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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001173

Over 3,000 new Covid-19 cases and 24 deaths reported

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Saturday reported 24 deaths and 3,052 new cases, including 41 overseas arrivals, over the past 24 hours.

Bangkok led the list again with 1,191 cases, followed by 437 in Phetchaburi and 99 in Nonthaburi.

Of the fatalities, 13 were in Bangkok, three in Samut Prakan, two each in Chiang Mai and Ratchaburi, and one each in Nonthaburi, Surat Thani, Yasothon and Nakhon Nayok provinces. The ages of the deceased were between 31 and 96.

Of the 41 cases in quarantine, 40 were Thais – 35 from Cambodia, two from Maldives and one each from Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Japan. The only foreigner was a Filipino from Philippines.

Meanwhile, 2,900 patients have recovered and been discharged in the last 24 hours.

As of Saturday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 126,118. So far, 82,404 patients have recovered and been discharged, 42,955 are still in hospitals and 759 have died.

Separately, 122,962 people have been given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, while 40,331 people were given their second shot, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in Thailand to 2,811,549.

According to Worldometer, as of 11am on Saturday, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 166.46 million (up by 620.715), 147.22 million of whom have recovered, 15.79 million are active cases (98,169 in severe condition) and 3.45 million have died (up by 12,723).

Thailand ranks 90th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 33.86 million, followed by India 26.28 million, Brazil 15.97 million, France 5.58 million, and Turkey 5.16 million.

Published : May 22, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001172

US-Thailand Strategic Dialogue reaffirms defence alliance, vows closer cooperation

Senior delegations representing the United States and Thailand met virtually on May 21 for the Seventh US-Thailand Strategic Dialogue.

US principal deputy assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Atul Keshap led the US delegation, while the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thani Thongphakdi, led the Thai delegation.

The Strategic Dialogue is an integral part of the US-Thai relationship, which has spanned over two centuries and covers political, security, and economic cooperation.

The dialogue addressed a wide variety of issues of mutual interest, including regional security, economic prosperity, health cooperation, and joint efforts to combat transnational crime. Both sides reaffirmed the longstanding commitment to the US-Thai defence alliance, which benefits both nations and supports peace and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific region.

The two delegations explored ways to deepen cooperation in many areas, including climate change and clean energy, business, technology, and people-to-people connections.

The US reiterated its commitment to the people of Thailand in their fight against Covid-19, and thus far has provided nearly $30 million in health-related assistance to Thailand.

Both sides highlighted the importance of cooperation in regional forums including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Asean, and the Mekong-US Partnership.

The US underscored the importance of protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The US also expressed deep concern about the ongoing crisis in Burma.

The two sides agreed on the benefit of continued high-level engagements and looked forward to the next US-Thailand Strategic Dialogue.

Published : May 22, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001171

Lak Si launches vaccine campaign after spate of Covid cases

The Lak Si district office in Bangkok aims to vaccinate all locals in its administrative area where several cases of Covid-19 were found among workers at a construction camp run by Italian-Thai Development.

The inoculation campaign will run from May 25 to 29 at Bangkhen Primary School (Waisali Anuson).

The district office has reportedly drawn up a list of people to be inoculated based on their house registration.

The camp became a cluster after some of the 1,667 workers living there tested positive for Covid-19 on May 12.

On Friday, 36 workers tested positive with the Covid-19 strain first seen in India, the Department of Medical Science reported.

Twenty-one Thais, 10 Myanmar nationals and 5 Cambodians were found with the variant that emerged in India.

Currently about 87 per cent of the virus found in Thailand are of the strain that first emerged in the UK, the department added.

Lak Si launches vaccine campaign after spate of Covid cases

Published : May 22, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001170

FDA assures public AstraZeneca vaccine jab meets specifications

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has assured the public that each jab of AstraZeneca vaccine provided to the public is 0.5 millilitre as specified in the drug registration document.

“There have been some concerns that the jab of AstraZeneca vaccine might be lower than the required amount. The FDA ensures that every jab will strictly meet the standard of 0.5ml of vaccine,” FDA secretary-general Dr Paisan Dankhum said on Friday.

“Each vial will be labelled as consisting of 5ml of vaccine and is meant for 10 jabs. However, in reality the manufacturers have put in about 6.5ml of vaccine per vial to make up for any spillage that might occur when the vaccine is drawn up in the syringe,” said Paisan.

“If there is some leftover vaccine in the vial after 10 doses have been given, the World Health Organization has said it can be given to additional patients as long as the leftover amount meets the standard of 0.5ml per jab. However, mixing leftover vaccine from different vials is prohibited,” added Paisan.

The FDA chief advised people to drink a lot of water and ensure they have rested adequately before getting vaccinated.

“In case of fever, headache, or muscle ache at the injection area, recipients can take paracetamol to reduce the pain,” he added.

Published : May 22, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001169

Thai AirAsia suspends flights on 21 routes

Thai AirAsia has extended the suspension of flights on 21 routes from June 1 to 13, due to the Covid-19 crisis in the country.

The suspended routes are:

1. Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi Airport) – Nan

2. Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi Airport) – Nakhon Si Thammarat

3. Bangkok (Don Mueang Airport) – Ranong

4. Bangkok (Don Mueang Airport) – Chumphon

5. Bangkok (Don Mueang Airport) – Sakhon Nakhon

6. Bangkok (Don Mueang Airport) – Loei

7. Bangkok (Don Mueang Airport) – Buri Ram

8. Chiang Mai – Pattaya

9. Chiang Mai – Phuket

10. Chiang Mai – Khon Kaen

11. Chiang Mai – Krabi

12. Chiang Mai – Hat Yai

13. Chiang Mai – Surat Thani

14. Pattaya – Hat Yai

15. Udon Thani – Phuket

16. Udon Thani – Pattaya

17. Khon Kaen – Phuket

18. Khon Kaen – Hat Yai

19. Pattaya – Phuket

20. Chiang Mai – Hua Hin

21. Udon Thai – Hua Hin

Thai AirAsia had resumed all of its regular flights in late April, after the second Covid-19 wave ebbed. However, the airline was again affected by the virus crisis. In addition to the suspended routes, some flight frequencies were reduced as well.

Published : May 22, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001168

DDC confirms Covid-19 variant found in India responds to AstraZeneca vaccine

The Covid-19 strain that emerged in India, and was detected among workers at an Italian-Thai Development construction camp in Bangkok’s Lak Si area, does not resist the AstraZeneca vaccine, the Department of Disease Control has clarified.

On Friday, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration had revealed that B.1617.2, the strain of the Covid-19 virus that emerged in India, was found among 15 infected workers at the camp, which has become a cluster after 1,060 of 1,667 workers living there tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday.

Later that day, the Department of Medical Science found 36 more infections with the strain seen in India in 80 positive samples they had collected from the site, while the rest are B.1.1.7, the strain that first emerged in the UK.

“The 15 patients that we found infected with the virus strain found in India earlier on Friday included seven males and eight females, with average age of 46 years. Of these, 12 people were workers at Lak Si camp, while the other three were their family members,” DDC director-general Dr Opas Karnkawinpong said.

“They have been treated at hospitals with minor symptoms.”

Opas also cited information from Public Health England that the variant of Covid-19 that emerged in India spread in the same pattern as the strain in the UK, but there was no evidence of more severe symptoms or higher death rate.

“The Indian strain of the virus responds to the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is the one that Thailand aims to use as the main vaccine,” he added.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on May 10 had temporarily revoked the COE [certificate of entry] for foreigners from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal to curb the spread of the strain in India, after the first patient with the variant seen in Thailand was a Thai woman aged 42 years who had travelled back from Pakistan along with her three sons. The woman was also 25 weeks pregnant.

Published : May 22, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001158

Vaccination for Different Groups of Foreigners

Foreigners living in Thailand can register for their Covid-19 jab at the nearest vaccination station from June 7 onwards, Natapanu Noppakun, deputy director-general of the Foreign Ministry’s Information Department tweeted on Friday.

“To register, they can use either their passport or social security number at hospitals that have their medical records or at hospitals designated by the Public Health Ministry,” he said.

Vaccination for different groups of foreigners is as follows:

Diplomats, international organisations and their families

Around 7,000 names collected by the Foreign Ministry will be sent to the Department of Disease Control (DDC).

This group can get vaccinated at their hospital, or at 2-3 designated hospitals for those who do not have health records.

Vaccination for Different Groups of Foreigners

Foreign government agencies

May register staff for vaccination with the Foreign Ministry’s Department of Consular Affairs.

Foreign nationals married to Thai nationals/family members of Thai nationals/retirees in Thailand/business people/foreign investors in Bangkok

Bangkok: On-site registration at vaccination centres under the Council of University Presidents of Thailand.

Other provinces: The Public Health Ministry will allocate vaccines to local vaccination centres and foreign nationals may register at hospitals with their health records.

Foreign students

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation will arrange for their vaccination under the Council of University Presidents of Thailand.

Migrant workers

The Social Security Office will coordinate with employers on vaccination for this group.

Thai students planning to study abroad

Register online with the Department of Consular Affairs. Chulalongkorn University will arrange for this group’s vaccination on June 3-4.

Vaccination for Different Groups of Foreigners

Foreign nationals can register by using their social security number or passport at the hospital which has their health records or at hospitals designated by the Public Health Ministry. In Bangkok, these are Vimut Hospital, Bangrak Health Centre, and vaccination centres under the Council of University Presidents of Thailand. In other provinces, the ministry has designated hospitals where foreign nationals have registered their health records.

Published : May 22, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001157

36 workers in Bangkok found with Covid-19 variant that emerged in India

Thirty-six more people working at an Italian-Thai Development construction camp in Bangkok’s Lak Si area have tested positive for Covid-19 with the strain of the virus first seen in India, the Department of Medical Science reported on Friday.

Earlier on Friday, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration had revealed that the variant of the virus was found among 15 infected workers at the camp, which has become a cluster after 1,060 of the 1,667 workers living there tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday.

“The Department of Medical Science tested 80 positive samples from workers and people living in nearby areas and found that 36 of them had the strain B.1.617.2, first seen in India, while the rest are B.1.1.7, first seen in the UK,” said Dr Supphakit Siriluck, the department’s director-general.

“Currently about 87 per cent of the virus found in Thailand are of the strain that first emerged in the UK, while the variant that emerged in India has been discovered only recently.

The department will further investigate samples from other clusters to analyse the spreading pattern of each variant,” he added.

Public Health England revealed that the variant of Covid-19 found in India could spread as fast as the strain found in the UK, but there was no evidence of more severe symptoms or increase in death rate.

“Furthermore, the strain that emerged in India is still responding to the vaccine, therefore the public should not panic over its discovery in Thailand,” added Supphakit.

He said the department had been testing up to 384 samples of Covid-19 per week by means of whole genome sequencing, which is higher than the WHO’s 150 samples per week to study the virus situation in each country and to watch out for the variants of concern which include the ones from UK, India, South Africa and Brazil.

Published : May 22, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001156

New Covid-19 cases exceed 3,000, with 24 more deaths

The Ministry of Public Health on Saturday morning reported 3,052 new Covid-19 cases during a 24-hour period, 605 of them in prisons.

The ministry also reported 24 deaths.

Meanwhile 2,900 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country reached 126,118 with 759 deaths.

Published : May 22, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001154

Thundershowers forecast for all regions, isolated heavy rains in the East and South

The strong southwest monsoon prevailing over the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand would bring thundershowers with isolated heavy rains to the South and the East, the Thailand Meteorological Department said on Saturday.

People in these areas should beware of the severe conditions, the department said.

Waves in the Andaman Sea are expected to rise above two metres in thundershower areas hence all ships should proceed with caution, the department said.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

North: A hot day with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the region; gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 25-28 degrees Celsius, highs of 36-38°C.

Northeast: Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 30 per cent of the region; gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 24-27°C, highs of 35-38°C.

Central: Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 20 per cent of the region; gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 25-27°C, highs of 37-38°C.

East: Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 24-27°C, highs of 33-37°C; waves 1-2 metres high and two metres during thundershowers.

South (east coast): Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas and isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 24-26°C, highs of 32-35°C; waves a metre high and two metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Cloudy with thundershowers in 70 per cent of the areas and isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 23-26°C, highs of 29-31°C; waves two metres high and over two metres during thundershowers.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 20 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 26-27°C, highs of 34-38°C.

Source: Thailand Meteorological Department

Published : May 22, 2021

By : THE NATION