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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013590

A tropical cyclone is expected to bring heavy rains to the North, western parts of the Central region and the South on Sunday, the Thailand Meteorological Department has said.

According to the weather report, an active low-pressure cell over the Bay of Bengal will develop into a tropical cyclone before moving to the upper portion of the bay and hit Myanmar from Sunday to Tuesday.

The storm will also strengthen prevailing winds over the West of Thailand.

“Isolated heavy to very heavy rains are expected in the North, western parts of the Central region and the South. People in these areas should beware of severe conditions,” the department said.

It further explained that strengthening winds and thundershowers will create 2-metre high waves in the lower Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand.

“All ships and boats should proceed with caution and keep away from thundershower areas. Small boats should stay ashore in the upper Andaman area,” the department warned.

People have been encouraged to stay tuned for weather updates.

Published : March 20, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013586

As many as 101,691 complaints and comments had been submitted to the government in 2021, and 93.44 per cent or 95,024 of them have been resolved, the Prime Minister’s Office recently told the Cabinet. The remaining 6,667 issues are still under consideration, it said.

In response, the Cabinet resolved to boost the efficiency of grievance management so people have better access to services and are given solutions as soon as possible.

The government agencies, state enterprises and local government organisations to receive the most complaints are:

Government agencies

• Finance Ministry (8,017)

• Royal Thai Police (4,901)

• Public Health Ministry (4,812)

• Labour Ministry (4,655)

• Transport Ministry (1,258)

State enterprises

• Government Savings Bank (566)

• Provincial Electricity Authority (457)

• Provincial Waterworks Authority (425)

• Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (416)

• National Telecom (407)

Local government organisations

• Bangkok (7,301)

• Nonthaburi (1,403)

• Samut Prakan (1,216)

• Pathum Thani (1,044)

• Chonburi (939)

Meanwhile, the top 10 complaints and comments are as follows:

• Medical treatment, such as Covid-19 prevention measures, Covid-19 vaccine allocation and venues for Covid-19 patients (19,631)

• Comments on government’s policy and projects, such as regulation, eligibility, registration and payment under relief measures (7,404)

• Cost of living, such as regulations under Rao Chana, Mor33 Rao Rak Kan and Covid-19 relief measures (5,512)

• Noise pollution from entertainment venues, restaurants and residences, as well as drinking and motorcycle racing (4,533)

• Issues with telephone services, Line accounts and Covid-19 related call centres (3,567)

• Electricity, such as power outages and electricity service expansion (3,488)

• Politics such as anti-government protests and constitutional amendments (2,785)

• Complaints related to water flow, quality as well as water subsidy measures amid Covid-19 crisis (2,714)

• Gambling, such as tip-offs on gambling dens (2,447)

• Roads such as construction and repair of asphalt and concrete roads

Published : March 20, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013585

Public Health Ministry reported on Sunday (March 20) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 24,996 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 31 of whom have arrived in Thailand from abroad.

Death toll increased by 84, while 22,292 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 1,130,534.

The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 3,353,969 – 3,089,584 of whom have recovered, 240,139 are still in hospitals and 24,246 have died.

Separately, another 80,434 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 19,935 their second shot and 121,293 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 127,290,646.

According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 470.04 million on Sunday, 400.42 million of whom have recovered, 63.53 million are active cases (62,279 in severe condition) and 6.09 million have died (up by 3,730).

Thailand ranks 16th in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 81.40 million, followed by India with 43.00 million, Brazil with 29.61 million, France with 24.05 million and the UK with 20.09 million.

Published : March 20, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013574

Thailand is aiming to administer Covid-19 booster shots to more than 70 per cent of the population before the virus can be declared endemic, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Public Health Ministry is accelerating its vaccine rollout for the elderly across the country to protect them from the virus ahead of the Songkran festival in mid-April.

Thanakorn said booster shots are necessary if people want to coexist safely with Covid-19. Not many people in Thailand have taken booster shots.

He said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has expressed concern for the elderly, children and those with chronic conditions who can develop severe symptoms if infected.

Prayut has suggested that village health volunteers across the country find a way of actively encouraging local residents, particularly those at high risk, to get booster shots so the 70-per-cent target can be met, Thanakorn said.

More than 126.9 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered from February 2021 to March 17, and of those, 20.2 million were booster shots.

Of the total doses administered, 54.7 million were first shots, 50 million second shots and 1.9 million fourth shots.

Since January 1, Thailand has recorded 1,079,734 cumulative Covid cases and 2,377 deaths.

Separately, the Public Health Minister will kick off its project to deliver booster shots to the elderly and other high-risk individuals from March 21 to 31 in a bid to prevent a possible outbreak after Songkran.

Millions of people are expected to head to their hometowns during the April 13-17 holiday to visit their elderly relatives – an exodus that sparked a severe outbreak during the same period last year.

In a related development, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is also launching a vaccination rollout for the elderly from March 21-31. Those interested in getting a Covid-19 jab can contact the closest public health centre or any of the 11 BMA-run hospitals in the city or make a reservation via the QueQ mobile application.

Published : March 19, 2022

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013573

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed relevant state agencies to provide the “best possible assistance” to Russian and Ukrainian tourists stranded in Thailand.

“The government is also providing humanitarian aid to Russians and Ukrainians in Thailand who are affected by the ongoing war,” government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Saturday. “All those tourists should rest assured that the government will offer care, convenience and help to the best of our ability.”

Some 7,000 Russian and 1,000 Ukrainian tourists are trapped in Thailand, mostly in Phuket and Surat Thani, the Tourism and Sports Ministry said.

Thai authorities have been providing them with alternative payment channels, accommodation while they wait for flights home, interpreters and a hotline service for assistance.

Russian banks were expelled from the SWIFT system, which manages financial transactions and payments between banks worldwide.

Many flights to Russia and Ukraine have been cancelled since the war was sparked on February 24, with several Ukrainian airports being destroyed.

Thanakorn said tourists who are unable to make transfers due to the SWIFT ban have been advised to use other systems such as TransferWise, Western Union and MoneyGram. Money transfers can also be made through Thai commercial banks and non-banking channels such as Thailand Post, he added.

Thai authorities are working closely with Russia and Ukraine embassies in providing help to their nationals stranded in Thailand, the spokesman said.

Tourists whose flights home were cancelled have been advised to other airlines like Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines to get home, he said.

Published : March 19, 2022

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013572

Protecting infants from the prevalent Omicron variant is essential if we want to move on from the two-year-long pandemic, a virologist said on Saturday.

Dr Anan Jongkaewwattana, director of the Veterinary Health Innovation and Management Research Group of the National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (Biotec), said in a Facebook post that adults who may be infected should avoid getting tactile with babies to protect them from the virus.

“Infants are not vaccinated so they have a high risk of infection, much like other vulnerable groups. If you know you are infected and even if you have mild or no symptoms, avoid touching babies,” he said.

“Everybody wants to move on from Covid now. But if you allow infants to get infected, it will not be over easily.”

Anan also cited a March 18 report from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that said the number of American children aged 0 to four being hospitalised with Omicron infection was five times more than the previous peak during the Delta variant outbreak.

He said though Omicron does not cause severe illness, it poses a high risk to infants as they are not vaccinated against the virus.

The CDC report said Covid-19 can cause severe illness in children aged up to four as they are not yet eligible for vaccination.

“Important strategies to prevent Covid-19 among infants and young children include vaccination of currently eligible populations such as pregnant women, family members, and caregivers of infants and young children,” it said.

Published : March 19, 2022

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013571

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has launched a new campaign to promote responsible tourism among younger travellers.

The “Green novices, anyone can go green easily” campaign offers over Bt400,000 in prizes to young domestic travellers who take part in “challenges”.

The challenges include producing online content promoting eco-friendly tourism and taking trips with a budget of just Bt1,000, said TAT’s deputy governor for domestic marketing Thapanee Kiatphaibool.

People interested in taking part in a challenge or booking package tours for eco-friendly community trips in 25 provinces can visit the campaign website at www.มือใหม่หัดกรีน.com.

Travel vloggers can vie for more than Bt200,000 in prizes by submitting their videos promoting responsible tourism among youngsters at www.มือใหม่หัดกรีน.com/challenge.

Meanwhile, students are invited to complete an eco-friendly trip on an assigned route by spending no more than Bt1,000, with Bt100,000 in prizes up for grabs.

The campaign also includes a quiz competition, with participants required to answer questions that test their knowledge of eco-friendly tourism. The winners of a lucky draw receive prizes totalling Bt100,000.

The TAT and Sanook Travel websites have tips on how to become responsible tourists at a young age. Among the eco-friendly ideas are using fabric bags and personal tumblers to reduce plastic use, choosing coral-friendly sunscreen, and leaving no food waste.

The campaign also offers a selection of environment-friendly products and accommodation for tourists who want to go green.

Collaborating in the campaign are Airbnb, Robinhood Travel, TraveliGo.com, Nakhonchai Air, Avis, Canon, Element 72, Stanley, Keen, Rubber Killer, Ecotopia at Siam Discovery, and Sanook.com.

Published : March 19, 2022

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013570

Illegal burning of farm waste and forest fires have pushed the PM2.5 levels in the North to unhealthy levels again, the Department of Health announced on Saturday.

Dr Suwanchai Wattanayingcharoenchai, the department’s director-general, warned that severe air pollution will affect people in high-risk groups, especially vulnerable children.

The provinces affected are Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Lampang, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Phrae, Phayao and Tak, with PM2.5 levels in Mae Hong Son’s Muang district hitting 140 micrograms per cubic metre of air (µg/m3).

Pollution from PM2.5 (particles measuring 2.5 microns or less in diameter) in these provinces has risen beyond safe levels for the past 19 days and hit unhealthy levels over the past 11 days.

Thailand’s safe level of PM2.5 is 50µg/m3, though the World Health Organisation (WHO) sets it at 25µg/m3.

According to WHO’s estimates, up to 570,000 newborns to five-year-olds succumb to severe pollution yearly across the world because their immune systems and lungs are not fully developed.

Also, children breathe more deeply when playing, and if they are playing in polluted areas, they stand to develop respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

According to the Public Health Ministry, 27,550 children aged between 0 and nine in eight provinces in the North were found to have developed pollution-related diseases last year. Of them, 2,688 children were in Mae Hong Son alone.

Suwanchai, meanwhile, said that though children are on a school break at present, they should be dissuaded from playing outside. He said children, especially those in risky areas, should stay indoors and wear protective masks when outside. Also, he advised parents to ensure all doors and windows are closed and that children are fed healthy food and hydrated.

He also advised parents to immediately seek medical help if their child shows abnormal symptoms and children with lung disease should always carry their medicines.

Published : March 19, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013568

Using a fan and turning your air conditioner up to 27°C will save money, according to a Chulalongkorn University science lecturer.

Chula’s Jessada Denduangboripant agreed with advice from the Energy Ministry that this move could reduce electricity bills by 10 to 30 per cent. The lecturer spoke up after the advice caused controversy on social media.

The ministry explained that combining a fan with air-con increases airflow while decreasing the temperature by 2 degrees.

This method saves more electricity than using an air conditioner at 23-24°C, it added.

Jessada backed the advice, saying he used the fan-and-aircon method frequently.

He explained that the air-con compressor works less hard when the temperature is set higher.

Reducing the room’s temperature to 27°C will decrease humidity to a comfortable level, he said. Meanwhile, turning on a fan will make the room cooler as the air current helps the body to shed heat.

Moreover, a fan uses much less electricity than an air conditioner. Turning it up to maximum – or even switching on two or three fans – still uses less power than an air conditioner, Jessada said.

He also suggested cleaning the air conditioner and filter regularly.

Published : March 19, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013569

Facebook page ‘Weather Watch’ on Saturday posted that the India Meteorological Department issued a warning on Friday that a low-pressure area over the Southeast Bay of Bengal was moving east-northeastwards toward the South Andaman Sea and East Equatorial Indian Ocean.

The low-pressure area is forecasted to intensify into a depression by March 20 and into a cyclonic storm on March 21 and then moved north-northeastwards to Bangladesh and the northern coast of Myanmar by March 22.

Once the system intensifies into a cyclone, it will be named Asani, which is a name suggested by Sri Lanka.

“In the next two days this would-be cyclone could cause Thailand’s southern west coast to experience an outbreak of thundershowers and possible summer storms,” said the post. “This phenomenon is somehow similar to the flood of 2011 in which the South was hit with storms around the end of March, while the pursuing floods had claimed up to 53 lives.”

The Thailand Meteorological Department, however, has not issued an official warning regarding the development of a possible cyclone in the Bay of Bengal. The department has forecast that from March 19 to 25 the upper country will experience hot to very hot weather with thunderstorms, gusty winds, and hails in some areas due to the influence of southerly and the southeasterly winds that bring the moisture from the South China Sea and the Gulf to the upper Thailand

As for the Southern region, the department said that the easterly and the southeasterly winds prevailing across the Gulf and the South will strengthen and bring more rains to the South with isolated heavy rains in some areas from March 23-25.

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Cyclone Yaas churning toward India at hurricane strength, landfall predicted Wednesday

Published : March 19, 2022

By : THE NATION