Thailand’s Covid-19 hospitalisations drop, but deaths rise in 2nd week of 2023
MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2023
Though fewer people have been hospitalised for Covid-19 during the second week of this year, the number of deaths has risen, the Department of Disease Control (DDC) said on Monday.
According to DDC, 969 people were hospitalised for Covid between January 8 and 14, averaging 138 patients per day. This was slightly lower than the 997 patients hospitalised in the week of January 1-7, which averaged about 142 patients per day.
So far this year, 1,966 patients have been admitted to hospital for Covid-19 symptoms.
Meanwhile, the second week of this year saw 65 deaths from Covid, or approximately nine deaths per day, compared to 58 deaths in the first week or about eight deaths per day. So far this year, 123 people have died from Covid-19.
DDC said 322 Covid patients are being treated for lung infections and 203 of them are on ventilators.
As of January 14, the Public Health Ministry has administered 144.463 million doses of Covid vaccines, of which 57.1 million are first doses, 53.66 million second doses and the rest boosters.
Foreign entities among eight firms interested so far in bidding for Patong expressway project
MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2023
Eight Thai and foreign firms have so far purchased bidding documents from the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) to build an almost 4-kilometre-long expressway linking Tambon Krathu with Patong Beach in Phuket province.
EXAT governor Surachet Laophulsuk said the authority has been selling the request for proposal (RFP) documents for the 3.98km Krathu-Patong expressway project, estimated to cost 14 billion baht, since December 26 and eight firms have bought it so far.
Sale of the RFP documents will continue until January 25. The EXAT will call on the document buyers to submit their envelopes on April 7, Surachet added.
A source from the EXAT said each bidder would be required to submit four envelopes stating the bidder’s qualifications for the project; the technicalities involved in the construction; the total investment and returns; and, other proposals that would benefit the services.
The source said that in order to qualify, the bidder must secure at least 85% of points for each envelope and 90% for all the conditions.
The first envelopes will be opened on April 28 and the winner is expected to be announced late this year.
Surachet said Chinese and South Korean investors were among those who had bought the RFP documents.
“The EXAT is open to both Thai and foreign investors for this project but there is a condition that the consortium bidding for the project must be led by a Thai entity,” Surachet said.
The EXAT source clarified that a Thai entity must hold 51% stake in any consortium that bids for the project and the Thai entity must have been registered for at least three years.
Work on the construction of the 3.98km Krathu-Patong expressway in Krathu district will begin in 2024 and the expressway would be opened to motorists in 2027.
The expressway would be a PPP (public private partnership) net cost project, meaning the EXAT would pay for land expropriation and the private firm would bear the construction expenditure, as well as the operation and maintenance cost. The land expropriation cost would be 5.792 billion baht and the construction cost would be 8.878 billion baht.
The bid winner would be allowed to collect expressway toll for the next 35 years and ownership of the expressway would be transferred to the EXAT once construction is completed under the build-transfer-operate model.
The expressway will be an elevated road with four lanes in each direction and it would have a tunnel in the middle.
The construction would take no longer than four years.
According to studies by the EXAT, the expressway would be used daily by some 35,000 motorcycles and 36,000 vehicles with four or more wheels.
A motorcycle will be charged 15 baht for the toll, 40 baht for a four-wheel vehicle, 80 baht for a six-to-10-wheel vehicle, and 125 baht for a vehicle with more than 10 wheels.
Thai beauty Anna has ‘no regrets’ about joining Miss Universe pageant
MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2023
Thai beauty queen Anna Sueangam-iam insisted she had no regrets after failing to qualify for the final round of 16 contestants at the 71st Miss Universe pageant in New Orleans on Saturday night.
Writing in an Instagram post on Monday, Anna expressed satisfaction with her performance and said everybody should be happy for her.
“Anna is now feeling better,” said the post, adding that it was best to live in the present.
It went on to say that the Miss Universe pageant had given her plenty of experiences as well as the chance to show that everyone can fulfil their dreams whoever they are.
Anna rose from humble beginnings as the daughter of trash collectors in Bangkok.
On Monday, she also asked fans to continue to follow her career.
American model R’Bonney Gabriel, 28, was crowned Miss Universe on Saturday night (Sunday morning, Bangkok time) in New Orleans. Venezuela’s Amanda Dudamel and Dominican Republic’s Andreína Martínez were named first and second runners-up, respectively.
Though she failed to make the final round of 16, Anna won the Transformational Leadership Award. The award was being presented for the first time, in a collaboration between the Miss Universe brand and ImpactWayv, a global social impact platform “uniting people, businesses and nonprofits to accelerate their collective impact”.
Trouble ahead for Thai nominees behind Chinese-owned restaurants in Yaowarat
MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2023
The government has taken heed of public suspicion that Chinese investors have been setting up restaurants via Thai nominees in Bangkok’s Chinatown, a government spokesperson said in response to complaints.
Deputy government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek said on Monday that relevant government agencies have been instructed to investigate whether the complaints circulating via social networks are true.
Local food vendors have been complaining that Chinese investors have been taking away their business by setting up eateries via Thai nominees in Bangkok’s Yaowarat or Chinatown area.
Yaowarat is popular among Chinese tourists and rumour has it that Chinese tycoons have opened restaurants to cater to them.
Rachada said the Commerce and Labour ministries have joined forces with Royal Thai Police, the Immigration Bureau, Tourist Police, Special Branch and local police stations to investigate the issue.
She said foreigners can only set up food and beverage businesses once they receive a permit from the Business Development Department.
She said that though foreigners need Thai partners, these partners are required to provide bank certificates proving that they have enough assets to make an investment as legal entities, Rachada added.
She said Thais who are nominees of foreign businessmen can face a maximum jail term of three years and/or a fine of between 100,000 and 1 million baht. They can also face a daily fine of between 10,000 and 50,000 baht.
Last year, Bangkok’s Chinatown was voted the world’s 8th most interesting street to visit thanks to its history and food culture.
Good teachers make good citizens, says PM to mark Teacher’s Day
MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2023
Teachers are key to turning children into good, high-quality humans who can drive the country towards a brighter future, the premier announced on Monday.
“Apart from providing knowledge and skills to students, teachers also have the important role of training students to become good citizens and become responsible for communities, society and the nation,” government spokesman Anucha Buraphachaisri quoted the PM as saying.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s speech marking National Teacher’s Day was broadcast via MCOT HD channel at 6.30am and again via the NBT channel at 10.33am.
Thailand marks National Teachers Day on January 16 every year.
Anucha said the government is focusing on developing teachers’ potential and their quality of life to ensure they become an important force to drive the country’s education sector.
He added that this year’s Teacher’s Day slogan devised by Prayut is: “Good Teacher, Good Students, Have a Future”. Anucha said the PM hopes teachers will become role models for students to develop and become good citizens.
“The premier also wishes teachers and educational personnel happiness, health and great success in their careers,” he said.
However, fares will increase gradually as taxi drivers must first apply for meter adjustment and verification from the Department of Land Transport (DLT).
The DLT is offering this service to all Bangkok taxi drivers at Bang Sue Grand Station from January 16 to 28.
“The meter adjustment and verification are available at the station from Monday to Saturday from 8am to 5pm,” said Piya Yoma, DLT Passenger Transport Bureau director.
The flag-fall for ordinary taxis remains at 35 baht but the fare for subsequent kilometres has been increased by 1 baht.
The new fares for metered taxis in Bangkok are as follows:
• 6.5 baht/km for kilometres 2-10
• 7 baht/km for kilometres 11-20
• 8 baht/km for kilometres 21-40
• 8.5 baht/km for kilometres 41-60
• 9 baht/km for kilometres 61-80 (unchanged)
• 10.50 baht/km for kilometres 81 and above (unchanged)
The charge for traffic congestion and when the vehicle travels at less than 6km/hour has been increased by 1 baht to 3 baht per minute.
Call taxis will cost an additional 20 baht in service fees, while taxis to and from Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports will cost an additional 50 baht.
Also, the flag-fall for large cabs will rise to 40 baht.
Lunar surge may surpass 1.8 million passengers at airport
SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 2023
As many as 1.81 million passengers are expected to pass through Suvarnabhumi international Airport during the Chinese New Year festival from January 16 to 28, the airport’s general manager, Kittipong Kittikachorn, said on Sunday.
The airport will see 10,965 flights during the festival: 7,635 international and 3,330 domestic flights, he said.
Ten airlines have asked for 86 extra and charter flights: 84 international and two domestic, Kittipong said.
“The top three airlines that requested extra and charter flights are T Way (26 flights), Jeju Air (24 flights) and Xiamen Airlines (10 flights),” he added.
Kittipong said more check-in counters for 16 airlines had been added, while the number of ground staff was being increased to reduce congestion.
Chinese interpreters will be out in full force and shop operators have been asked to use Chinese-language banners during the festival,
“The airport will show Chinese-language video clips to introduce visitors to public transport services,” Kittipong said.
He said passengers should arrive at the airport at least three hours before departure, adding that the biggest crowds are expected between 7pm to 9pm.
Upgrade aims to create highway to prosperity in North
SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 2023
The Highways Department has finished a 699.54 million baht upgrade of a critical section of Highway No 1 in Phayao province to better facilitate transport and tourism in the North.
The department announced that it had finished re-paving 27.88 kilometres of the four-lane roadway, also known as Phaholyothin highway.
The highway is a major route connecting Thailand and Laos. The highway has been repaved from kilometre markers 814+000 to 881+325, passing through Ngao district in Lampang, Muang and Mae Jai districts in Phayao, and Phan district in Chiang Rai, officials said.
Each side of the road has two lanes that are 3.50 metres wide. The upgrade made the asphalt 15 centimetres thick.
The Highways Department said it had upgraded the highway to increase safety because it is a route connecting Thailand and Laos. The upgrade is also part of the government’s policy to accelerate Thailand integration in the Asean Economic Community.
China’s reopening lifts Thai export sector but recovery is fragile: experts
MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2023
The reopening of China will benefit Thailand’s key export sector but the recovery remains fragile, experts say.
China, Thailand’s second-largest export market after the US, lifted border restrictions on January 8, spurring hopes of economic and trade recovery.
Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO) director Poonpong Naiyanapakorn expects the country’s reopening to boost Thailand’s export sector, led by shipments of fruit, food and beverages, and fashion items.
Thai exports to China fell 6.5% in the first 11 months of last year, according to the Commerce Ministry.
However, Poonpong expressed concern over the possibility of another lockdown in China, where infections are surging after the zero-Covid policy was scrapped following mass protests last month.
Thai exports of durians, cassava, rubberwoods and chemicals would be affected if Beijing reimposes lockdown measures, he said on Monday.
On the positive side, Thailand’s medical exports could benefit if China’s borders remain open, he added.
Poonpong also cautioned that Chinese consumer demand could be dampened by rising inflation and strict monetary policies.
Nevertheless, he expects reduced tariffs under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership to help boost Chinese imports from Thailand.
He advised Thai exporters to reduce risk by expanding their markets to other countries, diversify by creating a variety of new products, and make sure they had solid financial plans.
The Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) meanwhile cautions that slow growth in China would contribute to Thai exports shrinking in the first two quarters this year before rebounding as global demand recovers. The TCC said current strengthening of the baht could hit the competitiveness of Thais exports.
Gold rush to become trickle this Chinese New Year as Thais cut spending
MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2023
The Gold Traders Association (GTA) expects gold sales to rise by only 5% to 10% during the Chinese New Year festival this coming weekend.
Chinese New Year usually brings a gold rush in Thailand with consumers queueing at gold-shop counters seeking gifts for their loved ones.
However, this year Chinese-Thai people will prefer to buy smaller trinkets weighing one or two salung, rather than one-baht pieces, GTA vice-president Pichaya Phisuthikul said.
One salung is 3.81 grams, or one-quarter of a baht.
He added that many gold consumers were still watching their spending as they had not yet paid off debts built up during the Covid-19 crisis.
Many gold shops meanwhile have reopened after their business was severely hit during the Covid-19 crisis, Pichaya said. However, some were still suffering staff shortages and many operators were unable to pay bonuses.
“It will take some time until businesses recover,” he said.
He advised investors to buy gold when the price drops to between 28,000 and 28,500 baht per baht-weight, and sell when the price approaches 30,000.
He also warned investors to be cautious when using gold-saving services as they risked becoming victims of criminals aiming to steal their cash.
Worachai Tangsitpakdee, director of the Chin Hua Heng chain of gold shops, also expects gold sales to rise over Chinese New Year, which falls on Sunday, January 22.
However, he expects Chinese-Thais to prefer gold pendants or rings to large necklaces as people would be reluctant to spend big on gold amid the economic recovery.
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