Numerous Bryde’s Whales, finless porpoises and Irrawaddy dolphins were found on Thursday in the western area of the Gulf of Thailand, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources reported on Friday.
According to the department’s post on Facebook, five Bryde’s Whales, two finless porpoises and 30 Irrawaddy dolphins were spotted off Samut Sakhon province.
Local fishermen told the department that Bryde’s Whales had been spotted in Samut Prakan and Phetchaburi provinces.
Photo credit: Department of Marine and Coastal Resources
1 million doses of Sinovac vaccine delivered this week
A total of one million doses of Sinovac vaccine has been delivered to Thailand this week, the Chinese Embassy informed on its Facebook page on Saturday.
The embassy said 500,000 doses each had been delivered on Friday and Saturday.
Thailand has received a total of 4.5 million Sinovac doses, in seven instalments.
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Saturday reported 17 deaths and 3,095 new cases.
Eight of the deaths were in Bangkok, four in Ratchaburi, two in Samut Prakan, two in Samut Sakhon, one each in Pathum Thani, Chaiyaphum, Rayong and Ratchaburi provinces.
The ages of those who succumbed to the virus ranged from 41 to 83, and they all reportedly suffered from chronic conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, etc.
Three Thais from Cambodia tested positive in quarantine.
Bangkok again topped the list for new infections with 1,163 new cases, followed by 222 in Pathum Thani, 201 in Samut Prakan and 126 in Nonthaburi.
Over the last 24 hours, 1,351 patients have recovered and been discharged.
As of Saturday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 99,145. Of these, 91,810 infections had been contracted locally, 3,440 were returnees, while 3,895 were detainees.
So far, 63,667 patients have recovered and been discharged, 34,913 are still in hospitals, and 565 have died.
Meanwhile, 28,996 people were given their first Covid-19 vaccine shot in the last 24 hours, while 64,692 were given their second shot, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in Thailand to 2,124,732.
According to Worldometer, as of 11am on Saturday, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 162.52 million (up by 692,023), 140.38 million of whom have recovered, 18.77 million are active cases (103,605 in severe condition) and 3.37 million have died (up by 12,537).
Thailand ranks 93rd on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 33.66 million, followed by India 24.37 million, Brazil 15.52 million, France 5.84 million, and Turkey 5.09 million.
Bangkok Airways resumes Chiang Mai, Phuket flights, more routes from May 15
Bangkok Airways has restarted flights between Bangkok and Chiang Mai and Bangkok and Phuket from Saturday.
Flights on the Bangkok–Lampang and Bangkok–Sukhothai routes will start from June 1.
The airline said that three flights between Bangkok and Chiang Mai would run three times a week during May 15 to 31, and once a day from June 1.
The flights between Bangkok and Phuket will run once a day.
The airline will fly the Bangkok-Sukhothai route four times a week, and Bangkok–Lampang five times a week – Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Farmers urge government support as fish stocks go unsold
Fish farmers in Nakhon Ratchasima province were suffering from loss of income amid the Covid-19 crisis, as no one was buying their fish.
On Saturday, a representative of the fish farmers in the Ban Wang Muang area said that more than 100 tonnes of fish had gone unsold.
“Covid-19 has seriously affected us. We need money to continue our business, and some have even decided to borrow from others. We want a government agency to purchase our fish, in order to help us,” he said.
Government sets the ball rolling for resumption of international flights in November
Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob on Friday told the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) to coordinate with related parties and prepare for the opening of the country for international flights in November.
“During a meeting with CAAT executives today, I have ordered them to work with public health offices, airlines and airport operators to prepare for international flights as planned in November,” he said.
“The Airports of Thailand Plc, U-Tapao International Airport and Bangkok Airways Plc, as the private operators of airports in Thailand, were also told to draft measures for international travellers in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration in opening the country.”
The CAAT meeting on Friday also acknowledged the results of the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme and the Universal Security Audit Programme of the International Civil Aviation Organization, as well as the International Aviation Safety Assessment of the
Federal Aviation Administration on airlines and airports in Thailand.
GPO procures 5.5 million Favipiravir tablets to cope with rising infections
The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) has procured 5.5 million tablets of Favipiravir for treatment of Covid-19 patients after a new wave reported in Thailand since late March has quickly spread to several provinces.
“The first lot of 3 million tablets that we had ordered arrived on Friday, while another 2.5 million tablets will be here next Monday,” said Sirikul Matevelungsun, GPO deputy managing director.
“The drugs will be stored at GPO’s warehouse in Samut Prakan province. We will soon start distributing them to hospitals and medical units nationwide, especially in the provinces with high number of infections.”
Sirikul added that currently Thailand is using 50,000 tablets per day on average to treat Covid-19 patients, when each patient requires up to 70 tablets of Favipiravir.
As of Friday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 96,050 with 2,256 new cases and 30 new fatalities. So far, 62,316 have recovered and been discharged, 33,186 are still in hospitals, and 548 have died.
62 provinces get orders to prepare vaccination centres
The Interior Ministry on Friday told provincial governors and chambers of commerce in 62 provinces to prepare 322 locations in their areas for vaccinating people against Covid-19.
The order, signed by ministry permanent secretary Chatchai Phromlert, also attached the floor plans made by Siam Cement Group and Central Group, who have converted their facilities into vaccination units in Bangkok, as a guide for private parties in provincial areas who wish to turn their sites into vaccination venues.
The provinces and suggested locations are as follows:
Northern region: 46 locations in 11 provinces, namely Kamphaeng Phet, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Phitsanulok, Phrae, Phayao, Phichit, Lampang, Phetchabun, Sukhothai and Tak.
Northeastern region: 63 locations in 16 provinces: Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Phanom, Buri Ram, Mukdahan, Maha Sarakham, Yasothon, Roi Et, Loei, Sakon Nakhon, Surin, Nong Khai, Nong Bua Lamphu, Udon Thani and Ubon Ratchathani.
Central region: 98 locations in 18 provinces: Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Nakhon Pathom, Chai Nat, Nakhon Sawan, Ayutthaya, Lopburi, Saraburi, Suphanburi, Singburi, Ang Thong, Kanchanaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi and Ratchaburi.
Eastern region: 52 locations in 7 provinces: Chanthaburi, Chonburi, Chachoengsao, Trat, Prachinburi, Rayong, and Sa Kaew.
Southern region: 63 locations in 10 provinces: Krabi, Chumphon, Trang, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phang Nga, Phatthalung, Phuket, Ranong, Songkhla and Surat Thani.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Don Pramudwinai on Friday exchanged perspectives and views on the situation in Myanmar with the UN secretary-generals special envoy.
Don, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, met special envoy Christine Schraner Burgener, and held talks regarding approaches to addressing the situation in Myanmar, the Thai Foreign Ministry said.
UN special envoy to Myanmar holds talks with Don
The two discussed the important role of the UN, Asean, including Thailand as a neighbouring country of Myanmar, as well as other countries, in promoting dialogue and finding possible sustainable solutions for the current situation in the interests of the Myanmar people.
Don underlined Thailand’s ongoing commitment to engage and cooperate constructively with mechanisms of the UN and Asean, while the special envoy stressed that the UN placed importance on Asean finding possible solutions to the situation in Myanmar as well as the issue of humanitarian assistance, according to the ministry press release.
UN special envoy to Myanmar holds talks with Don
The special envoy’s visit to Thailand is a part of her regional tour to meet with various interlocutors on the situation in Myanmar.
Don also had a discussion on the phone with the special envoy before departing for the Asean Leaders’ Meeting.
On the same day, the special envoy also met Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha. The PM reaffirmed Thailand’s readiness and support for the role of the UN and Asean with regard to the situation in Myanmar.
Hot day and thundershowers forecast for upper Thailand, isolated heavy rains in South
The southwesterly and southeasterly winds covering upper Thailand result in hot weather on Saturday with thundershowers and gusty winds in some areas.
Meanwhile, the easterly and southerly winds prevailing across the South and the Gulf of Thailand bring thundershowers and isolated heavy rain to the South, the Thailand Meteorological Department said on Saturday.
The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:
North: Hot day with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the region; gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 23-27 degrees Celsius, highs of 34-39°C.
Northeast: Hot day with thundershowers in 40 per cent of the region; gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 23-27°C, highs of 35-37°C.
Central: Hot day with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 25-27°C, highs of 36-38°C.
East: Hot day with thundershowers in 30 per cent of the areas; gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 25-29°C, highs of 32-37°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
South (east coast): Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas with isolated heavy rain; temperature lows of 24-26°C, highs of 33-35°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
South (west coast): Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas with isolated heavy rain; temperature lows of 24-26°C, highs of 32-34°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
Bangkok and surrounding areas: Hot day with thundershowers in 20 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 26-28°C, highs of 33-36°C.
UN special envoy to Myanmar holds talks with Don
UN special envoy to Myanmar holds talks with Don
