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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014879

Thailand should have eradicated malaria by 2024, the Department of Disease Control (DDC) announced ahead of World Malaria Day, which will be marked on Monday.

Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, DDC director-general, said on Sunday that Thailand was motivated by the World Malaria Day 2022 theme – “Harness innovation to reduce the malaria disease burden and save lives” – to take on the challenge.

Opas explained that Thailand should successfully eradicate the disease within two years thanks to the new innovative strategy it has been using to fight malaria since 2017. He said this scheme has already brought infections down by 72 per cent as of last year compared to before 2017.

Since January this year, Thailand has seen 731 malaria infections, 17 of whom were found to have contracted the severe P.falciparum strain. Those affected by the severe strain were found in Surat Thani, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan.

Opas said his department aims to get rid of the severe strain by next year in line with the target set by the World Health Organisation.

He added that the Public Health Ministry is cooperating with the Defence, Interior and Education ministries to launch public awareness campaigns.

Meanwhile, Dr Chanthana Padungthet, director of the National Vector Borne Disease Prevention and Control Division, said her division will launch a Facebook Live session on Monday to hold special online activities to mark World Malaria Day.

The Facebook session will feature video clips and a seminar providing tips on how people can protect themselves from the disease.

Published : April 24, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014875

Residents of provinces around the country want the same right as Bangkokians to vote for their provincial governors, according to a poll conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida).

The poll was conducted on April 18-20 among 1,320 voters from different educational and occupational backgrounds living outside Bangkok.

Respondents were asked if they wanted to choose their provincial governors:

– 66.14 per cent were strongly in favour

– 18.64 per cent were moderately in favour

– 10.07 per cent were strongly against

– 3.79 per cent were moderately against

– 1.36 per cent said they don’t care

Respondents were also asked whether development was different in provinces where governors are elected, not appointed:

– 57.80 per cent said totally different

– 27.05 per cent said moderately different

– 8.71 per cent said not different at all

– 5.91 per cent said there was little difference

– 0.53 per cent said they were not sure

Of the respondents, 28.41 per cent lived in Central region, 19.62 per cent in the North, 37.05 per cent in the Northeast and 14.92 per cent in the South.

Separately, respondents in a Nida poll released last Sunday (April 17) said candidates’ policies will be the key factor in determining who wins the Bangkok governor election on May 22.

Published : April 24, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014872

A car bomb planted at the foot of the first Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge near the Myawaddy-Mae Sot border checkpoint exploded late on Saturday night damaging a four-storey building and shops nearby.

No casualties or injuries were reported. Thai border checkpoint officials said it took firefighters about an hour to get the flames under control.

A little later, a group of people showed up at the site and clashed with Myanmar officials. The clash reportedly lasted for about 15 minutes before the group withdrew to the south of Myawaddy.

Reports say a team of Myanmar soldiers were deployed on Sunday to control the situation and collect evidence.

Meanwhile, security at the Mae Sot border was immediately stepped up on Saturday night and the patrol team found a group of Myanmar citizens who had reportedly crossed over to Thailand before the explosion.

The officers rounded up 24 men and 25 women, who said they were waiting for job agents to take them to Bangkok and other provinces. They claimed to have paid 20,000 baht each to job brokers.

The group will be deported after undergoing legal proceedings at the Mae Sot Police Station.

Published : April 24, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014871

The Commerce Ministry and other related agencies have been tasked with launching measures to mitigate the rising price of basic necessities.

“The prime minister has also urged them to monitor the price of consumer goods closely to ensure people are not being taken advantage of,” government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Sunday.

He said the government, especially the Commerce Ministry, is doing its best to control the price of basic consumer products.

Thanakorn added that the Commerce Ministry will add another 20 venues in Bangkok where goods can be bought at a fixed price. The capital already has 50 such venues.

Also, he said, 25 grocery trucks or “pumpuang” will be deployed across the capital to sell basic necessities such as chicken, eggs, sugar, rice, vegetable oil, instant noodles, canned fish, soap and toothpaste at cheap prices.

Provincial Commercial Offices have also set up venues where basic goods are sold cheaply, he said.

Published : April 24, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014870

Daily Covid-19 testing and vaccination must be increased to declare Covid-19 an endemic disease by July, the Public Health Commission said on Sunday.

Under the Public Health Ministry’s roadmap for transition to an endemic, the death rate must drop below 0.1 per cent of cases, while over 60 per cent of the population – including the elderly – must have had three shots, and 80 per cent of the elderly must have received their first jab.

The death rate currently stands at 0.35 per cent of an average 36,512 cases per day, said commission vice-chairman Chalermchai Boonyaleephan.

However, that rate would be lower if testing was increased to get a more accurate picture of the true daily infection rate, he added.

Hence, he urged the government to increase testing by 3.5 times, especially via ATKs.

Accelerating Covid-19 screening was a crucial way to reduce the death rate, he emphasised.

Meanwhile, the booster campaign must be accelerated to 245,882 shots per day to reach the targeted 60 per cent coverage by July 1, Chalermchai said. The elderly population must receive 37,647 booster shots per day to reach the same target.

He said 84.1 per cent of the elderly have already received their first vaccine dose.

Chalermchai said it would be a challenge to meet the testing and vaccination targets for the transition to endemic Covid-19, adding success would depend on cooperation between all stakeholders in society.

Published : April 24, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014868

Two-million discounted rooms will be offered under the proposed fifth phase of the “Rao Tiew Duay Kan” (We Travel Together) co-payment scheme, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said.

Discounts for plane tickets and coupons for restaurants would be cancelled in the fifth phase to focus on subsidising accommodation costs, TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said.

The accommodation subsidies will be funded by money left over from the fourth phase topped up by a new budget.

The proposal will be discussed with Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn before being handed to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration for consideration, he said.

TAT also asked Phiphat to extend the “Tour Tiew Thai” co-payment scheme until September as more than 130,000 discounts on tourism packages are still available.

The fourth phase of Rao Tiew Duay Kan saw about 2 million subsidised discounts booked by April 16 for use by May 31.

The scheme offers domestic tourists a 40 per cent discount on room bookings up to 3,000 baht per night (maximum 10 rooms or nights). They also get coupons worth 600 baht per day to buy meals or tickets at participating venues, as well as a 40 per cent discount on plane tickets capped at 3,000 baht per passenger.

Published : April 24, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014867

Twelve of Thailand’s 77 provinces should be able to declare Covid-19 an endemic disease soon, before the national deadline to end the pandemic in July, the Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) said.

Provinces will transition to an endemic when the Covid-19 death rate drops below 0.1 per cent of cases for two consecutive weeks.

The death rate is currently at 0.31 per cent across Thailand.

The government has set a deadline of July 1 to declare an end to the pandemic.

However, 12 provinces where the death rate is declining are close to declaring an endemic. These provinces are Phetchaburi, Surat Thani, Krabi, Ranong, Trang, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phuket, Satun, Songkhla, Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, CCSA spokesman Taweesilp Visanuyothin said on Friday.

The timeline for transition to endemic Covid-19 has four phases:

– Combat (level 4): March 12 to early April

– Plateau (level 3): April to May

– Decline (level 2): End of May to June

– Post-pandemic (level 1): July 1 onwards

Another 21 provinces are currently in the combat phase. These are Lamphun, Phrae, Lampang, Phitsanulok, Sukhothai, Kamphaeng Phet, Nakhon Sawan, Sakon Nakhon, Bueng Kan, Loei, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Phanom, Nong Khai, Yasothon, Maha Sarakham, Sisaket, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Nayok, Kanchanaburi and Uthai Thani.

The remaining 44 provinces are in the plateau phase. These are Bangkok, Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Nan, Phetchabun, Uttaradit, Phayao, Phichit, Chainat, Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Singburi, Lopburi, Tak, Samut Songkhram, Samut Sakhon, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Ang Thong, Saraburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Suphan Buri, Phatthalung, Phang Nga, Chumphon, Chonburi, Samut Prakan, Mukdahan, Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Rayong, Prachinburi, Trat, Sa Kaew, Nong Bua Lamphu, Amnat Charoen, Ubon Ratchathani, Nakhon Ratchasima, Roi Et, Kalasin, Chaiyaphum, Buriram and Surin.

However, the national Covid-19 death rate is still rising even though the number of infections is likely to drop, Taweesilp said.

Most Covid deaths are among people who have not been vaccinated and have chronic diseases, he added.

The CCSA has adopted the following three-point roadmap for the transition to an endemic:

– Easy, efficient public access to treatment with fatality rate lower than 0.1 per cent.

– More than 60 per cent of the population given booster shots.

– Building public awareness of how to transition from pandemic to endemic Covid-19 safely.

Published : April 24, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014864

Public Health Ministry reported on Sunday (April 24) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 17,784 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 78 of whom have arrived in Thailand from abroad.

Death toll increased by 126, while 22,846 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 1,942,439.

Published : April 24, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014857

Several locally produced Covid-19 vaccines should be registered with the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) within this year and go into mass production next year.

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) reported that trials into four locally made vaccines have made a great deal of progress.

They are Chula-Cov19 mRNA vaccine developed by Chulalongkorn University’s Vaccine Research Centre, HXP-GPOVac inactivated chimeric vaccine developed jointly by the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) and Mahidol University, Baiya SARS-Cov-2-Vax protein subunit vaccine jointly by Baiya Phytopharm and Chulalongkorn University, and the Covigen needle-free plasmid-DNA vaccine by Bionet-Asia Co Ltd.

Chula-Cov19, now undergoing a second human trial, is set to register with the FDA early next year and go into mass production soon after. The Thai government has allocated 2.7 billion baht for its research.

HXP-GPOVac, which is also undergoing a second human trial, should be registered within the last quarter of this year. Its production, initially targeted at up to 20 million doses annually, is likely to start next year, the CCSA said.

The government allocated 445 million baht for this vaccine’s development.

The Baiya SARS-Cov2-Vax, currently under its first human trial, should be registered this year and start production soon after. The initial aim is to roll out 60 million doses yearly. This vaccine was also allocated 445 million baht by the Thai government.

Covigen, a DNA-based vaccine that penetrates the skin via a needle-free injector, is undergoing its first human trial and should be registered within this year. This vaccine is being developed under a state subsidy of 650 million baht.

Published : April 23, 2022

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014855

The health authorities are well prepared to take care of Covid-19 patients even if new infections surge after the long Songkran break, the public health minister announced on Saturday.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who also doubles as deputy prime minister, said hospitals under the Public Health Ministry have enough beds, medication and personnel to deal with a potential outbreak.

The number of new Covid cases has been stable at slightly over 20,000 per day, but the ministry will closely monitor the situation for two weeks after Songkran wrapped last Sunday, Anutin added.

“The Public Health Ministry is ready to take care of new Covid-19 patients, most of whom are in the ‘green group’ with mild symptoms,” he said.

For patients with severe symptoms, Anutin said his ministry has the policy of “being sufficient in three areas”, namely hospital beds, medicines and medical personnel.

Since patients with mild symptoms are encouraged to isolate themselves at home, hospital bed occupancy is about 30 per cent on average.

There are also sufficient supplies of herbal and anti-viral medicines, including Fah Talai Jone (green chiretta), Favipiravir, Remdesivir, Molnupiravir and Paxlovid, Anutin said.

“Not every patient requires anti-viral medicines. Some can recover without taking any. Prescribing them depends on each doctor,” he said.

The ministry also has plenty of doctors and nurses to take care of patients, Anutin said.

In addition, the ministry is also campaigning for people in high-risk groups – those aged 60 and over and with chronic diseases – to get their Covid-19 vaccines as well as booster shots.

Published : April 23, 2022