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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000046

BMA to allow more ‘hospitels’ as Covid cases rise

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is planning to establish more hospitels, or hotels converted into hospitals, for patients without severe Covid-19 symptoms to cope with the increasing number of serious virus patients in the province, Governor Aswin Kwanmuang said on Tuesday.

“Hospitels will help take care of patients with no progressive symptoms and reduce crowding at public and private hospitals, which should be focusing on treating more serious patients,” he said.

“We are now screening hotels that will take in patients from hospitals under the BMA to make sure they are well equipped and safe for both patients and staff,” Aswin said.

“Hotels that are interested in becoming a hospitel can contact the environment division at their district office,” the governor added.

The Public Health Ministry stipulated that to become a hospitel, a hotel should have more than 30 rooms with a separated ventilation system, necessary medical and office equipment, and be staffed with adequate medical professionals who have sufficient protective gear. The building must also have an efficient waste management system to prevent an environmental impact on surrounding communities.

On Tuesday Bangkok reported 350 new infections, driving the accumulated cases in the province since April 1 to 3,965 patients and rendering it the province with the highest number of infections in the country, followed by Chiang Mai at 2,366 and Chonburi 1,362.

Published : April 21, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000040

Hot, hazy day forecast for upper Thailand, thundershowers in South

Upper Thailand will experience a temperature rise and haze during the day amid a low heat cell as well as thundershowers in some areas, while the lower North, the Northeast, the Central region including Bangkok and its vicinity, and the East will all see a hot day, the Meteorological Department said on Wednesday.

Many areas of the South will be hit by thundershowers as southerly and southwesterly winds prevail across the Andaman Sea and the region, the department added.

It also mentioned that typhoon Surigae over the Pacific Ocean tends to move north and farther from the Philippines and will not affect Thailand.

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

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Hot day with haze and thundershowers in 20 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 25-27 degrees, highs of 33-37 degrees Celsius.

North: Hot day with haze and thundershowers in 10 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 22-25 degrees and highs of 34-39 degrees Celsius.

Northeast: Hot day with haze and thundershowers in 30 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 22-25 degrees and highs of 35-36 degrees Celsius.

Central: Hot day with haze and thundershowers in 20 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees, highs of 35-38 degrees Celsius.

East: Hot day with haze and thundershowers in 30 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 24-26 degrees, highs of 32-35 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; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees, highs of 33-36 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 22-25 degrees, highs of 32-33 degrees Celsius; waves 1-2 metres high and 2 metres during thundershowers.

Source: Thailand Meteorological Department

Published : April 21, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000038

Prayut lists vaccine procurement plan, dismisses claims of tardiness

A batch of 500,000 doses of the Sinovac vaccine will be delivered to Thailand on Saturday, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha announced after the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

He added that an additional 1 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine will be delivered in May, though the final decision will depend on the Chinese government.

The premier added that private hospitals are willing to help administer the inoculations, which should speed up the process.

Meanwhile, up to 6 million doses of the locally produced AstraZeneca vaccine should be ready for distribution in June and production will speed up from July onwards to ensure 61 million doses are administered by the end of the year.

“The National Vaccine Institute is negotiating with Pfizer and up to 10 million doses will likely be delivered between July and the end of the year, provided the price and conditions can be agreed upon. A Thai company is also developing a vaccine, but that will be considered later,” Prayut said.

As for complaints on social media about the government not allowing private firms to import Covid-19 vaccines, Prayut said he had instructed the Public Health Ministry to do this all along. However, he said, the procedure of procuring vaccines is a long-winded process and manufacturers have not been able to keep up with the demand.

The prime minister also defended his government, saying it had not been slow in procuring the vaccine and people should not believe everything they hear. “Health officials have hastened the inoculation procedure nationwide, especially in Bangkok. The government has also reserved vaccines for emergency and promises to create herd immunity as soon as possible,” he said.

Published : April 21, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000035

Six medics suffer blood clots, paralysis after Sinovac vaccination

Six medical staff in Rayong and one in Chonburi’s Queen Savang Vadhana Memorial Hospital suffered paralysis after receiving Sinovac vaccine jabs, a health official said on Tuesday.

All six staff recovered after being given drugs to dissolve blood clots in the brain, said Dr Thiravat Hemachudha, chief of Chulalongkorn University’s Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Health authorities suspect the blood clots were caused by a contaminated vaccine batch rather than the actual vaccine itself.

The Public Health Ministry said it is investigating the incident and will announce the results in a few days.

Published : April 21, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000033

Thais can get vaccine passports to travel overseas

The Royal Gazette has published guidelines on the issuance of a certificate of immunisation or a vaccine passport, which will be signed by Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Department of Disease Control.

The certificate will be written in English and will contain the holder’s name, personal information as well as details of the Covid-19 vaccination. It can be used for travelling overseas.

This certificate will only be issued to people who have received vaccines that are registered under Thailand’s Drug Law or are certified by the World Health Organisation. The document must carry the signature of the Department of Disease Control’s director-general or chosen nominee, as well as a stamp of the agency. One vaccine passport will only certify one individual.

Published : April 21, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000031

Army braces for wave of Thai returnees on Malaysia’s deadline day

Officials in Songkhla’s border district of Sadao are preparing to screen more Thai returnees from Malaysia, after authorities there gave overstayers and illegal migrants until Thursday (April 21) to leave the country.

The 5th Infantry Division, which is responsible for border security in Songkhla, has been placed on alert to prevent illegal entry during this period.

Since April 1, security teams have repaired over 100 holes in the fence along the 86-kilometre-long Songkhla border with Malaysia, which is a notorious transit point for smugglers. The teams also arrested seven suspected smugglers, all Thai.

The deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave Malaysia resulted in 119 Thais returning on April 19, with another 181 registered to return tomorrow. All will be screened and placed in state quarantine for 14 days.

Songkhla recorded 29 new cases of Covid-19 on Tuesday, bringing the total number of infections in the province since the third wave began to 269.

Published : April 21, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000030

Cabinet unlocks registration for biochemical factories to boost BCG business

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved draft ministerial regulations covering three types of biochemical plants. The move is aimed to support the Bio-, Circular and Green Economy (BCG) model that has been adopted by Thailand.

The three types of plants covered by the new regulations are:

1. Plants manufacturing chemicals or chemical materials using basic agricultural raw materials or other products and biochemical processes.

2. Plants manufacturing bioplastics using chemicals or materials produced from raw agricultural materials.

3. Plants manufacturing biodegradable bioplastics using chemicals or chemical materials produced from agricultural raw materials or products combined with petroleum-derived raw materials.

Under the new regulations, these plants must be licensed as Category 3 factories before they can operate.

Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said the draft regulations will apply separate rules to the biochemical industry and the chemical industry. This would benefit the environment as well as operators in the biochemicals business, which has been targeted for government investment as an S-Curve industry, he added.

Published : April 21, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000028

All Covid-19 patients must be hospitalised: Public Health Minister

No Covid-19 patient is allowed to isolate at home or treat themselves with over-the-counter drugs, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced on Tuesday. He made the comment after taking delivery of mattresses, UV sterilisers, refrigerators and beverages for field hospitals.

He said his ministry has made provisions, so Covid-19 patients do not have to wait to be treated. “Patients do not have to go into self-isolation or try to treat themselves as there are plenty of beds available at hospitals and field hospitals,” he said.

“All patients can be treated and medical staff can monitor their symptoms.”

He also confirmed that there is enough Favipiravir to treat Covid-19 patients, refuting a Facebook post from the Maharaj Nakhon Chiang Mai Hospital’s director saying Thailand had run out of Favipiravir pills. Anutin said there were enough test kits for Covid-19 as well.

“The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation has placed an order for Favipiravir pills and Covid-19 test solutions as well,” he added.

Meanwhile, Department of Medical Services director-general Somsak Akksilp said there will be enough beds available for Covid-19 patients in a couple of days, adding that isolating at home may be a solution if there is a fourth wave and the number of cases rises beyond 10,000 daily.

Published : April 20, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000027

New international driving permit issued from May 1, said government

The Department of Land Transport will issue the new international driving permit from May 1. The new permit covers 84 countries under the Vienna Convention, including the US, UK, Russia, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Bahrain and Brazil.

It expires after three years.

Thai applicants for an international permit must include their current driving licence, a copy of their passport, ID card, and two passport-style photos. Applicants must also mention the country or countries they plan to drive in.

Foreign applicants must present their passport, work permit (paper or digital), or smart visa to department officials.

Thai applicants for an international permit must include their current driving licence, a copy of their passport, ID card, and two passport-style photos. Applicants must also mention the country or countries they plan to drive in.

Foreign applicants must present their passport, work permit (paper or digital), or smart visa to department officials.

However, those who already have a foreign licence under the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic 1968 can use it in Thailand from May 1.

Published : April 20, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000024

2.4 million more people to be eligible for RaoChana cash-handout scheme

The Cabinet on Tuesday agreed to allow another 2.4 million people to register for the government’s cash-handout “RaoChana” (We Win) scheme and agreed to give beneficiaries until June 30 to use up their subsidy, a source said.

The proposal had been put forward by the Fiscal Policy Office in a bid to help alleviate the financial burden on a wider group of people.

Under the RaoChana scheme, each registrant is given Bt3,500 for two consecutive months. However, the subsidy does not apply to members of the Social Security System, government or state enterprise employees or those who have more than Bt500,000 in their savings bank account.

With the additional 2.4 million registrants, the number of beneficiaries of the scheme will rise to 33.5 million people and the estimated budget will expand from Bt210.2 billion to Bt213.24 billion.

Published : April 20, 2021

By : THE NATION