#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404964

Govt mulls allowing provinces to impose curfews

NationalApr 16. 2021

By THE NATION

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) will discuss this evening (Friday) whether to give provincial governors the power to impose local curfews to combat the spread of Covid-19, said Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.

The meeting will be chaired by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha.

“The by-province curfew measure was used in Samut Sakhon during the second-wave outbreak, when the governor imposed an 11pm-5am curfew throughout the province,” said Anutin. “We will let the governors decide the suitable period of curfew, as they are the ones who understand the situation in their areas,” he added.

Meanwhile, the National Communicable Disease Committee has also proposed extending the red zone of highest controls to 18 provinces, and the orange zone (high controls) to 56 provinces, said Anutin.

He added that interprovincial travel is still permitted unless a governor orders a travel ban to contain the outbreak.

Thailand registered the fourth day in a row of record new Covid-19 cases on Friday, with 1,582 fresh infections recorded over the previous 24 hours.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404963

New housing policy for Thailand’s low-income sector approved

NationalApr 16. 2021

By THE NATION

The state enterprise policy committee on Friday approved the National Housing Authority’s house-rental project for the low-income sector.

The committee, chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, agreed that 100,000 homes be provided over the next five years or 20,000 per year. The houses will be in Bangkok and its vicinity.

The committee has also called on the housing authority to consider if private partners should be pulled into the project.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404962

29 road deaths recorded on 6th day of Songkran break

NationalApr 16. 2021

By The Nation

Up to 313 road accidents on Thursday claimed 29 lives and injured 310 others, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation announced on Friday.

Over the six days of Songkran – April 10 to 15 – 238 people have been killed and 2,116 injured in 2,113 road accidents.

Speeding was the cause of 31.66 per cent of accidents, followed by drunk driving (29.01 per cent) and cutting lanes (18.17 per cent).

Motorcycles were involved in 86.35 per cent of the accidents, followed by trucks (6.23 per cent) and cars (2.86 per cent).

Nakhon Si Thammarat recorded the highest number of road accidents (91) and the highest number of people getting injured (96), while Chiang Mai had the highest number of deaths (nine).

Eight provinces were reported to be free of Songkran-related road accidents so far.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404961

Bangkok district offices told to suspend services on Saturdays

NationalApr 16. 2021

By The Nation

Fifty Bangkok district offices will suspend regular services on Saturdays, except for reporting of births and deaths, until the Covid-19 situation eases.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) permanent secretary Silapasuay Raweesangsoon sent a letter on Thursday to the directors of 50 district offices in Bangkok.

According to the BMA letter, district offices are required to:

1. Suspend services every Saturday, except for reports of births and deaths.

2. Suspend Bangkok Express and Mobile Services.

3. Use the BMAQ smartphone application to reduce crowding in district offices.

4. Follow the Public Health Ministry’s measures to contain the spread of Covid-19.

5. Allow no more than 30 immigrants a day to use services at district offices on weekdays, from 4pm to 6pm.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404960

Another record high with 1,582 Covid patients confirmed in Thailand

NationalApr 16. 2021

By THE NATION

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Friday reported 1,582 new cases, five of whom came from overseas.

Over the past 24 hours, 97 patients have recovered and been discharged.

As of Friday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 39,038. Of them, 35,809 were contracted locally, including 19,751 found via proactive testing, while 3,229 were returnees.

So far, 28,480 have recovered and been discharged, 10,461 patients are still in hospitals and 97 have died.

According to Worldometer, as of 11am on Friday, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 139.62 million (up by 794,984) – 118.62 million have recovered, 18.01 million are active cases (106,506 in severe condition) and 2.99 million have died (up by 12,717).

Thailand ranks 111th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 32.21 million, followed by India 14.28 million, Brazil 13.74 million, France 5.18 million and Russia 4.67 million.

Meanwhile, in the last 24 hours, 3,096 people had given their first shot of the Covid-19 vaccine and 1,628 their second shot, bringing the total number of Covid vaccines administered in Thailand to 586,032.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404959

MRT cleaning staff tests positive for Covid-19

NationalApr 16. 2021

By THE NATION

A member of the subway cleaning staff has tested positive, the Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) reported on Friday.

The cleaner worked at the Lak Song MRT station from April 4 to 6 between 7am and 7pm.

On April 7 the patient moved to work at Tha Phra station before leaving at 12.30pm for feeling ill.

The MRTA said the cleaner visited a doctor the following day and was diagnosed with a common cold. The following week, on Thursday (April 15) the cleaner tested positive for Covid-19.

However, the cleaner confirmed to have stayed indoors when the symptoms first began.

MRTA has said all staff members who came in contact with the patient have been told to isolate themselves at home.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404958

Dams, some Egat-run tourist facilities nationwide closed until April 30

NationalApr 16. 2021

By The Nation

Dams and some facilities nationwide under supervision of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) were temporarily closed in a bid to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Egat’s assistant governor of renewable power plants, Prasert Inthap, said dams, viewpoints, golf courses, fitness centres and resorts were being closed until April 30 this year.

He said the move would be implemented with the exception of Srinagarind Dam, which will be temporarily closed from April 19 and Ratchaprapa Dam, which tourists can travel to in line with Surat Thani’s policy.

“Restaurants at the dams are still being opened for tourists who have booked in advance and weren’t from risky areas,” he said.

He added that Egat had strictly followed the Public Health Ministry’s measures to contain the spread of Covid-19, such as screening visitors’ body temperature at tourist points, setting up hand sanitising and Thai Chana checkpoints, and cleaning areas visited by lots of tourists with disinfectants periodically.

“Tourists are required to wear face mask, maintain distance, check body temperature and strictly comply with officials’ recommendations,” he added.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404957

Interior Ministry allows staff to work from home for 14 days

NationalApr 16. 2021Chatchai Promlert, Interior Ministry’s permanent secretary

By THE NATION

Civil servants have been told to work from home for at least 14 days or until the Covid-19 situation improves, a news source revealed on Friday.

The source cited an urgent order issued by Interior Ministry permanent secretary Chatchai Promlert, urging agencies under the ministry to consider letting civil servants work from home for at least 14 days or until the Covid-19 situation improves. Each agency could issue specific regulations that are suitable for their organisation structure and in the context of their work.

“The order came after reports of government officials contracting Covid-19 during the third wave of the outbreak in Thailand since late March, which could increase the risk of the virus spreading among government agencies,” added the source.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404954

Covid-19 situation in Thailand could determine baht’s value

NationalApr 16. 2021

By THE NATION

The baht opened at 31.17 to the US dollar on Friday, strengthening from its close of 31.49 on Monday.

The Thai currency is likely to move between 31.15 and 31.25 during the day, Krungthai Bank market strategist Poon Panichpibool said.

He expected the baht to strengthen due to the weakening dollar. However if the Covid-19 situation in Thailand intensifies, foreign investors will sell Thai assets, causing the baht to weaken or strengthen only slightly.

Poon added that the baht could weaken to a low of 31.40 to the US dollar, as several companies have purchased foreign currencies to pay dividend.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404953

Money changers severely hit by pandemic, urged to offer electronic transactions

NationalApr 16. 2021

By THE NATION

Seventeen money changers have left the industry since the Covid-19 outbreak, the Bank of Thailand (BOT) reported recently.

The central bank said that as of March 31, there were 2,365 registered money changers, down from 2,382 before the pandemic.

In 2018, the BOT reported a total of 2,260 money changers, up 112 over the previous year.

Total transactions in the money changing business in 2020 slumped by 60.66 per cent year on year, while transactions in 2018 had increased 3.74 per cent year on year.

Pol Colonel Sihanart Prayoonrat, president of the Thai Association of Foreign Exchange, said that the number of transactions at money changers could increase again after vaccinated foreign tourists were granted access to the country.

“Living and spending in Thailand still depends on cash, as credit cards or internet banking are not accepted everywhere,” he said.

“However, it is undeniable that the trend of electronic money is growing, which poses a huge disruption for the money changing business. Furthermore, during the outbreak more people tend to avoid holding cash due to fear of the virus spreading,” he added.

“The association is planning to enourage money changers to also offer electronic transaction services at their counters to keep their businesses afloat, which will also help prepare their customers for a cashless society.”