Vaccination to be hastened for over 45,000 teachers this week
Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said that Bang Sue Grand station’s vaccination centre could provide vaccine to 11,000 people per day from May 24.
Until now, 209,234 Sinovac and AstraZeneca doses have been administered to the public.
Anutin added that the ministry had distributed the vaccines according to the amount sought by the departments and provinces.
Regarding vaccination of teachers, he said inoculation began on June 8. The ministry will accelerate the vaccination within this week for 45,000 people so that schools can open as scheduled on June 14.
PM unlocks five activities in Bangkok from June 14
Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has approved Bangkoks proposal to relax disease control measures for five types of public places in Bangkok.
In a Facebook post, the PM said the approval, with conditions, was given because the epidemic situation was at a controllable level, and as people in Bangkok had begun to receive vaccination in large numbers.
The five places that have got the nod are:
▪︎Museums and ancient sites
▪︎Parks and botanical gardens
▪︎Beauty clinics
▪︎Health massage establishments (only foot massage), and
▪︎Nail salons and tattoo shops.
The relaxation will take effect from Monday. The Bangkok authority will issue orders regarding preventive measures for the five types of places to be strictly followed. Those failing to adhere may be ordered to close.
Prayut said the decision was made to balance virus control and the economic situation as many are seeking resumption of their livelihood.
Low immunity after Covid vaccination in some people worries experts
Experts are encountering the problem of low immunity from the Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines.
Thiravat Hemachudha, director of the Health Science Centre of Emerging Diseases at Chulalongkorn University, revealed that many people who had received two doses of the Sinovac vaccine for three to four weeks showed no neutralising antibody, or at only 20-30 per cent.
For a vaccine to be effective, the ability to inhibit a virus must be more than 20 per cent to develop immunity.
People who are normally vaccinated will have high, mid and low response, but they have to go up. Inactivated vaccines, such as the rabies vaccine, require three injections on day zero, three and seven and begin to see immunity in the blood around day 10 and develop in all people on day 14. Two injections a month apart are assessed at three or four weeks after the second dose. However, there should be a satisfactory level of growth in everyone, he said.
But, in some groups that were vaccinated on the same day and got the same vaccine, it appears that there was no immunity at all (less than 20 per cent). It is possible that the same lot of vaccines may have been a problem. Some have major congenital conditions, including diabetes that does not enhance the immune system, he said.
Some patients with Covid-19, who have been infected despite having had two doses of Sinovac or one dose of AstraZeneca, were still infected even in the post-injection immunity test, but it was not very high.
In cases where immunity does not increase, or is less than 68 per cent, which is a theoretical number correlated with virus prevention, they may want to consider getting a third dose of vaccine, either the same brand or a new one.
In the case of allergic reactions or side-effects, there is no clear evidence that it increases immunity because it is inflammation through different systems.
The number of vaccinations against Covid-19 in Thailand from February 28 to June 11 totalled 5,975,070 doses — 4,362,685 first dose and 1,612,385 second dose.
Questions raised over high cost of kinnari-inspired lampposts in Samut Prakan
A project to set up kinnari-shaped solar cell lampposts in Samut Prakan province has drawn criticism over its high price.
Up to 6,773 poles, each costing THB94,884, were erected in Rachathewa Subdistrict Administrative Organisation’s area.
A company that had lost in the project bidding emphasised that materials used in each part of the lamppost must be described clearly.
It explained that an instant post for the pole’s base is THB4,500, cheaper than a spiral post that costs THB12,000.
An aluminium mould for the post’s body would be more than THB1 million, while galvanised steel is THB45,000.
Questions raised over high cost of kinnari-inspired lampposts in Samut Prakan
In Buddhist traditions, the kinnaras (male) and kinnaris (female counterpart), half-human half-bird creatures, are two of the most beloved mythological characters, which are believed to come from the Himalayas and often watch over the well-being of humans in times of trouble or danger.
Questions raised over high cost of kinnari-inspired lampposts in Samut Prakan
Questions raised over high cost of kinnari-inspired lampposts in Samut Prakan
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration on Sunday reported 2,804 new cases and 18 deaths over a 24-hour period.
Of the total, 1,567 were local patients who went to hospitals, 767 were found in proactive search operations, 409 infected people were found in prisons and 61 were overseas arrivals, mostly from Cambodia.
Bangkok led the list of most cases with 924, followed by Samut Prakan (217), Ayuthaya (206), Samut Sakhon (139), and Nonthaburi (122).
Meanwhile, 4,143 patients have recovered and been discharged in the last 24 hours.
As of Sunday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 195,909.
So far, 154,414 have recovered and been discharged, 40,046 patients are still in hospitals (1,215 in severe condition with 351 of them on ventilators), and 1,449 have died.
According to Worldometer, as of 11am on Sunday, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 173.7 million (up by 394,844), 156.59 million of whom have recovered, 13.2 million are active cases (87,585 in severe condition) and 3.7 million have died (up by 9,013).
Thailand ranks 79th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 34.32 million, followed by India 29.42 million, Brazil 17.37 million, France 5.73 million, and Turkey 5.33 million.
Meanwhile, another 66,037 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, while 42,167 people were given their second shot, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in Thailand to 6,081,242.
Closure of social security vaccination centres not linked to vaccine shortage: Suchart
The temporary closure of all 45 Bangkok vaccination stations for social security members was not due to AstraZeneca vaccine shortage, Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin insisted on Saturday.
He said Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan had urged the ministry to improve efficiency of services as soon as possible.
“[Public Health Minister] Anutin and I are working closely in order to effectively contain the spread of Covid-19,” he said.
He expected all vaccination stations to reopen on Monday.
A total of 174,193 people had received jabs at the 45 stations from June 7-10, according to Social Security Office spokesperson Nantachai Panyasurari.
The figure, however, fell short of the target of 200,000 people or 50,000 per day.
Inoculation drive stalls as private hospitals run out of vaccine stocks
Many netizens on Saturday blamed the governments vaccine allocation after several private hospitals announced temporary suspension of their Covid-19 vaccination drive.
Most private hospitals said the reason for the postponement was lack of vaccine stocks.
Rajburana Hospital, for instance, postponed its vaccination drive from June 14 to 20, Praram 9 Hospital from June 14 to 18, Paolo Kaset Hospital from June 14 to 20 and Phyathai Hospital from June 14 to 20.
50 per cent of foreigners lose interest in Phuket Sandbox after new 14-day measure
The number of foreign tourists preparing to visit Thailand in July shrank by more than 50 per cent after the Centre for Economic Situation Administration (CESA) decided to hike the minimum stay requirements for the “Phuket Sandbox” starting July 1.
Under the sandbox scheme announced earlier, fully vaccinated foreigners were exempted from quarantine, but had to spend seven days in Phuket before they could visit other provinces. However, the CESA doubled the minimum period of stay on Phuket Island to 14 days.
Minister of Tourism and Sports Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn revealed that over 50 per cent of 29,700 foreigners who had confirmed they would come to Phuket had cancelled their plans after the CESA revised its condition. However, the ministry would ask for a month to evaluate the outcome of the practice, both in terms of infections and the impact on local tourism.
If after a month’s trial there were no infections, the ministry would suggest lowering the minimum stay requirement to seven days in Phuket and then extend it to other provinces.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand said that in July, two confirmed groups of tourists would arrive in Phuket. On July 9, a group will arrive from the United States, and at the end of July a group of 400-500 sailors from England will come to the region and stop by in Phuket for about a week. Tourists from Europe and the Americas will continue to come, the TAT said.
Visitors from countries in South Asia are still not allowed to enter Thailand, as we have to wait for the Covid situation in these countries to stabilise, the TAT said.
Thai tourists must have had two doses of Sinovac vaccine and one dose of AstraZeneca to travel to Phuket. Those who are not vaccinated must be tested for Covid-19 first.
Isolated heavy rains forecast for most parts of the country
A monsoon trough lies across the upper North and the upper Laos, while tropical storm “Koguma” builds up over the Tonkin Bay, the Thai Meteorological Department said on Sunday.
Astrong southwest monsoon prevails across the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf of Thailand.
Isolated heavy to very heavy rains are possible in the Northeast, the East and the west coast of the South. People in these areas should beware of the heavy rains and the accumulated rainfall, the department said.
Strong winds are likely in the Andaman Sea and the upper Gulf of Thailand, with waves 2-3 metres high in the Andaman Sea and above three metres high during thundershowers, and about two metres high during thundershowers in the upper gulf. All ships should proceed with caution during thundershowers and small boats in the upper Andaman Sea should keep ashore, the department said.
Tropical storm “Koguma” over the Tonkin Bay in Vietnam is expected to make landfall over upper Vietnam on Sunday morning, triggering the monsoon trough over the upper North and upper Laos with isolated heavy to very heavy rains in the North and the Northeast.
The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:
North: Fairly widespread thundershowers with isolated heavy rains in Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Phrae, Uttaradit, Phitsanulok and Phetchabun provinces; minimum temperature 23-26 degrees Celsius, maximum 29-33°C; southwesterly winds 10-25 km/hr.
Northeast: Fairly widespread thundershowers with isolated heavy to very heavy rains in Loei, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Nong Bua Lamphu, Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Kalasin, Mukdahan, Khon Kaen, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, Yasothon, Amnat Charoen, Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchathani provinces; minimum temperature 23-25°C, maximum 28-32°C; southwesterly winds 10-25 km/hr.
Central: Scattered thundershowers mostly in Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Lopburi, Saraburi, Suphanburi, Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi provinces; minimum temperature 23-26°C, maximum 33-35°C; southwesterly winds 10-25 km/hr.
East: Scattered thundershowers with isolated heavy rains in Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat provinces; minimum temperature 24-28°C, maximum 28-34°C; southwesterly winds 20-35 km/hr; waves about two metres high and above two metres in thundershowers.
South (east coast): Scattered thundershowers mostly in Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla. Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat provinces; minimum temperature 24-26°C, maximum 33-35°C.
From Chumphon northward: southwesterly winds 15-35 km/hr; waves 1-2 metres high and about two metres offshore.
From Surat Thani southward: Southwesterly winds 15-30 km/hr; waves about a metre high and 1-2 metres offshore.
South (west coast): Scattered thundershowers with isolated heavy rains in Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun provinces; minimum temperature 22-26°C; maximum 29-33°C.
From Phuket northward: Southwesterly winds 20-40 km/hr; waves 2-3 metres high and above three metres in thundershowers.
From Krabi southward: Southwesterly winds 20-35 km/hr; waves about two metres high and above two metres in thundershowers.
Bangkok and its vicinity: Scattered rain; minimum temperature 26-28°C, maximum 32-35°C; southwesterly winds 10-25 km/hr.
31 arrested for late-night partying at Thong Lor club
Police arrested 31 people on Saturday for allegedly participating in a party held in Bangkok’s Thong Lor area despite Covid-19 restrictions.
At around 1am, Thong Lor police said they heard music during their night patrol. They decide to trace the origin of music and found it was from the Black Club, where 31 people – 18 men and 13 women – were partying.
All of them were arrested and charged with illegal gathering, as it risked spreading the pandemic.
The third Covid-19 wave started in April and has continued since then. All bars and other night venues in Bangkok were ordered to close to contain Covid-19.
Questions raised over high cost of kinnari-inspired lampposts in Samut Prakan
Questions raised over high cost of kinnari-inspired lampposts in Samut Prakan
Questions raised over high cost of kinnari-inspired lampposts in Samut Prakan
