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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403266

Cabinet to look into measures for Songkran festival

NationalMar 03. 2021

By The Nation

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha indicated on Wednesday that the Cabinet will consider new measures for this year’s Songkran festival.

He said no new Covid-19 cases emerged during the last long weekend at the end of February despite a large number of people travelling and jamming up roads. Many hotels were also overbooked that weekend.

Prayut said the lack of new infections was due to good cooperation from people in wearing masks, keeping their hands clean and practising social distancing.

He added that the Cabinet will see if people should be allowed to enjoy the festival freely, or if some preventive measures should be put in place.

He said it may open the door to new infections if people flock together to splash water on each other, adding that new infections will have a ripple effect nationwide.

Songkran, the Thai new year, is marked from April 13 to 15.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403264

Medical blogger Dr Sandy among first in Thailand to get Sinovac shot

NationalMar 03. 2021Photo credit: Mor Sandy Mee Rueang Lao (Dr Sandy has stories to tell)

By THE NATION

Popular medical blogger Dr Sandy offered a guide to Covid-19 vaccination on Monday after getting a Sinovac shot.

The first batch of AstraZeneca and Sinovac vaccine arrived last Wednesday, with Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul getting Thailand’s first jab on Sunday.

Photo credit: Mor Sandy Mee Rueang Lao (Dr Sandy has stories to tell)

Dr Sandy explained that as a worker in a red-zone hospital, she was prioritised for vaccination the next day.

She told followers of her Facebook page “Mor Sandy Mee Rueang Lao” (Dr Sandy has stories to tell) that she had no prior knowledge of which vaccine she would get. But as a paediatric doctor, she knew getting vaccinated was necessary, even if it does not offer 100 per cent protection against Covid-19.

Photo credit: Mor Sandy Mee Rueang Lao (Dr Sandy has stories to tell)

She described how staff at her hospital first registered and signed a vaccination consent form. They were asked whether they had any congenital diseases, were pregnant or took any medicines. Her hospital director was the first to be vaccinated.

All those vaccinated were asked to monitor themselves for side effects. Dr Sandy said she had none and was able to work in the afternoon following her jab. The second dose was scheduled for the next two to four weeks.

In the coming months, another 1 million Sinovac doses will arrive for use mainly in high-risk areas, such as Samut Sakhon, Bangkok and Tak province, which borders Myanmar.

Photo credit: Mor Sandy Mee Rueang Lao (Dr Sandy has stories to tell)

Thailand has so far ordered a total of 63 million vaccine doses, enough to inoculate 31.5 million people this year, or roughly 45 per cent of the population.

Prioritised for vaccination this month are the elderly, medical personnel, and people suffering from severe illnesses.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403263

Shipwrecked cats go viral in arms of Navy rescuers

NationalMar 03. 2021Photo credit: Royal Thai Navy

By The Nation

Photos of four cats rescued at sea by the Royal Thai Navy went viral on Thai social media on Wednesday.

Facebook user Nookool.b on Tuesday posted photos of six Navy officials rescuing four cats from the Phamonsin Nava 10 fishing trawler, which had caught fire and begun to sink about 13 kilometres off Adang Island in Satun province.

Photo credit: Royal Thai Navy

On Wednesday, the Navy posted photos of the cats on its Facebook page, saying that their rescuers were taking good care of them.

Photo credit: Royal Thai Navy

Within hours, the Facebook post had received almost 3,000, hundreds of comments and 700 shares.Photo credit: Royal Thai Navy

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403262

CCSA releases list of Covid-related arrests thanks to public vigilance

NationalMar 03. 2021

By THE NATION

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Wednesday released a report on law violations and complaints related to the Covid-19 outbreak as of February 28, government spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri said.

“The centre received 44 complaints related to migrant workers suspected of entering the country illegally and boosting the spread of Covid-19,” he said. “Of these, 30 cases have been investigated with six suspects in five cases arrested. Of the 30 investigated, 25 were found to not be breaking any laws, and 14 are still under investigation.”

The CCSA also received 314 complaints of alleged gambling dens that could be a hotspot for infections. Officials have investigated 187 places and made arrests in 21 cases. Of those investigated 166 did not break laws, while 127 cases are still under investigation.

“The centre also received 231 complaints on lawbreaking activities that may spread the virus, of which 89 cases have been investigated and 25 suspects in 12 cases arrested. Of the investigated cases, 77 did not break any laws. Investigators are still looking into 142 cases.”

Anucha added that CCSA has received 109,097 public requests for information or assistance related to Covid-19. It has so far fulfilled 108,874 requests, while 223 are being handled.

“The prime minister thanks the public for providing useful information to officials and has also urged people to report any violations of the law or negligence of officials that may increase the risk of new Covid-19 infections,” Anucha said.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403259

Bangkok’s Ong Ang canal wakes up as restrictions eased

NationalMar 03. 2021Photo Credit: Pongsakorn Kwanmuang

By The Nation

Now that some restrictions to curb the spread of Covid-19 have been lifted in Bangkok, many places are coming back to life. One such place is the art district alongside the Ong Ang canal, which is open again for kayaking and paddleboarding.

Pongsakorn Kwanmuang, spokesperson for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), said the city administration will make kayaks, paddleboards and life jackets available for people to borrow from Friday onwards.

People can kayak or paddleboard every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 4pm to 10pm. Officials will be on hand to help.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403256

The sea’s rambutans washed up in Patong

NationalMar 03. 2021

By THE NATION

Some 200 blue-spotted sea urchins, looking much like bright red rambutans, were spotted on Phuket’s Patong Beach on Tuesday.

The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources posted images of the creatures on its Facebook page, saying they had possibly been washed up by strong waves and then left behind due to low tide.

The sea urchins were between 8 and 15 centimetres in size.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403255

Satun governor orders removal of sunken fishing boat over fear of environmental impact

NationalMar 03. 2021

By THE NATION

The governor of Satun province on Tuesday ordered the immediate salvaging of a fishing boat that had caught fire earlier in the day some 13 kilometres off Satun’s Adang Island.

“The boat is 64 gross tonne capacity and was carrying eight crew members – three Thai and five Myanmar nationals,” governor Ekarat Leesen said. “The crew had jumped off the sinking vessel and were rescued by another fishing boat. No injuries or deaths were reported.”

Ekarat said the boat sank near the Tarutao National Marine Park and he is concerned that oil spilled from the ship could damage the coral reefs.

“I have asked the national park officials to survey the area and map out the coral reef, as well as estimate the possible damage,” he said. “The authorities have also contacted the ship’s owner and related officials to prepare for the salvaging of the vessel as soon as possible to minimise the impact on the environment.”

The Tarutao National Marine Park covers a 1,490 square kilometre area of the Andaman Sea off the coast of Satun in southern Thailand. The park comprises 51 islands that are home to wild boar, civet, mouse deer, hornbill, langur, various raptors and snakes.

Related Story: Navy to the rescue as cats trapped on sinking Satun ship, crew safe

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403254

35 new cases logged, mostly in hotspots

NationalMar 03. 2021

By The Nation

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Wednesday reported 35 new cases, below the 100 mark for the 12th consecutive day, 10 of whom were returnees.

Of the 25 local cases, 17 had been exposed to the virus while visiting high-risk areas. Samut Sakhon led the list with nine cases, followed by three each in Pathum Thani and Bangkok and one each in Ayutthaya and Prachuap Khiri Khan.

Meanwhile, proactive testing led to the discovery of eight cases, five of which were in Pathum Thani and three in Bangkok.

Of the returnees, five were Thais returning from Turkey, Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria, as well as a Nigerian national who flew from his own country.

Also, four Thai women who were caught illegally crossing the Thailand-Myanmar border between February 23 and 25 tested positive on March 1.

Meanwhile, 63 patients have recovered and been discharged.

As of Wednesday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 26,108. Of these, 23,309 had been contracted locally, including 14,565 who were found via proactive testing, while 2,799 were returnees. So far, 25,483 have recovered and been discharged, 541 are still in hospitals, and the death toll remains at 84.

According to Worldometer, as of 10am, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 115.3 million (up by 365,575), 91.13 million have recovered, 21.61 million are active cases (90,196 in severe condition) and 2.56 million have died (up by 9,392).

Thailand ranks 114th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 29.37 million, followed by India 11.14 million, Brazil 10.64 million, Russia 4.27 million and the United Kingdom 4.19 million.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403253

Muay Thai gets kick out of being included in European Games

NationalMar 03. 2021

By The Nation

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha congratulated the sports sector on Wednesday after the European Olympic Committee (EOC) listed Muay Thai as one of the competitions for the European Games 2023.

The move was confirmed by the International Federation of Muaythai Associations, which said that this was the first time Thai martial arts had been included in any official European sports competition.

Prayut said the EOC believed Muay Thai is a fast-growing sport in terms of martial arts, its practitioners and audience base. The industry has been witnessing an increase in competitors and audience each year.

Muay Thai gold medals will be up for grabs in seven men’s categories, seven women’s categories, and mixed-team competitions during the games.

The European Games are held every four years. The next, to be held in Krakow, Poland, from June 9 to 25, 2023, will see 50 European nations competing.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403252

Three Thailand-Laos border checkpoints reopening for trade

NationalMar 03. 2021

By THE NATION

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved the reopening of three border checkpoints linking Thailand to Laos, deputy government spokeswoman Ratchada Thanadirek said.

“The three border checkpoints had been ordered shut to prevent Covid-19 from spreading since the first wave,” she said. “They are the Pak Saeng checkpoint in Ubon Ratchathani, Chiang Khan checkpoint in Loei and Hai Soke checkpoint in Nong Khai.”

Ratchada said the Cabinet came to the decision after the Joint Public and Private Sector Consultative Committee on Commerce proposed the reopening so that cross-border trade between the two neighbours could help the export sector.

“But the reopening will apply only to the transport of goods and products. Strict Covid-19 preventive measures will be employed at the checkpoints,” she added.

The Department of Foreign Trade reported that cross-border trade between Thailand and Laos in the first 10 months of 2020 was recorded at Bt156 billion, decreasing 5.2 per cent year on year. This made Laos Thailand’s second-biggest cross-border trade partner after Malaysia, whose trade value with Thailand during the same period amounted to Bt198.6 billion.