#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404848

Bangkok Arena turned into field hospital as infections rise

NationalApr 13. 2021

By THE NATION

The Bangkok Arena in Nong Chok district is being transformed into a 500-bed field hospital for Covid-19 patients as daily cases rise.

“The field hospital will be named ‘Erawan Hospital 2’ and will open for public use on April 19,” Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang said on Tuesday.

“Officials are laying down floor covering to prevent damage to the stadium floor and installing various systems, including ventilation, CCTV cameras, garbage disposal and wastewater management. We have also prepared patient registration booths and waiting rooms for relatives, as well as improving the building’s security.”

So far, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has established four field hospitals in the province with a total capacity of 1,250 beds. Bang Khun Thian Geriatric Hospital in Bang Khun Thian district has 500 beds, Rachapiphat Hospital in Thawee Watthana district has 200, the Erawan 1 Hospital at the 84th Anniversary Stadium in Bang Bon district has 305 beds, and the Erawan 2 Hospital has 350 beds.

Health authorities recorded 965 new cases of Covid-19 on Tuesday, 194 in Bangkok.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404846

Songkran holidays kick off with 110 road deaths since Saturday

NationalApr 13. 2021

By The Nation

The first three days of Songkran holidays, from April 10 to 12, saw 1,090 road accidents with 110 fatalities and 1,099 people getting injured.

Nakhon Si Thammarat led the list with 49 road accidents, though no road fatalities have been recorded in 25 provinces.

In the past 24 hours, 338 accidents with 54 fatalities and 373 injured people were reported by the Road Accident Prevention and Reduction Centre.

The centre provided the following details:

• 30.15 per cent of accidents caused by speeding

• 28.35 per cent caused by drunk driving

• 87.63 per cent involved motorcycles

• 58.25 per cent of the accidents occurred on straight roads

• 33.51 per cent of the accidents occurred on village roads

• 30.15 per cent of accidents occurred between 4pm and 8pm

• 29.74 per cent of fatalities were aged 50 and above

• Highest number of accidents occurred in Nakhon Si Thammarat (22)

• Highest number of deaths were in Sakon Nakhon and Suphanburi (four each)

• Highest number of injured people was in Nakhon Si Thammarat (21)

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404845

Govt officials advised to work from home until month-end

NationalApr 13. 2021

By The Nation

Government officials have been advised to work from home after the Songkran holidays in a bid to curb Covid-19 infections, General Nattapon Nakpanich said in a letter addressed to different government agencies.

In his letter, the National Security Council’s secretary-general pointed out that there are several hundred confirmed cases daily with entertainment venues becoming hotspots. The virus is also being spread among students who have been coming together to celebrate the semester break, the letter said.

He added that government agencies should follow the measures set by the Cabinet since March 17 and minimise the number of people at the workplace, organize online meetings to avoid contact and reduce the risk of infection.

The work from home requirement is valid until April 30.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404844

Third successive day of nearly 1,000 Covid-19 cases

NationalApr 13. 2021

By The Nation

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Tuesday reported 965 new cases, nine of them overseas arrivals in quarantine facilities.

Of the total, 654 people were exposed to the disease while visiting high-risk areas. Proactive testing led to the discovery of 302 cases.

On Tuesday, cases were found in 42 provinces.

The CCSA is now focused on two provinces — Chiang Mai and Bangkok — as the number of infections there has exceeded 100 per day.

Meanwhile, 40 patients have recovered and been discharged in the last 24 hours.

As of Tuesday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 34,575. Of these, 31,363 were contracted locally, including 18,179 who were found via proactive testing, while 3,212 were returnees. So far, 28,288 have recovered and been discharged, 6,190 patients are still in hospitals, and 97 have died.

According to Worldometer, as of 11am on Monday, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 137.24 million (up by 588,271), 113.41 million have recovered, 23.84 million are active cases (103,9031 in severe condition) and 2.96 million have died (up by 8,781).

Thailand ranks 113th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 31.99 million, followed by India 13.69 million, Brazil 13.52 million, France 5.07 million, and Russia 4.65 million.

Meanwhile in the last 24 hours, 6,424 people got the first shot of their Covid-19 vaccine and 2,056 people got their second shot, bringing total vaccine doses to 578,532. Some 40 per cent of those who were vaccinated were people at risk in outbreak areas and another 40 per cent were medical personnel.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404843

Two children among five killed as tour bus catches fire

NationalApr 13. 2021

By The Nation

Five people were killed and 20 injured when a tour bus caught fire in Khon Kaen province on Monday night.

The incident happened on Mittraphap Road in Ban Haet district.

Firefighters from several government agencies took around an hour to put out the flames.

The injured passengers were taken to Sirindhorn Hospital​ by the hospital’s medical personnel and the rescue team from Phutthayansamakhom Ban Haet Foundation.

The bodies of the three adults and two children who died were taken to Srinagarind Hospital for autopsy.

“I opened the bus doors to allow the passengers to escape, but it was too late because the flames spread quickly,” said the tour bus driver.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404842

Timeline of Covid-19 positive woman who flew from Bangkok to Nakhon Si Thammarat

NationalApr 13. 2021

By The Nation

Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Public Health Office on Tuesday revealed the timeline of a 26-year-old woman who had tested positive for Covid-19 in Bangkok before taking a flight back to the province.

The timeline:

April 3: At 8am, she takes AirAsia flight from Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport to Don Mueang Airport. She stays at Peetawan apartment in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district. She later dines with two friends (one of them is her boyfriend) at 18 Mongkut Shabu restaurant Satriwitthaya 2 branch. Both friends test positive for Covid-19.

April 4: Her voice has changed but she does not have a sore throat.

April 5-6: She dines at restaurants near the apartment.

April 7: From 9.30am to 11.30am, she attends a beverage course at Chakaimuk.com in Bang Khen district. She later dines at a restaurant near the apartment.

April 9: She takes the Covid-19 test at a private clinic at Lat Phrao Soi 110 after feeling dizzy.

April 10: She tests positive.

April 11: At 5.30pm she takes Lion Air flight SL729 from Don Mueang Airport to Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport.

She is being treated at Maharaj Nakhon Si Thammarat Hospital.

The provincial public health office has asked people who had occupied seat numbers 7C to 11F of Lion Air flight SL 729 to see public health officials at nearby hospitals.

“People who have fever, runny nose, pink eye, red rash and are unable to smell should see the doctor at a nearby hospital immediately,” the office said.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404841

GPO to buy half a million Favipiravir tablets to cope with new Covid-19 wave

NationalApr 13. 2021

By THE NATION

The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) is planning to procure an additional 500,000 tablets of Favipiravir for treatment of Covid-19 patients following a new outbreak in Bangkok since late March, which has quickly spread to several provinces.

“Currently we have 411,200 tablets in stock, while the GPO’s Medical Supply Reservation and Logistics Division is planning to soon procure an additional 500,000 tablets to prepare for increasing number of patients and to ensure uninterrupted treatment of existing patients,” said Sirikul Matevelungsun, GPO deputy managing director.

Sirikul added that since the start of the week, the GPO has begun distributing Favipiravir tablets in its stock to hospitals and medical units nationwide, especially in provinces with a high number of infections.

Treatment of each Covid-19 patient requires up to 70 tablets of Favipiravir.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404840

Statement by Antony J. Blinken, US Secretary of State on Thailand Songkran 2021

NationalApr 13. 2021Image: https://th.usembassy.gov/

By THE NATION

ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE, APRIL 12, 2021

Thailand Songkran 2021

On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I wish the people of the Kingdom of Thailand good health and happiness on the occasion of Songkran, the Thai New Year.

As we have faced unprecedented global challenges over the past year, both our friendship and our commitment to expanding trade and investment, countering transnational crime, and addressing regional challenges in the Indo-Pacific region has continued to grow. Our increased cooperation on health, particularly in response to COVID-19, is a testament to our collaboration for the well-being of our nations. For more than 60 years, U.S. agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, and the U.S. Agency for International Development have partnered with their Thai counterparts to safeguard the health of American, Thai, and international communities. This collaboration has never been more important.

The United States of America is proud to recognize Thailand as one of our strongest and most enduring allies. Building on our alliance, our nations have achieved notable progress on shared goals including the advancement of regional security, the expansion of trade and investment, and the maintenance of our robust people-to-people ties. We look forward to deepening our friendship with the Kingdom of Thailand even further.

Please accept our best wishes for the people of the Kingdom of Thailand in the coming year.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404839

Free Covid-19 tests to be provided under social security scheme

NationalApr 13. 2021

By THE NATION

The Ministry of Labour will provide free Covid-19 tests to members of the social security scheme.

The initiative covers members under Sections 33, 39 and 40 of the Social Security Act.

Section 33 covers current employees, Section 39 covers former employees who wish to preserve their insured status by continuing to contribute to the fund, and Section 40 covers self-employed people.

“The programme will kick off on April 17 at Bangkok Youth Centre (Thai – Japan) in Bangkok’s Din Daeng district, whereas those insured under the social security scheme, who are in risky groups, can receive Covid-19 tests for free,” Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin said on Monday.

“We expect to provide testing to 300 people per hour, while the test results would be received within 24 to 48 hours.”

Suchart added that this programme was a joint initiative of the ministries of Labour and Interior to curb the spread of Covid-19 in Bangkok areas, especially among those who have just returned from a trip to their hometowns during the Songkran holidays.

“If anyone insured is found to be infected, they would be sent to hospitals under the social security scheme for free treatment. Currently there are 81 hospitals registered with the ministry, with total capacity of over 1,000 beds,” added Suchart.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404838

K-Research slashes tourism revenue estimates for first half of 2021 by Bt130 billion

NationalApr 13. 2021

By THE NATION

The latest wave of Covid-19 reported in Thailand since late March would affect people’s travel plans during Songkran Festival and cost the tourism industry around Bt10 billion in revenue in the second quarter of 2021, Kasikorn Research Centre (K-Research) said on Tuesday.

“During the third wave, there are a higher number of cluster cases found in Bangkok and the outbreak has spread to several provinces faster than the previous waves,” said the centre. “This has resulted in many people cancelling their domestic trips during the Songkran holidays between April 10 to 18, affecting the projected revenue of the hospitality and guided tour industry, as well as other tourism-related businesses.”

K-Research also slashed its estimate of total tourism revenue in the first half of the year by Bt130 billion — to Bt137 billion — after forecasting Bt267 billion in January, due to the second and third Covid-19 waves in late December and late March.

“The third wave could last longer than the previous ones due to the higher number of infections and the discovery that the mutated strain of the virus can spread faster,” added the centre.

“Furthermore, the economic fallout will be more serious than the previous waves as the third wave has a central hotspot in Bangkok, the province with highest value of economic activities.”

K-Research advised the government to accelerate vaccination to cover as many citizens as possible, as well as seek alternatives in vaccine procurement from other parties.

“Both the public and private sectors must continue to employ strict preventive measures against the virus to contain the outbreak as soon as possible in order to minimise the economic impact,” K-Research said.