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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013931

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said there will be no water-splashing on Khaosan Road this Songkran, while urging Thais to take precautions now to prevent spreading the virus at family get-togethers next month.

Anutin on Monday poured cold water on the hopes of Khaosan Road tourism operators, insisting that water splashing will be banned for the third consecutive Songkran. Responding to pleas from local businesses, Anutin said on Monday that the ban was necessary to control the spread of Covid-19 as water-splashing involves touching and sharing water containers.

The annual Songkran “water battle” boosts revenue by drawing huge numbers of tourists to Khaosan Road but has been banned since 2020.

“I urge that we remain patient for another year and follow disease control measures until Covid-19 becomes an endemic, after which we will be able to enjoy Songkran as usual,” Anutin said.

Meanwhile, people who planned to travel or visit their families during the Songkran break (April 13-17) should start “self-clean-up” measures from April 1 to ensure they do not bring the virus home to their families and others during Thailand’s biggest holiday.

“These measures include avoiding high-risk or crowded places, monitoring your symptoms closely, and getting a booster shot of Covid-19 vaccine if you haven’t already had one in the past three months,” said Anutin.

“These moves will greatly reduce the risk of viral spread at the community level, especially among the elderly during Songkran get-togethers.”

Anutin warned that without strict disease-control measures, daily infections around Songkran could rise to 100,000, pressuring the public health system and delaying the plan to transition to Covid-19 endemic conditions by July.

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Published : March 29, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013930

The Tourism and Sports Ministry will ask the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) to cancel mandatory PCR testing for foreign tourists and replace them with ATK tests from May.

Under the move, tourists would no longer face the expense of a PCR test and mandatory first night’s stay in an SHA+ hotel.

“We expect the move to be approved and implemented from May 1 onward, provided that there is no surge in new infections and Covid-19 deaths during and after Songkran,”

Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said.

He added that the “acceptable” limit is 60,000 daily infections – including those who test positive via ATKs – and 100 fatalities.

The ministry last week unveiled a plan to scrap the Thailand Pass requirement for incoming travellers from June 1 in a bid to boost tourist arrivals.

Phiphat said the move would restore normal travel to Thailand “just like in 2019” before Covid-19 triggered global travel bans.

If the government accepts the proposal, tourists will no longer be required to register for the Thailand Pass required under the Test & Go, Sandbox and quarantine schemes.

The Tourism Ministry estimates Thailand will welcome at least 7 million foreign travellers this year, lower than the previous forecast of 10 million. Tourism revenue in 2022 is forecast to rise to 1 trillion baht, or 30 per cent of the 3 trillion baht earned in 2019. The ministry is optimistic that revenue in 2023 will jump 50 per cent to 1.5 trillion baht before returning to pre-Covid levels in 2024.

Published : March 29, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013929

Ministry of Public Health reported on Tuesday (March 29) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 21,678 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 64 of whom have arrived in Thailand from abroad.

Death toll increased by 78, while 27,183 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 1,351,963.
 

Published : March 29, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013916

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has warned all sectors to strictly follow the measures for containing the spread of Covid-19 ahead of and during the Songkran holidays so that the number of infections would not surge.

Government Spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana quoted Prayut as warning that all sides must strictly observe four measures:

– All people must get the Covid-19 vaccine or booster dose as soon as possible.

– People must always protect themselves by wearing masks, and washing their hands regularly.

– Avoid risky places .

– Regularly monitor their health using antigen testing kits.

The prime minister also warned business places to always use Covid-free settings by regularly testing their staff and visitors with ATKs.

The spokesman said Prayut has also instructed public health agencies to be prepared for a possible surge of infections by making arrangements for testing and treating patients to prevent deaths and minimising the spread.

On Monday, the Public Health Ministry reported 24,635 new Covid-19 cases during the previous 24 hours with 81 new deaths.

Published : March 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013915

The public health minister said on Monday that Thailand has enough Favipiravir anti-viral pills to treat Covid-19 patients because it is now being produced locally.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) can make this drug because it has precursor chemicals. Plus, he said, GPO is also importing the drug.

Anutin said permanent secretary Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit had told him that the ministry was managing the supply of Favipiravir well and there should be enough for patients.

He added that though some critics believe Favipiravir is inefficient in treating Covid-19 patients, the ministry has been using it as the main medicine for combating the virus.

Anutin went on to say that the Medical Services Department is also importing other drugs like Molnupiravir, Remdesivir and Paxlovid to treat patients.

The World Health Organisation recently announced that the anti-viral Molnupiravir is more effective in treating Covid-19 patients who are at high risk of developing severe symptoms.

“I confirm that the drug [Favipiravir] is being distributed to all patients and claims that we have been stockpiling the drug are untrue,” Anutin said.

He added that all provincial hospitals have been given enough Favipiravir pills to tend to local patients.

Meanwhile, Disease Control Department director-general Dr Opas Karnkawinpong said only 25 per cent of Covid-19 patients need an anti-viral like Favipiravir, so the supplies should be enough. He added that if any of the state-run hospitals across the country are in short supply they can contact the provincial chief public health officer for a top-up.

Published : March 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013912

The Ministry of Public Health recently confirmed it had changed the formula for administering booster doses of the Covid-19 booster vaccines.

There have been discussions on social media on whether the ministry had actually changed the formula. The Anti-Fake News Centre Thailand investigated this issue on Sunday and confirmed that it was true.

According to the ministry, the revised formula is:

1. People aged 18 or over should receive the third dose more than three months after the second dose and the fourth dose more than four months after the third dose. People could choose to receive a half dose of Pfizer vaccines for the booster dose at the doctor’s discretion.
2. People aged 12 to 17 will receive a standard dose of an mRNA vaccine for the third inoculation. They should wait four to six months after the second dose.
3. People who have been infected with Covid-19 before could follow these measures by waiting for three months after they have recovered from Covid-19.

According to information in Chiang Mai, the ministry revealed that two doses of vaccines may not prevent the Omicron infection, but it considerably increases the chances of preventing a fatality. The third dose could prevent infection for around 45 to 68 per cent of people and fatality for 98 per cent, while the fourth dose could prevent the infection for 82 per cent with no deaths.

Therefore, it is necessary to receive the third dose because it could help prevent fatality and also decrease the severity of the disease.

The ministry intends to hasten administering the booster dose to 70 per cent of elders before the Songkran Festival. It has urged people to receive booster doses according to the new formula.

Those who are interested to receive updates on prevention measures could check at the ministry’s website or call 02-590-1000.

Published : March 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013910

State-run interprovincial bus operator Transport Company will offer discounts to two attractions in Chiang Mai in a bid to boost the province’s tourism industry.

Travellers who buy bus tickets to Chiang Mai will be eligible for a 20 per cent discount on tickets to the Chiang Mai Night Safari or 50 per cent off the entry fee for San Kamphaeng Hot Springs. The campaign, organised in cooperation with the Pinknakorn Development Agency, runs from April 1 to September 30.

“The discount will need to be used up within seven days. Visitors to the hot springs can also exchange the entry fee discount for 300 baht off lodging if they want to stay overnight,” said Transport Company president Sanyalak Panyawatthanalikhit.

The discount is limited to one person per bus ticket and cannot be used with other sales promotions.

Tickets can be reserved via www.transport.co.th, the e-ticket mobile app or at Transport Company counters nationwide.

Published : March 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013909

Two containers carrying 40 tonnes of durian and one container filled with 20 tonnes of coconuts entered China for the first time on a train on Sunday.

The shipment from Rayong was loaded on the train in Nong Khai and made its way to Thanaleng Station in Laos, before entering China via the Mohan checkpoint. This is the first time that the China-Laos railway has been used to transport Thai fruit.

Wutt Rengpradoong, a customs officer in Nong Khai, said that in line with instructions from the deputy finance minister and Customs Bureau chief, steps have been taken to reduce costs and make the inspection of goods more efficient.

Now instead of shifting goods from the Nong Khai Railway Station to the customs boundary post for inspection, the customs department will send mobile X-ray units to inspect the goods.

Somkiat Mansiripibul, manager of Kaocharoen Train Transport which operates the Laos-China railway, said though there are still some problems in sending Thai fruit to China due to the Covid-19 crisis, steps are being taken to ease these difficulties. He said related organisations and agencies were helping mitigate these problems and speed up the transport of goods to China.

He also said that efforts are being made to reduce the costs of sending goods to China and make the process more efficient.

Somkiat added that rail transport appears to be the fastest, adding that it takes just four or five days for goods to be transported from Rayong to Kunming in China.

Published : March 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013907

The operator of online lottery selling platform “Blue Dragon Lottery” said it will suspend operations from April 2 after its office was raided by police on suspicion of overpricing.

“Customers can still buy lottery tickets for the draw on April 1,” said the company’s president Phatchara Messiahporn on Sunday evening.

He denied any wrongdoing but said he did not know when sales of tickets would resume.

Police raided Blue Dragon’s offices in Nonthaburi and Loei province last Friday (March 25) as part of a crackdown on chronic overpricing of government lottery tickets.

Officers confiscated 1.8 million lottery tickets from the Nonthaburi office and 200,000 tickets from the office in Loei.

Initial investigation showed the company, which has assets of more than 100 million baht, is not eligible for a lottery quota but has amassed large amounts of lottery tickets from existing quota holders and small sellers.

Officials are now investigating the company on suspicion of other crimes including money laundering and illegal gambling.

Phatchara said Blue Dragon customers with receipts could still pick up tickets, whether they had won prizes or not.

“Those who win in the April 1 draw can also use the company’s prize redeeming service without having to visit the Government Lottery Office,” he added.

“We insist that all tickets sold via our online platform are backed by the original tickets issued by the government,” said Phatchara.

“We do not know when we can resume selling online tickets again. From April 2 all Blue Dragon lottery services will be unavailable. However, other services such as sales of amulets, horoscopes, fortune-telling, and our ‘high-tech noodle’ food trucks, will be open as usual.”

Related News

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Published : March 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013897

Phang Nga police say that wealthy hotelier Vorasit “Pla Wan” Issara and three friends were not tested for alcohol after he crashed his Bentley on Thursday because officers “did not smell alcohol on their breath”.

Officers arrived at the scene of the crash on Phetkasem Road in Thung Maphrao subdistrict and interviewed Vorasit and his three passengers for about 10 minutes, but detected no sign of alcohol use, according to Thai Muang station chief Pol Col Boriboon Yusuksomboon.

Vorasit, the owner of Phuket’s ultra-luxury Sri Panwa resort, lost control of the vehicle and hit a guard rail, causing the car to flip several times before coming to rest in the middle of the road. The four occupants exited the vehicle just before it went up in flames.

Lawyers questioned why police had failed to conduct alcohol tests on Vorasit and his friends, as required by the law. The law stipulates that driving under the influence of alcohol is punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a Bt20,000 fine, plus licence suspension for at least six months.

“If the driver is ordered by police to take a test but refuses, they will be fined Bt1,000 and the officer must presume that they have been drinking,” said a lawyer on Facebook.

“Tests that show an alcohol-blood level over 50 milligrams per decilitre are considered DUI, in which case the insurance company will not provide coverage for the accident.”

Responding to the legal controversy, station chief Boriboon said: “After interviewing the driver and passengers for about 10 minutes, officers smelled no alcohol on their breath and thus did not order an alcohol test. Officers however charged the driver with reckless driving and causing damage to property, namely the guard rail, and fined them Bt1,000.”

He added: “In this case an alcohol test was not necessary as there were no injuries or deaths and another party was not involved [in the accident].”

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Real estate heir Pla Wan escapes death as his Bentley rolls, goes up in flames

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Published : March 28, 2022

By : THE NATION