in line with the 20-year national strategy on boosting the country’s competitiveness.

Hence, we believe that this seminar will enable related agencies to promote Thailand to be Asia’s cruise tourism hub in the future, he added.

Published : May 31, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016135

Many countries have been administering smallpox vaccines to contain the spread of monkeypox, Dr Thiravat Hemachudha, chief of Chulalongkorn University’s Information Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, said on Monday.

He explained that monkeypox had not emerged in the past because many people had received their smallpox vaccine, which provides 85 per cent immunity against the disease.

“However, smallpox inoculations were halted after smallpox was eliminated in 1980,” he said, adding that people born before 1980 may have immunity against monkeypox.

However, he expects herd immunity against the virus to drop as people’s immunity deteriorates as they get older.

Thiravat said monkeypox will possibly spread faster than the previous spread of less than 1 per cent.

He also said that people can be infected with monkeypox and chickenpox at the same time, adding that it is difficult to diagnose as its rashes are like those of chickenpox, shingles and herpes. Also, rashes often appear in unexposed areas of the body, he said.

Monkeypox is now a point of interest among Thais after 12 people came in close contact with a confirmed monkeypox patient who took a transit flight from Thailand on Monday.

Health officials have been monitoring the 12 persons, who were cabin crew and passengers on the same flight, though they remain asymptomatic. They will be closely watched for 21 days, the disease incubation period. No monkeypox cases have been confirmed in Thailand, so far.

Elsewhere, there have been 406 confirmed monkeypox cases and 88 suspected cases in 32 countries. The five countries outside Africa with the highest number of monkeypox cases are the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Portugal and Canada.

Published : May 31, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016134

Flash floods are expected to hit many districts in Nan, Ranong and Phang-nga provinces on Tuesday, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said.

The districts at risk of flash floods are:

— Nan’s Go Kluea and Pua districts.

— Ranong’s Muang, Kapor and Suk Samran districts.

— Phang-nga’s Khura Buri, Takua Pa, Takua Thung, Thai Mueang and Kapong districts.

People in these areas should follow news from government agencies, beware of poisonous creatures and electricity, and be careful while driving in flooded areas, the department said.

Meanwhile, residents in Ranong, Phuket, Krabi and Trang provinces have been warned of strong winds and high waves.

Districts at risk of strong winds and high waves are:

— Ranong’s Muang, Kapor and Suk Samran districts.

— Phang-nga’s Muang, Koh Yao, Thap Put, Khura Buri, Takua Pa, Takua Thung, Thai Muang and Kapong districts.

— Phuket’s Muang, Kathu and Thalang districts.

— Krabi’s Muang, Ao Luek, Nuea Khlong, Khlong Thom and Ko Lanta districts.

— Trang’s Kantang, Sikao, Palian and Hat Samran districts.

— Satun’s Muang, La-ngu, Manang and Thung Wa districts.

People in these areas should follow news from government agencies and beware of danger from strong winds, the department said.

All ships should proceed with caution and avoid thundershowers, while small boats should keep ashore, the department added.

Published : May 31, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016131

About 6,000 Thais die from the effects of second-hand smoke every year, the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) said on Tuesday.

The NESDC revealed the figure to mark No Smoking Day, which falls on May 31.

The NESDC said a survey by the United Nations, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Public Health Ministry last year found that about 6,000 Thais were killed each year by breathing in other people’s tobacco smoke.

It also pointed out that 23.7 per cent of smokers in Thailand light up at home, potentially exposing other family members to their smoke. Of these household smokers, 67.53 per cent smoke in their homes every day, said the NESDC, citing figures from the National Statistical Office of Thailand.

This year, the WHO is campaigning on No Smoking Day with the slogan “Tobacco: A threat to our environment”.

Second-hand cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 toxins that are hazardous to family members and society, the world health agency pointed out. About 50 of these toxins can cause cancer.

The WHO said second-hand smoke kills about 1.2 million people worldwide each year, including some 65,000 children.

Meanwhile, third-hand smoke – or residue from cigarette smoke on hair, clothes, air-conditioners’ ventilators, and furniture – is also hazardous to health. The residue can linger for up to six months, the WHO added.

Published : May 31, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016130

A top Thai virologist said on Tuesday that it will be difficult to contain the spread of monkeypox because it has mild symptoms and can spread easily through intercourse.

Dr Yong Poovorawan, a virologist with Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine, said in a Facebook post that the virus has so far infected some 500 people in Europe and the US. Most or 98 per cent of the patients are men in the 20 to 50 age range.

He cited five reasons that made it difficult to control the spread.

Firstly, monkeypox symptoms are not as severe as those of smallpox and there have been no deaths so far. However, he said, because the symptoms are so mild, some patients end up not getting diagnosed.

Secondly, the outbreak of blisters is not large and 30 per cent of blisters are usually in the genital area. When patients have few blisters and their symptoms are not severe, they do not visit the doctor, Yong pointed out.

Thirdly, the virus can spread during intercourse when partners are in intimate contact.

Fourthly, there is no evidence that the virus jumped from animals to humans or that the virus came from Africa. The latest outbreak was spread among humans.

Fifth, if the virus spreads from humans to pets, especially rodents, rabbits and squirrels, they will become carriers as they will have very mild symptoms. Once pets become carriers, the virus will become endemic and become tougher to contain.

The post said monkeypox is already endemic in some African countries and may soon become endemic in Europe as well.

Published : May 31, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016129

The Transport Ministry has ordered related organisations to get ready for a surge in daily arrivals once the country reopens fully on Wednesday.

Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob was at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on Monday to check its readiness. He said all arrivals will be screened strictly by measuring temperatures, screening symptoms, checking documents and ATK tests for passengers who are not fully vaccinated, do not provide test results or fail the screening.

Passengers who pass the screening can enter Thailand normally, while those who fail will have to follow the Public Health Ministry’s measures.

From June 1 (Wednesday), policies for entering Thailand will ease. Under the new regulations, Thai travellers do not have to register for Thailand Pass, but foreigners will still be required to register. However, the process will require fewer documents.

Saksayam said he expects the number of passengers and flights at Suvarnabhumi Airport to rise gradually. He believes Thailand will see 22 million arrivals this year because the number of tickets reserved in the fourth quarter jumped to 50 per cent of the pre-Covid level.

He also said the number of daily arrivals in June should rise by 17 per cent or 70,000 persons from 64,000 per day in May. Of the arrivals, 57 per cent are expected to be foreigners and 43 per cent locals.

Meanwhile, he expects the number of daily flights to rise from 440 in May to 500 in June, with 55 per cent of them being international flights and the rest domestic flights.

Saksayam said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered related organisations to ensure passengers do not remove their masks to prevent the spreading of Covid-19. He has also ordered the preparation of public transport from the airport to ensure tourists’ convenience and comfort.

Saksayam said providing convenience will attract more tourists and help boost the Thai economy.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) on Saturday issued airlines with a special Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) on the country’s latest entry policy, reflecting the cancellation of the Thailand Pass system for returning Thai nationals from Wednesday, June 1.

Read More: https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016049

Moreover, the International Communicable Disease Control is strictly screening for patients with monkeypox and has a procedure when it finds people who could be infected.

Published : May 31, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016125

Pubs, nightclubs and other entertainment venues will be allowed to reopen in 31 provinces from Wednesday (June 1), as Thailand prepares to declare Covid-19 an endemic disease in July.

The easing of restrictions comes amid a downward trend in the daily infection rate, which fell to 3,854 cases on Tuesday. As a result, the Covid-19 warning level may be reduced from 3 to 2 this week, the Department of Disease Control (DDC) said on Monday.

From Wednesday, entertainment venues in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Chonburi and 27 other Blue and Green zone provinces will be permitted to serve alcohol until midnight.

However, venue operators must request permission from the provincial communicable disease committee and self-assess via the Thai Stop Covid 2 Plus platform before reopening.

Customers may be asked to show proof of vaccination, while people at risk of infection have been advised to avoid entertainment venues.

The reopening offers hope to the hospitality and tourism sectors, which have been devastated by the extended Covid-19 shutdown. Authorities said that if the reopening does not cause a spike in the infection rate, Covid-19 restrictions will be eased further to boost the economy.

Restrictions will remain for entertainment venues in 46 provinces under the Yellow zone of highest surveillance.

The DDC added that from Wednesday, the government’s Covid-19 situation report will be based on patients instead of infections. It said 79.5 per cent of people have now received their second vaccine dose while 42.7 per cent have had their third jab.

Published : May 31, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016121

The Commerce Ministry says the cost of Pepsi will not rise after June 1 despite the manufacturer’s warning that cans and bottles will be hiked by 1-2 baht from Wednesday (June 1).

Carbonated drinks are among 18 basic products and services whose prices cannot be raised without Commerce Ministry approval.

Suntory PepsiCo Beverage (Thailand) said on Sunday it would increase the price of Thailand’s second-most popular soft drink by 1 baht for small cans/bottles and 2 baht for large bottles.

The company cited higher packaging costs but said the price of its other soft-drink brands, including 7-Up and Mirinda, would remain the same.

The announcement threatened to add to rising living costs that the Bank of Thailand says are suppressing economic recovery.

The U-turn came after the ministry’s Department of Internal Trade (DIT) contacted the manufacturer to query the hike, said director-general Wattanasak Sur-iam on Monday.

“However, the manufacturer notified the department that it is facing rising costs for plastic beads, aluminium cans, and transportation due to rising cost of fuel,” he said.

He added that the DIT is monitoring the price of consumer products closely.

Manufacturers who wish to raise the prices of monitored goods must report the reasons to the DIT.

“Product hoarding, unfair price hiking, and refusing sale carry a penalty of up to seven years in jail, a fine of 140,000 baht, or both,” Wattanasak warned. Consumer could report violations by calling the 1569 hotline or contacting their provincial commerce office, he added.

The 17 other consumer goods whose prices are controlled by the DIT are instant noodles, eggs and meats, canned foods, bagged rice, seasoning sauces, vegetable oils, milk and dairy products, electrical appliances, cleaning products (including detergents), fertilisers, insecticides, animal feed, iron, cement, paper, drugs and medical equipment, and services of wholesale and retail shops.

Published : May 31, 2022

By : THE NATION