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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000942

Nakhon Ratchasima closes 200-bed field hospital as infections decline

A temporary 200-bed field hospital inside the National Gymnasium Hall, the 80th anniversary of the Chaloem Phra Kiat Stadium, in Nakhon Ratchasima would be closed due to declining Covid-19 cases, provincial Governor Wichian Chantarontai said on Sunday.

The decision was made by the Nakhon Ratchasima Communicable Disease Committee, the governor said. The province has had 799 cumulative infections and 287 patients were still undergoing treatment.

Nakhon Ratchasima closes 200-bed field hospital as infections decline

He said that Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital and hospitals in each district have enough beds to accommodate patients.

The 200-bed field hospital had started accepting mild cases since April 16. After the last nine cases were cured, doctors have been allowed to go home.

“It is only temporarily closed. As for the medical equipment and the beds for patients, they are not being moved at all,” the governor said.

Recently, Nakhon Ratchasima province was placed in the Orange Zone. Restrictions will be eased from May 17. Restaurants can allow dining in, convenience stores can be open 24 hours and stadiums can open for activities, although entertainment venues would remain closed.

The province has arranged 51 service points for people across 32 districts to meet the target of 40,000 vaccinations per day, the governor said.

Published : May 16, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000941

Bangkok to have 25 vaccination centres by end of May

Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang on Sunday visited Central Plaza Ladprao in Chatuchak district to oversee the inoculation of Covid-19 vaccines to Bangkok Mass Transit Authority public transport drivers.

He was accompanied by officials from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).

The vaccination point on Central Plaza Ladprao’s third floor will operate from 8am-5pm, injecting up to 1,200 people per day.

BMA and the Board of Trade have opened vaccination stations at three locations so far — Central Plaza Ladprao, The Mall Bang Kapi and Samyan Mitrtown. Both authorities aim to open 25 vaccination stations by the end of May.

The jabs are currently being administered to registered medical staff and at-risk frontline workers such as teachers, bus drivers, garbage collectors, delivery and daycare centre staff before being rolled out to the general public in June.

Bangkok to have 25 vaccination centres by end of May

Officials are preparing 25 vaccination stations in Bangkok at the following locations:

1. University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce

2. Bhumirajanagarindra Kidney Institute Hospital

3. SCG Bangsue

4. Central Plaza Ladprao

5. Siam Commercial Bank Head Office

6. Sripatum University

7. Central Festival Eastville

8. Central Plaza Pinklao

9. Iconsiam

10. Tesco Lotus Pinklao

11. PTT Station, Rama II

12. The Mall Bang Khae

13. Big C Bangbon

14. Samyan Mitrtown

15. Thanya Park

16. True Digital Park

17. Asiatique

18. CentralWorld

19. Siam Paragon

20. Tesco Lotus Rama IV

21. Emporium

22. The Mall Bang Kapi

23. Robinson Lifestyle Lat Krabang

24. Tesco Lotus Minburi

25. Big C Romklao

Once up and running, the 25 centres will be able to vaccinate 38,000-50,000 people per day. The vaccination points will operate for seven months in a bid to achieve herd immunity.

Bangkok to have 25 vaccination centres by end of May

The BMA also advised people to register via the Mor Phrom (Doctors Ready) application and prepare their ID card before entering the vaccination station. If they don’t have the app, medical staff will conduct the follow-up.

Bangkok to have 25 vaccination centres by end of May

Published : May 16, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000938

Thailand crosses 100,000 mark with 2,302 new Covid-19 cases and 24 deaths

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration on Sunday reported 2,302 new cases, including 23 overseas arrivals, and 24 deaths over a 24-hour period.

Bangkok again led the list of most cases with 1,218, followed by 243 in Pathum Thani and 117 in Samut Prakan.

Eight of the deaths were in Bangkok, two each in Chonburi, Pathum Thani, and Kanchanaburi, one each in Chiang Mai, Si Sa Ket, Ratchaburi, Samut Prakan, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Sawan, Phichit, Rayong, Nakhon Nayok and Ayutthaya provinces.

Of the fatalities, 13 were men and 11 women. The ages of those who succumbed to the virus ranged from 39 to 91. All of them reportedly suffered from chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, etc. The source of infection was mostly found in family, contact with a patient, travel to a risk area and contact with co-workers.

Seven overseas travellers from Sweden, United Kingdom, Austria, Germany, Philippines, Cambodia and Myanmar were found positive in quarantine, while 16 crossed the border from Malaysia, and Cambodia.

Dr Apisamai Srirangsan, the spokesperson of the CCSA, told a press conference that most of the illegal border crossers were Thais. The officials are now trying to convince these people to enter the country legally since it might affect virus control measures.

Meanwhile, 2,136 patients have recovered and been discharged in the last 24 hours. So far, 65,803 have recovered and been discharged, 35,055 patients are still in hospitals, and 589 have died.

As of Sunday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 101,447. Of these, 94,089 had been contracted locally while 3,325 were returnees.

According to Worldometer, as of 11am on Sunday, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 163.17 million (up by 627.221), 141.46 million of whom have recovered, there are 18.3 million active cases (102,953 in severe condition) and 3.38 million have died (up by 11,823).

Thailand ranks 92nd on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 33.69 million, followed by India 24.68 million, Brazil 15.59 million, France 5.86 million, and Turkey 5.1 million.

Meanwhile, 17,334 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, while 6,396 people were given their second shot, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in Thailand to 2,242,150.

Published : May 16, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000937

Siriraj doctor calls for strict monitoring as govt eases lockdown measures

A senior medical expert has expressed concern over relaxation in containment measures coming into effect from Monday despite the high number of daily cases.

Assoc Prof Nithiphat Chiarakun, head of the Department of Respiratory Diseases and Tuberculosis at Siriraj Hospital, shared his opinion on his personal Facebook page.

He said the current situation in Bangkok and its vicinity remained worrisome due to the number of new cases daily, the number of patients seriously ill and using ventilators, as well as fatalities.

He said there was limited availability of primary hospital beds for severe and critical pneumonia patients. There is also a rapid increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in prisons.

He urged all parties to work together to stop these problems by speeding up proactive virus testing in vulnerable areas, then separating the patients from the community; enhancing access to all people without any restrictions on social, ethnic or religious grounds.

Nithiphat said the government sector must strictly monitor and enforce the law when easing measures, while warning that the medical sector was overwhelmed by the workload.

He said the government sector needed to quickly understand the situation and provide rapid and comprehensive vaccination of the population.

There have been concerns after the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration announced relaxation measures, which will come into effect from Monday, as daily cases have remained in four digits.

Published : May 16, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000936

New regulations allow some relaxation in wearing masks during meetings

The government has allowed conditional relaxation in wearing a face mask during meetings.

The Government Gazette website published the conditions issued under Section 9 of the Public Administration in Emergency Situations 2005.

The announcement says that people are required to wear a mask when out of home or in public places organising events with high numbers of participants and physical proximity.

If a group of persons are required to attend a meeting in a particular location for a long and continuous period of time, wearing a mask can be inconvenient and hinder performance. There is relaxation if the meeting prescribes screening measures based on disease prevention measures, social distance is maintained, the attendees are wearing a mask and show a Covid-19 test certificate of being free from infection. In these situations, the meeting supervisor may waive only during discussions or expressing of opinions at the meeting as appropriate in the circumstances.

Meanwhile, the colour-coded zones reflecting infection risk in different provinces has also been revised.

The number of provinces in the dark red zone, or highest control area, has been reduced to four provinces: Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan. In these provinces, restaurants cannot be open later than 3pm, and the number of customers served at the site, should not exceed 25 per cent of capacity. Takeaway orders can be served until 11pm.

The maximum control area, or red zone, has 17 provinces: Kanchanaburi, Chonburi, Chachoengsao, Tak, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ayutthaya, Phetchaburi, Yala, Ranong, Rayong, Ratchaburi, Samut Sakhon, Songkhla and Surat Thani.

Restaurants in the red zone can open no later than 11 pm and consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in the store.

Regulated area, or orange zone, now includes 56 provinces. People can eat at the restaurant as usual, but consumption of alcoholic beverages in the shop is prohibited.

Published : May 16, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000935

Vaccination in Phuket to be speeded up ahead of July 1 reopening to foreign tourists

The government would accelerate vaccination in Phuket to create herd immunity before reopening the country to foreign tourists on July 1 this year, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Saturday.

He was speaking after overseeing the operation to administer Covid-19 vaccines to people in the province.

Anutin and government officials also delivered Sinovac vaccines, Fah Talai Jone (Andrographis Paniculata) medicine and personal protective equipment to medical staff at Vachira Phuket Hospital.

Phuket is the first province under the government’s plan to reopen the country to foreign tourists in a bid to boost the country’s economy.

To achieve the goal Anutin said 70 per cent of the province’s population, or 466,587 people aged 18 and above, tourism staff and immigrant workers, must receive their Covid-19 jab.

He added that the government would administer the first jab for them by June and the second jab by August.

“So far, the government has delivered 203,480 doses of vaccines to Phuket; 100,700 people have received their first jab and 93,265 people their second jab,” he said.

He added that about 350,000 doses of vaccines would be delivered to the province this month in a bid to create herd immunity and gain confidence among foreign tourists.

“The government and private agencies have already prepared measures to support the plan to reopen the country in every aspect,” he added.

Published : May 16, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000925

Asean sees rise in Covid-19 patients, but fewer deaths

The number of new Covid-19 cases in the Asean region on Saturday was higher than on the previous day, but fatalities were lower. Vietnam, meanwhile, reported its first death from Covid-19 since September last year.

Asean on Saturday had 16,990 cases compared to 16,350 on Friday. The number of Covid-19-related fatalities on Saturday was 299 compared to 314 the previous day.

Malaysia reported 4,140 new patients and 44 deaths, bringing cumulative patients and deaths in the country to 466,330 and 1,866 respectively.

The Malaysian government asked people who did not have travel plans to get their Covid-19 jab immediately to prevent risk of the virus spreading after the country saw record number of deaths on a single day.

Asean sees rise in Covid-19 patients, but fewer deaths

Singapore reported 31 new patients, bringing cumulative cases in the country to 61,536, while 61,047 had recovered and been discharged. Changi Airport, meanwhile, launched measures to arrange passengers based on the Covid-19 situation in each country to ensure the safety of passengers.

Vietnam reported 169 new patients, the highest in a day, bringing cumulative cases in the country to 3,985, while 2,668 had recovered and been discharged. The country’s first fatality was an 89-year-old woman who had diabetes and high blood pressure.

Published : May 16, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000924

Isolated thundershowers forecast for Bangkok and at least 47 other provinces

The southwesterly and southeasterly winds blow over the lower North, the Northeast, the East and Central regions, the Thailand Meteorological Department said on Sunday.

Hot weather with occasional thundershowers and gusty winds are forecast for some areas of upper Thailand.

The easterly and southerly winds prevail across the Gulf of Thailand and the South, bringing thundershowers and isolated heavy rain to the South.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

North: Hot day; isolated thundershowers with gusty winds mostly in Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Nan, Phitsanulok, Tak and Phetchabun provinces; minimum temperature 23-28 degrees Celsius, maximum 35-39°C; southwesterly winds 10-20 km/hr.

Northeast: Hot day; scattered thundershowers with gusty winds mostly in Loei, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima, Kalasin, Roi Et, Yasothon, Buri Ram, Surin, Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchathani provinces; minimum temperature 23-28°C, maximum 34-37°C; southeasterly winds 10-20 km/hr.

Central: Hot day; isolated thundershowers with gusty winds mostly in Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Suphanburi, Ayutthaya, Lopburi and Saraburi provinces; minimum temperature 25-28°C, maximum 36-38°C; southwesterly winds 10-20 km/hr.

East: Hot day; isolated thundershowers with gusty winds mostly in Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Sa Kaew, Chachoengsao, Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat provinces; minimum temperature 25-28°C, maximum 33-37°C; southeasterly winds 10-30 km/hr; waves below a metre high and above a metre in thundershowers.

South (east coast): Scattered thundershowers mostly in Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat provinces; minimum temperature 25-27°C, maximum 33-36°C; southeasterly winds 15-30 km/hr; waves about a metre high and 1-2 metres in thundershowers.

South (west coast): Scattered thundershowers and isolated heavy rains in Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun provinces; minimum temperature 23-27°C, maximum 34-36°C; easterly winds 15-30 km/hr; waves about a metre high and 1-2 metres in thundershowers.

Bangkok and its vicinity: Hot day; isolated thundershowers; minimum temperature 27-29°C, maximum 34-37°C; southeasterly winds 10-20 km/hr.

Published : May 16, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000915

80 per cent of employees under social security want to be vaccinated

About 80 per cent of people who are insured under the social security scheme want to be vaccinated against Covid-19, Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin said on Saturday.

“The ministry has let employers survey their employees’ need to get Covid-19 vaccine using an online platform on the Social Security Office’s website,” he said. “Out of 11 million people covered by the social security scheme, about 6.5 million have answered the questionnaire, with a majority of them, or 80 per cent, wanting to get a Covid-19 vaccine.”

The Labour Ministry will send this information to the Public Health Ministry to procure the required vaccine doses, as well as consider establishing vaccination units at suitable locations based on employees’ demand.

“We believe that the survey is vital in helping the government set an appropriate vaccination plan to achieve the target of vaccinating at least 70 per cent of the population to create herd immunity against Covid-19,” said Suchart.

The minister added that he had proposed to the Ministry of Public Health to supply the vaccine directly to hospitals under the social security scheme, then those hospitals can set up vaccination units at selected workplaces to inoculate employees who want them.

Published : May 15, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000914

Chonburi, Chiang Mai set to exit red zone as Covid situation improves

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has proposed removing Chonburi and Chiang Mai from the red zone, or maximum control area, due to an improvement in the Covid-19 situation there, CCSA spokesman Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin said on Saturday.

“If this proposal is approved by the prime minister, there would only be four provinces designated as red zone, namely Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan,” he said.

“This could come into effect the earliest at midnight on Saturday or the latest on Sunday.”

Based on the latest infection report, Chonburi, with 33 new cases on Saturday, will be moved to the orange zone, or medium control area, joining 16 other provinces, namely Kanchanaburi, Chachoengsao, Tak, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, Prachuab Khiri Khan, Ayutthaya, Phetchaburi, Yala, Ranong, Rayong, Ratchaburi, Samut Sakhon, Songkhla and Surat Thani.

Meanwhile Chiang Mai, which reported only 10 new cases on Saturday, will be moved to yellow zone, or low control area, joining 55 provinces.

Taweesilp said the CCSA is also considering easing restrictions on provinces under strict control as follows:

▪︎ Restaurants

Red zone: A limited number of people (25 per cent of total seats) will be allowed to dine in until 9pm and takeaways will allowed until 11pm.

Orange zone: People can dine in until 11pm.

Yellow zone: Open as usual.

Sale of alcoholic beverages is still not allowed.

▪︎ Schools and tutoring centres

Orange zone: Students allowed to attend class provided the school has received approval from relevant provincial public health offices.

Yellow zone: Classes can be held as normal, but schools must comply with measures to curb the spread of Covid-19.

▪︎ Public assembly

Red zone: Public assembly of less than 20 people is allowed.

Orange and yellow zones: Public assembly of less than 50 people is allowed.

Published : May 15, 2021

By : THE NATION