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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001805

PM orders changes to Phuket tourism scheme ahead of July 1 opening

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday ordered adjustments to the Phuket sandbox scheme but said the island was still scheduled to reopen for foreign tourists from next month.

The scheme will allow quarantine-free entry for foreign travellers to Phuket from July 1, before being rolled out at other tourist destinations in October.

Speaking after Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, Prayut said the proposed adjustments will be sent to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) before being returned to the Cabinet for approval.

The PM said tourists travelling to Phuket must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and have a certificate to prove it.

Phuket has so far vaccinated around 400,000 of its residents, or more than half the population, as it bids to achieve herd immunity with 70-per-cent vaccinated by July.

On June 4, the CCSA issued the following guidelines for entry of foreign tourists from low- and medium-risk countries from July 1:

1. Tourists must have been fully inoculated against Covid-19, with their final injection administered more than 14 days but not more than 1 year before travelling from the country of origin.

2. For unvaccinated children, those under 6 years of age can enter with vaccinated parents, while those aged 6-18 must be tested upon arrival at Phuket Airport.

3. All tourists must show a vaccination certificate from their country of origin. The vaccine used must be registered by Thailand or certified by the World Health Organisation.

4. Travellers must stay in a hotel that meets the SHA+ standard for 14 nights, after which they can travel to other areas in Thailand.

6. Tourists must report for Covid-19 testing.

Published : June 08, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001805

Phuket ordered to improve sandbox scheme before opening next month

The Cabinet on Tuesday ordered agencies to improve details of the Phuket Sandbox pilot scheme before the island opens to international travellers on July 1.

Phuket is scheduled to reopen next month under the scheme, which will allow quarantine-free entry to foreign tourists.

The island is rushing to inoculate 70 per cent of its population against Covid-19 before receiving international flights.

More details on the sandbox:

Published : June 08, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001804

Thai industrial confidence hits 11-month low in May

Confidence in Thailand’s industries hit an 11-month low in May, falling from 84.3 points in April to 82.3.

The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) said the index had dropped for two consecutive months due to the Covid-19 outbreak, slow vaccine rollout and restrictions hitting demand, which had affected factory production.

FTI chairman Supan Mongkolsuthree said that businesses are facing higher costs and staff shortages at this time. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are also facing problems with financial liquidity, while container numbers were still lower than export demand, he added.

The federation urged the government to distribute Covid-19 vaccine as quickly and widely as possible, while providing more financial assistance to SMEs.

Published : June 08, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001803

Popular Bangkok bar vows to reopen – if govt changes

The organiser of a popular Bangkok bar that closed recently has told customers it could reopen – but only if Thailand gets a new government.

On Sunday, Thaisho bar’s Facebook page announced that the business was already closed and would sell off its furniture over the next two weekends.

In a parting shot directed at authorities, it told customers “we will meet again, if we have a new government”.

Thaisho bar in Phaya Thai district closed temporarily in April before making the shutdown permanent on Sunday. It joins many other nightlife venues that have gone out of business after authorities ordered nightspots to close following Covid-19 outbreaks.

Thaisho fans and customers responded with messages of sadness and solidarity. Some posted they would always keep the bar in their memory.

Published : June 08, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001802

Drop in water reserves reduces Thai rice harvest for next year

Land devoted to rice paddy will be reduced by 3 million rai this year due to a drop in water reserves.

Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Praphat Phothasuthon said on Tuesday that the ministry will provide subsidies for rice farmers during the 2021/2022 crop year and that only 66 million rai will be devoted to growing rice. He said less land is being devoted to rice this year because the water for in-season rice is significantly less than the previous year.

“The subsidy will cover five types of rice, namely hom mali [jasmine rice], hom Thai, round-grain rice, sticky rice and special rice,” he added.

Drop in water reserves reduces Thai rice harvest for next year

“Only a total of 11.1 billion cubic metres of water is available in different reservoirs nationwide, while the amount required for the entire year is 32.3 billion cubic metres,” he said.

“Also, the Meteorological Department has forecast a reduction in rainfall in the second half of the year, with a dry spell expected from late June to mid-July.”

Praphas added that the ministry has ordered the Royal Irrigation Department to prepare for drought and to start rationing the water until July 20.

“If farmers want to plant a new crop, they should consider doing so after mid-August, when some rainfall is expected,” he said.

Published : June 08, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001801

Only consume bagged ice, advises health chief

People should only consume crushed ice from GMP-certified manufacturers to avoid contamination, Department of Health director-general Dr Suwanchai Wattanayingjaroenchai advised on Tuesday.

He was responding to people’s concern about ice products being contaminated after a new Covid-19 cluster recently emerged in ice factories in Samut Prakan and Chonburi.

“The department has told all ice manufacturers to boost their Covid-19 screening measures and complete an evaluation exercise via the ‘Thai Stop Covid Plus’ online platform [https://stopcovid.anamai.moph.go.th/],” he said. “Factory employees are also advised to complete the self-evaluation form on https://savethai.anamai.moph.go.th/main.php every day before heading to work to ensure they are safe from Covid-19.”

The department has also instructed ice factories to maintain social-distancing measures in the manufacturing area, disinfect the premises as scheduled, provide sanitary shoes for employees and avoid placing ice blocks on the floor. Employees are also required to wear face masks while working and to strictly adhere to the Public Health Ministry’s disease control measures.

“People should avoid consuming crushed ice as it involves direct contact with workers,” Suwanchai said. “Instead, people should buy ice cubes in sealed packages that have a good manufacturing practice or GMP stamp. Cubes of ice are manufactured by machines and there is no human contact after they are sealed in bags.

“Dessert or beverage stalls that usually use crushed ice can switch to using packaged ice in smaller tubes or cubes,” he added. “Restaurants that use crushed ice to keep their meat and ingredients fresh can cover the ice with plastic first, so the food does not touch the ice directly.”

Published : June 08, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001800

Big bikers in big trouble over daring rides in Phetchabun

People living in Phetchabun’s Khao Kho district are calling on authorities to take action against a gang of big bikers, who have been riding around violating traffic rules and Covid-19 measures.

Recently, a video clip of the bikers riding down Khao Kho roads on one wheel was shared online, drawing angry comments from locals.

On Monday, provincial governor Krit Kongmuang said the bikers had come from Prachinburi province. He added that five of them have been identified and summoned to face legal action.

Phetchabun authorities have also ordered the closure of all resorts and camping areas, as tourists have been showing up in violation of the Covid-19 containment measures.

Published : June 08, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001799

Virus claims 28, infects 2,662 over past 24 hours in Thailand

Thailand’s Covid-19 caseload came in at 28 deaths and 2,662 new confirmed cases over a 24-hour period on Tuesday.

Of the confirmed cases, 1,495 were patients admitted to hospitals, 617 were found via proactive testing, 534 prisoners tested positive, while 16 were overseas arrivals.

Bangkok again led the list with 1,098 cases, followed by Samut Prakan with 269 and Pathum Thani with 80.

Of the returnees, 12 were Thai nationals – eight from Cambodia, three from the Philippines and one from Indonesia. The remaining four were nationals from the US, Turkey, Kazakhstan and Russia who arrived from their home countries.

Meanwhile, 2,483 patients have recovered and been discharged in the last 24 hours.

As of Tuesday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 182,548. So far, 131,999 have recovered and been discharged, 49,252 patients are still in hospitals, and 1,297 have died.

Meanwhile, another 388,872 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, while 27,975 were given their second shot, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccines administered in Thailand to 4,634,941.

According to Worldometer, as of 11am on Monday, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 174.37 million (up by 312,278), 157.62 million of whom have recovered, 13 million are active cases (86,527 in severe condition) and 3.75 million have died (up by 7,900).

Thailand ranks 80th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 34.22 million, followed by India 28.99 million, Brazil 16.98 million, France 5.71 million, and Turkey 5.29 million.

Published : June 08, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001798

Koh Samui gets ready to reopen on July 1

Popular tourist destination Koh Samui is ready to reopen on July 1 after tourists have been kept away for several months to curb Covid-19 infections.

Ratchaporn Phoonsawas, president of Koh Samui Tourism Promotion Association, said some 50 per cent or 57,000 of Samui residents have been inoculated.

“We need to vaccinate another 36,000 people to ensure 70 per cent of the population is inoculated to achieve herd immunity,” he said.

Koh Samui gets ready to reopen on July 1

“Next month Koh Samui can reopen to tourists under the ‘Samui Sealed Route’ model, in which tourists who have tested negative for Covid-19 can stay in a hotel and enjoy the beaches for seven days.”

Tourists wanting to stay beyond the initial seven days will be tested again either via the swab or PCR method. If they test negative again, they will be allowed to travel within Koh Samui as well as hop over to Koh Pha-ngan and Koh Tao.

Koh Samui gets ready to reopen on July 1

“On Tuesday [June 8] the association will call on the Tourism and Sports Ministry and Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration [CCSA] to come up with suitable measures to reopen Koh Samui,” he said. “We believe CCSA will allow flights to Samui, which will significantly boost tourism in the area.”
Koh Samui gets ready to reopen on July 1

Published : June 08, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001794

Gold trade props up baht, but foreign investors watching Covid situation

The baht opened at 31.18 to the US dollar on Tuesday, unchanged from Mondays close.

The Thai currency is likely to move between 31.10 and 31.25, Krungthai Bank market strategist Poon Panichpibool said.

He explained that the dollar this time had weakened while the baht was supported by gold trade.

However, he said the baht could weaken if foreign investors decide to sell their assets in Thailand, due to concerns about the Covid-19 situation and vaccine distribution.

Published : June 08, 2021

By : The Nation