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586 new cases found, mostly through proactive testing

NationalFeb 05. 2021

By The Nation

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Friday reported 586 new cases, 13 of whom are Thai returnees in quarantine facilities.

Of the remaining 573, 47 had been exposed to the virus while visiting high-risk areas. Samut Sakhon again leads the list with 26 cases, followed by 18 in Bangkok and three in Tak.

The rest of the cases were found via proactive testing, with the highest number – 522 – found in Samut Sakhon, three in Phetchaburi and one in Sa Kaew. The Sa Kaew case is a Cambodian prisoner who had to be tested three times before the infection was confirmed.

The 13 Thais returnees came from the United States, Italy, Tanzania, South Africa, Rwanda, Egypt, Germany, the United Kingdom and Myanmar.

Meanwhile, 533 patients have recovered and been discharged.

As of Friday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 22,644. Of these, 20,126 had been contracted locally, including 12,824 who were found via proactive testing, while 2,518 were returnees. So far, 15,331 have recovered and been discharged, 7,234 patients are still in hospital (2,272 in hospitals and 4,962 in field hospitals) and the death toll remains at 79.

According to Worldometer, as of 10am, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 105.4 million (up by 504,938), 77.25 million have recovered, 25.85 million are active cases (105,747 in severe condition) and 2.29 million have died (up by 14,287).

Thailand ranks 115th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 27.26 million cases, followed by India 10.8 million, Brazil 9.39 million, Russia 3.92 million and the United Kingdom 3.89 million.

CCSA spokesperson Dr Apisamai Srirangsan said an intensive hunt for infected people over the past 10 days has made the daily numbers high for a week. She explained that a new measure has been applied to seven large factories called “seal and bubble”.

Under this measure, workers will be provided with food and facilities to live in the factory full time for 24 days.

She also said these people should be applauded because they are sacrificing their comfort to ensure the health security of everybody else.

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Bangkok among 19 provinces with unsafe air quality

NationalFeb 05. 2021

By The Nation

Air pollution in 19 provinces hit unsafe levels on Friday morning, the Pollution Control Department reported.

Thailand’s standard for safe levels of PM2.5 (particles less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter) is 50μg/m3 or below.

The 19 provinces are: Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Sakhon, Samut Prakan, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Lampang, Phitsanulok, Tak, Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi, Prachin Buri, Sa Kaeo, Chachoengsao, Ratchaburi, Rayong and Trat.

PM2.5 readings as of Friday morning:

North: 28 to 79 μg/m3.

Northeast: 16 to 38 μg/m3.

Central region and West: 34 to 66 μg/m3.

East: 37 to 59 μg/m3.

South: 10 to 25 μg/m3.

Bangkok and its vicinity: 43 to 78 μg/m3.

People in areas where PM2.5 pollution is bad, especially the elderly, children, and patients with respiratory diseases, have been advised to monitor their health and reduce time spent on outdoor activities.

The PM2.5 situation can be followed on Air4Thai.com and bangkokairquality.com websites, or via Air4Thai and AirBKK smartphone applications.

The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency said on Thursday that the Suomi NPP satellite had found 1,035 hotspots in Thailand’s North, Central, Northeast and East, especially in forest conservation and agricultural areas.

The agency suspected that it was due to fuel management and farm clearing, adding that hotspots were found also in Cambodia and Myanmar.

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SET rises on hopes of US economic stimulus package

NationalFeb 05. 2021

By The Nation

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index rose by 9.24 points, or 0.62 per cent, to 1,492.22 in the morning session on Friday.

The SET index is expected to rebound between 1,490 and 1,495 points on hopes of rollout of US economic stimulus measures and the rise in oil price, a Krungsri Securities analyst said.

“However, outflow of foreign funds would plunge the SET,” he predicted.

He recommended that investors buy:

▪︎ PTTGC, TOP, IVL, EPG, VNT, CBG, ROJNA, TVO, STGT, HTC, CPF, RCL, PSL, SYNEX, COM7, XO, WICE, JMT, JMART, SINGER, MTC, SAWAD and KCE, whose fourth-quarter results in 2020 were expected to improve.

▪︎ ADVANC, INTUCH, AP, SIRI and WHAUP, which pay high dividends.

The SET Index closed at 1,482.98 on Thursday, up 1.23 points, or 0.08 per cent. Total transactions amounted to Bt77 billion, thanks to mass buy-ups of energy and bank shares.

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US unemployment report to influence weakening baht

NationalFeb 05. 2021

By THE NATION

The baht opened at 30.09 to the US dollar on Friday, weakening from Thursday’s close of 30.05.

The Thai currency is likely to move between 30 and 30.15 on Saturday, Krungthai market strategist Poon Panichpibool said.

He forecast that the market is waiting for the US employment report, before deciding to free the baht from their hands.

He added that “reflation trades” status of the dollar would be reduced if the US economic information to be announced in the near future is better than investors expected. In that case, the dollar would strengthen and the baht would weaken slightly.

Poon added that exporters aimed to sell the dollar when it is around Bt30.05 to Bt30.15.

In case the market is not in a complete “risk off”, when Thai assets are sold and foreign fund flows out of Thailand, the baht will weaken to a maximum of 30.15 to the US dollar.

The market strategist said that overall the market was ready for risk, due to investors’ hopes of a US economic recovery. The Rusell 2000 index increased by almost 2 per cent.

The US Ten-Year Treasury yield stayed at 1.14 per cent, due to some people playing safe amid the rise of stock markets. The dollar strengthened compared to other main currencies, and the dollar index moved near 91.5 points.

In the EU, the Stoxx 50 index rose by 0.9 per cent, supported by the growth of the FTSE index in Italy. The euro weakened to $1.197, while the pound strengthened to $1.367.

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Zero-waste incinerator to burn through Krabi’s garbage mountains

NationalFeb 05. 2021

By THE NATION

SET-listed Absolute Clean Energy (ACE) says its zero-waste incineration plant has launched operations in Krabi, aiming to rid the southern province of more than 800,000 tonnes of garbage.Thailand generated 27.4 billion tonnes of waste in 2017, or around 75,046 tonnes a day, according to official statistics.Under the “Krabi Goes Green” concept, the new incinerator will eat into Krabi’s landfills while also tackling the growing volume of garbage generated by residents and tourists in the holiday province.

Jiratha Songmetta, Chairman of ACE Executive CommitteeThe Krabi plant follows the first ACE incinerator in Khon Kaen and claims to generate zero waste-water and air pollution.No waste-sorting is necessary since the high-temperature incinerator burns paper, plastic, food waste and even metal.

The plant runs round the clock and processes up to 450 tonnes of waste per day, generating 6 megawatts of electricity per year. About 4MW of that will be sold under contract to the Provincial Electricity Authority.Krabi city mayor Keeratisak Phukaoluan said the plant handles around 200 tonnes of daily waste, while the rest comes from municipal landfills.

He said the incinerator should burn through 800,000 tonnes of dumped waste within 10 years, leaving the landfills to be renovated as parks.ACE will manage the plant under a 25-year contract that can be extended, he added.

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Gold price slumps

NationalFeb 05. 2021

By The Nation

The price of gold slumped by Bt250 per baht weight in the morning trade on Friday, the Gold Traders Association reported. 

As of 9.26am, the buying price of a gold bar was Bt25,550 per baht weight and selling price Bt25,650 while gold ornaments cost Bt25,089.80 and Bt26,150, respectively.

On Thursday’s close, the buying price of a gold bar was Bt25,800 per baht weight and selling price Bt25,900 while gold ornaments cost Bt25,332.36 and Bt26,400, respectively.

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Folk singer gets suspended sentence, fined over food supplement ad

NationalFeb 05. 2021Yingyong (File Photo)

By THE NATION

Yingyong Yodbua-ngam, a famous Thai folk singer and actor, on Thursday was given a suspended prison sentence of one year and fined Bt25,000 by Nonthaburi provincial court for exaggerating the medical efficacy of Chong Cao (cordyceps sinensis), a traditional Chinese remedy for the kidneys.

Yongyong went on television on December 21, 2020 and advertised the medical quality of a food supplement made from Chong Cao, saying that it could cure joint and knee pain in elderly people. The advertisement has led to complaints being filed against him and the advertising company, Nine Perfect Media Ltd, for exaggerating product quality and advertising the quality of food or drug without permission from the Food and Drug Administration.

The defendants pleaded guilty to the charges, which carries a sentence of two years’ imprisonment and Bt50,000 fine. Their confession led to the court halving their jail term to one year under suspension and imposing a fine of Bt25,000.

Earlier in January, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission had announced that it was tying up with the Food and Drug Administration to target those who have been falsely advertising food supplements on media channels, especially the cordyceps sinensis, which have been publicised as a cure-all, especially for kidney disease.

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SRT to prepare for transfer of train operation from Hua Lamphong to Bang Sue

NationalFeb 05. 2021Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong)

By THE NATION

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has been told to study operations of the Red Line urban train running to and from Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong) to determine the appropriate number of trains and necessary routes to be provided for commuters during the transfer of train operation from Hua Lamphong Station to Bang Sue Grand Station.

Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob said on Thursday: “We estimate that the transfer will affect up to 33,460 commuters per day. SRT must determine a suitable fare rate for Red Line that does not impose a burden on commuters or affect its total revenue,” he said.

“I have also tasked the Department of Land Transport and Bangkok Mass Transit Authority to find traffic solutions to alleviate the impact on commuters, including providing feeder service during rush hours.”

The Bang Sue Grand Station and Red Line urban train are scheduled to open for the public in November. The Red Line’s first test run is expected to start on March 26, which is SRT founders’ day, while the public test run will begin in July when commuters can commute for free until the official opening.

“The ministry is also drafting a plan to transfer personnel from SRT to the SRT Electrified Train, which will be responsible for the operation of the urban train, and would soon submit it for Cabinet approval,” said Saksayam.

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Alleged baht counterfeiter arrested in Si Sa Ket

NationalFeb 05. 2021

By THE NATION

A man has been arrested in Si Sa Ket province for allegedly counterfeiting Thai currency.

Police from Muang Si Sa Ket station on Thursday arrested Phichaphob Phankham, aged 37 years, at his house in Nong Phai district after following the trail of fake Bt100 currency notes being found in Si Sa Ket and nearby provinces.

At the house, police reportedly found a photocopier with three original Bt100 bills inside, a paper cutter, 45 counterfeit Bt100 bills and several reams of copier paper.

Phichaphob reportedly confessed that he used the printer to make up to 100 counterfeit bills per day and had been using them at phone top-up kiosks in Si Sa Ket, Surin and Yasothon provinces, which could later be exchanged into cash.

“Earlier on Wednesday, we had arrested two suspects for using counterfeit bills at top-up kiosks in Si Sa Ket and seized over 300 fake bills,” police said.

Further investigation revealed that Phichaphob had just got out of prison on December 25 last year and had allegedly started making the fake bills since January 24.

Phichaphob was charged with manufacturing and using counterfeit money, which carries a maximum punishment of 10 years’ imprisonment to life sentence and fine from Bt20,000 to Bt40,000.

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Cool to cold weather in upper Thailand, thundershowers forecast for South

NationalFeb 05. 2021

By THE NATION

A moderate high-pressure system covers the North, the Northeast, the Central and the East, resulting in cool to cold weather in those regions, the Thailand Meteorological Department forecast on Friday.

Meanwhile, waves in the lower Gulf will rise up to about two metres high due to the moderate northeast monsoon across the Gulf and the South.

The department said that during February 7-9, outbreaks of thundershowers, strong winds and isolated hail would be likely over the North and the Northeast before the temperatures drops by 4-6 degrees Celsius.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

North: Cool to cold weather; temperature lows of 16-19 degrees Celsius, highs of 32-36°C; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 4-12°C.

Northeast: Cool to cold weather; temperature lows of 13-19°C, highs of 30-33°C; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 9-14°C.

Central: Cool weather in the morning; temperature lows of 19-21°C, highs of 33-34°C.

East: Cool weather in the morning; temperature lows of 19-23°C, highs of 31-35°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres offshore.

South (east coast): Partly cloudy with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 22-24°C, highs of 30-33°C; waves 1-2 metres high and two metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Partly cloudy with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 22-25°C, highs of 33-34°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres offshore.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: cool weather in the morning; temperature lows of 23-24°C, highs of 33-35°C.