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PM orders tough action against Covid-19 patients who hide timeline

NationalJan 30. 2021

By THE NATION

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Friday that persons who test positive for Covid-19 but hide their timeline or travel history would face legal action, while ordering National Police chief Pol General Suwat Jangyodsuk to start investigation immediately.

The PM’s order came after it was revealed that three people whose infection was linked to a celebrity DJ’s birthday party in Bangkok had concealed their timelines from the authorities. The party held by DJ Matoom, aka Techin Ploypetch, on January 9 at Banyan Tree Hotel on Sathorn Road has been dubbed a super-spreader event after it spawned two dozen infections.

Suwat added that concealing one’s travel history after getting infected is a violation of the communicable diseases act, but the complaint must be submitted by responsible agencies, such as the public health office.

“Police is ready to file charges against concealers of their timeline as soon as we receive a complaint,” he added.

When asked about a rumour that a police inspector had helped conceal DJ Matoom’s timeline, Suwat said that police were investigating every person involved, and would pursue legal actions against violators of the law whether a citizen or police officer.

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Morning cool and windy in Upper Thailand, more rain in the South

NationalJan 30. 2021

By THE NATION

The Thailand Meteorological Department forecast on Saturday (January 30) that the moderate high-pressure system covers the Northeast, the Central, the East including Bangkok and vicinity. Cool to cold weather with strong wind are likely over upper Thailand.

Meanwhile, the northeast monsoon prevailing over the Gulf and the South is strengthening, resulting in more rain in the South and waves rising to above 2 meters during thundershowers.

During January 30–31, the westerly trough will move through the Myanmar to cover the upper North of Thailand. Isolated thundershower with gusty wind is likely in the area followed by temperature drop by 2-3°C.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours is as follows:

North: Cool weather with isolated thundershower with gusty wind; temperature lows of 16-21 degrees and highs of 29-35 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 3-13 degrees Celsius.

Northeast: Cool to cold weather with strong wind; temperature lows of 14-18 degrees and highs of 28-32 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 8-12 degrees Celsius.

Central: Cool weather in the morning with strong wind; temperature lows of 19-23 degrees, highs of 32-34 degrees Celsius.

East: Cool weather in the morning with strong wind; temperature lows of 19-22 degrees, highs of 30-33 degrees Celsius; waves a meter high and 1-2 meters offshore.

South (east coast): Partly cloudy with thundershowers in 30 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 21-24 degrees, highs of 29-33 degrees Celsius; waves 2 meters high and over 2 meters during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Partly cloudy with thundershowers in 20 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 21-24 degrees, highs of 32-34 degrees Celsius; waves a meter high and 1-2 meters offshore.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Cool weather in the morning with strong wind; temperature lows of 21-23 degrees, highs of 31-34 degrees Celsius.

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Wild elephants fight to the death on Chanthaburi golf course

NationalJan 30. 2021(Photo: Twitter @DnpReport)

By THE NATION

The genteel surroundings of a Chantaburi golf course were shattered by the thunder of mortal combat between two giants early on Friday.

Local police and officials from Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Sanctuary were alerted of wild elephants fighting at the Chatrium Golf Resort in Pong Nam Ron district of the eastern province in the early hours of the morning.

Rushing to the scene, they found the body of male juvenile tusker, aged around 6-7 years and weighing over 1 tonne, lying in a dry ditch on the golf course. The animal had suffered deeps cuts and stabbing wounds and was bleeding profusely.

(Photo: Twitter @DnpReport)

A security guard for the golf course told officials that he heard the sound of two elephants fighting at around 2am on Friday. He went to investigate and found the juvenile fighting fiercely with a much larger male elephant.

“I have seen the dead elephant before. He was living in a herd of wild elephants in the forest behind the golf course,” said the guard. He added the two male elephants may have been fighting over a female, as this is now the breeding season.

Police have asked the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation to inspect the dead elephant before burying its corpse.

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Thai cops struggling under debt totalling Bt270bn, says police chief

NationalJan 29. 2021Suwat Jangyodsuk

By THE NATION

Thai police officers owe a total of Bt270 billion in debts, national police chief Suwat Jangyodsuk revealed on Friday.

Suwat told Thansettakij newspaper that around 209,000 officers had taken loans to support their family or to purchase large items such as cars or houses.

The police chief said he has asked Krungthai Bank and the Government Savings Bank to suspend debt payments.

He is also seeking ways of generating more revenue for his subordinates. One idea is to set up a market for police spouses to run businesses. Another is to look at assets confiscated by the Anti-Money Laundering Office.

He added that he has contacted corporations to request scholarships for police officers’ children.

Suwat also pledged to give a live internet broadcast explaining the police force’s mission and allow members of the public to question him in real time.

“I will not hide anything and am ready for all questions,” he said.

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Cashless payment on expressways starts today

NationalJan 29. 2021

By The Nation

Motorists got their first chance to try out contactless payment for Bangkok expressways on Friday, as the operator launched a trial at tollbooths.

Bangkok Expressway and Metro (BEM) has installed tap-and-scan points on the Si Rat-Outer Ring Road Expressway and the Udon Ratthaya Expressway (Bang Pa-in-Pak Kret).

Payment can be made with a Visa debit or credit card (PayWave enabled) or a Mastercard (Paypass enabled) from today onwards.

The procedure is simple and convenient: stop at the booth, lower the window and touch the card to WiFi-like symbol on the payment device.

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Kids less likely to spread Covid so schools should stay open, says respiratory disease expert

NationalJan 29. 2021Dr Manoon Leechawengwongs

By The Nation

Closing schools to curb Covid-19 does more damage than good, because it deprives children of education, an expert in respiratory diseases said on Friday.

Dr Manoon Leechawengwongs, a specialist at Bangkok’s Vichaiyut Hospital, said adults were far more likely to spread Covid-19 than children. Writing on Facebook, he added that children rarely show symptoms after infection, while their death rate from Covid-19 is lower than from other common respiratory diseases.

“Closing schools helps stop the virus spreading from children to their families, but it is not worth it when children’s opportunity to study is halted,” he said.

Children were at risk of Covid-19 infection in school, especially young children, who find it hard to follow control measures, said Dr Manoon. He added that many children study in poorly ventilated classrooms, which increases the chance of the disease spreading. But he applauded the move to reopen public schools nationwide – except in Samut Sakhon – from Monday.

“We must recognise that we will have to live with Covid-19 for a long time, so I agree with the government’s move to reopen schools soon,” he said.

He added that teachers should be vaccinated to prevent them from spreading the virus to children in the classroom.

Currently, Thailand’s Covid-19 inoculation programme does not cover children, since more research is needed on the vaccines’ efficacy and safety in kids.

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RaoChana scheme launched without hitch, card considered for non-smartphone users

NationalJan 29. 2021

By The Nation

The RaoChana (WeWin) system did not crash when as many as 6 million people registered as soon as the website was launched on Friday morning, Kulaya Tantitemit, inspector general of the Finance Ministry, said.

Under the RaoChana scheme, people will be paid a Bt3,500 cash handout for two consecutive months.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed officials to come up with a special card that non-smartphone users can use to withdraw the money. He said officials are checking to see how this card can be used without people crowding in one place, he said.

The system is open for registration from 6am to 11pm daily until February 12, after which names of those who are eligible will be published on the RaoChana website. The first payment will be made on February 18.

People who do not have a smartphone can register on February 15 at the nearest branch of the Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives bank, the Government Savings Bank and Krungthai Bank. The Finance Ministry predicts some 31.1 million people will be eligible for the subsidy

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Close to Bt500 million allocated to prop up Thailand’s fruit industry

NationalJan 29. 2021

By The Nation

In a teleconference with Thailand’s fruit board, Alongkorn Polabutr, adviser to the agriculture and cooperatives minister, confirmed plans for expanding both local and international markets for the country’s fruit industry.

The fruit board has earmarked Bt492 million for increasing sales channels for fruit growers as well as launching promotion campaigns. It is also planning link up with the Chinese rail link via Laos as well as link up with markets in South Korea, Russia, Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

The traceability system will also be improved to ensure consumers’ confidence.

Thailand’s fruit sector has been badly affected in the fallout of Covid-19, while the Office of Agricultural Economics has predicted that the fruit harvest this year will rise by 24 per cent.

The meeting also agreed to include another 160 farming households in the 2020 Farmers’ Remedy Project, bringing the number of households covered up to 202,173.

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Foreign Ministry issues statement explaining Covid-19 vaccine procurement process

NationalJan 29. 2021

By The Nation

The Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Thursday saying the government has attached the highest priority to the safety and quality of Covid-19 vaccines being procured.

The statement also said that all vaccines will first be approved by the Thai Food and Drug Administration before the population is administered shots.

The statement, released by the ministry’s permanent secretary Thani Thongphakdi, said Thailand has negotiated with all potential manufacturers and is not relying on any single candidate. However, it said, deals have only been confirmed with manufacturers that can accept Thailand’s terms and conditions.

Meanwhile, the statement said, AstraZeneca reviewed many companies in Thailand and decided that Siam Bioscience has the potential to manufacture viral vector vaccines. It also meets the requirement of producing at least 200 million doses per year.

Thailand’s arrangement with AstraZeneca to produce vaccines for local use as well for distribution to other countries in Southeast Asia is based on a “no profit, no loss” principle, the statement said.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet has approved Bt1 billion for the National Vaccine Institute to research and develop vaccines in Thailand. This budget will be divided among other manufacturers, like Baiya Phytofarm and Chulalongkorn University, who have the potential to develop a Covid-19 vaccine.

The statement also said the National Science and Technology Development Agency is working on developing a Covid-19 vaccine with Siam Bioscience.

As of Tuesday, Thailand has ordered 61 million doses of the vaccine from AstraZeneca and 2 million doses from China’s Sinovac. The director of the National Vaccine Institute has said the 63 million vaccines should be enough to cover the most vulnerable groups in Thailand.

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SRT rolls out more trains to meet increased demand in Feb

NationalJan 29. 2021

By The Nation

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is launching more train services to meet higher demand in February.

SRT governor Nirut Maneephan said the move was in line with the easing of Covid-19 containment measures by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration.

He added that the SRT had adjusted terminal stations on some train routes.

Northern line: Service starts on February 1

No. 207/208 Bangkok-Nakhon Sawan-Bangkok (changed to Ayutthaya-Nakhon Sawan-Ayutthaya)

No. 303 Bangkok-Lopburi (changed to Ayutthaya-Lopburi)

No. 318 Lopburi-Bangkok (changed to Ayutthaya-Bangkok)

No. 401/402 Lopburi-Phitsanulok-Lopburi

No. 339 Bangkok-Kaeng Khoi (changed to Bangkok-Ayutthaya)

No. 210 Ban Takhli-Bangkok (changed to Lopburi-Ayutthaya)

Northeastern line: Service began on January 28

No. 419/420 Nakhon Ratchasima-Ubon Ratchathani-Lam Chi

No. 423/424 Lam Chi-Samrong Thap-Nakhon Ratchasima

No. 427/428 Nakhon Ratchasima-Ubon Ratchathani-Nakhon Ratchasima

Northeastern line: Service starts on February 1

No. 433/434 Kaeng Khoi Junction-Bua Yai Junction-Kaeng Khoi Junction

Southern Line: Service starts on February 1

No. 485/486 Nong Pladuk Junction-Nam Tok-Nong Pladuk Junction (changed to Kanchanaburi-Nam Tok-Kanchanaburi)

No. 489/490 Surat Thani-Khiri Rat Nikhom-Surat Thani

Eastern line: Service starts on February 1

No. 277/278 Bangkok-Kabinburi-Bangkok

No. 279/280 Bangkok-Ban Khlong Luk Border-Bangkok (changed to Bangkok-Aranyaprathet-Bangkok)

Nirut said the SRT had implemented measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19, such as setting up Covid-19 screening and hand sanitising checkpoints, while passengers are required to wear mask and check-in via ThaiChana smartphone app.

For more information, contact SRT call centre: 1690, or visit @pr.railway Facebook page.