The Ministry of Tourism and Sports reported that there had been an increase in foreign tourists visiting Thailand in January 2021, despite the second Covid-19 outbreak from December.
However, their numbers – 7,694 – were lower than those in January 2020 – 3.81 million – by 99.80 per cent.
Most of the tourists — 4,072 — came from Europe, especially from Germany, UK, France and Russia. Others included 1,749 from Eastern Asia, 1,044 from America, 293 from the Middle East, 250 from Oceania, 165 from South Asia and 121 from Africa.
NationalFeb 27. 2021Photo credit: Department of Marine and Coastal Resources
By THE NATION
Twenty-nine newborn leatherback sea turtles were released into Andaman Sea off Phuket on Friday night amid supervision by officials and watched by numerous locals.Photo credit: Department of Marine and Coastal Resources
The 29 turtles were found to be healthy enough to be released into the sea, while five newborns were placed in the care of officials.Photo credit: Department of Marine and Coastal Resources
The mother turtle had laid the eggs on Kata Beach among locals and tourists on the last day of 2020.
AstraZeneca is deeply committed to supporting the Government of Thailand’s efforts to stem the pandemic through timely access to the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca.
The shipment of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca which arrived in Thailand on Wednesday 24 February is amongst the first vaccine doses available in the Asia-Pacific. This shipment arrived well ahead of deliveries originally planned in the second quarter of 2021, and was made in special recognition to the Government of Thailand’s exceptional support for vaccine manufacturing for South East Asia. We hope this sends a signal of confidence to the people of Thailand that progress is being made in the fight against the pandemic.
AstraZeneca wishes to clarify that even though the vaccine is now physically present in Thailand, it can only be used once AstraZeneca completes all steps in the Quality Assurance process. Each batch of our vaccine undergoes more than 60 different quality control tests during its journey from manufacture to vaccination. In addition, AstraZeneca works closely with the local Health Authorities to ensure local standards for the Thai people are met. While the process takes time, it is designed to assure every person who is given our vaccine that it is of the same high quality that can be expected from any AstraZeneca product.
AstraZeneca intends to complete all the Quality Assurance steps for this batch by the second week of March as per plan. And AstraZeneca is working extremely hard for the Thai people, and actively collaborating with the Ministry of Public Health so that the vaccine can be delivered and be made available for use on the same day as completion of the Quality Assurance process.
AstraZeneca thanks the people of Thailand for their trust and support, and looks forward to continuing to work closely with the Ministry of Public Health in the interest of the health and prosperity of the people.
AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine has been granted conditional marketing authorisation or emergency use approval in more than 50 countries by the World Health Organization.
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and deputy minister Satit Pitutecha will get the first jab of Sinovac’s Covid-19 vaccine on Sunday at Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute in Nonthaburi province, Dr Sophon Mekthon, chairman of a subcommittee managing Covid-19 inoculations, said.
“Sinovac vaccines will be injected in people aged 18-59 years,” he said.
Sophon added that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will not get the first jab on Sunday, as he will get the AstraZeneca vaccine instead, which is suitable for those over 60 years.
The first lot of 117,600 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine landed in Thailand on Wednesday, but it is still pending quality inspection by the Public Health Ministry. The 200,000 doses of Sinovac’s vaccine arrived on the same day.
The Public Health Ministry will start vaccination of the public from March 1, while the list of eligible groups will be announced via the ministry’s Line official account “Mor Phrom” (doctors ready), with priority given to medical professionals.
“Hospitals will contact their personnel who volunteer to get vaccinated to register via the Line account, through which they can choose the date, time and venue of injection,” said Sophon.
“Interested people who are not medical professionals can also register via the Line account in advance, and will get vaccinated when the vaccine becomes available.
“Those who do not have a smart phone can contact public health volunteers in your village to get registered,” he said.
Sophon added that Sinovac’s vaccine will be given to the public from Monday to Friday, while the AstraZeneca vaccine will be given on weekends. Those who are injected with the Sinovac vaccine will need a second dose in 21 days, while AstraZeneca vaccine recipients will need to come back for their second dose in 10-12 weeks.
The Department of Highways announced on its Facebook page on Friday that toll fee would be collected for using an extension of the motorway connecting Pattaya city in Chonburi province with Map Ta Phut in Rayong province – from next Monday.
The department explained that this extension is a completely closed system, with assistance for travellers around the clock.
The toll rate of the motorway depends on the type of vehicle and the distance: four-wheelers — from Bt10 to Bt130; six-wheelers — from Bt15 to Bt210; and over six-wheeler — Bt20 to Bt305.
There were 72 new Covid-19 cases, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration said on Saturday.
Of the new cases, 13 were found from proactive testing and nine in quarantine facilities. Of the nine overseas travellers, five were Thai nationals – 3 from the UK and one each from Saudi Arabia and Myanmar.
The foreigners included an Iranian, a Nigerian and an Armenian from their home countries, and a British national from Ghana.
Meanwhile, 70 patients have recovered and been discharged.
As of Saturday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 25,881 (20,845 from the second wave). Of these, 23,119 had been contracted locally, including 14,498 who were found via proactive testing, while 2,762 were returnees.
So far, 25,022 have recovered and been discharged, 776 are still being treated and 83 have died.
Meanwhile, according to Worldometer, the number of confirmed cases globally on Saturday morning had risen to 113.98 million (up by 432,632), 89.53 million of whom have recovered, 23.02 million are active cases (91,046 in severe condition) and 2.52 million have died (up by 9,773).
Thailand ranks 114th in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 29.13 million, followed by India with 11.07 million, Brazil 10.45 million, Russia 4.22 million and the United Kingdom 4.16 million.
PM’s vaccination postponed but no reason given for delay
NationalFeb 27. 2021Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha
By THE NATION
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha would not be vaccinated on Sunday as scheduled, the Office of the Prime Minister informed the press.
The new date has not been confirmed yet.
The office did not give the reason for the postponement. The press speculated that the Public Health Ministry was likely not ready for this operation.
On Friday, the PM had stated that he was ready for the vaccination. If related agencies call him, he would visit them by himself, he had said.
The first batch of AstraZeneca vaccine arrived in Thailand on February 24, following the Sinovac vaccine on the same day. The PM was to be inoculated with the AstraZeneca vaccine.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will field for the first time a female candidate for election to the United Nations’ International Law Commission (ICL) for the period 2023-2027.
Elections for the ICL will take place in November this year.
“Dr Wilawan Mangklathanakul, director-general at the Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs, is our most suitable candidate who has both readiness and strong interest in international laws,” said ministry spokesman Thani Saengrat on the ministry’s official Facebook page.
“If elected, she aims to push the legal aspects relating to rising sea level and public healthcare, which are among the top concerns of Thai and global citizens.”
Thani added that having a Thai representative in the ICL will benefit the country in many aspects, such as demonstrating the potential of Thai people on an international stage, representing Thailand’s views and experiences in drafting international laws, as well as helping us understand the international relationship of member countries at a deeper level.
Wilawan is not only the first female candidate from Thailand to run for the ICL, she is also the first female candidate from Asean.
Particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometres (PM2.5) in 28 areas of Bangkok and its vicinity exceeded healthy levels at 7am, the Pollution Control Department said on Saturday.
The most polluted areas included:
Liap Wari Road in Bangkok’s Nong Chok district (69 micrograms per cubic metre)
Mahachai subdistrict in Samut Sakhon (68mcg per cubic metre)
Din Daeng Road in Bangkok’s Din Daeng district (65mcg per cubic metre)
Lat Phrao Road in Bangkok’s Wang Thong lang district (63mcg per cubic metre)
Nawamin Road in Bangkok’s Bang Kapi district (60mcg per cubic metre)
Sukhaphiban 5 Road in Bangkok’s Sai Mai district (59mcg per cubic metre)
Srinakarin Road in Bangkok’s Prawet district (59mcg per cubic metre)
Tha Phra intersection in Bangkok’s Bangkok Yai district (56mcg per cubic metre)
Thawi Watthana Road in Bangkok’s Thawi Watthana district (55mcg per cubic metre)
Bueng Kum subdistrict in Bangkok (55mcg per cubic metre)
Healthy levels for Thailand have been determined at 50mcg of PM2.5 per cubic metre, or lower.
The Pollution Control Department announced the PM2.5 situation in other regions of Thailand:
Use of the whole cannabis and hemp plants as food ingredients is prohibited but parts of them are allowed under some conditions, the Ministry of Public Health said in an announcement on food ingredients that are prohibited for sale or import for the safety of consumers.
The criteria for using cannabis and hemp as food ingredients caught public attention after the government removed the plants from Thailand’s narcotics list in order to boost their potential as economic plants.
The announcement, signed by Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on February 25, listed 80 items of prohibited food ingredients from plants and animals, while cannabis and hemp are listed as No. 18.
The list stipulated that the sale or the import of the whole cannabis and hemp plants are prohibited as food ingredients, but the following parts are allowed:
– Bark, stem, stalk, fibre and root
– Leaves without flowers
– Extract that contains no more than 0.2 per cent of cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol per weight in dry form
Photo credit: Department of Marine and Coastal Resources
Photo credit: Department of Marine and Coastal Resources
Photo credit: Department of Marine and Coastal Resources 
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha
Photo credit: Facebook @ThaiMFA
