Air pollution in 52 districts around Bangkok and its vicinity hit unsafe levels on Wednesday morning, with PM2.5 readings coming in at 52 to 83 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m3), 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.
The 52 districts where air pollution hit unsafe levels are:
Bangkok:
Bang Khun Thian (70μg/m3), Pathumwan (53μg/m3), Thonburi (59μg/m3), Wang Thonglang (61μg/m3), Din Daeng (60μg/m3), Prakanong (65μg/m3), Dusit (55μg/m3), Pom Prap Sattru Phai (63μg/m3), Samphanthawong (57μg/m3), Phaya Thai (54μg/m3), Bang Kho Laem (52μg/m3), Yannawa (57μg/m3), Suan Luang (63μg/m3), Bang Na (66μg/m3), Chatuchak (55μg/m3), Sai Mai (68μg/m3), Bang Kapi (56μg/m3), Lat Krabang (58μg/m3), Min Buri (63μg/m3), Nong Chok (59μg/m3), Prawet (76μg/m3), Khlong San (58μg/m3), Bangkok Yai (66μg/m3), Bangkok Noi (58μg/m3), Taling Chan (68μg/m3), Thawi Watthana (72μg/m3), Nong Khaem (76μg/m3), Bang Bon (68μg/m3), Thung Khru (57μg/m3), Phra Nakhon (57μg/m3), Bang Khen (63μg/m3), Bang Phlat (53μg/m3), Sathon (55μg/m3), Don Mueang (66μg/m3), Khan Na Yao (62μg/m3), Klong Toei (58μg/m3), Bang Sue (57μg/m3), Lat Phrao (55μg/m3), Lak Si (59μg/m3), Saphan Sung (52μg/m3), Bueng Kum (59μg/m3), Khlong Sam Wa (69μg/m3), Chom Thong (59μg/m3) and Bang Khae (64μg/m3).
Samut Prakan:
Phra Pradaeng (57μg/m3), Muang (53μg/m3) and Bang Sao Thong (61μg/m3)
Nonthaburi:
Muang (55μg/m3)
Samut Sakhon:
Krathum Baen (60μg/m3) and Muang (83μg/m3)
Pathum Thani:
Khlong Luang (59μg/m3)
Nakhon Pathom:
Muang Nakhon Pathom (56μg/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 Hmong hill tribe in Ruam Thai Pattana subdistrict in Tak’s border Phop Phra district has closed all 11 villages, leaving only one guarded entrance after finding an infected person smuggled across from Myanmar.
The village headmen and villagers in the subdistrict set up checkpoints for screening people going in and out of the 11 villages to prevent Covid-19 from spreading within their communities.
Phop Phra district found that the Thai patient, who worked as a Chinese interpreter at a Myanmar casino, was smuggled into a hard-to-reach forest along the border.
The vulnerable area connects the district with Mae Sot.
There are up to 14 natural channels along the Thai-Myanmar border, and Ruam Thai Pattana subdistrict has 2-3 of them.
Phop Phra chief Sompong Fungthaweewong said the district did not have any Covid-19 case until now.
Setting up community checkpoints for each village is in accordance with the policy of the Tak governor.
Now 55 villages in Phop Phra district, including the 11 in Ruam Thai Pattana, have recruited volunteers to man the checkpoints.
Ruam Thai Pattana headman Weerachai Kongpanaphaison said the 11 villages, with a population of approximately 14,000 people, resolved to “seal” the villages in the subdistrict.
The baht opened at 29.98 to the US dollar on Wednesday, strengthening from Tuesday’s close of 30.03.
The Thai currency is likely to move between 29.90 and 30.10 on Wednesday, Krungthai market strategist Poon Panichpibool said.
On Tuesday night, financial markets were in a risk-on state again amid investors’ hopes that Joe Biden’s government would come out with economic stimulus measures.
The S&P 500 increased by 0.8 per cent, reaching a new recent high, supported by tech and energy stocks. This also led to a 1.3 per cent price rise to $53 (Bt1,589.50) per barrel of WTI crude oil. Meanwhile, the US Ten Year Treasury yield grew by only 0.03 basis points to 1.09 per cent, Poon said.
At the same time, investors off-loaded dollars after nominee for Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen stated she wanted the currency to move in line with market mechanisms. This led to the dollar weakening by 0.3 per cent, compared to other currencies.
Poon mentioned markets would monitor Biden’s assumption of the presidency and the measures he would take in the first hundred days of his government.
In Thailand, the baht continued to move in line with foreign fund flows, which depend on the Covid-19 situation in the country.
The Department of Disease Control has advised elderly people to stay safe from the new wave of Covid-19 by following five simple steps.
“Elders have the highest risk of contracting Covid-19, therefore family members should keep an eye out for their health and follow these five simple steps,” department director-general Dr Opas Karnkawinpong said on Tuesday.
1. Avoid leaving the house unnecessarily.
2. Wear a sanitary or cloth face mask whenever you have to go out, or when visited by others.
3. Wash your hands with soap and water or an alcohol hand sanitiser gel regularly.
4. Separate meals and personal items for elders to reduce the risk of the virus spreading within the family.
5. Take a shower and wash your hair immediately after coming back from outside.
“Moreover, if a family member has travelled to a high risk or crowded area, make sure to stay at least 1-2 metres away from him or her,” Dr Opas said.
“Elders who have chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart and lung diseases or liver diseases should stay home until the situation improves,” he strongly advised.
“Try engaging in domestic hobbies to avoid boredom, such as gardening or light exercise, which will also improve the body’s immune system,” he added.
For more information, contact Department of Disease Control hotline 1422.
Seacon Square and Seacon Bangkhae shopping malls have organised an event to promote the third phase of the government’s “Kon La Khreung” (Let’s Go Halves) co-payment shopping scheme, said Jaran Phuphat, the malls’ deputy director of marketing communication and organisational relationship.
Registration for the scheme started on Wednesday, but the quota of 1.34 million was filled in only 10 minutes. Under the scheme, registered users will get 50 per cent discount on their daily purchases of up to Bt150 per day, capped at Bt3,500.
“The event, called ‘Chewit Tid Kon La Khreung’, will run from January 22 to 31 on the ground floor of Seacon Square shopping mall on Srinakarin Road in Prawet district, and the ground floor of Seacon Bangkhae on Phet Kasem Road in Phasi Charoen district,” Jaran said.
“We have let shops which registered under the scheme to set up booths at our two malls at only half the price of the normal rental rate. More than 100 shops have already signed up, including those selling street food, fast food, milk bubble tea, fruit juices, clothes, fashion accessories, and plants,” he said.
Jaran also said that to abide by Covid-19 preventive measures, all eateries would provide only take-home meals and there would be no eating in, while all merchants and visitors would be screened with thermal scanners before entering.
“Face masks must be worn at all times, while social distancing will be enforced. We also have alcohol hand sanitiser dispensers at all entrances and exits,” he said.
“The event aims to help shop owners in this Covid situation by reducing rental fees, while people who have registered under the co-payment scheme can conveniently shop at participating shops in one location,” Jaran added.
A gun-wielding robber strode into a Tesco Lotus gold shop in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Noan Thai district on Tuesday, yelled at staff to lie down on the floor, vaulted over display cabinets and snapped up 119 gold necklaces worth more than Bt1.9 million in a matter of minutes before disappearing on a motorcycle.
There were no reports of injuries.
Staff at the Yaowarat Krungthep gold shop told Noan Thai police that the man, wearing a yellow hoodie, red pants and a purple face mask, approached the shop wielding a handgun and ordered them to lie down on the floor.
“The robber then jumped over the display cabinets and grabbed several gold necklaces before fleeing on a motorcycle, which had no licence plate,” one of the staff said.
The shop told officers that a total 119 gold necklaces worth more than Bt1.9 million were missing.
Police are reviewing CCTV footage in the hope of tracking down the robber. Officers have also set up roadblocks at possible escape routes.
The registration under the third phase of the government’s “Kon La Khreung” (Let’s Go Halves) co-payment shopping scheme started at 6pm on Wednesday, with the quota of 1.34 million users filled in a mere 10 minutes, leading to complaints.
After the registration was full, the hashtag #คนละครึ่งเฟส3 (#KonLaKhreungPhase3) became a top hit on Twitter, with a numbers of netizens complaining that the quota limit was filled way too fast.
Many users complained that they filled out their applications at precisely 6.01am but had to wait for the one-time password (OTP) to be sent to their mobile phones to complete their registration. When the OTP finally arrived, the quota was already full.
Others said it took more than five minutes for the OTP to arrive, which made them miss the window.
One user said he registered for three of his relatives, but only one was accepted.
Another user criticised the campaign for being “funded by citizens’ tax money, but only grants rights to some, and is nothing more than a PR stunt for the government”.
Under the scheme, registered users will get 50 per cent discount on their daily purchases of up to Bt150 per day, capped at Bt3,500.
The rather strong high-pressure system from China over upper Thailand is weakening, resulting in cool to cold weather in the North, with a 1-2° C decrease in temperatures, however mountaintops remain cold to very cold, with frost in some areas, the Meteorological Department said on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the strong northeast monsoon prevails over the Gulf and the South, leading to strong winds and waves of up to 2-3 metres high in the lower Gulf, it said, advising all ships to proceed with caution while small boat should stay ashore.
Here’s the weather forecast for the next 24 hours:
North: Cold weather with light fog in the morning; temperature lows of 12-16 degrees and highs of 27-30 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 1-10 degrees with frost in some areas.
Northeast: Cold weather with light fog in the morning; temperature lows of 10-15 degrees and highs of 24-29 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 4-11 degrees.
Central: Cool to cold weather with light fog in the morning; temperature lows of 15-16 degrees Celsius, highs of 28-30 degrees.
East: Cool to cold weather with light fog in the morning; temperature lows of 15-20 degrees, highs of 28-31 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres offshore.
South (east coast): Cool weather with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 19-25 degrees, highs of 28-31 degrees Celsius; waves 2 metres high and 2-3 metres during thundershowers.
South (west coast): Partly cloudy with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 22-25 degrees, highs of 30-33 degrees Celsius; waves 1-2 metres high and over 2 metres offshore.
Bangkok and surrounding areas: Cool weather with light fog in the morning; temperature lows of 18-19 degrees, highs of 28-30 degrees Celsius.
The Public Health Ministry on Tuesday clarified about the cooperation between AstraZeneca and Siam Bioscience, confirming that the company had been chosen for its potential to transfer technology.
Permanent secretary for Public Health Kiattiphum Wongrajit said all health chiefs had come out to explain the situation amid accusations that the government had delayed the procurement of Covid-19 vaccine, as it was expensive, and had failed to cover the public. The ministry was also accused of contacting only vaccine-maker AstraZeneca, which has a deal with Siam BioScience.
Supakit Sirilak, chief of the Department of Medical Sciences, said that the government sees the Covid-19 vaccine as only one of the tools to control the virus outbreak. A committee has been set up to procure the right vaccine for Thai people and a sub-working group is studying and following up on all information, which is still quite limited. However, the health official said the aim was to vaccinate 50 per cent of the population by 2021.
“We are currently negotiating with many vaccine companies, but due to the need for confidentiality we have not made the details public. The procurement process may be a bit slow as we have to study the vaccine first. I would like to confirm that it is not too slow,” said Supakit.
They were looking into information about the vaccine, not just the name of the company manufacturing it, said Nakhon Premsri, director of the National Vaccine Institute (NVI). He said due to the emergency and the unstable situation, more information was needed for analysts to decide on the type of vaccine to use for Thai people. A decision is made based not on the name of the company but the vaccine itself, he said.
“Our deal with AstraZeneca company isn’t just a regular vaccine deal, but also involves technology transfer during the crisis period. The company that receives knowledge of the technology needs to be qualified and ready for it. Only Siam Bioscience is capable of receiving the tech from Oxford University. Even Thai Pharmaceutical Organization does not have enough potential because of the use of modern technology,” said Nakhon.
He added that many countries were trying to get a deal like this. The Public Health Ministry, the NVI and SCG, as well as the government had collaborated in the negotiations and showed the potential of Siam Bioscience, which originally produced only biological material or drugs to increase blood cells in patients with renal failure. The vaccine production plant will get Bt500-million support from the government and Bt100 million from SCG to buy the required equipment.
“This success is built on a potential base. There is a misunderstanding about our support. I insist that it is our work in accordance with the philosophy of King Rama IX, under which Thailand has laid the health foundation and built medical expertise over 10 years. We will help Thai people access 26 million doses of vaccine and are negotiating for another 35 million doses to get enough vaccine,” said Nakhon.
Siam Bioscience was established in 2009 by Crown Property Bureau as part of King Rama IX’s vision and commitment to improve patients’ access to high quality and affordable medicines, to facilitate healthcare security and care for the health of Thai people.
Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said that no vaccine has been registered by the FDA yet.
FDA deputy secretary-general Surachok Tangwiwat confirmed that the AstraZeneca vaccine has not been registered yet, contrary to the claims of some people. AstraZeneca is in the process of requesting additional documents. That does not mean there will be a vaccine or there will be no vaccine in Thailand. It cannot be said whether the company will export it to Thailand.
If any private sector entity or importer wants to bring the vaccine for use here, they must ask the FDA for permission to be a distributor by specifying that the vaccine will be brought from any company along with necessary documents related to the vaccine.
Thailand’s Covid-19 outbreak is easing as new infections fall in controlled areas, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Tuesday. Speaking after the weekly videoconference Cabinet meeting, Prayut said a decision on whether to ease tight restrictions would be made according to an evaluation at the end of this month.
Prayut also revealed that the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine purchased by the government will gain approval from the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week. He confirmed that the private sector could also import vaccines, but only vaccines approved by the FDA
