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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014564

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Friday asked people to strictly follow Covid-19 preventive measures as new cases of infections remain high.

Government Spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said Prayut had concerns after seeing the high number of new cases during the ongoing Songkran holidays.

On Friday, the Public Health Ministry reported that the country had logged 20,289 new Covid-19 cases during the previous 24 hours, compared to 24,134 new cases on Thursday morning.

The spokesman said Prayut was worried also because the death toll and the number of patients with severe symptoms were rising. The Public Health Ministry on Friday morning reported 119 more Covid-19 fatalities during the previous 24 hours, compared to 115 deaths on Thursday.

“The prime minister has urged everybody to strictly follow the preventive measures prescribed by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration after the CCSA eased restrictions and allowed Songkran celebrations to be held,” Thanakorn said.

He said the prime minister also encouraged younger relatives to take the elderly in their families to receive booster jabs so as to prevent severe symptoms and death if they are infected with the coronavirus.

The prime minister also reminded children 12 to 17 years old to receive booster jabs before they return to school in the new school year in May.

The Public Health Ministry has announced that students 12-17 years of age could choose to receive either a full dose or a half dose of booster jabs but a half dose would minimise side-effects.

Published : April 15, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014562

Police have vowed there will be no bias in their investigation of sexual harassment allegations against Prinn Panitchpakdi, who resigned as Democrat Party deputy leader on Thursday.

The issue came to light on Wednesday after lawyer Sittha Biabangkerd revealed an 18-year-old female intern had sought his help after allegedly being sexually harassed by a deputy party leader. Sittha said the alleged harassment occurred at a rooftop restaurant on Soi Sukhumvit 11 in Bangkok on Monday. About 10 other women had made similar accusations, the high-profile lawyer added.

Prinn denies the allegation but said he had resigned from the Democrat Party to fight the case and clear his name.

Metropolitan Police Bureau deputy commissioner Trairong Piwpan said on Thursday that the allegation would be investigated fairly.

Trairong said investigating officers at Lumpini Police Station are currently collecting evidence and were studying security camera footage.

He also confirmed that a complaint of sexual harassment had been made, adding that the court could issue an arrest warrant, or the accused could surrender to the police voluntarily.

“I would like to confirm that there will be no discrimination against the accused despite his position,” Trairong said.

He added that other alleged victims could seek legal advice at their local police stations.

Prinn is the son of former deputy prime minister and World Trade Organisation chief Supachai Panitchpakdi. He began his career in politics in 2019 as the head of the Democrat’s economic team.

He also served as adviser to Deputy Prime Minister Jurin Laksanawisit, secretary of the House intellectual property subcommittee, and adviser to the chairman of the House commerce and intellectual property commission.

Prinn is considered an economics guru for the Democrats and the author of several agribusiness policies in 2020.

Published : April 15, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014561

Roads in Bangkok were quiet on Thursday after city residents flocked to their hometowns for the Songkran festival.

In the past three days, the city’s streets have seen 2,807 traffic violations – 2,334 cases of drunk driving (83.15 per cent), 18 of reckless driving (0.64 per cent), and 455 of drug-impaired driving (16.2 per cent).

The so-called “seven dangerous days” of Songkran traffic run until Sunday (April 17) this year.

Published : April 15, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014560

A temple in Sukhothai has found an innovative way of keeping monks and worshippers safe from Covid-19 during the Song Nam Phra ritual for Songkran.

Wat Khuha Suwan in Muang district has installed a hosepipe punctured with holes so that worshippers can keep their distance as they bathe the hands or feet of monks with scented water.

The Centre of Covid-19 Situation Administration has urged people to maintain social distancing during Songkran ceremonies to prevent a surge of infections over the Thai New Year.

At Wat Khuha Suwan on Thursday, seated monks placed their hands under a hole in the pipe. Meanwhile the water was poured by worshippers into an elevated pedestal at the top of the pipe, from where it flowed down onto the monks’ hands.

As per tradition, the monks chanted Pali-Sanskrit verses to bless the Songkran worshippers.

All participants, including the monks, wore face masks to keep the virus at bay.

Not far from the temple is Mae Ram Phan Reservoir, a tourist hotspot in Sukhothai’s Taling Chan subdistrict and the site of another unique Songkran attraction.

This year, the local authority has built 15 leisure rafts with straw roofing for tourists to wallow in traditional watery fun while being shaded from the summer heat.

Motorboats are used to tug the rafts out into the reservoir, where people are invited to swim, float in innertubes, or picnic with family members. Thermal screening and face masks are mandatory for the raft trip, while tourists must also show a negative ATK test before boarding the rafts.

Published : April 15, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014559

Over 100 police officers were deployed at Khaosan Road on Thursday after Thais and foreign tourists launched a raucous night of water battles at Bangkok’s backpacker hub.

The move came after people flocked to the street on Wednesday evening for water fights in defiance of the ban.

The water battles continued until 11pm, prompting the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to alert police over fears of a new Covid-19 outbreak.

Officers from the Tourist Police Bureau and Chana Songkhram Station quickly set up checkpoints at both ends of the street in Phra Nakhon district.

A ban on water splashing has been imposed nationwide by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) amid fears of a surge in infections over Songkran.

Also banned in Songkran activity areas are face powder daubing, foam parties or similar activities, and sale or consumption of alcohol.

Metropolitan Police chief Samran Nuanma visited the checkpoints on Thursday and said that police had charged eight owners of Khaosan restaurants for violating Covid-19 restrictions, including by allowing people to splash water.

“Since the checkpoints were set up this evening, there have been no more reports of anyone violating the no-splashing rule,” he said.

“Some people had carried water guns onto Khaosan Road, which is also prohibited.”

He said that police would prevent people carrying water guns from entering the road and confiscate any water guns found on Khaosan.

Samran added that police officers would man checkpoints at the entrance and exit of the road until the end of the Songkran festival on Sunday (April 17).

Published : April 15, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014558

Ministry of Public Health reported on Friday (April 15) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 20,289 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 68 of whom have arrived in Thailand from abroad.

Death toll increased by 119, while 24,969 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 1,769,857.
 

The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 3,993,292 – 3,741,758 of whom have recovered, 224,905 are still in hospitals and 26,629 have died.

Separately, another 5,647 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 3,870 their second shot and 17,411 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 131,631,366.
 

According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 503.02 million on Friday, 453.16 million of whom have recovered, 43.65 million are active cases (43,068 in severe condition) and 6.21 million have died (up by 3,370).

Thailand ranks 26th in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 82.25 million, followed by India with 43.03 million, Brazil with 30.23 million, France with 27.44 million and Germany with 23.27 million.

Published : April 15, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014551

Amidst fears of a Covid-19 outbreak after the Songkran festivities, a number of websites are offering safer online alternatives to celebrate the Thai New Year from the comfort of your home.

At least four websites have been available for people to virtually mark the occasion, which traditionally involves splashing water at others.

Water splashing has been banned since the Covid-19 virus struck across the world in 2020 although travels during the long holiday have been allowed over the past two years.

The government has maintained its ban this year on water splashing by Songkran revellers, especially at popular tourist areas like Bangkok’s Khaosan Road, where water splashing is an irresistible way of marking Songkran.

Sanook.com portal website is offering a virtual way to celebrate Songkran at https://season.sanook.com/songkran, where celebrants can choose their cartoon character and “targets” for water splashing among their friends in social media.

They can choose funny messages to display and a virtual location for the water fight, including popular real world sites like Bangkok’s Silom Road, Chiang Mai’s Tha Pae Gate, Surat Thani’s Samui Island, and Khon Kaen’s Khao Niao Road.

At www.สงกรานต์ออนไลน์.com until Sunday, Songkran celebrants from anywhere in the world can take part in its virtual cultural and traditional activities that include water splashing, pouring water on the hands of elders to show respect and gratitude, and bathing Buddha images.

They can choose a location for their online water fight, including Khaosan, Khao Niao, Tha Pae Gate, and Phuket’s Patong Beach.

The Songkran Metaverse Festival 2022, accessed through the website https://bit.ly/3EctKCp, offers a virtual alternative for water splashing to mark the Thai Nw Year at two virtual locations — Khaosan and Silom.

The celebrants can choose their three-dimensional avatar to take part in the virtual water fight, as well as chat with other Songkran revellers and listen to music online.

There are also colourful animations featuring a fountain, dancing car, and flying saucer.

The website can be accessed from a computer, smartphone and VR goggles.

A website run by Prince of Songkla University’s Princess Galyani Vadhana Institute of Cultural Studies and supported by the Ministry of Culture’s Department of Religious Affairs, https://songkranonline2565.weebly.com, is also offering online Songkran celebrations.

On the website, people can send electronic cards, take part in online prayers and listen to Buddhist sermons.

Published : April 14, 2022

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014549

The appointment of five new members of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has been royally endorsed, it was announced in the Royal Gazette on Wednesday.

The appointments came into force from April 13, according to the announcement countersigned by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Clinical Prof Dr Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck, a medical specialist and a former member of the defunct National Legislative Assembly, will serve as the NBTC chairman, after being chosen by the new members on January 14.

The four other newly endorsed NBTC commissioners are: the agency’s former deputy secretary-general, Air Marshal Thanapant Raicharoen; Prof Pirongrong Ramasoota, former lecturer at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Communication Arts; Torpong Selanon, president of the Thailand Association of the Blind; and Assoc Prof Suphat Suphachalasai, former director of Thammasat University’s Institute of Area Studies.

Sarana will serve as a commissioner for consumer protection, Thanapant for broadcasting, Pirongrong for TV, Torpong for promotion of people’s liberty and rights, and Suphat in the economic field.

The five were elected by the Senate on December 20 from seven candidates nominated by the selection committee. They obtained at least 124 votes, half of the total existing members in the Upper House. The other two candidates failed to get the minimum votes.

Watchdog NBTC, which regulates the telecom and broadcasting industries, is in charge of allocating the country’s digital resources including the spectrum bands which serve as the backbone of the digital economy.

Published : April 14, 2022

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014546

Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned against a mouth spray that claims to “catch and kill” the Covid-19 virus before it moves further into the body.

The product in question – made from longan extract and having been advertised on online media – was registered as a cosmetic food supplement with no medical quality, FDA deputy secretary-general Weerachai Nolwachai said on Thursday.

“The FDA has never approved any mouth spray product with the property of stopping or protecting against the Covid-19 virus,” he made it clear.

“Do not believe any advertisements trying to sell something that does not pass the FDA’s efficacy testing,” he warned.

Weerachai also noted that business owners advertising their cosmetic products with false information could face a maximum of one year in prison, a fine of up to 100,000 baht, or both.

Also, advertisers who use false information about their food products risk a maximum three years in jail, a fine of up to 30,000 baht, or both.

Details about products approved by the FDA can be checked on the agency’s website at http://www.fda.moph.go.th.

If you want to report any suspected medical or food product, call FDA hotline 1556 or lodge a complaint via the FDAThai Facebook account or Line Official account @FDAThai.

Published : April 14, 2022

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) on Thursday scrambled to take action in order to prevent tourists from splashing water as part of Songkran celebrations on Khaosan Road, a popular tourist destination.

As part of the measures, the BMA set up road checkpoints on both sides of Khaosan Road from 1pm.

The move to set up checkpoints was made at an urgent meeting of BMA agencies at 11am, called by BMA clerk Khachit Chatwanit to discuss measures for enforcing the nationwide ban on water splashing on Khaosan Road.

Kachit said the meeting was also attended by representatives from the Metropolitan Police Bureau and restaurant operators on Khaosan Road.

The meeting was held after the BMA clerk was informed by the operation centre of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration to enforce the ban strictly.

On Wednesday, foreign tourists were seen gathering on Khaosan Road in the evening to play water splashing until 11pm, leading to fears of new Covid-19 clusters. After reports on the Khaosan Songkran celebrations, the CCSA operation centre announced that the road is not among permitted venues for holding Songkran celebrations and water splashing is prohibited.

Following the 11am meeting, Phra Nakhon district chief Wasant Boonmuenwai said the two road checkpoints would be manned by BMA environment officials, who will perform antigen tests on those who want to enter the Khaosan area. Police will also be deployed to enforce the ban.

Wasant said Songkran revellers will not be allowed to carry water guns and other tools into the area for water-splashing activities.

He said the tourists will be allowed only to visit restaurants on the road without splashing water as on Wednesday night. Drinking and eating will be allowed until 11 pm.

The Phra Nakhon district chief said five restaurant operators were arrested for violating the 11pm closure time on Wednesday night; three of them have been fined and two others are still facing legal procedure.

Khachit added that there were 10 tourist destinations near Khaosan where tourists are allowed to sprinkle a little water on each others’ hands and head as part of the old Songkran tradition.

The 10 destinations are well-known Buddhist temples: Wat Ratchaborphit, Wat Saket, Wat Kalayanamitr, Wat Arun, Wat Phra Chetuphon, Wat Mahathat, Wat Suthat, Wat Rakang, Wat Ratchanadda and Wat Prayoon, Kachit added.

The traditional celebrations at the temples will be held from morning until 5pm.

Published : April 14, 2022

By : THE NATION