#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002957

Another 2 million doses of Sinovac land in Bangkok

The Chinese Embassy announced on Wednesday that 2 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine have arrived in Bangkok.

“So far, China has delivered 15 lots, totalling 14.5 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to Thailand,” the embassy said on its Facebook page.

From February 28 to July 7, Thailand has administered more than 11.06 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines, with 8.02 million people getting their first jab and 3.04 million getting their second jab.

Published : July 07, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002956

CCSA warns Delta infections could soar to 10,000 next week

Cases of the Delta variant could surge to 10,000 next week, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) warned on Wednesday.

Delta currently accounts for more than 50 per cent of new cases in Greater Bangkok and has spread to 40 provinces, said CCSA spokesman Dr Apisamai Srirangsan.

Health authorities reported 54 new Covid-19 fatalities and 6,519 new cases on Wednesday.

Worryingly, other countries report that Delta is infecting people who have already been vaccinated.

The UK said 92,029 residents have been infected with the Delta strain, of which 20,000 had already had their first vaccine jab and 7,235 had received their second dose. However, only 8 per cent of vaccinated UK residents suffered severe symptoms that required hospitalisation. Delta is now responsible for over 90 per cent of all UK infections and 20 per cent of new cases in the US.

The Thai government is responding to the Delta contagion by speeding up vaccination of senior citizens and people with chronic conditions, said Apisamai.

Even administering first doses to this vulnerable group would reduce serious illness and fatalities, he added.

Delta cases in Thailand could soar to 10,000 next week, the spokesman warned.

“So we have to emphasise personal measures, like keeping distance from others, wearing masks, and washing your hands often.”

Delta has exploded since last month when the first case was detected in Thailand.

Meanwhile, 269,653 vaccine jabs were administered on Wednesday, bringing the total to 11,328,043 since the rollout began last month. The government is targeting 300,000-500,000 jabs per day but a shortage of doses is hampering that effort.

Published : July 07, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002955

Phyathai 2, Samitivej Sukhumvit to provide jabs for expats

Foreigners living in Thailand can now register for their Covid-19 vaccine directly with Phyathai 2 and Samitivej Sukhumvit hospitals since the Thailandintervac.com website is out of commission.

For now, the hospitals are only accepting applications from foreigners who are 60 or above or suffer from underlying conditions like severe chronic respiratory diseases, coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease (fifth stage), cerebrovascular disease, cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, diabetes or obesity (weighing more than 100kg or with a BMI of above 35kg/m²).

Jabs can be booked as follows:

• Phyathai 2 Hospital: Fill in the form at https://phyathai2international.com between July 12 and 16, from 9am to noon daily. Visit https://phyathai2international.com for more information.

• Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital: Email the hospital at info@samitivej.co.th or call (02) 022 2222.

The hospitals will call the applicant to set an appointment after receiving the details.

For further information, contact the Department of Disease Control by emailing oicddchotline@gmail.com or by calling (02) 590 3832 or (02) 590 3836.

Published : July 07, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002954

Home treatment piloted for mild Covid cases as infections threaten to overwhelm hospitals

The Public Health Ministry is piloting home and community treatment for Covid-19 patients with mild symptoms (green category), as surging cases threaten to overwhelm hospital bed capacity.

Bed occupancy has risen by 10,000 within one month and ICU units are treating 400 critically ill Covid-19 patients, leading to a shortage of beds and healthcare personnel, Medical Services Department director Dr Somsak Ankasil said on Wednesday.

In response, the department has prepared guidelines for a home-isolation care scheme.

The scheme is being piloted by Bangkok’s Rajavithi Hospital, where 18 Covid-19 patients have consented to home treatment consisting of temperature and lung-oxygen checks, with lung X-rays where necessary. Of these, only two patients have had to return to the hospital for treatment.

In total, almost 100 patients are taking part in the embryonic home isolation scheme.

Patients are registered with hospitals directly, so no legal problems are foreseen. However, this may not be the case with the planned community isolation scheme. The Department of Disease Control will propose the community isolation scheme at the next meeting of the National Communicable Disease Control Committee on July 12.

The proportion of mild, moderate and severe Covid cases (coded green, yellow and red) remains 80:15:5, said Dr Nittaya Panupak, head of the Institute of HIV Research and Innovation, on Wednesday. However, the soaring number of cases has created a shortage of hospital beds. Therefore, green-coded patients must be treated differently to ensure sufficient beds for yellow and red patients, she said.

Home isolation and community isolation systems have to be created with support from the Medical Services Department and National Health Security Office (NHSO) to help reduce mortality and infection rates, added Nittaya.

Published : July 07, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002951

‘Mastermind’ behind online vaccine scam arrested in Saraburi

A man suspected of operating an online vaccine scam that stole more than 300,000 baht from victims was arrested in Saraburi on Wednesday.

Police nabbed Weerasak Suksamdang, 26, in front of the TPI Polene building in Kaeng Khoi district and charged him with fraud and computer crime.

Weerasak denied the charges and was transferred to Muang Udon Thani Police Station, where complaints about the scam were filed on June 30.

The complainants said they were scammed by a Line group called “Vaccine Sinopharm”, which advertised jabs for 1,800 baht.

Police said the scammers claimed to be doctors who had procured leftover Sinopharm doses from the Federation of Thai Industries.

Once victims had transferred cash, they were deleted from the Line group and received no vaccine.

The scam netted over 300,000 baht from victims, police added.

‘Mastermind’ behind online vaccine scam arrested in Saraburi

The first suspected scammer, Ronakorn Puttaraksa, was arrested on July 2 in Muang Saraburi.

Police said Ronakorn confessed to setting up the Line group with Weerasak and others because he did not have a job.

Published : July 07, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002950

Royal Academy chief sorry for branding front-line medics selfish over Pfizer demand

Chulabhorn Royal Academy (CRA) head Nithi Mahanonda has apologised for branding medics who demanded Pfizer booster shots “selfish”.

On Tuesday, Nithi acknowledged front-line medics’ concern about exposure to Covid-19 but said those demanding Pfizer shots after receiving two Sinovac jabs were being selfish given many people had not even had their first jab.

His remarks triggered a backlash from social media users and medics, as the health system struggles with surging Covid-19 cases.

On Wednesday, Nithi apologised on Facebook, explaining he had not intended to slam the medics. He said his core message was “we need to prioritise the people’s benefits over our own”.

Nithi ended his post by mentioning that the vaccine demanded by medics will arrive in the next few months. “During this time, we should protect ourselves as well as possible and do not be careless.”

The government has ordered 20 million jabs from Pfizer, while the US has donated another 1.5 million Pfizer jabs to Thailand.

CRA has taken bookings from over 17,000 organisations for Sinopharm jabs the academy has procured from China.

Published : July 07, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002946

Thailand will get its share of Biden’s gift of 80m Covid vaccines to the world

The US Embassy in Bangkok said in a Facebook post on Wednesday that President Joe Biden plans to deliver 80 million Covid-19 vaccines to countries in need, including Thailand.

“Thailand will receive a share of safe and effective vaccines from this worldwide donation. The United States is sharing these vaccines to save lives and to lead the world in bringing an end to the pandemic,” said the post. “President Biden’s plan for the 80 million donated doses includes over 23 million for Asia, an effort that will keep the region – and Thailand – safe. These donations are in addition to the United States’ $4 billion in commitments to Covax, the Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access Initiative, including half a billion Pfizer doses over the upcoming year.”

Citing the two country’s joint work on addressing critical issues affecting public health for 60 years, the post said Washington has, to date, provided over $40 million (1.28 billion baht) in Covid-19 related assistance to Thailand.

“US assistance thus far includes $28.5 million in ventilators, respirators, testing kits, surgical masks, goggles, and other protective equipment to Thai doctors and nurses, plus support for displaced people along the border. Additionally, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has been a partner of Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health for over 40 years, has provided $13 million in COVID-19-related assistance,” the post added. “Our plan to donate vaccines will substantially increase this assistance.”

Published : July 07, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002944

Protesters storm Public Health Ministry to demand better options for Covid-19 jabs

Protesters, who call themselves “Dek Pak Jaew” (big-mouth kids), showed up at the Public Health Ministry in Nonthaburi on Wednesday to demand the government procure alternative Covid-19 vaccines for the public, including children, and medical professionals.

The protesters tried to storm the premises but were stopped by security officials. They then demanded to see Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, so they could hand him their demand in person. However, the ministry sent its spokesman Dr Rungrueng Kitphati to receive the demand letter, which further angered the protesters.

Protesters storm Public Health Ministry to demand better options for Covid-19 jabs

The protesters had come armed with mock dead bodies and when their demand to see Anutin was denied, they poured red paint on the bodies and set them on fire. Security personnel, however, stepped in and extinguished the fire before the situation escalated. The mock dead bodies were meant to symbolise Covid-19 patients who have died due to the lack of vaccines.

Protesters storm Public Health Ministry to demand better options for Covid-19 jabs

As of press time, protesters were rallying at the gate waiting for Anutin to come out and meet them.

A source said the minister was not in office as he had work elsewhere and had asked the ministry spokesman to take the demand on his behalf.

“Anutin insists he has no plans to run away,” the source added.

Protesters storm Public Health Ministry to demand better options for Covid-19 jabsProtesters storm Public Health Ministry to demand better options for Covid-19 jabs

Published : July 07, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002943

Thailand’s caseload soars with 54 deaths, 6,519 new infections

Thailand recorded a new high with 6,519 cases and 54 deaths, bringing its total caseload to 301,172 infections and 2,387 deaths.

Of the new cases, 4,958 were tested in hospitals, 1,490 found through proactive testing, 55 tested positive in prisons and 16 came from overseas.

Bangkok led the list again with 1,549 cases, followed by Samut Prakan (548), Samut Sakhon (434), Nakhon Pathom (266), Chonburi (262), Chachoengsao (252), Prachuap Khiri Khan (241), Nonthaburi (235), Pathum Thani (212) and Pattani (190).

Meanwhile, 4,148 patients have recovered and been discharged in the last 24 hours.

Of the total 301,172 infections, 231,171 have recovered and been discharged, 67,614 are still in hospitals, and 2,387 have died.

Separately, another 223,268 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, while 46,385 people were given their second shot, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in Thailand to 11,328,043.

According to Worldometer, as of 11am on Wednesday, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 185.38 million, 169.72 million of whom have recovered, 11.66 million are active cases (77,694 in severe condition) and 4 million have died (up by 7,997).

Thailand ranks 64th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 34.62 million, followed by India with 30.66 million, Brazil with 18.85 million, France with 5.79 million, and Russia 5.65 million.

Published : July 07, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002942

Phuket Sandbox gets its first Covid case

A United Arab Emirates national became the first person travelling under the Phuket Sandbox scheme to test positive for Covid-19.

Phuket authorities reported on Wednesday that he was one of the 2,113 people who have landed on the island since July 1. He tested positive upon arrival and was taken to a local hospital. The authorities did not reveal the traveller’s date of arrival but said others on the same flight were put under quarantine.

As per the sandbox scheme, tourists who can verify they are fully inoculated against Covid-19 and test negative can fly into Phuket and move around freely in the province without having to quarantine.

After 14 days in Phuket and if they still test negative, the tourists can then travel elsewhere in Thailand.

A similar scheme called the “Samui Plus Model” will be applied to Surat Thani’s three resort islands – Samui, Pha-ngan and Tao – which are set to open from July 15.

Published : July 07, 2021

By : The Nation