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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003255

Bangkok dispatching 69 teams to test high-risk community residents for Covid-19

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will on Thursday dispatch 69 Comprehensive Covid-19 Response Teams (CCRTs) to 69 communities with a high risk of infections, Governor Aswin Kwanmuang said on Wednesday.

“The CCRTs will conduct rapid tests on people in risky groups with antigen test kits and also provide locals with knowledge on the correct way to isolate at home to prevent the virus from spreading at the community level,” he said.

“Those who test positive will be immediately sent to community isolation centres in case hospital beds in the area are not available.”

Aswin said the city would soon have 200 CCRTs to cover wider areas of the metropolis, especially slums which have a high density of population.

Bangkok dispatching 69 teams to test high-risk community residents for Covid-19

Each CCRT comprises public health officials, security officers and volunteers from NGOs.

Bangkok reported 2,332 new infections on Wednesday, topping the country’s daily infections chart, with cumulative patients since April 1 being 103,907 people.

Bangkok dispatching 69 teams to test high-risk community residents for Covid-19

Published : July 15, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003254

Thundershowers, isolated heavy rains forecast for most of country

All regions across Thailand will see thundershowers, with isolated heavy rains in the Northeast, the Central part, the East and the South as a moderate southwest monsoon prevails over the country, the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, the Meteorological Department said on Thursday.

It advised people to beware of the severe conditions.

Here’s the weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

North: Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 24-26 degrees and highs of 34-37 degrees Celsius.

Northeast: Thundershowers in 70 per cent of the area with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees and highs of 32-34 degrees Celsius.

Central: Thundershowers in 70 per cent of the area with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 25-26 degrees, highs of 33-35 degrees Celsius.

East: Thundershowers in 70 per cent of the area with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 25-26 degrees, highs of 31-33 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

South (east coast): Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the area with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees, highs of 31-34 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 24-25 degrees, highs of 31-33 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 26-28 degrees, highs of 30-33 degrees Celsius.

Source: Thailand Meteorological Department

Published : July 15, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003242

Thailand moves to limit exports of locally-made AstraZeneca

Thailand is moving ahead with plans to limit exports of locally-made AstraZeneca vaccine as domestic Covid-19 cases soar.

Adraft document specifying limits on vaccine exports was agreed by the National Vaccine Board on Wednesday and passed to the National Vaccine Institute and Department of Disease Control (DDC).

National Vaccine Institute director Nakorn Premsri did not reveal any figures for the limit.

AstraZeneca Thailand’s partner, Siam Bioscience, has been contracted to produce 180 million doses this year – 61 million for Thailand and the rest for other countries in Southeast Asia.

However, Thailand quickly ran short of AstraZeneca doses after its mass vaccination launched on June 7, while deliveries to the Philippines and Malaysia have been delayed.

AstraZeneca delivered 6 million doses for Thailand last month and is expected to match that number this month, missing its target of 10 million doses for July.

Meanwhile, the vaccine institute and DDC resolved to hasten moves to procure 100 million doses of vaccine for Thailand this year, Nithi said.

Barely 5 per cent of the population has been vaccinated in Thailand, where the daily caseload has surged to almost 10,000.

Published : July 14, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003241

Phuket bans entry to unvaccinated domestic travellers

Only fully vaccinated travellers will be permitted to enter Phuket from Thursday (July 15), when tightened Covid-19 restrictions come into effect in the island province.

The ban on unvaccinated travellers will be effective from July 15-31 or until the order changes, Phuket authorities said on Wednesday.

Those vaccinated with AstraZeneca must have had their second jab at least 14 days before arriving in Phuket.

Travellers who have recovered from Covid-19 must show a negative RT-PCR or antigen test taken no more than seven days before entering the province.

Those arriving from the 10 provinces under maximum controls – Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Sakhon, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat – must also download and Bluetooth-enable the MorChana tracing app.

Published : July 14, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003240

CRA to open Sinopharm booking on Thursday and Friday

The public can book Sinopharm jabs online via Chulabhorn Royal Academy (CRA) on Thursday and Friday (July 15-16), CRA announced on Wednesday.

Between 30,000 and 50,000 people would be able to book this week, with another booking session planned for next week, said CRA secretary-general Dr Nithi Mahanon.

Nithi said the cost will be no more than 888 baht per dose, the same price paid earlier by organisations. If possible, the price would be lower, he added.

People will be able to book the vaccine, transfer payment online and then receive the jab at a listed hospital, he said. Details of the payment method will be released on Thursday.

Nithi explained that more than one booking session was required because the academy could only store a limited number of doses.

The academy is also seeking to import other vaccines for booster shots, he said.

Published : July 14, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003239

9 social-media users face arrest for allegedly defaming Thai Army

Thailand’s Army chief on Wednesday demanded the arrest of nine people for allegedly claiming that Thai soldiers were being flown to the United States for Covid-19 booster shots.

Army chief General Narongpan Jittkaewtae announced that eight Facebook users and one Twitter user will be arrested over defamation charges and may face up to two years in prison and/or a fine of no more than 4,000 baht.

The general also had Colonel Nakhonsom Naowabut from the Army’s office of the judge advocate file a complaint with the Nang Loeng police station on Wednesday.

Recently, social-media users shared images of Thai soldiers heading to the US to participate in the July 10-26 Strategic Airborne Operation at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. Accompanying the images were captions accusing the soldiers of travelling to the US to get a Pfizer booster and using the taxpayers’ money to fund this exercise.

Meanwhile, deputy Army spokesman Colonel Srichan Ngathong pointed out that the vaccination card pictured in the posts is that of a 58-year-old, while soldiers heading to the US are a lot younger.

Published : July 14, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003237

No foreign tourists on first day of Samui reopening

Tourism operators on Surat Thanis resort islands of Koh Samui, Koh Pha-ngan and Koh Tao are ready for a slow return of foreign travellers from tomorrow (Thursday).

Only 11 foreigners – all members of the media – will take the Bangkok Airways flight from Bangkok to Samui on Thursday, according to the Koh Samui Tourism Promotion Association.

“We do not expect a lot of travellers to visit Thailand in the third quarter this year as the rise in the country’s daily Covid-19 cases would affect their confidence,” association chairman Ratchaporn Poolsawas said on Wednesday.

“However, what we can do is start tourist operations in line with standard procedure in a bid to stimulate the country’s tourism.”

He expects Thailand’s Covid-19 caseload to fall in the fourth quarter, boosting confidence among Thai and foreign travellers.

Tourists arriving under the Samui Plus model from Thursday must stay in an Alternative Local Quarantine (ALQ) hotel on Koh Samui for seven days. After that, they can stay in an ALQ or SHA+ hotel on Koh Samui, Koh Pha-ngan or Koh Tao.

After the first three days on Samui, they can also travel across the island on sealed routes.

“Each room package includes charges for three RT-PCR Covid-19 tests and other services. Travellers will get a refund on the second and third tests if they stay less than 14 days,” Ratchaporn said.

If the number of Covid-19 cases under the Samui+ Model rises over 20 within two weeks, the mandatory period of stay in an ALQ hotel will be extended to 14 days.

If the number of cases rises above 40 within two weeks, Covid measures will be tightened. Koh Samui disease control centre will decide whether the Samui+ Model needs to be suspended, said the chairman.

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said 80 foreign travellers have booked Bangkok Airways seats from Bangkok to Samui between July and October this year.

Chattan Kunchorn na Ayudhya, TAT’s deputy governor of International Marketing (Asia and South Pacific), added that the 11 foreign travellers arriving on Thursday are all media representatives on a junket to test the Samui+ Model.

Four international travellers will arrive on Friday. Some 177 of Koh Samui’s 671 hotels have reopened.

Published : July 14, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003235

Thailand’s chief campaigner turns spotlight on new consumer council

Activist Srisuwan Janya on Wednesday called on the Justice Ministry to launch an investigation into the 152 consumer organisations that got together to form the Thailand Consumer Council (TCC) in December 2020.

“Isuspect some of these organisations have only been set up to meet the quota required to establish the TCC,” Srisuwan said. “I have done a random check and found that 16 organisations do not have head offices in provinces listed in the documents submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office. When I interviewed local administrators and villagers in those provinces, they said they have never heard of these organisations.”

Srisuwan, who is vice president and secretary-general of the Society for Defence of Thai Constitutions, said he has also submitted evidence including photos and recordings of testimonies. Hence, he said, the Department of Investigation can start investigating these 152 organisations, which he believes may have violated Article 5 of the 2019 Establishment of Thailand Consumer Council Act.

Article 5 stipulates that organisations under the TCC should have been working on consumer protection in their respective area for at least two years and should be able to provide evidence of such work.

“Organisations that use fake evidence to join the TCC are also in violation of Article 137 of the Criminal Code, which says that anyone who provides false information that is likely to cause injury to a person or the public shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding 10,000 baht or both,” he said.

Srisuwan added that if these organisations are found guilty, the establishment of the TCC should be deemed invalid and any decisions or legal actions taken by the body be nullified as well.

Published : July 14, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003232

87 deaths, 9,317 new infections as Thailand’s Covid numbers soar

Thailand logged 87 deaths and 9,317 new infections over a 24-hour period on Wednesday.

Of the total, 7,159 had tested positive in hospitals, 2,021 were found via proactive testing, 129 infections were found in prisons and eight were arrivals from overseas.

Bangkok led the list of most cases with 2,332, followed by Samut Prakan (1,006), Samut Sakhon (577), Chonburi (513) and Pathum Thani (398).

Meanwhile, 5,129 patients have recovered and been discharged in the last 24 hours.

Of the total 363,029 cases, 260,584 have recovered and been discharged, 99,511 patients are still in hospitals, and 2,934 have died.

Meanwhile, another 289,175 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, while 33,313 were given their second shot, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in Thailand to 13,230,681.

According to Worldometer, as of 11am on Wednesday, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 188.58 million, 172.40 million of whom have recovered, 12.12 million are active cases (78,809 in severe condition) and 4.06 million have died (up by 8,117).

Thailand ranks 59th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 34.8 million, followed by India with 30.94 million, Brazil with 19.15 million, France 5.83 million and Russia 5.82 million.

Published : July 14, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003231

Prayut backtracks on mix-and-match vaccine strategy, gives it go-ahead

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha changed his stance on Wednesday and told the Public Health Ministry to kick off its mix-and-match vaccine strategy to combat the fast-spreading Delta variant.

Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri Prayut also aimed to accelerate the procurement and distribution of vaccines among citizens. The premier has also ordered the collection of data related to the jabs, especially in relation to the elderly and people with chronic conditions.

“The government will look for the best way to tackle the spread of the Delta variant and will also boost public awareness,” Anucha said.

He added that Prayut had never sought to suspend the mix-and-match vaccine strategy.

“The prime minister has asked all parties to listen to the National Communicable Disease Committee’s comments on the new strategy,” Anucha added.

At the weekly Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Prayut had instructed the Public Health Ministry to review its mix-and-match vaccine strategy in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s recent statement.

WHO’s chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan had called this mixing of vaccines a “dangerous trend”.

“We are in a bit of a data-free, evidence-free zone as far as mix-and-match is concerned,” she said.

Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul pointed out that the National Communicable Disease Committee, which approved the mix-and-match, comprised doctors from both the public and private sectors.

Some ministers also said the government should take responsibility if people die from this mix-and-match strategy.

The Public Health Ministry had on Monday decided to change its strategy of providing two doses of Sinovac to making the second jab that of AstraZeneca.

Published : July 14, 2021

By : The Nation