With 31 deaths, Covid-19 claims highest number of lives on a single day
Thirty-one people having Covid-19 succumbed, the highest in a 24-hour period since the pandemic began last year, the Department of Disease Control reported on Monday. Meanwhile 2,041 new Covid-19 cases were reported, the department said.
Total Covid-19 cases in Thailand since the outbreak has risen to 71,025 and 276 people have died.
TAT considers postponing registration for travel subsidy scheme
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is looking at postponing the registration for the third phase of the “Rao Tiew Duay Kan” (We Travel Together) travel subsidy campaign, TAT Governor Yutthasak Supasorn said.
Registration for the campaign was scheduled to open on May 17. Under the scheme, Thai nationals over 18 years can register to receive a 40 per cent discount on hotel rooms and restaurants. They will also receive an e-voucher when checking into a hotel as well as a 40 per cent flight refund when they check out.
The subsidy is capped at 2 million room nights. Registrants must reserve the room at least 7 days in advance.
“The postponement is aimed at complying with measures announced by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration to contain the spread of the virus by urging people to refrain from unnecessary interprovincial travel,” he said.
“TAT is monitoring the situation in various tourist provinces closely and will evaluate the suitable kick-off date again next week, after a discussion with Minister of Tourism and Sports Pipat Ratchakitprakarn,” the TAT governor said.
Thundershowers forecast for most of Thailand with gusty winds in some areas
The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Monday that the southerly and the southeasterly winds blowing across upper Thailand would bring thundershowers and gusty winds to the North, the Northeast, the Central and the East regions.
People should beware of the severe conditions, the department said, warning farmers of damage to crops.
Meanwhile, the easterly and the southeasterly winds prevail across the Andaman Sea, the South and the Gulf of Thailand, bringing scattered thundershowers in the areas.
The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:
North: Thundershowers in 30 per cent of the areas with gusty winds; temperature lows of 21-24 degrees Celsius, highs of 34-37°C.
Northeast: Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas with gusty winds; temperature lows of 21-24°C, highs of 34-38°C.
Central: Thundershowers in 30 per cent of the areas with gusty winds; temperature lows of 23-25°C, highs of 36-38°C.
East: Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas with gusty winds; temperature lows of 23-25°C, highs of 34-38°C; waves less than a metre high and over a metre during thundershowers.
South (east coast): Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 23-25°C, highs of 32-35°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
South (west coast): Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 23-26°C, highs of 33-35°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
Bangkok and surrounding areas: Thundershowers in 30 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 25-26°C, highs of 34-36°C.
Over 2,000 patients in Bangkok discharged, 1,359 undergoing treatment
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) said on Sunday that 2,072 Covid-19 patients treated at hospitals under the BMA had recovered and been discharged.
BMA permanent secretary Silpasuay Raweesangsoon said on Sunday that 1,359 patients were being treated, 21 patients had been transferred to hospitals unaffiliated with BMA and 10 patients had died.
“To deal with the increasing number of Covid-19 cases, BMA has arranged medical personnel, supplies and facilities — hospitals, field hospitals and “hospitels” — to take care of both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients,” she said.
Over 2,000 patients in Bangkok discharged, 1,359 undergoing treatmentOver 2,000 patients in Bangkok discharged, 1,359 undergoing treatment
She added that the Erawan Emergency Medical Services Centre had cooperated with agencies to speed up patient transportation to ensure that no patients were waiting to be taken to medical facilities.
Over 2,000 patients in Bangkok discharged, 1,359 undergoing treatmentOver 2,000 patients in Bangkok discharged, 1,359 undergoing treatment
“From April 10 to May 1, the centre admitted 2,839 patients to medical facilities, of which 1,886 were sent to medical facilities under BMA and 953 were sent to hospitals unaffiliated with the authority,” she added.
Over 2,000 patients in Bangkok discharged, 1,359 undergoing treatmentOver 2,000 patients in Bangkok discharged, 1,359 undergoing treatment
BMA setting up fifth field hospital, plans more hospitels to cope with increasing cases
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is accelerating expansion of field hospitals and hospitels to tackle the third Covid-19 wave, Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang said on Sunday.
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration on Sunday reported 1,940 new cases and a record 21 deaths over a 24-hour period.
Bangkok again led the list of most cases with 539, followed by 278 in Nonthaburi and 145 in Samut Prakan.
BMA setting up fifth field hospital, plans more hospitels to cope with increasing cases
Aswin said the BMA had conducted proactive tests to search for Covid-19 patients, adding that the authority aimed to conduct tests on 7,200 people next week.
He said that 1,291 patients were being treated at hospitals, field hospitals and hospitels in Bangkok.
“The government agencies are ready to take patients who had been contracted locally, and those who were found via proactive testing will be sent to medical facilities as soon as possible,” he said.
Patients who have not been taken to medical facilities can contact the Erawan Emergency Medical Services Centre: 1669.
BMA setting up fifth field hospital, plans more hospitels to cope with increasing cases
He added that the BMA was building the capital’s fifth field hospital at Chaloem Phrakiat Sports Training Centre in Thung Khru district, which can accommodate 400 patients.
“Meanwhile, the authority is contacting hotel operators to open more hospitels as well,” he said, adding that interested hotel operators can contact Medical Service Department or district offices.
BMA setting up fifth field hospital, plans more hospitels to cope with increasing cases
Development work continues to make Thonburi a tourist attraction
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is continuing to develop the Thonburi area as a sustainable tourism and livable city.
Deputy Governor of Bangkok Sakchai Boonma went out to monitor progress in developing and improving the Baworn Prachanan Park landscape (phase two) and floating island development on the opposite side of the Baworn Prachanun Park to develop more green and recreational areas for the people.
Development work continues to make Thonburi a tourist attraction
Sakchai revealed that the BMA had improved the landscape along the Chalermchai Phatthana canal and revived the Baworn Prachanun Park, including providing electric lighting in the garden, new fences and cycling paths.
Development work continues to make Thonburi a tourist attraction
Bang Khun Thian District Office has implemented Phase 2 by developing and improving the landscape of the Baworn Prachanun Park to connect to Khun Kala monuments and the floating islands area opposite the Bowon Prachanan Park, which might become tourist spots and fitness routes, such as for running, walking and cycling. There are also plans for further development of a boating route for ecotourism and nature study in the future.
Singapore enforces 14-day quarantine for travellers from Thailand
All travellers to Singapore from May 2, 11.59pm (Singapore time), who have a history of travel to Thailand 14 days prior to arrival in Singapore, will now be required to serve their 14-day Stay-Home Notice (SHN) at dedicated SHN facilities.
The announcement by Singapore’s Ministry of Health applied to Singapore citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders, the Singapore Embassy in Bangkok said.
“Travellers will no longer be able to opt out of serving their 14-day SHN at dedicated SHN facilities,” the embassy said.
More details of the Ministry of Health’s press release on April 30 is available at the website.
Virus expert concerned about South African strain sneaking in from Malaysia
A senior virologist at Chulalongkorn University has expressed concern about the pandemic situation in Malaysia due to the spread of the South African strain of the virus, or B.1.351.
The Indian variant was found in foreign travellers during quarantine, said Yong Poovorawan, head of the Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology at the university’s Faculty of Medicine.
The Indian strains are separated into groups B.1.167.1, B.1.167.2, B.1.167.3 and two Bengal strains. However, this was not a concern at all because everyone entering was strictly quarantined, he said.
What is extremely worrisome now is the outbreak of Covid-19 in Malaysia which has seen five outbreaks of these five strains. Based on publicly available database of 74 species in Malaysia, it was found that the South African species made up 31 per cent, or about 1 in 3 in the outbreak in Malaysia.
Therefore, there is a strong possibility of this species entering the South of Thailand. The severe outbreak now can cross natural borders into Thailand, Dr Yong said.
The South African species is a strain that would weaken the effectiveness of the vaccine, he said. This strain should not be allowed to spread in Thailand, the expert warned.
Nearly 400,000 people register for vaccine as MohPromt recovers from breakdowns
The Ministry of Public Health, said on Saturday evening that the MorPrompt vaccination registration system was now working normally and 430,588 people had registered for inoculation against Covid-19.
329,717 had registered through Line application and 100,871 through the MorPrompt application.
MohPromt (Doctor ready) has been dubbed sarcastically as “Moh Mai Promt” (Doctor is not ready) because many users could not be verified or register due to breakdowns.
Dr Pongsadhorn Pokpermdee, senior officer at the ministry, said that successful registration depends on three elements: MorPrompt on Line and its application, white list or list of hospitals offering vaccination, and daily vaccination slot at the hospital.
On Saturday morning, registration in Bangkok was delayed as only 24 hospitals had opened the system. However, now 134 out of 160 are open, but field hospitals have not opened yet as the elderly and those with chronic diseases will be vaccinated on priority.
The ministry was informed that the system in every hospital had been opened, Pongsadhorn said, adding small hospitals accepted reservations for 360 people per day.
Large hospitals accepted 600 people per day. He said that calculated from the time of injection at one minute per person, 16 million people could get 16 million doses within 54 days.
About one million patients may have been dropped from the list, hence some people do not find their names when registering, the official said.
The ministry has solved the problem by opening a MorPrompt Line OA version 2.1 so that people who do not appear on the list can manually fill in the form or notify the hospital with a history of treatment, he added.
Vaccination target groups were divided into five groups totalling 50 million people: 1.2 million health personnel; 1.8 million health-related personnel who work in risk areas; 4.3 million patients in seven groups of chronic diseases under 60 years of age, such as chronic respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, stroke, obesity, cancer and diabetes; 11.7 million elderly people aged 60 years and above, and the remaining 31 million general people.
AstraZeneca vaccine will be provided in June-July to 16 million people. A poll by the Ministry of Public Health found that only 60-70 per cent of those people need the vaccine. This means there would definitely be enough vaccine and there was no need to hurry to register, the official said.
Registration opened on May 1 and vaccinations start from June 7.
Registration is open to the general public from July 1, and vaccination for those groups begin on August 1, with 10 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine per month from Siam Bioscience. Other vaccines will be introduced gradually, the ministry official said.
CAAT issues more stringent measures after cases of infections in Phuket flights
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has tightened preventive measures and issued new guidelines for passengers and airlines.
The move comes after Phuket’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration informed that three airlines, which flew seven flights after resuming operations to Phuket since April 15, had infected passengers onboard. The centre told the airlines to inform other passengers to quarantine and take a test.
The new measures which come into effect from May 1 are:
1. Seek cooperation from airlines to consider limiting services between 11pm and 4am in order to reduce the impact on passengers travelling between the airport and their accommodation and to comply with other types of public transport.
2. In case of flight change, flight cancellation and flight consolidation, airlines need to inform and take care of passengers appropriately, as per the Ministry of Transport’s laws.
3. The airport will conduct rigorous screening of people who use the service. Passengers must wear a medical mask or cloth mask. Body temperature must be measured with an infrared thermometer that does not have to come into contact with the body of the person being checked. If anyone does not wear a mask or cloth mask or has temperature higher than 37.3 degrees Celsius, they will be strictly prohibited from entering the airport area.
4. The passenger’s body temperature is measured using an infrared thermometer before boarding the aircraft at the departure point and passengers will be tested again before leaving the airport area. If the temperature is higher than 37.3 degrees Celsius or they have respiratory symptoms, such as cough, sore throat, runny nose, or shortness of breath, airport officials will immediately notify local health officials.
5. Airlines must consider appropriate arrangement of seats in the aircraft for the number of passengers in each flight, taking into account the spacing measures to avoid congestion.
6. Airport authorities and airlines must alert passengers of any possible risk. Confirmed patients or high-risk persons must refrain from travelling. If they violate the rule, they may be punished under the Communicable Diseases Act 2015.
Over 2,000 patients in Bangkok discharged, 1,359 undergoing treatment
Over 2,000 patients in Bangkok discharged, 1,359 undergoing treatment
Over 2,000 patients in Bangkok discharged, 1,359 undergoing treatment
Over 2,000 patients in Bangkok discharged, 1,359 undergoing treatment
Over 2,000 patients in Bangkok discharged, 1,359 undergoing treatment
Over 2,000 patients in Bangkok discharged, 1,359 undergoing treatment
BMA setting up fifth field hospital, plans more hospitels to cope with increasing cases
BMA setting up fifth field hospital, plans more hospitels to cope with increasing cases
BMA setting up fifth field hospital, plans more hospitels to cope with increasing cases
Development work continues to make Thonburi a tourist attraction
Development work continues to make Thonburi a tourist attraction
