National football team players test negative for Covid-19
Players of the national football team tested negative for Covid-19 after a Football Association of Thailand (FAT) staff was found infected with the virus. The FAT added that other support staff of the national team also were not infected.
The infected staffer was separated from the others, and was waiting for treatment under the Ministry of Public Health guidelines.
The association said that players and staff would be tested again to make sure no one was infected.
Steady progress in construction of new airport terminals in provinces
The Department of Airports on Friday reported the progress of development projects at airports under its administration as of the end of April.
The construction of a new passenger terminal at Khon Kaen Airport is now 77 per cent complete. The terminal is expected to double the airport’s capacity in receiving passengers from 1,000 to 2,000 people per hour, or approximately 5 million visitors per year.
The construction of the third passenger terminal and renovation of the first and second terminals at Krabi International Airport is now 51 per cent complete. The project aims to double the airport’s capacity from 1,500 to 3,000 passengers per hour or approximately 8 million visitors per year.
The construction of a new passenger terminal at Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport is now 41 per cent complete. The terminal is expected to more than treble the airport’s capacity from 450 to 1,600 people per hour, or approximately 4 million people per year.
The construction of a new passenger terminal at Trang Airport is now 13 per cent complete. The terminal is expected to double the airport’s capacity from 600 to 1,200 people per hour, or approximately 3.4 million visitors per year.
The Department of Airports said that despite the Covid-19 situation that has affected the number of airport users, it would continue to improve the capacity and efficiency of all 28 airports under its administration nationwide to provide better service to the passengers.
SRT to invite private sector bids for managing commercial areas
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) will invite bids from private contractors to manage the commercial areas at the Bang Sue Grand Station as well as along the Red Line suburban railway system in June this year, Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob said this week.
“The project will cover a total area of 52,375 square metres, including food courts, shops and parking lots,” he said.
“The SRT will also seek contractors to operate limousine or shuttle bus services for commuters under a 15-20-year contract.”
Saksayam added that a detailed survey revealed the Bang Sue Grand Station has total commercial area of 4,626 square metres and advertising area of 2,407sqm.
“We plan to let private companies use these areas under a three-year contract. The bidding should start in June, the contract signing in August, and the station would open for the public at the end of 2021.”
Saksayam has also ordered the SRT to study suitable fares for the Red Line urban train based on operational cost, number of passengers and frequency of trains.
“The ministry also has been working with Krungthai Bank Plc to implement the EMV [Europay Mastercard and Visa] system throughout the train route to increase convenience for commuters, and estimated that it would be ready by the time the station opens,” he said.
The 139km Red Line suburban railway system will consist of two lines, one (also referred to as Dark Red Line) running from Thammasat University’s Rangsit campus to Maha Chai in Samut Sakhon province, and the other (Light Red Line) running from Salaya in Nakhon Pathom province to Hua Mark in Bangkok, with both passing through Bang Sue Grand Station, which will act as a connecting hub to the MRT system.
Government restores 14-day quarantine for overseas arrivals, even for vaccinated people
Foreigners wishing to enter Thailand from May 6 onwards will need to undergo 14 days quarantine no matter when their COEs (Certificates of Entry) were issued, the Thai Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
“The measure was approved by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration in order to curb the spread of the virus,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Thani Saengrat said.
“During the quarantine period, they will not be allowed to leave their rooms except for testing for Covid-19, which is scheduled three times during quarantine, or for other medical emergencies.”
Thani added that those whose COEs were issued before May 1 and who arrive in Thailand during May 1-5 will be quarantined according to the measures announced in April, which are:
– Those who have been vaccinated will be quarantined for seven days.
– People arriving from countries that have no reports of mutated strains of Covid-19 will be quarantined for 10 days.
– Those from countries that have reports of mutated strains of Covid-19 will be quarantined for 14 days.
“Meanwhile, those whose COEs were issued after May 1 will need to undergo 14 days quarantine even if they have been vaccinated against Covid-19,” he added.
Donations by revered monks followers boost central banks reserves
The followers of highly revered Buddhist monk, Phra Thamma Wisutthimongkhol, also known as Luangta Maha Bua, on Friday donated 10 kilograms of gold to the Bank of Thailand (BOT) to boost the central banks gold reserves.
The followers were led by Suchin Paripunno, abbot of Thammasathit Temple in Rayong province, while the gold was received by BOT Governor Setthaput Suthiwart-Narueput.
The gold was gathered from donations made by participants of a merit-making activity that the followers had organised on April 12 to continue realising the late monk’s intention to safeguard the country’s reserves to ensure economic stability.
As of Friday, the group had made donations 26 times, with total donated gold amounting to 13,060 kilograms and US$10.45 million in foreign currency.
Bangkok vaccination to launch in June at 14 venues
Bangkok will vaccinate 70 per cent of residents at 14 locations by the end of the year, governor Aswin Kwanmuang announced on Friday. People aged 60 and older will be inoculated at hospitals under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), while those aged 18 to 59 will get jabs at private buildings.
Bangkok’s inoculation programme will run from June to December.
People are required to register for their jab at the @MorPhrom Line account from May 1.
Those who do not have access to the Line app can book their jab via a public hospital.
Pro-democracy leader Parit hospitalised after 46 days of hunger strike over bail denial
Detained pro-democracy activist Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak, who has been on a protest fast for over a month over being denied bail, was admitted to hospital on Friday evening, the corrections department said.
Parit was taken to Ramathibodi Hospital for treatment after he told authorities that he had passed blood in his stool earlier in the day, the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights group tweeted on Friday.
The protest leader began a hunger strike on March 15 after he and other pro-democracy activists accused of insulting the monarchy were repeatedly denied bail.
Since going on hunger strike, he has been having only water and electrolytes.
“Since he began his hunger strike, Parit’s weight has been going down from 107 kilograms to 94.5kg,” Thawatchai Chaiwat, deputy director-general and spokesman of the Department of Corrections, said on Friday. “Although there are no indications that he is in a critical condition, we decided to take him to hospital as he had reduced his consumption of electrolytes and was at risk of shock.”
Thawatchai added that after his condition improves, he would be transported back to the Medical Correctional Institution for further treatment.
Pro-democracy leader Parit hospitalised after 46 days of hunger strike over bail denial
Meanwhile, after rejecting his ninth plea for bail on Thursday, the court has set another bail hearing for May 6. Parit’s lawyer Krisadang Nutcharat saw that as a positive sign as the court in the past did not set hearing dates, according to reports.
The other anti-government protest group detainees with Parit are: Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul, who is also on a hunger strike, Panupong Jadnok, Chaiamorn Wibulkaew, Arnon Nampa, Chukiat Saengwong and Parinya Cheewinkulpahtom.
Thundershowers forecast for most parts of Thailand, isolated heavy rains in some areas
A weak high-pressure system from China covers the North, the Northeast and Central regions of Thailand while the southerly and southeasterly winds prevail across upper Thailand.
Thundershowers and gusty winds are likely in upper Thailand with isolated heavy rains in the North and the East regions, the Thailand Meteorological Department said on Saturday.
People should beware of the severe conditions, the department said.
Meanwhile, the easterly and the southeasterly winds prevail across the Andaman Sea, the South and the Gulf of Thailand, leading to scattered thundershowers in the areas.
The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:
North: Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas; heavy rains and gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 21-25 degrees Celsius, highs of 30-35°C.
Northeast: Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 22-23°C, highs of 31-34°C.
Central: Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 22-25°C, highs of 32-34°C.
East: Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas; heavy rains are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 23-25°C, highs of 33-35°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 22-26°C, highs of 33-34°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
Bangkok and surrounding areas: Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas; heavy rains are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 24-26°C, highs of 32-33°C.
Face masks are mandatory in all provinces starting today
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Thursday made it compulsory for people in all 77 provinces to wear face masks when leaving their residences, among several other measures effective from May 1 to contain Covid-19.
Earlier this week, the Ministry of Interior had announced that people in 63 provinces having high infection rate would have to wear face masks, either cloth or sanitary type, in public places, or face a fine of up to THB20,000 under the Communicable Disease Act.
The CCSA announcement essentially extended the coverage of the ministry’s order to all provinces.
The CCSA also announced updated classification of provinces according to the severity of the Covid-19 situation.
▪︎ Six provinces have been classified as red zone, or maximum and strictly controlled area. They are: Bangkok, Chonburi, Chiang Mai, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan;
▪︎ 45 provinces are classified as light red zone, or maximum controlled area;
▪︎ 26 provinces are in tye orange zone, or controlled areas.
Face masks are mandatory in all provinces starting today
Provinces in the red zone will enforce the strictest rules, such as prohibiting the gathering of more than 20 people, no dine-in at restaurants, though takeaways are allowed until 9pm. These rules will be less strict in light red and orange zones, where a gathering of less than 50 people is allowed, dine-in at restaurants is allowed until 9pm and 11pm respectively.
Face masks are mandatory in all provinces starting today
Vaccination registration for public via Mor Phrom starts today
The Ministry of Public Health will allow the general public to register for Covid-19 vaccination via the ministry’s official group “Mor Phrom V.2” (doctors ready) from May 1.
The ministry has been providing Covid-19 vaccination to medical professionals and volunteers at high risk of infection from interacting with patients since February 28. So far, more than a million people in this group have been given the first jab and about 200,000 have already got their second jab.
The ministry aims to vaccinate 16 million people in the first batch of registration, with priority given to those who carry risks of developing severe symptoms if they contract Covid-19. They are:
1. People over 60 years of age (as of January 1, 2020).
2. People who have chronic diseases, including severe respiratory syndrome, heart and coronary diseases, kidney diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer patients under treatment, and obese patients weighing over 100kg, or having a body mass index exceeding 35.
Vaccination registration for public via Mor Phrom starts today
General public who fit in this group can register for vaccination via Mor Phrom V.2 official account on Line application from May 1. Those who do not have a smart phone can contact the hospital that has their records or the local public health office to get registered. The vaccination of this group will start on June 7.
The general public aged 18-59 years who do not fit in this group can register via the above channels from July 1, and their vaccination could start from August.
Pro-democracy leader Parit hospitalised after 46 days of hunger strike over bail denial
Face masks are mandatory in all provinces starting today
Face masks are mandatory in all provinces starting today
Vaccination registration for public via Mor Phrom starts today
