#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012660

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, will on Wednesday discuss the easing of measures related to travel to Thailand, vaccination guidelines and possible economic packages, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said.

He advised people to refrain from visiting venues at risk of infection, avoid gatherings and delay travel across provinces as a Covid-19 level 4 alert has been sounded nationwide.

Thanakorn said people at risk of infection should isolate themselves.

He said the premier insisted that Covid-19 patients with asymptomatic or mild symptoms can receive free treatment under the gold card, social security or government welfare schemes, while those with severe symptoms can receive free treatment under the Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients scheme even though it would end on March 1.

Under Covid-19 level 4, people should:

• Refrain from going to venues at risk of infection.

• Refrain from eating, drinking or shopping at venues where people gather, such as markets and shopping malls.

• Avoid going close to others while you are outdoors.

• Refrain from participating in activities and gatherings, and work from home.

• Delay travel across provinces. People should use their cars if necessary instead of public transport.

• Avoid travelling overseas.

• People who return to Thailand after travelling overseas must isolate themselves.

Published : February 23, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012658

The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) hopes to improve the Greater Mae Klong Irrigation Project after it was hit by several problems, one being its dilapidated state.

RID deputy director-general for Academic Affairs Chalermkiat Kongwichianwat said the department had hired an advisory company to study how to improve the Greater Mae Klong Irrigation Project after he surveyed the area.

The project encompasses an area of 2.42 million rai across Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Samut Songkhram, Samut Sakhon, Suphan Buri, Nakhon Pathom and Phetchaburi.

Chalermkiat said there was a problem in water management, especially “water flow”. He said canals and irrigation buildings were also in a dilapidated state as the department could not obtain enough money.

The deputy director-general said the department needed to upgrade everything at once instead of improving one thing at a time. The new project could be approved by 2024.

Chalermkiat admitted the problems were “tough and challenging”, such as water transfer/flow, fresh construction and farmers’ support, but the new project must be carried out. Another problem was that the amount of water was 50 per cent less than the design called for.

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Chalermkiat added that farmers who use water have an important role to play in water management and taking care of irrigation buildings. He also asked residents for their cooperation.

Published : February 23, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012659

The Police Cyber Taskforce (PCT) will soon bring back home 48 Thais who had been conned by a call centre gang into working for high salaries in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, PCT chief Pol General Damrongsak Kittipraphat said on Tuesday.

“The PCT have been working with Cambodian police to track down the call centre gang that had been running a scamming operation via phone calls and the internet in Thailand,” he said.

“On February 18, officials raided more than 20 suspected buildings in Sihanoukville’s China Town district and rescued 48 Thai nationals, who were taken to work there by the gang.”

Damrongsak said the police had contacted the Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh and was informed that the Thais would be sent back to their hometowns in 2-3 weeks as they had to notify Cambodia’s Interior Ministry first.

A preliminary interview with the victims revealed that they had been recruited by an online agency, which claimed to offer website administrators salaries of around 20,000-50,000 baht per month plus accommodation and other benefits, with the job located in Cambodia.

“The agency even took care of passport and visa applications for the candidates and picked them up at the Aranyaprathet border checkpoint in Sa Kaeo by bus before driving them across the border legally,” said Damrongsak.

“But after that, the victims were taken to a sugarcane plantation in Cambodia, where their phones were confiscated and they were forced to travel on foot to the buildings in China Town.”

One of the victims reportedly said he was paid only 10,000 baht per month, so he decided to quit. However, the gang claimed he had to pay 200,000 baht to the company as a contract termination fee. Others who wanted to quit were either threatened with being forced to work at other sites or locked in a room with no food or drink.

“Don’t fall for job offers that are too good to be true on the internet, as these jobs are often illegal or come with a huge disadvantage,” warned Damrongsak, adding that if anyone has any information on these call centre gangs, contact hotline 1441 or https://pct.police.go.th/.

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Published : February 23, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012656

The Saimai Tong Rot (Saimai District Must Survive) and Zendai Facebook pages posted evidence of Covid-19 patients lying on pavements awaiting help, refuting Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s remarks.

Earlier, Anutin insisted on Tuesday that no Covid-19 patients were lying on pavements waiting for help, saying hospital beds were still available.

However, the Saimai Tong Rot page said on Tuesday that the group had found a 61-year-old patient lying at the pavilion in Wat Sutthi Sa Ard in Bangkok’s Khlong Sam Wa district for two nights.

“The group offered help to the patient before sending the person to a community isolation centre in the area,” the page said.

Meanwhile, the Zendai page said on Monday that it found a security officer lying in front of a bank after he failed to contact a hospital under the social security system for treatment.

The group had sent the patient to a community isolation centre in Kannayao district.

The group later found another patient lying on the pavement after he tested positive for Covid-19. The page also pointed out that he developed fatigue.

“An emergency medical unit assisted the patient,” the page said, adding that the group was waiting for a hospital to accept the patient for treatment.

Published : February 23, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012652

The Finance and Energy ministries will next week discuss with car manufacturers the new automotive tax structure that will focus on electric vehicle (EV) promotions, Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said on Tuesday.

“The new tax structure will aim to attract more investment in EV manufacturing, which will result in increasing EV use in Thailand and the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions,” he said.

“However, the new tax structure will yield less income for the government and could affect existing automotive manufacturers, so the discussions would focus on creating mutual understanding on the necessity of EV promotion,” Arkhom said.

“The Finance Ministry estimates that the reduced revenue from automotive tax due to the new structure will be compensated by increasing revenue from corporate tax collected from new companies and factories that would be established to support expanding EV manufacturing in Thailand,” he said. “These companies will also help generate extra employment.”

Arkhom said he previously had discussions with EV manufacturers and importers, who agreed to participate in the EV subsidy campaign and increase investment in Thailand.

Under the campaign, manufacturers which build an electric vehicle in Thailand for every vehicle imported will receive a reduced import tariff, among other benefits.

“With the help of the new tax structure, Thailand aims to manufacture electric vehicles at 30 per cent of total automotive production in the country by 2030, or approximately 725,000 EVs per year, and become a leading EV exporter in the region,” Arkhom added.

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Published : February 23, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012650

The Excise Department has not received any notification from any liquor or beer manufacturers to adjust their retail prices, department spokesman Natthakorn Uthensut said on Tuesday.

The department’s statement came after news that the price of liquor and beer would go up from March 1.

A source said the price of rice whisky would rise by Bt120 per case of small bottles – from Bt1,242 to Bt1,362 – and by Bt54 per case of large bottles, from Bt1,158 to Bt1,212. The price of beer will also go up, by Bt2-4 per can, or Bt48 per case of large bottles – from Bt805 to Bt853.

“The law dictates that manufacturers who wish to increase the price of alcoholic beverages by more than 5 per cent of the retail price suggested by the department must submit a notification along with the reason for the price increase,” said Natthakorn. “So far the department has no plan to increase the tax on liquor or beer, but manufacturers can still raise prices for other reasons, such as increasing transport costs.”

Natthakorn warned that the department would carry out a survey of the market every quarter and if it sees any manufacturer raising prices beyond the 5 per cent limit, they would be summoned to submit a price adjustment notification and be taxed based on the new price.

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Published : February 23, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012643

Ministry of Public Health reported on Wednesday (February 23) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 21,232 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 168 of whom have arrived in Thailand from abroad.

Death toll increased by 39, while 16,662 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 547,358.
 

The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 2,770,793 – 2,574,458 of whom have recovered, 173,605 are still in hospitals and 22,730 have died.

Separately, another 57,958 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 42,977 their second shot and 168,538 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 122,185,472.

According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 428.29 million on Wednesday, 356.34 million of whom have recovered, 66.02 million are active cases (80,258 in severe condition) and 5.93 million have died (up by 8,658).

Thailand ranks 32nd in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 80.27 million, followed by India with 42.87 million, Brazil with 28.35 million, France with 22.4 million and the UK with 18.7 million.

Published : February 23, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40012642

The Cabinet on Tuesday asked the Public Health Ministry to review its pending removal of Covid-19 from the list of conditions eligible for free emergency treatment.

The ministry is due to remove Covid from the Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients (UCEP) scheme on March 1.

Under UCEP, Covid patients receive three days free treatment at any facility before being switched to hospital treatment under their state health insurance scheme. But after March 1, the government will no longer pay for their emergency treatment at private hospitals.

The Cabinet confirmed that Covid patients will still receive free treatment for now under UCEP, government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul said.

Meanwhile the Cabinet advised the Public Health Ministry to review the transition on March 1 and explain clearly to the public how they could get free hospital treatment for Covid-19. The explanation should include details of the planned UCEP-Plus scheme to treat coronavirus patients with moderate to severe symptoms.

Most cases in Thailand’s ongoing Omicron wave are categorised as mildly symptomatic (Green code) and eligible for home isolation or hotel-like (hospitel) treatment.

The country has opened over 200 hospitels with more than 36,000 beds, mostly located in the Bangkok metropolitan area, with both the public and private sectors providing care.

The Cabinet also urged the Health Ministry to increase the number of ways that the public could contact authorities for information and treatment, following complaints that the 1330 hotline was often busy.

Published : February 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40012639

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved new rates of excise tax for 27 types of vehicles – raising rates for conventional cars and lowering them for electric vehicles (EVs).

The new rates for six types of EV will become effective as soon as they are published in the Royal Gazette while the other 21 will take effect between 2026 and 2035.

The six EVs will be subject to the following excise tax on their purchase price:

– Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) pickup truck: 10 per cent until December 31, 2025

– EVs with up to 10 seats: 2 per cent until December 31, 2025 and 8-10 per cent thereafter

– Eco-cars with up to 10 seats: 14 per cent until December 31, 2023 and 10-12 per cent thereafter until 2025 depending on engine capacity, emissions and safety standards

– PHEV 4-door pickups: 5 per cent

– EV pickup trucks: Zero excise tax until December 31, 2025, and 2 per cent thereafter until December 31, 2035

– Hydrogen Fuel-Cell pickup trucks: Zero excise tax

Meanwhile, tax on internal combustion engine (ICE) cars of up to 3,000cc will rise gradually from 25-40 per cent from 2026 to 2029. Excise tax on more powerful ICE vehicles will be 50 per cent from 2026.

The Cabinet also gave the green light to cut import duty on completely built EVs costing up to Bt2 million by 40 per cent, and by 20 per cent for EV imports costing Bt2-7 million.

The moves are aimed at promoting Thailand as a hub of EV manufacturing and use in Asean, said the government.

Published : February 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40012638

Thailand stands to suffer from rising fuel prices and loss in business opportunities if world leaders are unsuccessful in stopping the invasion of Ukraine, a top Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) official warned on Tuesday.

Kriengkrai Thiennukul, FTI vice president who also chairs the Thai-Russian Business Council, said if world leaders impose sanctions on Russia in response to the invasion, then global oil and gas prices are bound to soar.

More than 40 per cent of the gas used in Europe is piped in from Russia, he pointed out.

The situation hit a critical point on Monday, when President Vladimir Putin officially recognised the independence of two breakaway enclaves in eastern Ukraine called Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansak People’s Republic.

The Russian leader also signed decrees ordering military forces into the region for so-called peacekeeping purposes, effectively violating the Minsk protocol signed in 2014. This sparked a cry of condemnation from Western leaders with some announcing sanctions against Moscow for breaking international law.

If there is indeed an invasion, global oil prices will rise above US$100 a barrel and gas prices will rise as the pipeline from Russia to Europe may be affected, Kriengkrai warned.

This, in turn, will push up the price of refined oil in Thailand because more than 80 per cent of the local oil market relies on imports.

In a bid to ease the impact of consumers, the government recently reduced the excise tax on diesel by 3 baht per litre, lowering the retail price of the fuel from 29.94 baht to 27.94 baht per litre.

If the global oil price rises from about $94 to $100 per barrel, then the government may have to raise the price of diesel back to 29.94 baht and drop the 30 baht price fixing measure, he said.

Moreover, he said, the global economy and Thailand’s trade with the two countries may come to a standstill if the battle escalates to an international level.

Bilateral trade with the two countries in 2021 was valued at 100.60 billion baht, with Thai-Russia transactions rising by 14.56 per cent from the previous year to 88.17 billon baht and with Ukraine rising by 28.67 per cent to 12.43 billion baht.

The Kingdom’s top five exports to these countries are automobiles, auto equipment and components, rubber products, machinery and machine components, canned and processed fruit and plastic pellets.

Published : February 22, 2022

By : THE NATION