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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004665

Isolated heavy showers forecast for most parts of the country

More showers are forecast across the country, with isolated heavy rains in the North, the Northeast, the Central, the East and the South regions, the Thailand Meteorological Department said on Sunday.

Southeasterly winds blow across the Gulf of Thailand, the East and the lower Northeast.

Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon prevails over the Andaman Sea, Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand, and a low pressure system covers upper Vietnam.

“People should beware of the severe conditions,” the department said.

In the Andaman Sea and the upper Gulf of Thailand, wind waves 1-2 metres high and above two metres during thundershowers are likely.

“All ships should proceed with caution during thundershowers,” the department added.

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The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

North: Fairly widespread rain and isolated heavy rain in Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang, Phayao, Phrae, Nan, Uttaradit, Phitsanulok, Kamphaeng Phet, Phetchabun and Tak provinces; minimum temperature 23-25 degrees Celsius, maximum 30-35°C; southwesterly winds 10-20 km/hr.

Northeast: Fairly widespread rain with isolated heavy rains in Loei, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Amnat Charoen, Ubon Ratchathani, Si Sa Ket, Surin, Buri Ram, Nakhon Ratchasima Chaiyaphum and Khon Kaen provinces; minimum temperature 23-25°C, maximum 29-33°C; southwesterly winds 10-20 km/hr.

Central: Scattered thundershowers with isolated heavy rains in Ratchaburi, Kanchanaburi, Suphanburi, Chai Nat, Uthai Thani and Nakhon Sawan provinces; minimum temperature 24-25°C, maximum 32-34°C; southwesterly winds 10-20 km/hr.

East: Scattered thundershowers with isolated heavy rains in Nakhon Nayok, Prachinburi, Sa Kaew, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat provinces; minimum temperature 24-28°C, maximum 30-33°C; southwesterly winds 15-30 km/hr; waves about a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

South (east coast): Scattered thundershowers with isolated heavy rain in Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat provinces; minimum temperature 23-26°C, maximum 31-33°C; southwesterly winds 15-30 km/hr; waves about a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Scattered thundershowers with isolated heavy rains in Ranong, Phang Nga, Trang, Phuket and Krabi provinces; minimum temperature 21-26°C, maximum 31-35°C; southwesterly winds 15-35 km/hr; waves 1-2 metres high and above two metres during thundershowers.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Scattered thundershowers; minimum temperature 25-27°C, maximum 31-32°C; southwesterly winds 10-20 km/hr.

Published : August 15, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004662

Digital TV Association joins hands with Nielsen to start new ratings system

Media watchdog NBTC has approved a budget of THB288.8 million for the development of a new television ratings system proposed by the Association of Digital Television Broadcasting (Thailand).

Amemorandum of understanding has been signed with Nielsen, who will be the contractor to conduct the cross-platform ratings both through television and online platforms for four years.

The new ratings system will cover changes in technology and consumer behaviour in the digital era to upgrade the quality of the industry,

Suphap Kleekajai, president of the Association of Digital Television Broadcasting (Thailand), said.

He said the association had continuously pushed for this project for more than two years. The aim is to create credibility, accuracy, and transparency in the origin of samples and research methods in international standards for entrepreneurs to develop programme format and for media agencies to plan advertising media purchases effectively, he said.

The association, with the participation of media agency representatives, sought qualified companies to present a new ratings plan to subscribers of all digital TV operators, Suphap said. Finally, Nielsen company with expertise, reputation, and international research survey standards has been chosen to conduct this rating survey, he said.

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The association then submitted the details of the project management plan according to the conditions to the NBTC, which allocated a budget of THB288 million to begin conducting a new television ratings survey in four years.

The key to the new television ratings survey is to expand the sample units used as the basis for developing programme ratings, from 9,000 to 13,000 samples. Simultaneously the development of new survey software will lead to cross-platform TV programme rating measurement from both terrestrial TV and online platform. The ratings survey will be conducted transparently by internationally recognised independent auditors. The new rating results will not be limited to using only to digital TV operators and the NBTC, but government agencies or educational institutions can benefit from the ratings report as well, he said.

After signing the MoU last week, the association and Nielsen immediately began implementing plans. In the first year, they will undertake installing the system, equipment and expand the sample group for collecting survey results. The first cross-platform television programme ratings will be reported around August 2022.

The cross-platform TV ratings survey is the latest research system technology that Nielsen has developed and is already being used in the United States and accepted in many countries across the world. Recently, this system has been installed in Denmark and Saudi Arabia. Thailand is the first country in Southeast Asia to implement this new TV ratings system.

Published : August 14, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004661

Siriraj’s field ICU facility to be operational from August 30

The construction of Siriraj Hospital’s field ICU facility for treatment of Covid-19 patients with severe symptoms is expected to be completed on August 28 and the facility can treat patients from August 30, hospital director Dr Wisit Wamwanich said on Saturday.

“Siriraj Hospital and two subsidiaries, namely Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital and Kanchanapisek Medical Centre, decided to build the field ICU facility after the ICU rooms at the three hospitals were quickly occupied by Covid-19 patients due to rising infections,” he said.

“The design and construction of the field ICU facility was supported by Siam Cement Group Plc under a budget of THB100 million. It is located behind Siriraj Hospital, near the 72nd Anniversary Chaloem Phrakiat Park in Bangkok Noi district.”

Siriraj’s field ICU facility to be operational from August 30

The construction of the 20-bed negative-pressure ICU facility started on July 28. The facility will be manned by medical professionals 24/7 and will be fully fitted with state-of-the-art medical equipment, medical gas supply, HVAC system, CCTV surveillance and emergency power supply. It also has a staff quarters, with separate bathrooms and shower rooms as well as a storage room for drugs and medical supplies.

“Siriraj Hospital is also planning to build an additional facility to treat Covid-19 patients who are in critical condition and those at risk of developing complications, but we still lack funding,” said Wisit.

“A donation is welcome to the ‘Siriraj Against Covid Fund’ by wiring money to Bangkok Bank Account No. 901-3-50034-4,” he said.

Published : August 14, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004660

Woman arrested in Bangkok for allegedly trying to smuggle migrants back to Myanmar

Immigration Police on Saturday arrested Wanitnara, or Jeab (last name withheld), at a mansion in Bangkok’s Wangthonglang district for allegedly running a smuggling operation of Myanmar labourers out of Thailand via Singkhon checkpoint in Prachuap Khiri Khan province.

“Officials have been investigating the case after 42 migrants from Myanmar had been arrested in Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Khlong Wan district while trying to cross the border at the checkpoint. Sixteen of them later tested positive for Covid-19,” said Immigration Police chief Pol Lt-General Sompong Chingduang.

“All Myanmar migrants and a Thai vehicle driver had been placed in isolation to monitor their symptoms in keeping with disease control measures.”

Sompong added that the driver had said he was hired by the suspect who lives in Bangkok and had paid him to transport migrant workers from Samut Sakhon, Nonthaburi, Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Chachoengsao, Prachin Buri and Bangkok provinces to Myanmar via Prachuap Khiri Khan at THB5,000 to THB8,000 per person.

“Wanitnara also has an arrest warrant in Tak province for fraud in a separate case,” added the Immigration Police chief.

Published : August 14, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004658

Doctors body slams government over purchase of faulty Covid test kits

The Rural Doctor Society has attacked the government over its plan to buy a Chinese companys faulty antigen test kit (ATK) despite its dubious reputation.

The society on Saturday said that organisations concerned with the ATK procurement – the Public Health Ministry, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Government Pharmaceutical Organization and Ramathibodi Hospital – must show responsibility for buying the ATKs produced by Lepu Medical Technology in China.

The society said that the effect of the Lepu test kit was proved to be unreliable, according to a research in Pakistan published in the Virology Journal. The research showed that the kit shows 48 per cent wrong results, while the FDA of Thailand claimed that the product’s reliability in Covid-19 testing was 90 per cent.

In addition, the society pointed out that the Lepu ATK was expensive at THB70 a piece compared to the retail price of US$1, or THB33.

The Rural Doctor Society challenged the government to buy the Lepu test kits and prove if it were effective as claimed by the FDA.

Published : August 14, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004652

Thai death toll up sharply with over 22,000 Covid cases

Thailand logged 22,086 new cases with 217 deaths over a 24-hour period, it was reported on Saturday.

Of the new infections, 270 were prison inmates.
Meanwhile, 23,672 patients have recovered and been discharged over the past 24 hours.

Cumulative cases totalled 885,275, of whom 667,556 have recovered, 210,376 are still in hospitals and 7,343 have died.

Separately, another 456,521 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 178,568 their second shot, and 48,743 their third shot, bringing total Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in Thailand to 23,192,491.

According to Worldometer, as of 10am on Saturday, confirmed cases globally had risen to 206.97 million, 185.60 million of whom have recovered, 17.01 million are active cases (103,358 in severe condition) and 4.36 million have died (up by 10,155).

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Thailand ranks 35th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 37.36 million, followed by India with 32.16 million, Brazil with 20.32 million, Russia with 6.56 million and France with 6.43 million.

Published : August 14, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004651

Without human intruders, animals have cosy time in national park

With the Kui Buri National Park in Prachuap Khiri Khan province closed to visitors due to Covid-19, the animals there are relaxing in their natural habitat.

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation on Saturday published photos on its Facebook page of elephants, bulls and other animals enjoying the lush greenery and feasting on grass.

The popular safari park has been closed since August 5.

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Without human intruders, animals have cosy time in national parkWithout human intruders, animals have cosy time in national parkWithout human intruders, animals have cosy time in national parkWithout human intruders, animals have cosy time in national parkWithout human intruders, animals have cosy time in national park

Published : August 14, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004649

Sandbox tourism scheme generates over THB1 billion for Phuket economy

The Phuket “sandbox” programme drew over 19,000 foreign tourists and generated over THB1 billion in revenue for the province, Thanusak Pheungdet, president of the Phuket Chamber of Commerce, said on Friday.

The sandbox scheme, which kicked off on July 1, aims to reopen Phuket to foreign visitors to rehabilitate the local tourism industry. Vaccinated tourists can fly into Phuket and move around freely in the province without having to quarantine. After spending 14 days in Phuket and if they still test negative, the tourists can then travel to other parts of Thailand.

“Thanks to comprehensive screening and disease control measures, we found only 50 infections among over 19,000 foreign visitors. They have been separated and treated properly to limit the spread of Covid-19 in the sandbox area,” he said.

“About 4,000 foreign tourists have gone home and around 15,000 are still staying in Phuket. They occupy 7,000 to 8,000 rooms and have generated more than THB1 billion in rotating revenue for local businesses.

“Entrepreneurs in Phuket are planning to host other activities to attract foreign visitors besides tourists, such as sport events, conventions and cultural events at the year-end. These events will also need strict screening measures to keep the visitors safe from Covid-19,” he said.

“As the Thai FDA has already approved the Sputnik V vaccine, we believe that more Russian tourists will visit the province at the year-end. Furthermore, the Embassy of Russia has agreed to donate 100,000 doses of Sputnik vaccine to Phuket, which will help make the sandbox programme even safer,” he added.

“Although Phuket’s tourism is gradually recovering, the chamber of commerce estimates that the country’s overall tourism industry will return to normal only by the end of 2022 or early 2023, due to the slow vaccine distribution, especially in ‘dark red’ provinces,” said Thanusak.

Published : August 14, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004648

Two Kanchanaburi nurses infected after stint in Bangkok

Two nurses from Kanchanaburi province were infected with Covid-19 after working in Bangkok, the Rural Doctors Society posted on Facebook on Friday.

Medics from the countryside have helped treat over 150,000 people and found 15,000 new cases in Bangkok.

Both nurses were from the Dan Makham Tia Hospital in Kanchanaburi and were a part of the third batch sent to Bangkok on deputation.

About 400 medics were tested for Covid-19 after they returned to their original workplace.

One of them thought that she had got infected on August 8 after she helped an old lady who came to test for Covid-19. The old lady reportedly collapsed and the nurse helped her without wearing a PPE suit. The old lady was later found to be infected.

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The nurse went back to her room on Wednesday and tested positive on Thursday, while another nurse who shared the room also tested positive.

They had been inoculated with two doses of the Sinovac vaccine before they went to Bangkok, but had not received a booster dose.

The nurses said that they were saddened by the development, as they could not work for 14 days.

Meanwhile, one of the medics in the second batch from Nan province was also found to be infected.

Published : August 14, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004647

Thailand staring at 70,000 Covid cases a day unless lockdown extended

Daily infections could reach 70,000 unless strict lockdown measures are employed in late August, Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman of the governments Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, warned on Friday.

Taweesilp cited the Ministry of Public Health’s estimate that daily infections in late August to early September could be around 60,000 to 70,000 patients per day after the current lockdown measures end. However, if the lockdown measures were extended to September, daily infections would be at around 45,000 patients per day, which would still be high.

“If we were to maintain daily infections at the current rate of around 20,000 patients per day, strict lockdown measures must be employed for at least two months coupled with vaccinating elderly people and other target groups in wider areas,” said Taweesilp.

“This is the best-case scenario for our public health system. At this infection rate, we will still have adequate hospital beds while the mortality rate will be at a controllable level.

“Lastly, I urge everyone to stay at home as much as you can and follow disease control measures to limit the spread of the virus and make the lockdown as effective as possible,” said Taweesilp.

Published : August 14, 2021

By : THE NATION