Thailand’s first Omicron case was detected in a foreigner on Friday who had travelled from Spain on November 30, the Public Health Ministry said on Monday.
At a press conference, the ministry said the patient was a US national who had taken a flight to Thailand from Spain. The patient underwent the first Covid-19 test on November 30, but the second test on Friday traced the infection down to the Omicron variant.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was blessed that Thailand is still able to contain the spread of Covid-19 effectively as Public Health Ministry confirmed that no Omicron was detected in African tourists so far, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Sunday.
Thanakorn said Thailand’s Covid-19 preventive measures after the country reopening on November 1 is effective, adding that the Tourism Authority of Thailand also predicted that Omicron would not affect the country’s tourism.
He further added that the Royal Thai Embassy in Berlin recently announced that People from Thailand can now travel to Germany without having to register or undergo quarantine.
“The premier is still paying attention to drive the country’s economy along with containing the spread of Covid-19,” he said.
Thanakorn said Prayut is seeking guidelines to mitigate Covid-19 impact on entertainment venue operators, singers, artists and performers via social security system and government subsidies.
He added that the premier also advised people to strictly undergo the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration and Public Health Ministry’s preventive measures despite the Covid-19 situation in Thailand has improved.
“We believe that Thailand will soon be able to create a Covid-19 safe zone in a bid to enable people to earn a living safely,” he added.
Thailand recorded 4,000 Covid-19 cases and 22 deaths on Monday, bringing total cumulative cases in the country to 2,145,241 with 20,966 total deaths.
Air quality in Bangkok and surrounding areas are expected to hit unsafe levels from Monday to Thursday, the Centre for Air Pollution Mitigation (CAPM) said on Sunday.
On Monday, PM2.5 (particles less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter) readings were in the range of 24-52 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m3), while air quality in Bangkok’s Lat Krabang district hit unsafe level at 52 μg/m3.
Thailand’s standard for safe levels of PM2.5 is 50 μg/m3 or lower.
“People have been advised to refrain from burning garbage or weeds in an open space, use vehicles as necessary, take care of their health and follow the PM2.5 situation before going outdoor,” the centre said.
“Meanwhile, people in areas where PM2.5 pollution is bad have been advised to reduce time spent on outdoor activities and wear facemask. They should see a doctor if they have respiratory symptoms.”
Ministry of Public Health reported on Monday (December 6) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 4,000 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 27 of whom have been found in prisons.
Death toll increased by 22, while 6,450 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.
Cumulative cases in the country are at 2,145,241 with 20,966 total deaths.
The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Monday (December 6) that the rather strong high-pressure system from China still covers Thailand.
Morning cool to cold weather is forecast in the North, the Northeast and the Central regions. Morning cool weather is forecast in the East. Cold to very cold with isolated frost on mountaintops are likely in the North and the Northeast. People should keep healthy due to the variable weather.
The northeast monsoon prevails across the Gulf and the South is weakening. Less rain and isolated thundershowers are likely in the South. The moderate wind and wave in the Gulf of Thailand are expected 1-2 metres high and above 2 metres high in thundershowers areas. All ships should proceed with caution and keep off thundershowers area.
The 24-hour weather forecast for different regions:
North: Cool to cold with morning fog; temperature lows of 12-15 degrees Celsius, highs of 26-31 °C; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 3-11 degrees Celsius.
Northeast: Cool to cold with strong winds; temperature lows of 10-16 degrees Celsius, highs of 27-31 °C; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 6-11 degrees Celsius.
Central: Morning Cool to cold; temperature lows of 15-18 degrees Celsius, highs of 28-30 °C.
East: Morning Cool; temperature lows of 18-20 degrees Celsius, highs of 29-31 °C; waves about 1 metre high and 1-2 metres offshore.
South (east coast): Morning cool in upper part, isolated thundershowers in lower part; temperature lows of 19-24 degrees Celsius, highs of 29-31 °C; waves 1-2 metres high and above 2 metres during thundershowers.
South (west coast): Partly cloudy; temperature lows of 19-23 degrees Celsius, highs of 30-33 °C; waves about 1 metre high and 1-2 metres offshore.
Bangkok and surrounding areas: Morning cool; temperature lows of 19-21 degrees Celsius, highs of 29-31 °C.
Bangkokians flocked to Hua Lamphong Station on Sunday to take photographs of the historic Pacific steam locomotives No 824 and 850 as they pick up passengers for a special trip to Ayutthaya.
The State Railway of Thailand brought out the steam trains dating back to the World War II-era to mark the 94th birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great.
This may be the last steam train to pull out of Hua Lamphong if the Transport Ministry does not lift its order of closure.
A Myanmar national found her 50-year-old father frozen to death on Sunday morning inside a market in Tak’s Mae Sot district.
She had gone there to give him his breakfast and called the police when he wouldn’t respond.
The 14-year-old girl told police that her father, identified only as Isman, had mental issues and liked to sleep inside markets.
Mae Sot police said the body had no traces of wounds and suspect he may have died from dropping temperatures. The deceased was not wearing a jacket nor had he been covered with a blanket.
However, the body will undergo an autopsy to confirm the cause of death.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his wife Naraporn presided over a ceremony to pay homage to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great on Sunday.
Several Cabinet members, government and private officials attended the ceremony.
Prayut said Thais had a good quality of life and could cope with changes in modern society thanks to the royal initiatives, sufficiency economy principles and guidance offered during the beloved monarch’s 70 years on the throne.
He added that King Rama IX lives on in every Thai’s heart and “we will continue following the late king’s wishes and his footsteps to jointly develop Thai society”.
Sunday (December 5) would have been the late monarch’s 94th birthday.
The Baan Khun Phithak Raya house in Pattani province won the 2021 Unesco Award of Merit for Asia-Pacific Cultural Heritage Conservation on December 1.
The building, located in the Hua Talat community on a small road named Pattani Phirom near Pattani River, was used both as a place for business and residence by Chinese settlers.
The two-storey shophouse played a significant role in Pattani’s history and its economic growth. There is also a mention of Baan Khun Phithak Raya in records of King Rama V’s visit to the province and features prominently in photographs taken during the Japanese invasion of Thailand in 1941.
Senator Anusat Suwanmongkol spent some 8 million baht to have the century-old structure restored by skilled craftsmen from the Fine Arts Department.
Unesco (UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) said the shophouse won the award because it showcases the contribution of one of the town’s many ethnic communities to the multicultural social fabric of Pattani.
The house was also recognised for authentic conservation in keeping with its original layout, structural system and material palette.
Trial runs of the Yellow Line MRT monorail between Phawana and Samrong stations and to the Lat Phrao station have encountered no bugs in the control or signalling system, Surapong Laoha-Unya, director of the Eastern Bangkok Monorail, said last week.
He added that the service should be open to the public by mid next year.
Surapong also said the construction of the Yellow Line monorail project is 86 per cent complete, civil work is 88 per cent and the electric train system is 83 per cent complete.
Meanwhile, construction of the Pink Line, which links Bangkok and Nonthaburi, is 82 per cent complete, with 83 per cent of civil work done and 80 per cent of the electric train system ready.
Surapong said the monorail will open gradually in 2022, with the Yellow Line’s Phawana-Samrong route opening first followed by the Lat Phrao connection.
Similarly, the Pink line will open the Chaeng Wattana Government Complex-Minburi section first, except for Nopparat Ratchathani Station. Its other two sections – Chonburi-Chaeng Wattana and Khae Rai-Nonthaburi Civic Centre – will be opened later.
SootinClaimon.Com 