All regions to experience less rains except for the North
The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Friday that a low-pressure cell covers upper Vietnam and the south of China, while a weak southwest monsoon prevails over the Andaman Sea, Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand. Less rains are forecast across the country, except the North.
The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:
North: Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 23-26 degrees Celsius, highs of 31-37°C.
Northeast: Thundershowers in 30 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 24-26°C, highs of 33-39°C.
Central: Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 24-25°C, highs of 35-37°C.
East: Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 23-26°C, highs of 32-35°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
South (east coast): Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 23-26°C, highs of 33-37 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
South (west coast): Thundershowers in 30 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 21-26°C, highs of 32-34°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
Bangkok and surrounding areas: Thundershowers in 20 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 24-26°C, highs of 33-37°C.
Information compiled from injections of more than 100 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine around the world has shown side effects and adverse events following vaccination are extremely rare.
However, the fact is some people may still experience some side effects from any vaccine, even after they are fully developed and no matter what the brand. All Covid-19 vaccines currently available are approved for emergency use only.
Public confidence in the safety of Covid-19 vaccines continues to be undermined by news reports about side effects and suspected adverse events after vaccination, ranging from mild events such as dizziness, vomiting, fever, numbness, and weakness in legs or arms, to serious ones such as coma and death.
This is why it is crucial to keep boosting public confidence that the government’s vaccination programme will not only help mitigate the severity of the disease but also build up herd immunity for the entire country when at least 70 per cent of the entire population is fully vaccinated.
“Side effects of Covid-19 vaccines are something we can never deny,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
“This is why all vaccine recipients are required to stay half an hour longer for observation of possible side effects that normally occur within this period. And this should improve public confidence in the vaccination programme.”
Meanwhile, the National Health Security Office (NHSO) is offering financial compensation as preliminary assistance to anyone who suffers these unwanted consequences of Covid-19 vaccination.
The compensation is being offered under Section 41 of the 2002 National Health Security Act, which normally deals with preliminary assistance for parties suffering health damages following a healthcare service received under the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS).
Before the launch of the compensation scheme, additional rules were issued to specify terms and conditions that offer financial compensation to parties suffering a significant health condition suspected to have been caused by Covid-19 vaccination.
This is a social mechanism to provide preliminary assistance to help alleviate suffering without having to wait for the final results of a medical investigation.
Anyone who has recently been injected with a Covid-19 vaccine and afterwards developed any health conditions suspected to be linked to the vaccination has every right to believe these conditions may have been caused by the vaccine.
And this is consistent with the medical view that these Covid-19 vaccines can have side effects while still approved for emergency use only. The real cause of the suspected health conditions will later be proved via formal medical investigation.
The process of seeking this preliminary financial assistance is not complicated. In case of death after Covid-19 vaccination, for instance, a relative of the deceased may submit a request for financial compensation to either the hospital that carried out the vaccination in question, their local Provincial Public Health Office, or their closest NHSO branch office. Other channels for submitting the request include health volunteers or an independent complaints unit receiving authorised by Section 50(5) of the 2002 National Health Security Act. The NHSO has already appointed subcommittees to handle these requests in all 13 health regions. Each subcommittee consists of medical experts who will examine cases to decide which ones merit the financial compensation. The subcommittees will base their judgement on the patient’s medical history.
So, every case suspected of being linked to Covid-19 vaccination should be submitted immediately to the compensation subcommittee for consideration.
If the subcommittee agrees that the case deserves compensation, this will normally be paid by the NHSO within five days.
The money will be transferred to the bank account presented by the party concerned. And even if a formal medical investigation later finds no link between the vaccination and the adverse event, the compensation payment will not be recalled.
The reason for this is that the compensation money is simply intended as preliminary assistance in the no-fault compensation programme.
“Currently, a total of 344 requests for compensation have been received and the NHSO has already paid compensation in 239 cases, totalling 3.01 million baht [as of June 4],” Anutin said.
“Most of these cases dealt with mild symptoms that occurred after the vaccination, such as numbness. And of all six requests for compensation in case of post-jab deaths, four have so far been granted. These were in Pathum Thani, Songkhla, Phrae and Tak.”
The no-fault compensation idea has been recognised worldwide for its benefits, protection of vaccine recipients and as an incentive for more people to come forward to receive the anti-Covid-19 jab.
In March this year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) launched an international compensation programme aimed at easing the suffering of those affected by Covid-19 vaccination without them having to go to court to demand compensation.
The no-fault compensation idea isn’t new. Thailand is one of about 25 of the 194 WHO member nations that have adopted no-fault compensation programmes for damages stemming from medical and healthcare services in general.
This is proof that Thailand is now on the right track in its efforts to build up immunity against Covid-19 as a way of surviving the virus crisis.
Covid-19 waste soars to 178 tonnes per day in Thailand
Thailand’s Covid-19 battle generated a whopping 178 tonnes of infectious waste per day in April, the government revealed on Thursday.
The surge in biohazardous waste came from Covid-19 testing, treatment, vaccination and quarantine measures, said Deputy Minister of Public Health Satit Pitutecha.
Thailand generated an average 40.9 tonnes of infectious waste per day between January and April, an increase of 29.7 per cent from normal levels. However, that figure soared to 178 tonnes per day in April.
Speaking at a preview event for Thai Environmental Health Day, Satit also highlighted the problem of PM2.5 air pollution. Last year, 1 in 5 of the total population (15 million people) were at risk of short- and long-term health problems caused by PM2.5, he said.
Environmental Health Day will be marked on Sunday, July 4 under the theme “New Era of Thai Environmental Health towards Future Challenges”.
144 doctors redeployed to Bangkok as contagion spreads
Health authorities have launched urgent training of 144 doctors around the country, before redeploying them to support the battle against Covid-19 in Bangkok.
The Public Health Ministry and Royal College of Physicians of Thailand have arranged training for internists, pulmonologists, infectious disease pathologists, and crisis medics. After fast-track retraining until June 30, the doctors will be sent to Bussarakham Field Hospital at Impact Muang Thong Thani and other facilities around the capital.
The move comes as Bangkok recorded 1,960 new Covid-19 cases and 34 fatalities on Thursday. The capital is now suffering a critical shortage of ICU beds as the daily caseload surges.
The Public Health Ministry said ICU units will be expanded at Ramathibodi Hospital, Wachira Hospital, Thammasat Hospital and the Palang Pandin field hospital, supported by extra staff.
It added that the doctors being retrained are not new graduates but rather specialists experienced in caring for critically ill patients. All have been vaccinated against Covid-19. After completing their training, they will work 8-hour shifts, five days per week.
Four Thai vaccine projects edge closer to breakthrough
Government spokesman Ratchada Thanadirek on Thursday posted a progress report on Thailand’s four projects to develop Covid-19 vaccines.
NDV-HXP-S Vaccine
A joint effort by the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) and Mahidol University’s Vaccine Centre, the NDV-HXP-S project in Phase 1/2 human trials to assess the prototype vaccine’s safety and ability to stimulate immunity. Volunteers were injected with the vaccine on March 22.
The NDV-HXP-S vaccine will be produced in the GPO factory, meaning no investment is needed to build a new plant. The vaccine uses the same technology as the flu vaccine and received international cooperation from the PATH organisation with joint research from manufacturers in Vietnam and Brazil.
ChulaCov19 vaccine
The prototype being developed by the Vaccine Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University is an mRNA vaccine that uses the same manufacturing technology as the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
The prototype generated a high immune response in rats and monkeys before Phase 1 human trials on 72 volunteers began on June 14.
ChulaCov19 vaccine can be stored at refrigerated temperatures of 2-8°C for up to 3 months and at room temperature (25°C) for up to 2 weeks.
Covigen vaccine
Covigen produced by Bionet-Asia Plc stimulated a strong immune response in rats. Approval is now being sought from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Phase 1 human trials with a parallel trial in Australia.
Baiya vaccine
Baiya Phytopharm, a start-up from Chulalongkorn University’s CU Innovation Hub, is modifying tobacco protein to mimic the Covid-19 virus. It will start testing its vaccine prototype in humans in August or September.
A community centre for children in Khon Kaen’s Srisuk subdistrict became a new cluster for Covid-19 on Thursday after 42 people, including 34 youngsters, tested positive.
The cluster was sparked by a two-year-old who had been infected by her mother.
The youngster’s mum works in Chonburi and had come over for a week. She also infected her parents, who live in the same house.
Toddler sparks Covid cluster in Khon Kaen nursery
So far, 10 children and two teachers have been transferred to Srinagarind Hospital for treatment, while another 24 children and six teachers have been sent to Khon Kaen Hospital.
Toddler sparks Covid cluster in Khon Kaen nursery
Meanwhile, provincial disease investigation officials say the Covid-19 virus detected in these patients appears to be a new variant.
“We have tested 300 people who have been in contact with these patients and have urged people travelling from provinces under maximum and strict control to report to the nearest public health office,” an official said.
A pick-up truck and motorbike burst into flames at a flea market in Roi Et’s Muang district on Wednesday after a snack vendor lost control of a pan of hot oil.
Vendor Samanchai Sanyamat, 47, said he was frying French fries when the pan slipped out of his hand and oil splashed onto the gas stove resulting in huge flames. The flames turned into an inferno by setting alight the gas tank, an umbrella and tent before spreading to the pick-up truck and a motorbike nearby.
Though the fire was brought under control in half an hour, both vehicles were completely destroyed.
Samanchai said he could not close the valve of the gas tank because the flames were too high, and nobody else could help him either. He eventually had to call the flea market staff, but it was too late by the time they arrived.
Prayut lands in Phuket to welcome first sandbox arrivals
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his entourage landed in Phuket’s Thalang district at 10am on Thursday to visit local officials and witness the passenger screening process.
Phuket opened its doors to foreigners on Thursday for the first time since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak early last year. Tourists are allowed to land under a sandbox scheme if they can prove they have been fully inoculated against Covid-19 and test negative. Those approved can move freely on the island without having to quarantine.
After staying in Phuket for 14 days, they can travel to other provinces if they test negative for a second time.
“I realise that reopening Phuket is risky, but it is a risk we have to take for the sake of our country,” Prayut said. “The most important thing is to monitor the situation closely and act swiftly in case a situation emerges.
“We need to ensure that the sandbox scheme runs smoothly and contributes to the goal of fully reopening Thailand within 120 days,” added Prayut, referring to the promise he made in a June 16 televised public address on the Covid-19 situation. “If successful, data from this scheme will be gathered and shared among other provinces to design their reopening campaign.”
Prayut lands in Phuket to welcome first sandbox arrivals
The premier first visited the Tha Chat Chai checkpoint before moving on to check out Phuket’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), which functions as a central unit to monitor tourists via the Thailand Plus and Mor Chana applications. All tourists must install the apps and allow themselves to be tracked on GPS during their entire stay.
Prayut also traveled to Royal Phuket City Hotel in Muang district to chair a meeting with provincial officers regarding the progress of the Phuket Sandbox scheme.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand reported that 300 foreigners are scheduled to land in Phuket on Thursday on Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, El Al Israel Airlines and Singapore Airlines flights. The PM is scheduled to visit the airport in the evening to welcome tourists arriving on the Singapore Airlines flight.
57 deaths, 5,533 infections mark another day of record highs for Thailand
Thailand logged another record high of 57 deaths and 5,533 new infections, pushing the country’s total caseload to 264,834 infections and 2,080 deaths.
Of the new cases, 3,788 were tested in hospitals, 1,689 were found through proactive testing, 44 tested positive in prisons and 12 came from overseas.
Bangkok again led the list with a record 1,960 cases, followed by Samut Prakan (435), Pathum Thani (321), Samut Sakhon (298), Songkhla (272), Chonburi (261), Nakhon Pathom (231), Nonthaburi (224), Pattani (180) and Yala (136).
Meanwhile, 3,223 patients have recovered and been discharged in the last 24 hours.
Of the total 264,834 infections, 210,702 have recovered and been discharged, 52,052 are still in hospitals, and 2,080 have died.
Meanwhile, another 200,685 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, while 54,307 people were given their second shot, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in Thailand to 9,927,698.
According to Worldometer, as of 11am on Thursday, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 182.97 million (up by 389,637), 167.55 million of whom have recovered, 11.46 million are active cases (79,223 in severe condition) and 3.96 million have died (up by 8,482).
Thailand ranks 72th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 34.54 million, followed by India with 30.41 million, Brazil with 18.55 million, France with 5.77 million, and Russia 5.51 million.
Phuket Sandbox attracts over 4,000 COE applications
Some 4,100 potential travellers have applied for a Certificate of Entry (COE) via the Foreign Ministry’s website since opened on June 28 to accept applications for visitors under the Phuket Sandbox scheme.
Under the scheme, which kicks off today, foreigners who can verify they have been fully inoculated against Covid-19 and test negative can fly into the province and move around freely without having to quarantine.
After staying in Phuket for 14 days, they can travel to other provinces if they test negative for a second time.
“Those who have applied for COE will need to attach their certificate of vaccination, which the Department of Disease Control will check for validity and give approval,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanee Sangrat said. “So far, more than 500 people have been approved.”
Registrants also need to present evidence of payment for three Covid-19 tests at the hotel they are booked to stay at. The cost of tests is approximately 8,000 baht per person.
According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, 300 foreigners are scheduled to land in Phuket on the first day of opening. The flights landing today include Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, El Al Israel Airlines and Singapore Airlines.
Toddler sparks Covid cluster in Khon Kaen nursery
Toddler sparks Covid cluster in Khon Kaen nursery
Toddler sparks Covid cluster in Khon Kaen nursery
When one little slip turns into an inferno
Prayut lands in Phuket to welcome first sandbox arrivals
