Seven Covid patients forced to camp outside Bangkok apartment block
The plight of seven Covid-19 patients camping outside an apartment block in Bangkok Din Daeng district drew a wave of sympathy from netizens on Monday. Photos of the makeshift quarantine camp posted on the Zendai Facebook page also sparked accusations that authorities had abandoned the patients.
Attached to the patients’ tent was the sarcastic message “People who do not have any connections”.
According to the Facebook post, the seven patients were found during proactive testing but denied medical treatment because no hospital beds were available.
“The page decided to set up tents for the patients as they could spread the virus to others while waiting in the confined apartment,” the post said.
“Hence, we would like to ask the government to prepare a plan to support proactive testing [with medical treatment].”
Seven Covid patients forced to camp outside Bangkok apartment block
The National Housing Authority eventually made two rooms available where the seven patients could isolate while waiting for medical treatment. All seven have now been moved to a hospitel.
Thailand’s daily caseload jumps by almost 900 with 35 deaths
Thailand logged 4,059 new Covid-19 cases and 35 deaths over a 24-hour period on Tuesday, rising from 3,175 cases and 29 deaths recorded on Monday.
Of the total cases, 2,257 tested positive in hospitals, 1,706 were found in proactive testing, 75 were found in prisons, and 21 were arrivals from overseas.
Bangkok topped the list with 1,154 cases, followed by Samut Prakan (696), Chonburi (335), Songkhla (293), Samut Sakhon (250), Pathum Thani (211), Nonthaburi (169) and Nakhon Pathom (162).
Meanwhile, 2,047 patients have recovered and been discharged in the last 24 hours.
Thailand’s accumulated infections rose to 225,365 on Tuesday. Of these, 187,836 have recovered, 35,836 are still in hospital, and 1,693 have died.
Meanwhile, the last 24 hours saw another 152,809 people given their first Covid-19 shot, while 74,830 people got their second shot. This brings the total number of doses administered in Thailand to 7,906,696.
According to Worldometer, as of 11am on Tuesday, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 179.54 million (up by 278,182). Of these, 164.23 million have recovered, 11.43 million are active cases (82, 634 in severe condition) and 3.88 million have died (up by 5,836).
Thailand ranks 76th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 34.41 million, followed by India (29.97 million), Brazil (17.96 million), France (5.75 million), and Turkey (5.37 million).
Alcohol back on menu in Chiang Mai but pubs stay closed
Chiang Mai’s ban on serving alcohol in restaurants was lifted on Monday, though night venues were not permitted to reopen.
According to the latest order, alcohol can be served until 9pm and tattoo and piercing shops are allowed to reopen. Shopping complexes and community malls can also resume normal operating times.
Venues ordered to remain closed include pubs, bars, nightclubs, massage parlours, snooker and bowling clubs, gaming centres and internet cafés.
Those caught violating will be fined up to THB20,000.
Former Miss Siam, now 100, gets AstraZeneca vaccine
A 100-year-old former beauty queen got the AstraZeneca jab at Theptarin Hospital in Bangkok, Dara Papayon (Movie Stars) Facebook page revealed on Monday.
A100-year-old former beauty queen got the AstraZeneca jab at Theptarin Hospital in Bangkok, Dara Papayon (Movie Stars) Facebook page revealed on Monday.
Wanee Somprasong was among elderly citizens receiving inoculation in Bangkok.
She had won the beauty contest “Nangsao Siam” (Miss Siam) in 1935.
Nasao Siam was first held in 1934, after the Siamese Revolution in 1932, as a part of the Constitution celebration in Thailand. In 1939, the name of the contest was changed to “Nangsao Thai” (Miss Thailand) as Siam was renamed Thailand that year.
The contest has been organised annually since then. Wanee was the second winner of the contest.
Physicians warn of 4th wave risk if country reopened in 120 days
The Royal College of Physicians of Thailand (RCPT) on Monday warned the government that its decision to reopen the country within 120 days may lead to the fourth Covid-19 wave and virus mutation.
The RCPT suggested the following approach to the government:
1. The government must launch measures that lead to effective disease control. They have to cooperate with all sectors in order to bring the situation under control and restore confidence among citizens and tourists. Most importantly, they should not announce long holidays because it may cause the virus to spread, similar to the Songkran holidays.
2. Proactive tests must be conducted nationwide, especially in areas where a Covid-19 cluster emerges, factories, fresh markets and worker camps. They must use area restriction measure once the Covid-19 cases were found, so as to contain the spread as soon as possible.
3. The law must be strictly enforced to contain the spread of the disease, especially on those sneaking into the country, gambling, having gatherings, holding rallies and travelling.
4. The government must procure Covid-19 vaccines to meet demand and prevent the spread of Covid-19 variants that may affect the efficacy of current vaccines. Also, they should have transparency on vaccine distribution.
5. The government must prepare measures for foreign tourists, prioritising disease control than stimulating the economy, so as to ensure that the country’s reopening will not lead to the fourth Covid-19 wave.
6. The government must review the appropriateness before reopening the country based on the situation at home and abroad, the number of vaccinated Thais, the spread of Covid-19 variants and readiness of the public health system.
Civil Aviation Authority readies measures for reopening Phuket
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Monday approved measures to prepare the aviation industry for the reopening of Thailand to foreign tourists, starting with Phuket on July 1 under the Phuket Tourism Sandbox scheme.
Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob, who chaired the CAA meeting, said: “If the scheme turns out to be a success, similar schemes would be implemented in nine tourism provinces while the full reopening of the country will start within 120 days.”
“It is estimated that until the end of the year, the aviation industry will see a total of 1.4 million international passengers, up about 10 times the estimate for July.”
To prepare for the increasing number of visitors, the CAA has ordered airports to arrange flight slots accordingly.
“Phuket Airport has finished arranging flight slots for summer 2021 — from July 1 to October 30 — with 134 flights per day being allotted from the total airport capacity of 480 flights per day, or about 28 per cent,” said Saksayam.
“When the country fully opens, we expect to increase the slot to 320 flights per day to welcome foreign visitors, most of whom would be from the Asia-Pacific region and Europe.”
The CAA estimated that total flights (both domestic and international) in July would increase from June’s estimated 5,698 to 13,354, with passengers increasing from 79,226 to 146,448.
The meeting also appointed the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) to inspect flight readiness of all airports nationwide in all aspects to prepare for the sharp increase in flights.
The CAAT was also tasked with safety inspection of airports, airlines, aircraft and pilots using both onsite and remote audit methods depending on the outbreak situation in each area.
“As for measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19, as of June 13 the ministry has provided first jabs of Covid-19 vaccine to frontline staff nationwide, around 48,000 people,” said Saksayam. “Furthermore, we have ordered flight operators to strictly follow the Guidance for Air Travel through the Covid-19 Public Health Crisis provided by International Civil Aviation Organization and guidelines from the World Health Organization.”
The CAA meeting on Monday also considered the adoption of two technologies of international airport to domestic airports to increase their efficiency and enhance security of domestic air travel. They are the API (Advance Passenger Information) system and the Common Use Passenger Processing System, or CUPPS, which are currently used in international airports in Thailand.
Baht pressured by foreign investor concerns on Covid situation in Thailand
The baht opened at 31.61 to the US dollar on Tuesday, unchanged from the closing rate on Monday.
The Thai currency is likely to move between 31.55 and 31.70 during the day, Krungthai Bank market strategist Poon Panichpibool said.
Poon explained that the baht had weakened due to concerns among foreign investors about the Covid-19 situation in Thailand. This worry had prompted them to sell their risk assets in the country. He added that this issue was of greater concern to Thailand than the strengthening of the dollar.
However, the baht would not weaken sharply, as exporters aim to sell dollars when the baht reaches around 31.60 to 31.70 to the US currency.
He said it was almost impossible for the baht to hit 32 to the US dollar.
Exporter selling counterfeit Thai durian to China arrested in Chanthaburi
The owner of a fruit-buying company in Chanthaburi province has been arrested by officers from Muang Chanthaburi police station and Chanthaburi Agricultural Research and Development Centre on Monday for allegedly using counterfeit Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certificates to export Vietnamese durians to China as Thai durians.
“We investigated a fruit-buying company called ‘Lung Tu Odd’ located in Khlong Narai subdistrict of Chanthaburi province and found that they had used fake GAP and GMP certificates to make durians that they had imported from Vietnam look like they were from Thailand before exporting them to Chinese customers,” Alongkorn Polabutr, adviser to the agriculture and cooperatives minister, said.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the company had imported over 18 tonnes of durians from Vietnam, which was sold at THB70 per kilogram and is planning to export to China at THB160 per kilogram.”
Alongkorn added that Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chalermchai Srion had ordered the Department of Agriculture to work with the police, Customs Department, the Department of Foreign Trade and Department of Special Investigation to further investigate the company’s network as well as other fruit counterfeiters in durian-growing provinces to prevent damage to Thai durian’s reputation in the global market.
Exporter selling counterfeit Thai durian to China arrested in Chanthaburi
“The ministry’s executives would meet this week to discuss setting measures to prevent fruit counterfeiting,” said Alongkorn.
Statistics from the Customs Department showed that in 2020 Thailand exported fresh durians valued at THB65.6 billion, up 44 per cent from the previous year, with China as the main market responsible for THB47.7 billion of durians, or 73 per cent of total durian export.
Exporter selling counterfeit Thai durian to China arrested in Chanthaburi
Thundershowers forecast for parts of Bangkok, isolated heavy rains in East, South
The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Tuesday that a moderate southwest monsoon prevails across the Andaman Sea, Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand.
Waves in the Andaman Sea and the upper Gulf of Thailand are expected to be 1-2 metres high and over two metres in thundershower areas. All ships should proceed with caution, the department said.
The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:
Bangkok and surrounding areas: Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 25-27 degrees Celsius, highs of 33-36°C.
North: Thundershowers in 30 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 23-26°C, highs of 33-36°C.
Northeast: Thundershowers in 20 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 24-27°C, highs of 35-37°C.
Central: Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 24-26°C, highs of 35-37°C.
East: Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 25-26°C, highs of 29-35°C; waves 1-2 metres high and two metres during thundershowers.
South (east coast): Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 22-25°C, highs of 33-35°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
South (west coast): Thundershowers in 70 per cent of the areas with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 21-25°C, highs of 30-34°C; waves 1-2 metres high and over two metres during thundershowers.
Bussarakham field hospital extended for 2 months as virus rages in Bangkok
The life of Thailand’s largest field hospital has been extended for another two months to handle the rising Covid-19 caseload in Bangkok.
Bussarakham Hospital will remain open at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani until August 31, Public Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr Kiattibhoom Vongrachit announced on Monday.
He added that the growing number of both Thai and foreign patients in metropolitan Bangkok meant the contract with Impact Arena, which was due to end on June 30, had been extended to August 31.
The capital logged another 624 cases on Monday.
Bussarakham is receiving an average of 81 new Covid-19 patients per day. A total of 3,094 cases have been admitted to the field hospital since it opened on May 14. Of these, 1,731 have recovered, 130 were referred to other hospitals, and 1,233 are still being treated. There were 928 vacant beds as of Monday.