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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004536

Covid front-liners need urgent legal protection, says health ministry and medical bodies

The Public Health Ministry and medical associations on Wednesday urged the government to quickly approve legal protections for health workers treating Covid-19 patients.

They issued the joint statement a day after the government said a draft decree on legal immunity for front-line medics was still being considered.

The joint statement was signed by Health Ministry executives, the Food and Drug Administration, Medical Association of Thailand, National Vaccine Institute, Government Pharmaceutical Organisation and several other medical bodies.

Public Health permanent secretary Kiatiphum Wongrajit said the ministry and professional health bodies agreed that Covid-19 is a serious emerging disease with a broad impact that had caused many people to get sick and some families to lose loved ones.

The public health system has been fighting this disease for almost two years with disease controls, medicines and vaccines, backed by the full powers of government, private sector, volunteers, civil society and people, the statement said.

The urgent situation coupled with limitations in knowledge and resources may cause good-faith imperfections or errors in treatment decisions, it added.

Therefore, Public Health Ministry personnel and health network partners were urging the government to pass legal measures to protect medical workers, which would reduce anxiety and build confidence among front-line medics.

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Covid front-liners need urgent legal protection, says health ministry and medical bodies

Published : August 11, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004537

Mangosteen price triples, 20,000 tonnes sold under new domestic strategy

The per-kilo price of Thai mangosteen has risen from 4-5 baht to 13-15 baht after the Fruit Board switched its strategy to domestic consumption rather than Covid-hit exports, the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry said on Wednesday.

The adjusted 2021 fruit management plan helped release more than 20,000 tonnes of mangosteen to the market in the past few weeks, with quality-grade mangosteen fetching close to 50 baht per kilo.

The Department of Internal Trade said around 150,000 tonnes of mangosteen will be released in August.

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Alongkorn Pholbutr, adviser to the ministry, said the price could increase even further under the new measures, plus efforts to solve the container shortage, logistics problems, and labour mobility issues.

Agriculture Minister Chalermchai Sri-on has also urged the Fruit Board to help longan and rambutan farmers facing low prices ahead of a harvest expected to yield 40,000 tonnes of Southern langsat.

The Commerce Ministry reported that fruit exports rose 185 per cent and mangosteen exports grew more than 400 per cent in June. But in July, the surge of Covid-19 cases spurred lockdown measures that impacted exports to China, Thailand’s largest overseas fruit market, as well as to Vietnam and Laos. The container shortage also affected logistics, trade and fruit prices, said the Commerce Ministry.

Published : August 11, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004534

Thailand procures 8.5 million rapid antigen kits for mass testing

The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) says it will purchase 8.5 million Covid-19 rapid test kits from the lowest bidder, saving 400 million baht in budget.

Sirinut Cheewanphisannukul, GPO deputy director, said the agency was assigned by Rajavithi Hospital to procure 8.5 million antigen test kits (ATK) for the National Health Security Office (NHSO).

The GPO asked 19 of the 24 ATK vendors to participate in bidding for the contract. Sirinut said one company offered a price lower than the budget set by the NHSO, saving more than 400 million baht. The price of each test kit under the purchase contract is about 70 baht. This would also help reduce the market price of rapid test kits, she said.

The purchase contract will now be examined by Rajavithi Hospital, the NHSO working group and the GPO, while the kits should be distributed to various agencies before the end of August.

Published : August 11, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004530

Thai Sang Thai Party, Lawyer’s Association suing Prayut over Covid crisis

The Thai Sang Thai Party and the Lawyer’s Association of Thailand are preparing to sue Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha for alleged failure to manage the Covid-19 situation.

Thai Sang Thai (National Building Party) executives Pokin Polakul and Watthana Muangsuk on Wednesday met with Narinphong Jinaphak, president of the Lawyer’s Association, to discuss filing a lawsuit against Prayut and his government over its management of the Covid-19 crisis, which has devastated the economy and overwhelmed the country’s public health system.

Pokin was House Speaker from 2005-2006 while Watthana was minister of Industry, Commerce and Social Development and Human Security from 2003 to 2006. In late 2020 they formed the Thai Sang Thai Party together with former Pheu Thai chief strategist Sudarat Keyuraphan.

“The government’s negligence and ineffective handling of the Covid-19 situation has resulted in four waves of outbreak throughout the country with over 800,000 patients and more than 6,000 deaths,” said Narinphong.

“The rising number of infections has exceeded the capacity of the public health system as can be seen from the many people who have died on the streets or in their homes while waiting to be treated at hospitals.”

He added that the state of emergency imposed by the government from March 26, 2020 and extended to September has not slowed the outbreak.

“The centralisation of administrative power to the prime minister and the government means that they must take sole responsibility for the outcome when they exercise power,” said Narinphong.

He said Thai Sang Thai Party’s public campaign to sue the government had attracted around 700,000 signatures from members of the public.

“We agreed that we will sue only Prime Minister Prayut as he is the head of government and the one who announced the state of emergency,” he said. “We have finished drafting the lawsuit document and will submit it to the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases on Friday (August 13) at 10.30am.”

Published : August 11, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004529

Girl,3, nurses Covid-infected father back to health in ICU

“I will keep you company, Dad,” reads the heart-warming message drawn by a Covid-infected 3-year-old taking care of her severely ill father in a Nakhon Ratchasima hospital ICU.

The message has been circulating on social media since August 2, as Thais prayed for the father and daughter to pull through.

On Wednesday, the doctor in the case thanked netizens for their support and announced the good news: both Covid patients have recovered and are ready to go home.

Photos of the “little nurse” taking care of her intubated father in the ICU room were posted on the Facebook account of Anuchit Niyompattama, a pulmonary and critical care specialist at Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital.

The doctor posted follow-up photos on Wednesday with a post that read:

“#PicturesOfHopeAndEncouragementForTheTeam, the case of an infected father and daughter (the youngest ICU nurse). A three-year-old child holds a milk bottle as she lies next to her father who is on a high-flow ventilator. After many people have sent messages of concern and support, I would like to announce that they are now in a better condition and are allowed to go home. The father’s lungs, which had developed white spots, are almost fully recovered. The daughter is playfully healthy, and they have both received permission to leave the hospital and isolate at home for 14 days. I would like to thank you for all the support.”

All three members of the family contracted Covid-19, but concern is now focused on the mother, who was transferred for treatment in Bangkok.

Published : August 11, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004527

City police detain 48 protesters, seize 122 motorcycles

Bangkok police arrested 48 protesters on Wednesday over a slew of charges related to the Tuesday night clashes near Din Daeng intersection and Victory Monument.

Of them, 42 are being held at the Narcotics Suppression Bureau and have been charged with holding illegal gatherings of more than five people and risking the spread of disease. Of the 42 detainees, 14 are minors.

The remaining six were arrested over other charges. A 17-year-old was nabbed at 10.30pm in Din Daeng area for breaking curfew orders, while five others were nabbed in Taling Chan area at about 8.30pm. Four ping pong bombs and some knives were also confiscated, police said.

The authorities have also seized 122 motorbikes and have promised to hunt down the owners. Summonses will be sent out to people who participated in Tuesday’s “car mob” rally, police said.

The rally was organised by the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration to demand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s resignation over failure to handle the pandemic effectively.

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City police detain 48 protesters, seize 122 motorcyclesCity police detain 48 protesters, seize 122 motorcyclesCity police detain 48 protesters, seize 122 motorcyclesNine police officers were injured in the clashes, though there is no data on how many protesters were hurt or the extent of their injuries.

A police box in Din Daeng, a sub-police station near Victory Monument, a police van, a prison van and a truck carrying water cannon were damaged during the protest.

City police detain 48 protesters, seize 122 motorcyclesCity police detain 48 protesters, seize 122 motorcyclesCity police detain 48 protesters, seize 122 motorcycles

Published : August 11, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004525

Caught in the crossfire

Pro-democracy protesters held an anti-government “car mob” rally in Bangkok on Tuesday afternoon, which resulted in violent clashes with police later in the evening.

Several people were injured in the conflict and many innocent people were caught in the crossfire.
Here is a video clip of a bus driver and conductor trying to save their passengers.

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Published : August 11, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004524

Bangkok protesters burned sub-police station, destroyed traffic fort: Police

Police on Wednesday accused pro-democracy protesters of burning the Phaya Thai intersection sub-police station and destroying a traffic fort during their rally at Victory Monument on Tuesday. Many ping pong bombs were also found in the area, they added.

The police sub-station is a 5×10-metre one-storey building located on the Phaya Thai corner at Victory Monument.

Police inspected the site on Wednesday morning after a clash between protestors and officers at Din Daeng intersection on Tuesday evening during which police used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon.

They said the entire police sub-station, which was opened on June 1, had been burnt out by protesters. Next to the station is a 4×8-metre, two-storey police traffic fort, which was also found demolished.

The sub-station is a 5×10 metre, one-storey building, located on the Phaya Thai side corner of Victory Monument.

Bangkok protesters burned sub-police station, destroyed traffic fort: Police

“Damage to the burnt sub-station totals 600,000-700,000 baht while damage to the traffic fort totals 200,000-300,000 baht,” said Pol Capt Aroon Seubsingha, a deputy inspector at Phaya Thai police station. “A quantity of inactive ping pong bombs were found outside and inside of both buildings. Items believed to have been used in the arson were collected for investigation and further prosecutions,” he added.

On Tuesday night, forensic officers and a bomb disposal squad also found parts of a pipe bomb and suspected incendiary devices at Din Daeng police station’s traffic fort near Din Daeng intersection. The evidence was collected for investigation.

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Bangkok protesters burned sub-police station, destroyed traffic fort: PoliceBangkok protesters burned sub-police station, destroyed traffic fort: PoliceBangkok protesters burned sub-police station, destroyed traffic fort: Police

Published : August 11, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004522

Thailand logs 207 deaths, 21,038 new cases

Thailand was hit with 21,038 new infections over 24 hours on Wednesday and 207 deaths.

Of the 21,038 new cases, 173 are in prisons.

Meanwhile, 22,012 patients have recovered and been discharged over the past 24 hours.

Since the epidemic kicked off last year, Thailand has had 816,989 Covid-19 cases, 600,152 of whom have recovered, 210,042 are still in hospital and 6,795 have died.

Separately, another 364,685 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 125,685 their second shot, and 56,474 their third shot, bringing the total Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in Thailand to 21,717,954.

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According to Worldometer, as of 10am on Wednesday, confirmed cases globally had risen to 204.81 million, 183.93 million of whom have recovered, 16.55 million are active cases (100,803 in severe condition) and 4.33 million have died (up by 10,092).

Thailand ranks 35th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 36.89 million, followed by India with 32.03 million, Brazil with 20.21 million, Russia with 6.49 million and France 6.33 million.

Published : August 11, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004521

African campaigner calls for protection of lions as threats intensify

This years World Lion Day should serve as a wake-up call for governments, industry and local communities to revitalize action on the threats facing the majestic species in Africa, a campaigner said.

The African lion is facing multiple threats, hence the need to strengthen its protection, a campaigner said on Tuesday during the World Lion Day.

Edith Kabesiime, Wildlife Campaigns Manager at World Animal Protection’s Africa Office said that human and climate induced threats to the iconic carnivore have escalated in the recent past.

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“The lion is valued by many African cultures but its survival is at stake due to poaching, habitat loss and fragmentation, declining population of prey and retaliatory attacks by herders,” said Kabesiime.

Statistics from World Animal Protection indicate that Africa’s lion population is currently estimated at 20,000, down from about 2 million a century ago, while their dwindling number could upset ecosystem balance.

Kabesiime said this year’s World Lion Day should serve as a wake-up call for governments, industry and local communities to revitalize action on the threat facing the majestic species in Africa.

Tourists look on a lion as it enjoys its early morning wildebeest in Maasai Mara National Reserve, Narok County, Kenya, Sept. 19, 2020.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed the African lion as vulnerable amid illegal hunting, encroachment on its habitat and climatic shocks.

According to Kabesiime, lions in West Africa are already critically endangered while poaching has increased across the east and southern African region.

“High incidences of lion poisoning have also been reported in East Africa as nomadic communities retaliate after attacks on their livestock,” said Kabesiime.

She noted that demand for lion products like bones and teeth in the fast growing herbal medicine industry has also fuelled their poaching in the African wild.

Kabesiime said that other threats to the African lion include captive breeding and trophy hunting, adding that enactment of new policies, regulations and heightened campaigns are key to saving the carnivore, and sustaining the resilience of the continent’s natural habitats.

Published : August 11, 2021

By : xinhua