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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000302

Anutin shoots down social media rumour on Pfizer vaccine

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul flatly denied a rumour on social media that American pharmaceutical company Pfizer had proposed to sell 13 million doses of its Covid-19 vaccine to Thailand four times but this was rejected by the government.

“This rumour is not true,” he wrote on his Facebook page.

“The 13 million doses is the number Pfizer presented to their head office in preparing sales proposal documents to be submitted to the Thai government. This number came from the government’s plan to buy the Covid-19 vaccines under a bilateral agreement for 10 per cent of the population, or two doses each for 6.7 million people, equal to around 13 million doses,” he wrote.

“The rumour went on to say that Pfizer offered an advancement on payment to Thailand, which is also false,” Anutin stated. “Buying the vaccine from Pfizer still requires a deposit as per the contract, and there will be no delivery of any vaccines before payment,” he wrote.

“It is also not true that Pfizer had proposed the sale to the government four times,” Anutin said. “Pfizer has contacted us periodically to present their research findings and usage reports in other countries, and the government has never rejected a meeting with their representatives. The latest meeting was on April 22, in which a purchase contract was being drafted,” he said.

“Please refrain from sharing false information on the Internet, which might cause public misunderstanding and affect the work of the Public Health Ministry,” Anutin added.

Published : April 28, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000301

Cabinet ministers’ powers transferred to PM to efficiently tackle virus crisis

The cabinet has approved a draft announcement transferring the power of ministers to the prime minister to ensure efficient handling of the Covid-19 crisis, government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said on Tuesday.

“The temporary transfer of power is limited to efforts to prevent the further transmission of the outbreak, mitigating the impacts and providing assistance to the public,” he said.

The announcement covers 31 pieces of legislation:

1. Communicable Disease Control Act BE 2558

2. Drug Act BE 2510

3. National Vaccine Security Act BE 2561

4. Navigation Act BE 2456

5. Air Navigation Act BE 2497

6. Development of Digitality for Economy and Society Act BE 2560

7. Emergency Medical Act BE 2551

8. National Cyber Security Act BE 2562

9. Public Health Act BE 2535

10. Immigration Act BE 2522

11. Fuel Control Act BE 2542

12. Commodity Control Act BE 2495

13. Armament Control Act BE 2530

14. Medical Device Act BE 2551

15. Land Traffic Act BE 2522

16. Defence Ministry Administration Act BE 2551

17. Pathogens and Animal Toxins Act BE 2558

18. Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act BE 2550

19. Social Security Act BE 2533

20. Automobile Act BE 2522

21. Military Service Act BE 2497

22. Hazardous Substance Act BE 2535

23. Computer-related Crime Act BE 2550

24. Electronic Transaction Act BE 2544

25. Prices of Goods and Services Act BE 2542

26. Place of Entertainment Act BE 2509

27. Health Facilities Act BE 2541

28. Health Establishment Act BE 2559

29. National Health Security Act BE 2545

30. Government Pharmaceutical Organisation Act BE 2509

31. Food Act BE 2522.

Published : April 28, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000293

‘Soft’ curfews in eight provinces

People in eight provinces are being encouraged to refrain from leaving their residences during the night to keep Covid-19 from spreading further, the Interior Ministry announced on its @prmoithailand Facebook page on Tuesday.

The eight provinces are:

1. Trang, from 10pm to 3am

2. Nonthaburi, 9pm to 4am

3. Beung Kan, 11pm to 4am

4. Pathum Thani, 9pm to 4am

5. Songkhla, 10pm to 4am

6. Samut Prakan, 9pm to 4am

7. Samut Sakhon, 11pm to 4am

8. Surat Thani, 10pm to 4am.

Thailand saw 2,179 new cases and 15 deaths on Tuesday, the highest since the arrival of Covid-19. The number of confirmed cases in the country has shot up to 59,687, with 33,551 persons recovering and being discharged, 25,973 patients still in hospital and 163 dying.

Published : April 28, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000292

Thunderstorms, gusty winds forecast for upper Thailand, Central region, East

Hot weather with thunderstorms, gusty winds, hail and lightning strikes are likely in the North, the Northeast, the Central region and the East as a high pressure system from China covers the upper Northeast while southeasterly and southwesterly winds prevail across upper Thailand, the Meteorological Department said on Wednesday, advising people to avoid going outdoors or being near big trees, unsecured buildings and billboards. It also asked farmers to prepare for likely crop damage.

Meanwhile, westerly and southwesterly winds prevail across the Andaman Sea, the South and the Gulf of Thailand, bringing scattered thundershowers and isolated heavy rains to these areas.

Here’s the weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the area; heavy rains and gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees, highs of 33-34 degrees Celsius.

North: Thunderstorms in 70 per cent of the area; heavy rains, gusty winds and hail are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 21-24 degrees and highs of 28-34 degrees Celsius.

Northeast: Thunderstorms in 60 per cent of the area; heavy rains and gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 21-24 degrees and highs of 29-33 degrees Celsius.

Central: Thunderstorms in 70 per cent of the area; heavy rains, gusty winds and hail are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 22-25 degrees, highs of 31-35 degrees Celsius.

East: Thunderstorms in 60 per cent of the area; heavy rains, gusty winds and hail are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 24-26 degrees, highs of 33-34 degrees Celsius; waves less than a metre high and over 1 metre during thundershowers.

South (east coast): Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the area and isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 24-25 degrees, highs of 34-35 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the area and isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 22-25 degrees, highs of 31-34 degrees Celsius; waves 1-2 metres high and 2 metres during thundershowers.

Source: Thailand Meteorological Department

Published : April 28, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000290

Phuket still scheduled to reopen in July, says deputy PM

Phuket will reopen to foreign tourists as scheduled in July, Deputy Prime Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow confirmed via Facebook on Tuesday.

Under the Phuket sandbox scheme, foreign tourists who have received two doses of Covid-19 vaccine will be allowed to visit the island from July 1 without quarantining.

The scheme will then be expanded to Krabi, Phang Nga, Koh Samui, Pattaya and Chiang Mai in October before the country reopens fully on January 1, 2022.

Supattanapong, who doubles as energy minister, confirmed the schedule for reopening was still on track amid confidence that 50 million of Thailand’s 70-million population will be vaccinated this year.

He also insisted the latest Covid-19 outbreak should be under control in the next two weeks, adding that the government would assess the situation to see whether more economic stimulus measures were needed.

In the meantime, exports are growing well and the government is expediting budget disbursement at all ministries, he said.

Supattanapong admitted the third wave of Covid-19 has rocked the economy’s fragile recovery but said the situation would improve in 1-2 months after the outbreak is controlled and mass vaccination is launched.

Meanwhile, the “Khon La Khrueng” (Let’s Go Halves) shopping subsidy scheme was stimulating the grassroots economy and small businesses.

However, the main economic drivers are people with high income and purchasing power, he added.

“The principle is to motivate people with high incomes and savings to spend more, so more money is injected to support the foundation-level economy and small businesses, which we have accomplished in Khon La Khrueng.”

He said the most important thing was for Thais to work together to halt the latest outbreak as quickly as the previous two virus waves and make this the last wave before mass vaccination launches across the country in June.

On Wednesday the government will meet with private sector representatives to discuss their procurement of vaccines on top of the 63 million doses already ordered by the government, said Supattanapong.

Published : April 28, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000289

Thailand to order another 500,000 Sinovac doses as 3rd wave rises

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved a budget of just over THB321 million to procure another 500,000 vaccine doses from China’s Sinovac Biotech Co Ltd.

Atotal of THB321.604 million has been set aside for the vaccine shipment as Thailand battles a third wave of infections that has seen daily cases soar beyond 2,000.

The budget will be divided into THB271.25 million to buy the doses, THB18.99 million value-added tax, and THB31.36 million for vaccine management at the regional level, according to government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri.

As of Sunday, only 1.39 per cent of Thailand’s population had received at least one dose of vaccine, according to Oxford University’s “Our World in Data” report. Research suggests 60-70 per cent of the population must have Covid-19 antibodies to reach herd immunity.

Published : April 28, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000286

First semester will start 11 days later in some schools

Education Minister Treenuch Thienthong announced on Tuesday that the first semester for the 2021 academic year will start from June 1 instead of May 17 to curb the spread of Covid-19.

“Schools, teachers and staff must use the period between May 7 and 31 to prepare school buildings, classrooms and teaching equipment in line with guidelines set up by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration and provincial communicable disease agencies,” the minister said. “Teachers should also communicate with students and parents to prepare them for the changed semester date.

“Schools will have to provide lessons for the 11 school days that will be missed to ensure the curriculum is not affected. The semester will end as scheduled on October 11,” she said.

Treenuch added that the ministry will evaluate the Covid-19 situation regularly and announce measures accordingly but will aim to minimize the impact on students’ schooling, such as providing online classes in high-risk areas.

“Schools outside city areas that are not affected by the outbreak situation will be allowed to continue their classes as per normal,” she said.

Published : April 27, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000284

Signature campaign demanding Anutin’s resignation expands further

The campaign calling for Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s resignation launched via Change.org had exceeded its target of 200,000 signatures on Tuesday afternoon.

However, the online group “MorJaMaiThon” (Doctors Won’t Bear It Anymore), which launched the campaign at midnight on Friday, has raised the target to 300,000 signatures. As of 2.54pm on Tuesday, the campaign had collected 203,882 signatures.

The group said the Covid-19 situation in Thailand proves that Anutin does not have the capacity to control the outbreak through proper policy-making, resource management, vaccine procurement or boosting confidence among medical personnel.

Citing comments Anutin made in interviews, the group said it was clear he had no proper vision when it came to controlling the outbreak, especially now that it has gone out of control.

The group cited several comments Anutin made, including dismissing the virus initially, saying “it’s just a common cold”, and declaring “doctors who were not careful enough to avoid infection should be scolded” when medical personnel began getting infected.

“Public acknowledgment of all these failures proves that we cannot afford to squander our precious time and must bring an end to management that is not effective enough by calling on Anutin to resign and letting those who have the ability to take over when the country is in a crisis,” the campaign said.

Published : April 27, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000283

Thailand’s Olympic flag relay hits halfway point but Games in doubt

Thailand’s countdown to the Tokyo Olympics reached halfway as the “Flag of Nation” relay runners crossed from Chai Nat to Nakhon Sawan province on Monday, the 30th day of the event.

The relay run bearing the Thai flag through 35 provinces began on March 21 and will stretch for 61 days and 4,606 kilometres – roughly the distance between Bangkok and Tokyo.

Thailand’s Olympic flag relay hits halfway point but Games in doubt

The finish line for Monday’s run was the 2,303km milestone, with Tuesday’s leg winding from Nakhon Sawan Central Stadium to Chumchon Pracha Samakkhi School in Kamphaeng Phet province over a total distance of 68.5km.

The Thai flag will be carried by 4,568 bearers – athletes, celebrities and members of the public – before being delivered to Suvarnabhumi Airport to take off with the Olympic athletes on May 27.

Thailand’s Olympic flag relay hits halfway point but Games in doubt

The Tokyo Olympics are due from July 23 to August 8.

However, the chief of Japan’s ruling party warned earlier this month that the Games could be cancelled if a new outbreak of Covid-19 could not be contained.

“If the situation comes to the point where we cannot take it anymore, we should call off the Games without hesitation,” said Toshihiro Nikai.

“What’s the point of holding the Olympics if it boosts the spread of infection?” he added.

Meanwhile, Kyodo News agency recently carried a poll stating that 72 per cent of Japanese people want the Olympics to be cancelled or postponed.

Published : April 27, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000282

Bangkok deploys food kitchen to feed battle-weary medical staff

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) set up a mobile kitchen next to the Bangkok City Hall in Phra Nakhon district on Tuesday to cook 1,200 boxed meals for medical staff at hospitals and field hospitals.

Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang said the move was designed to boost morale among staff who are working hard during the Covid-19 outbreak and save them time and money.

“All meals are nutritious and cooked fresh in line with food hygiene principles,” he said.

Bangkok deploys food kitchen to feed battle-weary medical staff

He added that BMA will deliver meals to medical staff again on Friday.

“Citizens and agencies have also donated rice, dried foods, seasonings and instant foods to the BMA in a bid to encourage medical staff,” he said.

Bangkok deploys food kitchen to feed battle-weary medical staffBangkok deploys food kitchen to feed battle-weary medical staff

Bangkok recorded 993 new cases of Covid-19 on Tuesday in a third wave of infections that has triggered targeted shutdowns of 31 types of business.

Bangkok deploys food kitchen to feed battle-weary medical staffBangkok deploys food kitchen to feed battle-weary medical staff

Published : April 27, 2021

By : The Nation