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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014021

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The northeastern province of Surin has indefinitely postponed its ambitious plan to become Thailand’s first province to declare Covid-19 endemic on April 1.

The plan has been met with scepticism as daily cases in Thailand remain high.

Surin Governor Suvapong Kitiphatpiboon said on Thursday that after the upcoming Songkran holiday in mid-April, local authorities would evaluate the province’s preparedness once again to determine if Covid-19 can be declared endemic.

“I confirm our province’s determination to become the first province to declare [Covid-19 endemic],” he said.

On Tuesday, Surin’s Communicable Diseases Committee resolved to postpone the declaration, citing the need to “carefully watch the situation” during the upcoming long holiday.

Also, the province’s hospital bed occupancy rate has remained high at 8.6 per cent, while less than 80 per cent of its elderly residents and those suffering from chronic diseases have been vaccinated.

There has been widespread concern that travel during Songkran may lead to new outbreaks in many provinces.

Earlier, Surin authorities were keen to announce the province would be the first to declare Covid-19 endemic. They encouraged residents to get their Covid-19 booster shots as soon as possible.

Published : March 31, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014020

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The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has published a new order redesigning health zones around the country as Covid control areas, highly monitored areas and pilot tourism areas.

The order, which was signed by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in his capacity as CCSA chairman, was published in the Royal Gazette on Wednesday. It will take effect tomorrow, April 1.

Prayut said the redesigning of Covid areas was made under advice from the Public Health Ministry’s emergency medical operations centre and the Interior Ministry’s Covid-19 pandemic situation administration centre.

The new order declared 20 provinces as Covid-controlled areas, 47 provinces as highly monitored areas, and 10 provinces and some districts in 16 provinces as pilot tourism areas. The 16 provinces whose districts are designated tourism areas are also listed in the two other categories.

The 20 provinces that will now be Covid-controlled areas are:

1 Tak

2 Nakhon Nayok

3 Nakhon Pathom

4 Nakhon Ratchasima

5 Nakhon Si Thammarat

6 Buri Ram

7 Prachuap Khiri Khan

8 Ayutthaya

9 Phatthalung

10 Phichit

11 Phitsanulok

12 Ranong

13 Rayong

14 Ratchaburi

15 Songkhla

16 Samut Prakan

17 Samut Sakhon

18 Surat Thani

19 Udon Thani

20 Uttaradit

The 47 provinces to be highly monitored are:

1 Kalasin

2 Kamphaeng Phet

3 Khon Kaen

4 Chanthaburi

5 Chachoengsao

6 Chainat

7 Chaiyaphum

8 Chumphon

9 Chiang Rai

10 Trang

11 Trat

12 Nakhon Phanom

13 Nakhon Sawan

14 Narathiwat

15 Nan

16 Bueng Kan

17 Prachin Buri

18 Pattani

19 Phetchabun

20 Phrae

21 Phayao

22 Mahasakham

23 Mukdahan

24 Mae Hong Son

25 Yala

26 Yasothon

27 Roi Et

28 Lopburi

29 Lampang

30 Lamphun

31 Loei

32 Si Sa Ket

33 Sakon Nakhon

34 Satun

35 Samut Songkhram

36 Sa Kaeo

37 Saraburi

38 Sing Buri

39 Sukhothai

40 Suphan Buri

41 Surin

42 Nong Khai

43 Nong Bua Lamphu

44 Ang Thong

45 Uthai Thani

46 Ubon Ratchathani

47 Amnart Charoen

The areas and provinces designated as pilot tourism areas are:

1 Bangkok

2 Krabi

3 Kanchanaburi

4 Khon Kaen (Muang, Khao Suan Kwang, Puey Noi, Phol, Phuwiang, Wieng Kao and Ubolrat districts)

5 Chanthaburi (only Muang and Tha Mai districts)

6 Chonburi

7 Chiang Rai (Muang, Chieng Khong, Chieng Saen, Thoeng, Phan, Mae Chan, Mae Fah Luang, Mae Sai, Mae Saruay, Wieng Kaen, and Wieng Pa Pao districts)

8 Chiang Mai

9 Trat (only Koh Kood and Koh Chang)

10 Nakhon Ratchasima (Muang, Chalerm Phrakiart, Chokchai, Pak Chong, Phimai, Wang Nam Khieo, and Si Khiew districts)

11 Nonthaburi

12 Buriram (only Muang district)

13 Pathum Thani

14 Prachuap Khiri Khan (Muang district – tambon Hua Hin and tambon Nong Kae)

15 Ayutthaya (only Muang district)

16 Phang-nga

17 Phetchaburi

18 Phuket

19 Ranong (only Koh Phayam)

20 Rayong (only Koh Samet)

21 Loei (only Chieng Khan)

22 Samut Prakan (only Suvarnabhumi International Airport)

23 Surat Thani (only Koh Tao, Koh Pha-ngan, and Samui)

24 Surin (only Muang and Tha Tume districts)

25 Nong Khai (only Muang, Tha Bor, Si Chiang Mai and Sangkhom districts)

26 Udon Thani (Muang, Kumphawapi, Na Yoong, Ban Doong, Prachak Silpakhom, and Nong Han districts).

Published : March 31, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014015

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The Sheikhul Islam office of Thailand advised Muslims taking part in Ramadan activities to strictly follow health guidelines to protect themselves against Covid-19.

Office representative Sutham Boonmalert said there is no problem if Muslims in the same household come together to eat after fasting. However, if they arrive from other provinces to join family or friends in eating they should follow health measures by separating their food and utensils.

He advised them to perform their “salah” (prayers) at home if necessary, but they could also do it at mosques, which should enforce social distancing and provide alcohol handwashing gel and sterilisers. Muslims could also pray outside mosques if there is an area to do so, Sutham recommended.

He said the activities should not be conducted in air-conditioned rooms to keep Covid at bay.

For gathering during the Eid al-Fitr feast, Sutham asked mosques to separate food and utensils. He said the best way is for mosques to give food to each house.

He also recommended that Muslims carry out “tahajjud” (night prayers) at home by having a father of the house act as an imam.

While the office suggested large open spaces for prayers, Sutham said elders and children should not pray together at mosques.

Department of Health director-general Dr Suwanchai Wattanaying-charoencha said on Wednesday that several rituals which involve gathering and carrying out activities together are risky.

Muslims taking part in activities together should be fully vaccinated and have a booster dose beforehand, he said.

“They should take an ATK test if they believe they have Covid-19 symptoms or come into contact with any high-risk person,” Suwanchai added.

Published : March 31, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014014

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Many people flocked to Ganesha shrine in Bangkok’s Ratchada intersection on Wednesday night to pay their respects to Rahu – one of the nine major celestial bodies in Hindu belief – for prosperity.

Pavements and roads near the shrine were crowded with an overwhelming number of devotees, causing traffic jams around Ratchada, Huai Kwang, Tiam Ruam Mitr and Phang Muang intersections.

The shrine visit came after a number of astrologers advised people to pay their respects to Rahu from 8pm on Wednesday to 2.41am on Thursday as Rahu moves to the Aries and Libra constellations from 2.44am on Wednesday to 6.21am on October 17 next year.

In Hinduism belief, people in constellations that Rahu moves to will face bad luck. Meanwhile, those in other constellations, especially Taurus and Scorpio, will have a prosperous year.

Published : March 31, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014010

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Farmers in Udon Thani’s Nong Wua So district have been able to export only 2,000 tonnes of the 10,000 tonnes of mangos harvested due to several countries limiting cargo flights amid the Russia-Ukraine war.

Udon Thani Provincial Commerce Office chief Prasert Faichaona said on Wednesday that Nongwuasor district has seen the highest output of mangos in 10 years and is expected to harvest up to 15,000 tonnes in May.

“The three kinds of mangos that are in high demand in foreign markets are Barracuda, Fah Lan and Phet Ban Lad. But only 2,000 tonnes have been exported, so the rest will have to be distributed to domestic markets,” he said.

“The commerce office has been working with relevant authorities to find sales channels for these mangos, such as weekend markets, shopping malls, and Blue Flag shops nationwide.”

Prasert said the biggest customers for Thai mangos are Chinese, Japanese, South Korean and European fruit resellers.

“China used to order several thousand tonnes per year, but this year they have decreased their orders drastically due to a lower number of cargo flights and restrictions on imported produce imposed by the Chinese government in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19,” he added.

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Published : March 31, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014007

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BlackPink’s Thai member Lalisa “Lisa” Manoban is among 10 people/entities to win The People Awards 2022.

The awards were presented at a ceremony on Wednesday at Gaysorn Urban Resort in Bangkok’s Pathumwan district by online media The People.

It has been organising the event for four consecutive years, with its eight editors picking ten people or entities from more than 4,000 for their outstanding work, performance or achievements in the past year highlighted on The People website and YouTube channel.

The ten award winners are:

1. iLaw, or Internet Law Reform Dialogue, a human rights NGO that promotes the amendment of the Constitution.

2. Zendai Foundation, a network of health volunteers focusing on the treatment of underprivileged Covid-19 patients.

3. Spaceth.co, a platform dedicated to scientific and astrological study.

4. Sarunee Achawananthakul, director of Sal Forest, a research company focusing on sustainable business development.

5. Assoc Prof Dr Khaneungnit Sribua-Iam, an expert in environmental law and founder of the Thailand Clean Air Network.

6. Prof Dr Manop Phitakphakorn, head of Siriraj Hospital’s Centre of Excellence in Precision Medicine.

7. Rangsiman Rome, Move Forward Party-list MP, who led a discussion on the human trafficking problem among Rohingya refugees.

8. Aphichatphong Weerasetkul, director of the film “Memoria”, which won the Jury Prize at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival.

9. Phongsakorn Paeyo, triple gold medalist in wheelchair racing at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games.

10. Lalisa “Lisa” Manoban, Thai member of South Korea’s BlackPink K-pop group who has broken several records in the music field.

Published : March 31, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014001

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Ministry of Public Health reported on Thursday (March 31) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 27,560 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 61 of whom have arrived in Thailand from abroad.

Death toll increased by 85, while 25,077 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 1,404,912.
 

Published : March 31, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013995

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Police seized 298 kilograms of crystal meth, or “ice”, and arrested two suspects in Pathum Thani province early on Wednesday.

Deputy National Police chief Pol Maj-General Roi Ingphairoj, from the police’s drug suppression centre, said personnel from the Narcotics Suppression Bureau were deployed to check a rented room on Soi Bongkot 4 in Tambon Klong Song, Klong Luang district, at 1.30am following a tip-off.

Police found the ice drug in plastic wraps in the room. Two men, identified as Danupol, 23, and Saroj, 34, were arrested. Police withheld the suspects’ surnames.

They were charged with being in possession of a narcotic named in the first list with intent to sell in a manner that would cause the use of the drug to be widespread and create national insecurity.

Roi said police are investigating to try to locate other accomplices.

Published : March 30, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013994

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The National Health Security Office has fine-tuned the role of its hotline 1330 to helping callers identify their level of Covid-19 symptoms so that they could seek proper treatment.

NHSO secretary-general Dr Jadet Thamthataree said on Wednesday that the role of hotline 1330 has been tweaked since the Public Health Ministry changed its policy on how to treat people infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Since March 1, the ministry has treated infected people with mild or no symptoms as outpatients, asking them to seek medication based on their symptoms from hospitals where they have rights, and stay at home to recover from the virus.

Since March 16, Covid treatment has been removed from the Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients (UCEP) policy that allowed infected people to seek treatments at any hospital. The disease has instead been put on the list of UCEP Plus, meaning only patients with moderate (yellow) and severe (red) conditions could seek treatment from any hospital with the government footing the bills.

Jadet said the 1330 hotline has been adapted accordingly. He said an infected person must dial 1330 and press 14 to enter the symptom diagnosis procedure.

If they are found to be people in vulnerable groups at risk of developing severe conditions, they will be passed on to hospitals for treatment. If not, they will be told to stay at home.

Jadet said the NHSO has also opened a special line 1330 (press 18) for diagnosis of infected people who are elderly, people with eight underlying illnesses, bed-ridden patients, disabled and children under 5. If officials decide that the patients are at risk of developing severe symptoms, they will find hospitals for them, Jadet said.

He said the hotline 1330 is just a supplement system of the Covid-19 treatment system of each province. He said the infected people can check details on how to get help from the provincial administration from the website of the provincial public health office.

Covid-19 infected people in Bangkok can check the BMA website: https://main.bangkok.go.th/)and its Facebook page; www.facebook.com/prbangkok, Jadet added.

Published : March 30, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013982

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The Thai and Cambodian governments will sign a memorandum of understanding soon to crack down on call-centre scammers and operators of online gambling dens, the government spokesman said on Wednesday.

Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said representatives of the two governments were in the process of consulting on the MOU draft that is aimed at promoting digital cooperation between the two countries.

He said the cooperation would focus on joint efforts to suppress call-centre gangs and online gambling operators.

Thanakorn said the discussions with Cambodia reflected the government’s stepped-up efforts to target scammers and online gambling websites following an order by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

The spokesman said Prayut had instructed all government agencies concerned to join forces to step up the crackdown.

Thanakorn said the Police Cyber Taskforce recently raided the operational base of a network of four gambling websites in Nonthaburi. The network had more than 200,000 clients with Bt200 million a month in circulation.

The spokesman said the Digital Economy and Society Ministry had also integrated its operations with other government agencies to suppress call-centre gangs and gambling websites.

The cooperation has led to the arrest of as many as 6,348 suspects covering 5,517 cases during the past year.

Owners of 344 bank accounts have also been arrested for allowing their accounts to be used by the gangsters. Thanakorn said the accounts have been used to inflict damages worth Bt569 million on victims.

He said the cooperation among government agencies also resulted in the closure of 742 URLs or gambling web addresses in the first three months of the year. The websites were blamed for causing damages worth Bt157 million to Thais.

Prayut had also instructed government agencies concerned to launch awareness campaigns so that people won’t fall victim to call-centre gangs again, Thanakorn added.

Published : March 30, 2022

By : THE NATION