Dhanin Chearavanont, senior chairman of Charoen Pokphand Group
By THE NATION
Charoen Pokphand Group (CP) has said it would provide Bt200 million worth of food and medical supplies to field hospitals in Bangkok.
CP senior chairman Dhanin Chearavanont said that the contribution would start with the field hospital in King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, followed by those in Phramongkutklao Hospital, Siriraj Hospital, Ramathibodi Hospital and others.
Dhanin added that CP Group is supporting three meals a day at the field hospital, as well as at hospitels run under the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.
In addition, CP’s True Corporation is providing free Wi-Fi to medical personnel and patients in the field hospital.
The baht opened at 31.20 to the US dollar on Monday, strengthening from its close of 31.29 on Friday.
The Thai currency is likely to move between 31.15 and 31.30 on Monday and between 31.05 and 31.55 this week, Krungthai Bank market strategist Poon Panichpibool said.
Last week the global economy continued to recover, especially the economies of the US and China.
Poon suggested that investors monitor the dollar’s direction, the Covid-19 crisis in Thailand, and the purchase of foreign currencies.
He expected the dollar to weaken or be stable, as the pandemic situation in the US had not worsened.
Poon said that if the market showed concern about the Covid-19 situation in Thailand, the baht may not move in line with the dollar.
He added that some companies had purchased foreign currencies for paying dividends to foreign investors and this could weaken the baht.
A weak high-pressure system covers the North and the upper Northeast of Thailand as well as the South China Sea.
Meanwhile, the westerly trough moves into the Northeast, the Thailand Meteorological Department said on Monday.
The southwesterly and southeasterly winds blow humidity from the Gulf and the South China Sea to the lower North, the Northeast, the Central including Bangkok and its vicinity, and the East regions.
Thundershowers with gusty winds and isolated heavy rains are forecast for upper Thailand. People should beware of the severe weather conditions, the department said.
In the Andaman Sea and southern Thailand, the westerly and the southwesterly winds blow across, bringing scattered thundershowers to the South.
The weather forecast for 24 hours:
North: Isolated thundershowers with gusty winds mostly in Tak, Phitsanulok, Kamphaeng Phet, Phichit and Phetchabun provinces; minimum temperature 22-25 degrees Celsius, maximum 33-38°C; southwesterly winds 10-25 km/hr.
Northeast: Scattered thundershowers with gusty winds and isolated heavy rains in Loei, Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Mahasarakham, Kalasin, Mukdahan, Roi Et, Amnat Charoen, Yasothon, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram, Surin, Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchathani provinces; minimum temperature 23-25°C, maximum 32-34°C; southeasterly winds 10-25 km/hr.
Central: Scattered thundershowers and isolated gusty winds mostly in Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chainat, Lopburi, Saraburi, Suphanburi, Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi provinces; minimum temperature 23-26°C, maximum 35-37°C; southwesterly winds 10-25 km/hr.
East: Scattered thundershowers and isolated gusty winds mostly in Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Sa Kaew, Chachoengsao, Chonburi and Rayong provinces; minimum temperature 24-27°C, maximum 33-37°C; southwesterly winds 10-30 km/hr; waves under a metre high and above a metre in thundershowers.
South (east coast): Scattered thundershowers and isolated heavy rains in Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung and Songkhla provinces; minimum temperature 24-25°C, maximum 32-34°C; westerly winds 15-30 km/hr; waves about a metre high and 1-2 metres in thundershowers.
South (west coast): Scattered thundershowers mostly in Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun provinces; minimum temperature 24-26°C, maximum 33-34°C; westerly winds 15-30 km/hr; waves about a metre high and 1-2 metres in thundershowers.
Bangkok and its vicinity: Isolated thundershowers with isolated gusty winds; minimum temperature 25-27°C, maximum 34-37°C; southwesterly winds 10-25 km/hr.
A wild bull is having a relationship with a raised female cow at an oil palm plantation in Surat Thani province, after escaping from Khao Sok National Park on Saturday.
The oil palm plantation in Phanom district is approximately 500 metres from the national park, according to a Facebook post on Sunday by the public relations section at the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.
Photo Credit: DNP
Initially, Khao Sok National Park and Khlong Saeng Wildlife Sanctuary will send their officials to monitor the wild bull’s behaviour and publicise this issue to villagers.
Photo Credit: DNP
Meanwhile, Khao Sok National Park has cooperated with veterinarians at Protected Areas Regional Office 4 on the plan to lure the bull back to the forest.
Thirty-two people have been infected at a private school in Samut Prakan province, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) spokesperson Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin said on Sunday.
The infection is suspected to have spread from two foreign teachers who went to an entertainment venue to attend a farewell party for a teacher.
The virus spread to two African nationals, one Thai teacher, 23 students and four family members of a student. Health officials found that foreign teachers and students were not wearing masks in the classroom.
Taweesin said that similar clusters had developed from people not wearing masks at a state enterprise in Udon Thani province where eight people were infected, a bank’s head office in Bangkok where five were infected, a private company in Bangkok where three people were infected, a private company in Chonburi province where 23 people were infected, a private company in Samut Sakhon province where two were infected, three private companies in Nonthaburi province where 12 people were infected and a government agency in Pathum Thani province where four people were infected.
“This is the main reason why the CCSA urges all sectors to let employees work from home as much as possible and restrict people’s movement between provinces,” Taweesin said.
The six-year-old son of a Lao housekeeper has been living alone in their home after both his mother and sister were infected with Covid-19 and hospitalised in Udon Thani province last week.
The mother was the 96th patient in Udon Thani and was hospitalised on April 16, while the boy’s sister was hospitalised the following day. Since then, the boy has lived alone.
Though the boy has tested negative, he has to quarantine in the house as he is seen as a high-risk close contact. He is due to take his second test on April 20.
Initially, health workers at Klingkahm Hospital, the village chief, and health volunteers have organised shifts to take care of the boy by guarding the front of the house, enquiring about his condition and communicating across the fence. The morale of the boy is reported to be good and he talks to the officers, though he accepts that he is scared to stay in the house alone when the light is turned off.
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is accelerating the construction of six double-track railways projects. The routes that will link regional provinces and neighbouring countries are on course but there could be delays on some routes, officials said while outlining the progress.
Phase 1 of the six double-track railway routes are being built at a cost of Bt111.149 billion, over a distance of 993 kilometres.
The Chachoengsao – Khlong Sib Kao – Kaeng Khoi route, with a Bt9.825-billion budget, for a distance of 97 kilometres, has two contracts with two companies. Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction Plc, the first contactors, are currently in the process of compensation for land and expropriation of the remainder of the land. The SRT has given Sino-Thai Engineering an extension of the contract for another 224 days, from the construction period of 36 months.
Construction on the Chachoengsao – Khlong Sib Kao – Kaeng Khoi section, with a budget of Bt407 million for a distance of 9km, has been completed by Wright Tunneling Company.
The Chira-Khon Kaen section built by CKCH Joint Venture is 187km long. Construction of the route with a budget of Bt24.326 billion was completed in 36 months.
The Lopburi – Pak Nam Pho Section, Contract 1 (Ban Klap – Khok Krathim), with a budget of Bt10.05 billion, is currently under construction for 48 months. Work on the 32km route is 48.99 per cent complete, quicker than the planned 20 per cent. The second contract for Lop Buri – Pak Nam Pho (Tha Khae – Pak Nam Pho section) is currently under construction for 36 months. Work on the Bt8.649 billion, 116km route is 65.05 per cent complete, only 0.26 per cent behind schedule.
The Mab Kabao Section – Thanon Chira Road Junction route (Map Kabao – Khlong Khanan), has a budget of Bt7.560 billion. Work on the 58km route has been going on for 48 months, with 85.64 per cent completed, 2.24 per cent behind schedule. The second contract for constuction is currently in the process of the Environmental Impact Assessment report. The third contract — a 5km railway tunnel — to be built at a cost of Bt9.290 billion, is currently in the process of land expropriation and construction. Work has been ongoing for 42 months with 66 per cent completed, 11 per cent slower than planned.
The first contract of the Nakhon Pathom – Hua Hin route (Nakhon Pathom – Nong Pla Lai section), with a budget of Bt8.198 billion, has been under construction for 36 months. Some 83 per cent of the 93km route is complete, 2 per cent ahead of schedule.
The Hua Hin – Prachuap Khiri Khan route, estimated to cost Bt5.807 billion, will run a distance 84km. Construction has been on for 30 months, with 82 per cent work completed, but it is 13 per cent behind schedule.
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Sunday reported 1,767 new cases, the highest since the outbreak of the pandemic. Only two of the cases were overseas arrivals in quarantine facilities.
Of the total, 1,477 people were exposed to the disease while visiting high-risk areas. Proactive testing led to the discovery of 288 cases.
The CCSA is now focusing on six provinces — Chonburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Samut Prakan, Nonthaburi, Chiang Mai and Bangkok — as the daily number of new cases in these provinces was in triple digits on all days last week.
Meanwhile, 113 patients have recovered and been discharged in the last 24 hours.
As of Sunday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 42,352. Of these, 39,118 had been contracted locally, including 20,268 who were found via proactive testing, while 3,234 were returnees.
So far, 28,683 have recovered and been discharged, 13,568 patients are still in hospitals and 101 have died.
The 100th death was a senior monk in Bangkok, 54, who had chronic kidney disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. He passed out on April 12 with fatigue symptoms and was taken to hospital where the medical team could not revive him. Tests later showed he was a Covid-19 patient.
Another death reported on Sunday was a woman in Bangkok, 70, with SLD, rheumatoid arthritis and chronic kidney disease. She had high fever and difficulty in breathing on April 5. The patient was taken to hospital on April 12 and diagnosed with pneumonia and Covid-19. She passed away on April 17.
According to Worldometer, as of 11am on Sunday, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 141.32 million (up by 783,667), 113.41 million have recovered, 18.25 million are active cases (107,176 in severe condition) and 3.02 million have died (up by 11,574).
Thailand ranks 109th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 32.37 million, followed by India 14.79 million, Brazil 13.9 million, France 5.26 million, and Russia 4.69 million.
In the last 24 hours, 2,876 people got the first shot of vaccine and 386 people got their second, bringing the total vaccine doses to 608,521.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has told agencies related to air transportation to refrain from operating domestic flights from 11pm to 4am in a bid to tackle the new wave of Covid-19.
According to the announcement issued by CAAT chairman Suttipong Kongpool on Saturday, agencies related to air transportation must comply with the order from Sunday.
Air transport operators or airlines must refrain from operating domestic flights from 11pm to 4am to prevent the spread of Covid-19. This move is in line with other public transportation services.
In case of cancellation or combining of flights, air transport operators or airlines must inform and take care of passengers in line with the Transport Ministry’s announcement on protection of passenger rights using Thai air carriers services for domestic scheduled air services BE 2553 (2010), the order said.
Air transport operators or airlines must consider arranging passenger seats in the aircraft based on social distancing, the announcement said.
Airport and air transport operators must inform passengers about CAAT’s notification on guidelines for domestic flight operations during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Airport and air transport operators have also been told to inform passengers who were at risk of infection to suspend their travel as they may face punishment under the Communicable Disease Act BE 2558 (2015).
6. Swimming pool, water parks, amusement parks with rides as well as children’s rides in markets, floating markets, and flea markets
7. Banquet areas and similar business
8. Daily nurseries and elderly care facilities
9. Amulet shops
10. Health establishments, health massage, foot massage and traditional massage.
11. Spas, beauty salons, beauty clinics and weight control institutions.
12. Tattoo parsing or piercing the skin of the body.
Restaurants and beverage shops can be open until 9pm, but takeaway service can be provided until 11pm. Serving of alcohol or alcoholic beverages in the shop is strictly banned and must comply with the preventive measures for control of the spread of the disease as prescribed by the public health authorities.
Shopping malls can be open until 9pm, but should limit the number of users and refrain from campaign activities. However, rides, gaming shops and amusement parks must remain closed.
All 24-hour convenience stores can be open from 4am to 11pm.
Supermarkets, flea markets, and night markets cannot be open beyond 11pm.
Sports stadiums, gyms, and fitness centres can be open until 9pm.
The Chonburi official also announced a strict ban on the following activities and places:
1. Use of school buildings or school places and educational institutions of any kind to provide instruction, exams, training or activities that are attended by a large number of participants, except for ad-hoc medical facilities.
2. No organising of activities with groups of more than 50 people unless authorised by the staff.
3. Refrain from using the seaside area, beaches or reservoirs to socialise or dine, except for exercise.
