#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40010624

The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Friday (December 31) that the rather strong high-pressure system covers upper Thailand. Cool to cold weather and strong winds are forecast in the areas with a decrease in temperature by 1-3 °C.

Mountaintops in the North and the Northeast are cold to very cold with temperature ranging from 4 to 15 °C. Meanwhile, the westerly trough that covers upper North brings isolated thundershowers to the region. People should take care of their health due to variable weather.

The Department also mentioned that the strong northeast monsoon prevails across the Gulf of Thailand and the South. Thundershowers and isolated heavy rains are forecast for the lower South.
Waves in the Gulf are about 2 meters high and 2-3 meters during thundershowers. People in the lower South should beware of the severe condition and rain accumulation that may cause flash flood and overflows. All ships should proceed with caution and small boats should keep ashore.
 

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours is as follows:

North: Cool to cold weather with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 15-20 degrees and highs of 29-33 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 4-12 degrees Celsius.

Northeast: Cool to cold weather with strong winds; temperature lows of 14-20 degrees and highs of 28-31 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 7-15 degrees Celsius.

Central: Cool weather in the morning with strong winds; temperature lows of 20-23 degrees, highs of 30-33 degrees Celsius.

East: Cool weather in the morning with strong winds; temperature lows of 21-24 degrees, highs of 31-33 degrees Celsius; waves a meter high and 1-2 meters high offshore.

South (east coast): Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees, highs of 28-32 degrees Celsius; waves 2 meters high and 2-3 meters high during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Thundershowers in 30 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 24-26 degrees, highs of 31-32 degrees Celsius; waves a meter high and 1-2 meters high offshore.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Cool weather in the morning with strong winds; temperature lows of 22-24 degrees, highs of 30-32 degrees Celsius.

Source: Thailand Meteorological Department

Published : December 31, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40010621

Chiang Mai Airport is ready to take care of the safety of passengers returning to their hometowns and tourists who arrive to experience the cold weather and the beauty of the province, director Wichit Kaewsaitiam said.

The airport, which sees an average of 110-120 flights per day, expects 16,000-17,500 passengers to pass through, which may result in congestion at the airport as well as surrounding roads at certain times.

To prevent the spread of Covid-19, especially the Omicron variant, the Chiang Mai Provincial Public Health Office and Nakornping Hospital has deployed staff to provide ATK testing and vaccination services at exit gate No 1 of the domestic passenger terminal. Passengers can get tested and/or vaccinated for free.

Published : December 30, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40010620

The United Kingdom has announced the endorsement of Covid-19 vaccination certificates issued by Thailand’s Department of Disease Control in digital form (e-vaccine passport) via the MOH Prompt application, Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Thani Saengrat said on Thursday.

Thai citizens can use the certificate when entering the UK.

However, all Thai travellers to the UK are required to monitor and adhere strictly to UK immigration health measures, such as requirements for Covid-19 testing before and after arriving in that country.

Those planning a trip to the UK should check immigration regulations on the www.gov.uk website before travelling.

Published : December 30, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40010619

Children aged 5-11 who have not been vaccinated are expected to be administered their first dose against the new Omicron variant by February, Deputy Public Health Minister Satit Pitutecha said on Thursday after visiting the Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health.

The ministry simulated three scenarios regarding the Omicron situation – the most severe, moderate and least severe.

Children who are not vaccinated are among the group of most concern.

Satit asked all hospitals to be prepared to treat these children.

He said the government expects to start vaccinating children aged 5-11 with Pfizer sometime in February, while stressing that these children should be vaccinated as soon as possible in order to build immunity to fight the coronavirus.

However, he said, information on Omicron at this time shows the variant is not as severe as the others.

He advised people travelling during the New Year holidays to consider the risks and attend activities preferably in open spaces, where the chance of getting infected is less.

Published : December 30, 2021

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40010618

December 29, the first of “seven dangerous days” for the New Year festival, saw 362 accidents, 39 deaths and 362 injuries, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported on Thursday.

Speeding remains the leading cause of the highest number of accidents, with 34.6 per cent, followed by drink driving (23.8%). The most accidents occurred on long, straight roads.

The most accident-prone vehicles were motorcycles at 81 per cent.

The province with the highest number of accidents was Ratchaburi (13), while Nakhon Ratchasima had the most fatalities (5). Loei accounted for the most accidents, at 14.

Published : December 30, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40010615

The Department of Corrections confirmed on Wednesday that Italian-Thai Development CEO Premchai Kanasutra has not received any privileges to leave Kanchanaburi’s Thong Pha Phum prison for medical treatment.

Deputy director-general Thawatchai Chaiwat held a press conference as Premchai’s wife handed in a request letter to the Justice Ministry earlier on Wednesday to transfer the CEO prisoner to hospital due to his chronic diseases, especially severe diabetes.

Thawatchai said prison doctors conducted a daily health check-up and found Premchai to be healthy and without the need to transfer him to hospital for further medical treatment.

The deputy director-general also said Premchai, who was given a sentence of “two years and 14 months” in prison without parole for poaching and hunting in Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary in February 2018, has completed 21 days in a Covid-19 screening zone for new prisoners.

He added that Premchai would have to be isolated in Thong Pha Phum prison for another 21 days.

Related news:

• CEO Premchai’s jailing will not affect Italian-Thai Development operations: firm
• SC sentences Premchai to a total 3 years 2 months in prison for poaching, hunting
• All eyes on Premchai case with Supreme Court verdict expected today

Published : December 30, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40010613

It may be too soon to be excited by findings by South African scientists that patients who had been vaccinated against Covid-19 and then contracted Omicron had developed significantly stronger immunity against the Delta variant, said Dr Anan Jongkaewwatana from the National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, Anan said the South African study titled “Omicron infection enhances neutralising immunity against the Delta variant”, which has not been peer-reviewed, could be inconclusive due to too small a number of examples – only 13.

“I have reviewed another study by Hong Kong scientists among only two candidates who contracted Omicron after they had been vaccinated with two doses of mRNA vaccines,” he said. “The result showed that the first candidate had improved neutralising immunity against Delta 9.58 times higher than unvaccinated persons. However, in the second candidate, the Delta immunity went up only 1.42 times,” Anan said.

“This indicates that after contracting Omicron, a patient’s immunity against Delta is still not significantly higher than that of unvaccinated people,” he pointed out.

“The South African study is indeed interesting, but we still need more extensive studies before we can conclude that contracting Omicron could serve as nature’s immunity boost against other variants,” Anan added.

Related News

Spread of Omicron can be controlled if measures strictly adhered to, says doctor

American tourist brings Omicron to Thailand

No deaths from Omicron yet, WHO says

Published : December 30, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40010611

Thailand should quicken the pace of administering the third dose of Covid-19 vaccines to keep the Omicron situation from getting worse as in the UK, Federation of Thai Industries vice-chairman Kriengkrai Thiennukul recommended.

According to Kriengkrai, the UK is administering the third dose to their citizens “slowly”.

He said the UK’s population is nearly the same as Thailand’s but they have administered only 20 million third doses.

Kriengkrai said Thailand has already given 5 million of its population booster doses but urged the government to administer 45 million more booster doses quickly to prevent Omicron from spreading widely.

He expected the third-dose goal to be reached in three months.

Without mentioning the Omicron situation, the World Bank speculated that Thailand’s GDP would grow by 3.9-4 per cent in 2022.

Related News

740 Omicron cases found in 33 provinces

CCSA asks govt agencies, private sector to implement work-from-home measure from Jan 1 to 14

BMA closes pubs, bars, karaokes, massage parlours until January 15

Meanwhile, the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking expected the GDP to grow by 3-4.5 per cent.

Foreign countries may have to enforce lockdown measures again, while exports could be affected as cargo ships, ports and personnel cut down on work.

Therefore, Thailand’s services industry and tourism sector might be affected more than before.

National Shippers’ Council chairman Chaichan Chareonsuk felt the government must clearly inform its people of the Omicron situation. To avoid confusion, the public should not have to search for information themselves, he said.

Chaichan said citizens should question whether the government has enough funds to compensate businesses or stimulate the economy if the Omicron situation gets worse.

He added that the manufacturing sector to do with exports is faring well. It grew by 16.4 per cent in the first 11 months of 2021. However, it earned less profit year-on-year because oil prices have increased.

Chaichan said the challenge for the next year is to control the cost of production and product prices, which can lead to inflation and affect wages.

Meanwhile, Thai Chamber of Commerce chairman Sanan Angubolkul said the government’s accomplishment in 2021 is administering 100 million doses of vaccines along with its plan to administer more booster doses to the public.

The government is also promoting and pushing exports, which are expected to grow by 15 per cent this year.

Moreover, he said, the government launched a host of successful economic stimulus schemes, such as “Kon La Khreung” (Let’s Go Halves) and “Rao Tiew Duay Kan” (We Travel Together).

However, there were also unsuccessful schemes such as “Ying Chai, Ying Dai” (Spend More, Get More), the asset warehousing programme and a soft loan scheme.

Published : December 30, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40010608

The Department of International Economic Affairs published a statement on Thursday saying that the opening of the China-Laos Railway on December 2, marked a key milestone for the business and commercial exchange between Asean and China.

“The project has helped strengthen Thailand’s economic presence through trade, tourism, business diversification and access to the western region of Asia’s largest economy and the Belt-and-Road networks across Eurasia, propel economic development in the mainland Southeast Asia and transform Laos from ‘land-locked to land-linked’ connectivity hub of the region,” the statement read.
 

The department said the project was aimed to establish logistics hubs, industrial parks and economic corridors linking the projects with other high-potential regions, such as Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) and Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) while facilitating the improvement of cross-border financial transactions and e-commerce. 

The statement urged economic diplomacy to help steer policy discourse towards the long-term impacts of the project. The department said that Thai export entrepreneurs should be provided with supports and promotions from the government in a bid to revive the economy and strengthen the country.

 “At the regional level, with the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) coming into force in January 2022, the economic interactions between China and Asean are expected to intensify. Thailand will be able to improve its economic presence in the region, only if it plays a significant role in supporting growth and integration and strengthening macroeconomic stability in the region. This, in turn, can be realised through proactively engaging all partners in creating resilient value chains, adopting international standards and promoting economic compatibility within the region and beyond,” read the statement.

Related news:

• TCC worried China-Laos railway will open floodgate for Chinese goods
• Five railways to link HK and Shenzhen
• Covid-19 screening points set up at Bangkok bus terminal, main railway station

Published : December 30, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40010604

The Pollution Control Department’s Centre for Air Pollution Mitigation said on Wednesday that it expected the air quality in all regions of Thailand to be at a “good” level on average during the New Year holidays, based on its 7-day air quality forecast from December 30 to January 5.

“The daily air quality report of December 29 found that PM2.5 [dust particles measuring 2.5 microns in diameter] readings in different regions of the country are all within the safety standard, or not exceeding 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air [μg/m3],” said department director-general Atthaphol Charoenchansa.

The readings are:

• Greater Bangkok: 10 to 32μg/m3

• North: 9 to 31μg/m3

• Northeast: 5 to 22μg/m3

• Central region and West: 10 to 29μg/m3

• East: 9 to 16μg/m3

• South: 8 to 20μg/m3

As for the next seven days, the department estimated that air quality would be in the “excellent to good level” in most areas.

However, in some areas of big cities such as Bangkok and Chiang Mai, the air quality on January 4 and 5 could be in the moderate to poor level due to an increase in the number of vehicles heading back from other provinces.

“There have been reports circulating on social media that the air quality during New Year holidays will worsen, with an exceeding amount of PM2.5,” said Atthaphol. “We have checked these reports and found that they had collected samples from limited areas during brief periods, which could result in an inaccurate air quality assessment.”

Atthaphol added that the department has been using standard air sensors made by the National Research Council of Thailand to ensure accurate readings and credible forecasts.

People can monitor air quality via the websites Air4Thai.com and bangkokairquality.com or the Air4Thai and AirBKK applications.

Related News

Air quality in Bangkok, other regions of Thailand improving

Over 18,000 vehicles emit black smoke above safety standard

Thailand’s ‘winter’ brings cool temperatures and heavy PM2.5 pollution

Published : December 30, 2021

By : THE NATION