The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Friday ignored the private sector’s calls to lift the ban on booze sales between 2pm and 5pm.
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said the CCSA did not even discuss the subject at its meeting on Friday. He added that the CCSA may look into the issue later.
Thanakorn Kuptajit, former president of the Thai Alcohol Beverage Business Association (TABBA), said on Thursday that he hoped CCSA would consider lifting the ban as part of moves to relax preventive measures to stimulate the economy.
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has given the go-ahead to open-air concerts, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Friday.
Prayut, who chaired the meeting, said concert organisers must first seek approval from the authorities and only open-air venues will be approved.
The number of concert-goers will also be restricted and venues will be required to strictly follow Covid-19 prevention measures, including wearing masks, the PM added.
“We haven’t approved the holding of concerts in halls or closed areas yet,” Prayut said.
“Also, don’t declare that the CCSA now allows people to remove their facemask. The CCSA has not abolished that measure yet. Some people say things in advance and cause confusion,” he added.
Prayut also said that organisers of Songkran celebrations should follow Covid-19 measures strictly, and if any venue is spotted violating measures, it will be closed immediately.
The PM added that the government has enough medicines and hospital beds to deal with an outbreak and also has more than 3 million vaccine doses in stock for boosters, but not many people are interested.
“So, today [Friday] I instructed officials to go out and vaccinate high-risk people, especially in areas where Songkran festivities will take place,” Prayut said.
He added that the government still has many steps to take before Covid-19 can be declared endemic.
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Friday approved the Public Health Ministry’s proposal to cancel the requirement of negative RT-PCR test result taken within 72 hours before departure for new arrivals under the Test & Go scheme.
“Tourists can take an RT-PCR test upon arrival with no test required before departure. However, they will need to take a rapid ATK test on their fifth day in Thailand,” Tourism and Sports Ministry’s permanent-secretary Chote Trachu said on Friday. “The new rule will be effective from April 1 onward to make visits to Thailand easier.”
The CCSA also extended the Covid-19 emergency decree by two months until May 31 to control the spread of Covid-19 and updated the colour-coding of provinces based on the Covid-19 situation.
The new colour coding is:
The orange or controlled zone has now been reduced from 41 to 21 provinces, namely: Chiang Mai, Tak, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Buri Ram, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ayutthaya, Phatthalung, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Ranong, Rayong, Ratchaburi, Songkhla, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Surat Thani, Udon Thani and Uttaradit.
The yellow or highly-monitored zone has now been increased from 25 to 47 provinces, namely:
Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Khon Kaen, Chanthaburi, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Chumphon, Chiang Rai, Trang, Trat, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Sawan, Narathiwat, Nan, Bueng Kan, Prachinburi, Pattani, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phrae, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Mae Hong Son, Yasothon, Yala, Roi Et, Lopburi, Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Si Sa Ket, Sakon Nakhon, Satun, Samut Songkhram, Sa Kaew, Saraburi, Singburi, Sukhothai, Suphanburi, Surin, Nong Khai, Nong Bua Lamphu, Angthong, Amnat Charoen, Uthai Thani and Ubon Ratchathani.
The blue or pilot-tourism zone has increased from eight to nine provinces, namely:
The Medical Services Department on Friday received 2 million capsules of Molnupiravir drug from a subsidiary of pharmaceutical company Merck.
The total quantity can provide 50,000 courses of Covid-19 treatment.
The MSD Thailand Co Ltd represented Merck & Co Inc to deliver the drug to Dr Somsak Akkasilp, director-general of the Medical Services Department.
Somas said the oral Covid-19 drug will be used to provide treatment to Covid-19 patients with mild or moderate symptoms and they will be used for risk groups, such as the elderly and people with seven types of comorbidities.
“We’re glad that we received 2 million capsules of Molnupiravir, equivalent to 50,000 treatment courses, from MSD Thailand today,” Somsak said at a ceremony to receive the drug.
He said his department had negotiated and signed a contract with MSD Thailand to buy the drug in November after a previous briefing about the progress of the clinical trial of the medicine.
“At first, we will use the drug for groups of people who are at least 60 years old or who have seven comorbidities. But we may consider administering the drug to people who are at least 18 years old in the future when we have enough of it,” Somsak added.
He said his department would draft guidelines for distribution and administering of the drug in detail before sending it to hospitals next week.
Dr Mary Srethapakdi, managing director of MSD Thailand, said her company was very glad to deliver the drug to the Medical Services Department.
She said her parent company has been working hard against time to research and make the drug that can fight the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
“We would like to thank the Medical Services Department and medical specialists of several branches for exchanging medical information on Covid-19 patient treatments and on medicine for treating the patients,” Mary said.
“We are proud that we have become a part of helping Thais fight Covid-19 for taking part in the preparations for Thailand to exit pandemic status and enter endemic status.”
The Medical Services Department has assigned the Zuellig Pharma Co Ltd to manage the distribution of the 2 million capsules of the drug in accordance with the policy of the department.
Each patient will be given four capsules of Molnupiravir two times a day for five consecutive days to get the full course of 40 capsules.
The medicine can prevent infected persons from developing serious conditions or prevent their hospitalisation if they receive the drug within five days after they have the first symptom or after they test positive.
The list of eligible registrants will be announced on March 25 and each suitable registrant will be contacted by officials.
The vaccines will be administered at the Thai Red Cross Society’s Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute in Bangkok’s Pathumwan district between March and April.
Baiya is one of four Covid-19 vaccines being developed in Thailand. The others are Chulalongkorn University’s ChulaCov19, the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation’s HXP-GPO Vac and Biotech’s nasal-spray vaccine.
The Nation Group’s online magazine The People will name Thailand’s 10 most “inspiring” personalities on March 30 at its People Awards 2022.
The magazine usually features in-depth stories of people from every aspect, ranging from their mindset to the role they have played in changing society in the past, present and future.
“The People is interested in people’s stories because we believe people are the starting point of changes in this world. The magazine has told inspiring stories of some 4,000 people over the past four years via several platforms, especially social media,” Anant Lerpradit, managing editor and co-founder of The People, said.
“This year, we want to tell the story of people who are recognised for the positive changes they have made to society,” he said.
Thailand’s 10 “unsung heroes” will be chosen from a list of 100 nominees by eight honorary judges who hail from different fields, such as academics, marketing, science, digital economy, business, etc.
“Apart from recognising those who have had a positive impact on society, the awards also aim to create a more ‘inclusive’ society, in which there is no segregation and everyone is accepted equally.”
Winners will be chosen based on their achievements, actions and contribution to society.
The People Awards 2022 will be held on March 30 from 2pm to 4.30pm at the Gaysorn Urban Resort in Bangkok. The award ceremony, which is sponsored by Kasikorn Business-Technology Group, will also be broadcast live.
Message m.me/thepeoplecoofficial, call (081) 580 5990 or use hashtags #ThePeopleAwards2022 #TPPA2022 #ThePeople for more information.
The Transport Ministry is taking steps to make interprovincial travel during the Songkran holidays safer and easier this year.
Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob said on Thursday that relevant agencies have been told to ease travel in line with Covid-19 prevention measures as many people would want to return to their hometowns, travel or make merit during the April 11-17 holiday.
“The plan will focus on giving people easy access to public transport, boosting their confidence in service quality, reducing accidents, managing traffic and coordinating with related agencies on facilitating travel,” he said.
Saksayam added that the ministry will also provide the following services during Songkran:
Waiver of toll fees April 12-18: Burapha Withi and Kanchanapisek expresses April 13-15: Si Rat, Udon Ratthaya and Chalerm Mahanakorn expressways April 12-18: Motorway No 7 (Bangkok – Pattaya) and Motorway No 9 (Bang Pa-in–Bang Phli, Phra Pradaeng–Bang Khae and Phra Pradaeng–Bang Khun Thian)
Temporary opening of Motorway No 6 (Pak Chong – Sikhiu – Kham Thale Sor) April 11-14 for departures April 15-18 for arrivals
Free parking in Suvarnabhumi Airport’s Zone C from April 11-17
The Transport Ministry has also instructed relevant agencies to ensure accident-prone areas, like railway intersections, are made safer and set up checkpoints to ensure drivers and vehicles are roadworthy.
Butterfly enthusiasts can have their fill of the colourful creatures if they visit Phetchaburi’s Ban Krang campsite from March to May this year, the Kaeng Krachan National Park announced on its Facebook page on Thursday.
People can either take a one day trip or camp out to enjoy the sight, though they have been asked to be careful.
However, people have been advised to drive carefully as butterflies often camouflage themselves while resting on the ground.
“Various species can be spotted at the campsite from March to May every year,” the national park said.
The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) has warned people to stop believing rumours that it will stop providing bus services from Friday onwards.
BMTA’s managing director Sanyalak Panwattanalikhit said people should stop sharing such fake news, adding that tickets can still be booked via http://www.transport.co.th, across the counter and via BMTA agents.
He added that BMTA is setting up a schedule for interprovincial buses during the Songkran festival and will meet with other relevant agencies on March 29.
The Public Health Ministry rejected rumours that it will ask the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) to let people remove their facemasks in public parks.
“This is a misunderstanding stemming from the National Communicable Disease Committee [NCDC]’s policy to adjust Covid-19 preventive measures for when the disease is declared endemic,” Public Health permanent secretary Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit said on Thursday.
“The ministry has not approved this policy yet,” he said, adding that NCDC is designing measures for the transition period before Covid-19 is declared endemic in July.
“Once the number of daily infections slows down, people in non-risky groups will be allowed to remove their facemask when visiting certain public areas such as public parks,” he said. “However, this is only if there are no new mutated variants that can cause severe symptoms.”
Kiattiphum said on Friday, the ministry will encourage the CCSA to consider cancelling the requirement of a negative RT-PCR test result for new arrivals into the country under the Test & Go scheme and reduce the Covid-19 insurance coverage to US$10,000.
Under the new proposed rule, tourists can take an RT-PCR test upon arrival with no test required before departure. However, they will need to take a rapid ATK test on their fifth day in Thailand. Also, the mandatory Covid-19 insurance coverage for foreign arrivals will be reduced from $50,000 to $10,000 to reflect the current cost of treating Covid-19 patients in Thailand, which has dropped from about 1 million baht per person to about 20,000 baht per person.
SootinClaimon.Com 