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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000499

Police, rescue foundation face probe over man found dead at home in Bangkok’s Klong Toei area

Officers at the Tha Rua Police Station and members of the Ruamkatanyu Foundation are being investigated over the case of Boonjorn Suwatchai, 58, who was found in his house in Klong Toei’s Moo Baan Pattana 70 Rai on Monday.

Pol Captain Thanadet Chanmala, a deputy inspector from Tha Rua Police Station, said the man’s body has been taken to Chulalongkorn Hospital’s forensic department for autopsy.

“We expect autopsy results to be released in a couple of days,” he said, adding that the deceased man’s house has also been disinfected.

As of press time, there were no reports as to whether anyone else lived in the house or if the deceased has any relatives.

Police, rescue foundation face probe over man found dead at home in Bangkok’s Klong Toei area

Moo Baan Pattana 70 Rai is one of three communities in Bangkok’s Klong Toei district where a cluster of Covid-19 infections has erupted. On Monday, 99 of 1,336 people tested in the area had come out positive.

Police, rescue foundation face probe over man found dead at home in Bangkok’s Klong Toei areaPolice, rescue foundation face probe over man found dead at home in Bangkok’s Klong Toei area

Published : May 03, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000497

Dramatic shots of pro-democracy protests win Thai press freedom contest

The Thai Journalists Association on Monday revealed the winning photos in its contest to mark World Press Freedom Day.

“This contest aims to enable the media and public to express opinions on the freedom of Thai media, which is an important part of the human rights and liberty enshrined in the Constitution,” the association said.

The theme of this year’s competition was “Media freedom amid the current situation”.

The winning photo in the media section captures a group of anti-riot police surrounding an individual on the ground at a protest with their batons drawn. Other scenes of tear gas and water cannon being fired at pro-democracy protesters feature among the winning shots.

Winners in the media category:

Winner: Ekkalak Mainoi (Thairath Online)

Dramatic shots of pro-democracy protests win Thai press freedom contest

First runner-up: Tanachai Pramarnpanich(TNN)

Dramatic shots of pro-democracy protests win Thai press freedom contest

Second runner-up: Micky Fern (Raise) and Navapong Muangsiritham (Siamrath)

Dramatic shots of pro-democracy protests win Thai press freedom contestDramatic shots of pro-democracy protests win Thai press freedom contest

Honourable mention: Kotcharak Kaewsurach (Prachathai), Pae Nt(Dailynews), Suk Hengprapakorn (Bangkokbiznews) and Chin Ch (PPTV)

Popular vote: Sawita Poonsatien (The Standard)

Dramatic shots of pro-democracy protests win Thai press freedom contest

Winners in the public category:

Winner: Dear Adirach

Dramatic shots of pro-democracy protests win Thai press freedom contest

First runner-up: Laila Tahe

Dramatic shots of pro-democracy protests win Thai press freedom contest

Second runner-up: Dear Adirach and Mu Suwannatwipa

Dramatic shots of pro-democracy protests win Thai press freedom contest

Dramatic shots of pro-democracy protests win Thai press freedom contest

Honourable mention: Karntachat Raungratanaamporn, Thikamporn Tamtiang, Dear Adirach, Laila Tahe Watcharawitwat, Atiwat Silpamethanont and Rahat Kijjariyapoom

A top prize of THB10,000 went to winners in each category.

The winning photos can be viewed at the website.

World Press Freedom Day is marked on May 3 to highlight the importance of media freedom and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined by the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Thailand ranks a lowly 137th out of 180 countries in the 2021 World Press Freedom Index.

The index is compiled by Reporters Without Borders, an international NGO with consultative status at the United Nations.

Published : May 03, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000496

BMA reveals plan to deal with Klong Toei cluster

In a Facebook post on Monday, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) spokesman Pongsakorn Kwanmuang said 99 of 1,336 people tested in Klong Toei’s three slums had come out positive for Covid-19.

People living in Moo Baan Pattana 70 Rai, Pattana Mai and Rim Klong Wat Sapan had been tested between April 27 and 30 in cooperation with the Institute for Urban Disease Control and Prevention (IUDC).

“The Klong Toei district office and health service centre are also cooperating with community leaders to track down people at risk of infection, especially those living in areas where many patients were discovered. The aim is to have these people tested for Covid-19 by May 19,” he said, adding that BMA aims to conduct at least 1,000 tests daily.

Apart from conducting proactive tests, he said Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang is submitting an urgent request for additional vaccine doses.

“The authorities will inoculate those at risk of infection in line with measures taken to tackle the Bang Khae and Thonglor clusters,” he said.

BMA reveals plan to deal with Klong Toei cluster

He promised that BMA and IUDC will track down and inoculate those at risk of infection in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19 as soon as possible.

Published : May 03, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000495

Moderna will sell vaccine to government only: Anutin

The manufacturer of Moderna vaccine is willing to sell its Covid-19 vaccine to the Thai government but not directly to private companies, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Monday.

“The ministry will register Moderna vaccine as soon as possible provided that the manufacturer submits all required documents and receives the Food and Drug Administration [FDA]’s approval,” said Anutin, speaking after meeting with representatives of Zuellig Pharma Ltd, the importer of Moderna vaccine in Thailand.

“The government does not obstruct the importation of Covid-19 vaccine by private parties, but Moderna and most other manufacturers insist that they will sell to the government only,” he added.

Anutin said the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation [GPO] would import the vaccine and then sell doses to private companies later. He said private companies who wish to buy the vaccine must submit the quantity desired to the GPO.

Three vaccine brands are currently registered for emergency use in Thailand – AstraZeneca, Sinovac and Johnson & Johnson – while the Pfizer, Moderna and Sputnik V brands are awaiting registration.

Zuellig Pharma submitted vaccine registration documents last week and the process should be completed this month, said FDA secretary-general Dr Phaisan Dankhum.

He added that the importers of Covaxin and Sputnik V vaccines had submitted some documents, but the FDA is waiting for the rest in order to complete the registration process.

Published : May 03, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000494

Port Authority warehouse eyed to accommodate Klong Toei cluster

The authorities are considering turning a warehouse in the Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) stadium complex into a field hospital to accommodate the rising number of Covid cases in Bangkok’s Klong Toei area.

On Monday, Deputy Transport Minister Athirat Rattanaset joined officials from Bangkok Metropolitan Authority (BMA) to check the area’s suitability as a field hospital.

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) reported on Sunday that 304 people residing in or near the Klong Toei slums had tested positive for Covid-19 in April.

“Of them, 193 are residents of the 12 slums in Klong Toei, while 111 patients reside in condominiums or apartments near these slums,” CCSA said.

According to Klong Toei’s public health office, some 90,000 people are residing in these slums.

Port Authority warehouse eyed to accommodate Klong Toei cluster

“The Port Authority is willing to provide the 4,200 square metre warehouse covering 15 rai of land in Bangkok’s Klong Toei district as a base,” Athirat said. “The Defence Ministry will be responsible for setting up a 160-bed field hospital as well as providing other necessary facilities. King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital will provide medical staff and equipment.”

Athirat added that the Public Health Ministry has, so far, only set up one field hospital in Klong Toei district’s Wat Saphan Temple.

“This field hospital only has 100 beds, and we hope the new one at PAT Stadium will help alleviate crowding should the number of cases in Klong Toei rise,” he said.

Published : May 03, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000491

Deaths spike to record high of 31, over 2,000 cases confirmed

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration on Monday reported 2,041 new cases and a record high of 31 deaths over a 24-hour period.

Of the deaths, 10 each were in Bangkok and Nonthaburi, two each in Pathum Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat, and one each in Chachoengsao, Ang Thong, Phetchaburi, Suphanburi, Lopburi, Chaiyaphum and Ranong provinces.

The ages of those who succumbed to the virus ranged from 31 to 83, and all reportedly suffered from chronic conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and other complications. They were mostly infected via family members or contact with a patient.

Bangkok again led the list of most cases with 675, followed by 277 in Nonthaburi and 161 in Samut Prakan.

Meanwhile, a 27-year-old Thai man who returned from Cambodia tested positive in quarantine.

Separately, 1,726 patients have recovered and discharged in the last 24 hours.

As of Monday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 71,025. Of these, 67,699 had been contracted locally, including 22,411 who were found via proactive testing, while 3,326 were returnees.

So far, 40,984 have recovered and been discharged, 29,765 patients are still in hospitals, and 276 have died.

According to Worldometer, as of 10am on Monday, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 153.48 million (up by 680,160), 130.79 million of whom have recovered, 19.48 million are active cases (111,780 in severe condition) and 3.21 million have died (up by 9,960).

Thailand ranks 100th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 33.18 million, followed by India 19.91 million, Brazil 14.75 million, France 5.65 million, and Turkey 4.87 million.

Meanwhile, another 1,598 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, while 744 people were given their second shot, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in Thailand to 1,486,907.

Published : May 03, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000490

Narathiwat prison tides over serious Covid-19 crisis

All officials and prisoners who had contracted Covid-19 in Narathiwat prison had recovered on Sunday, officials said.

To contain the spread of the disease, officials and prisoners were instructed to strictly undergo measures issued by the Department of Corrections and Narathiwat Public Health Office.

Narathiwat prison authorities thanked Narathiwat Governor Jessada Jitrat, government agencies and the public for their encouragement and support during the crisis at the prison.

“We wish everyone to overcome the Covid-19 crisis safely,” the prison authorities said.

Narathiwat prison tides over serious Covid-19 crisis

Narathiwat prison tides over serious Covid-19 crisis

According to a Department of Corrections report at 6pm on Sunday, the total number of Covid-19 cases was 336, of which 32 were officials and 304 prisoners.

All officials and 301 prisoners had recovered, two prisoners had recovered and been released and one prisoner had died.

Narathiwat prison tides over serious Covid-19 crisis

Published : May 03, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000489

Over 300 Covid-19 cases found in Klong Toei slums in April

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) reported on Sunday that 304 people residing in or near slums in Klong Toei district have tested positive for Covid-19 during April.

“Of these, 193 people are residents of the 12 slums in Klong Toei, while 111 patients resided in condominiums or apartments adjacent to these slums,” said the CCSA.

Statistics from Klong Toei public health office reveal that there are about 80,000 to 90,000 people residing in the slums.

“Residents of Klong Toei slums usually live together in a crowded space and mostly have careers that are not compatible with work-from-home arrangements,” said the office. “The government must establish a facility for quarantine and monitoring of symptoms of suspected patients in this area immediately to contain cluster cases from spreading even further.”

A news source said that in response to this, the Ministry of Defence’s acting permanent secretary, Admiral Somprasong Ninsamai, had dispatched a letter to Port Authority of Thailand’s director-general asking to use its warehouse at Klong Toei Port as a site for a new field hospital to treat people in the area. The Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters will be responsible for setting up the facility.

Published : May 03, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000488

47 per cent of hotels could stay open for less than three months

A survey of the hotel industry found that 47 per cent of hotels have liquidity to keep their business afloat for less than three months.

The confidence index of hotel business operators in April 2021, published by the Bank of Thailand, surveyed 188 hotels nationwide from April 12-26.

Of the hotels surveyed, 30 are alternative state quarantine (ASQ) facilities.

Fifty-six establishments reported more than a 20 per cent decline in liquidity compared to the previous month, due to the latest Covid-19 wave, while 47 per cent said their liquidity situation could keep their hotels open for less than three months.

The survey also found that 46 per cent of hotels were opening as usual, while 13 per cent had temporarily closed their doors. Most of the closed hotels are in the southern region that focused on foreign clientele.

“Most of the closed hotels planned to reopen again in the fourth quarter of the year, when the situation improves,” said the report.

The occupancy rate of 158 hotels who are not serving as ASQ is at 18 per cent on average. Hotels in the northern region have the lowest occupancy rate of 4.1 per cent, followed by the Northeast at 10.9 per cent, Central at 18.7 per cent and South at 23.2 per cent.

The Bank of Thailand estimates that the average occupancy rate in May could drop to as low as 9 per cent if the outbreak still persists.

The survey also revealed that hotel businesses still in operation employ 59 per cent of staff compared to before the latest wave was reported. The measures hotels use to manage staff during Covid-19 include salary cut, letting employees use their sick days, granting leave without pay and alternating working days.

Published : May 03, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000487

99 per cent of Bangkokians wear face masks in public, says survey

A survey shows that an estimated 99.37 per cent of people in Bangkok wear face masks in public.

The survey by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, and Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology (SIIT) at Thammasat University, used artificial intelligence to monitor the wearing of face masks in public places in real time.

“We have processed the data from 11,894 people from 30 areas in 28 districts of Bangkok,” Prof Dr Thanarak Theeramankhong of SIIT said on Sunday.

“The majority of people were wearing face masks correctly, while about two in 1,000 people did not wear face masks, and about four in 1,000 people wore them incorrectly — their masks did not fully cover their noses and mouths.”

Thanarak added that the survey found eight districts in Bangkok had 100 per cent of the samples wearing face masks in public. They were: Yannawa, Minburi, Phasi Charoen, Phra Nakhon, Bang Khor Laem, Don Muang, Chatuchak, and Khlong Toei.

“We also found that people tend to not wear face masks on Friday, Saturday and Sunday compared to Monday to Thursday. Also, the wearing of face masks tended to drop in the evening compared to the morning periods,” he said.

Dr Apisamai Srirangsan, assistant spokesperson for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said that “the survey only monitors the wearing of face masks in public places, but people should wear face masks whenever they are in close contact with others, such as in the workplace or with family members”.

“Besides wearing face masks, people are advised to maintain social distancing, separate their personal items and wash their hands regularly to limit the spread of Covid-19,” she added.

Published : May 03, 2021

By : THE NATION