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Pollution hits unsafe levels in three areas in Bangkok, vicinity

NationalJan 18. 2021

By The Nation

Air pollution in three areas in and around Bangkok hit unsafe levels on Monday, with PM2.5 readings in the morning coming in at between 29 and 71 micrograms per cubic metre of air (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, while that of the World Health Organisation is 25μg/m3.

The three areas hit are:

▪︎ Bang Khunthien (71μg/m3)

▪︎ Phra Khanong (51μg/m3)

▪︎ Samut Prakan’s Pak Nam area (54μg/m3)

In other regions of the country, air quality hit unhealthy levels in Chiang Mai, Lampang, Phitsanulok, Tak, Saraburi and Ratchaburi.

In the North, PM2.5 readings came in at between 28 and 90μg/m3, with nine areas exceeding the safe standard.

In the Northeast, the readings were 25 to 35μg/m3, which is considered good overall.

In the Central region and West, PM2.5 readings were between 29 and 68μg/m3, with two areas exceeding the standard.

In the East PM2.5 readings stood at 31 and 43μg/m3, which can be considered moderate, while in the South, the air was very good considering PM2.5 readings came in at 14 to 27μg/m3.

People living in areas where PM2.5 pollution is bad have been advised to monitor their health and stay indoors, especially the elderly, children and patients with respiratory diseases.

The level of PM2.5 pollution in different areas can be followed via the Air4Thai.com website or smartphone app, or via bangkokairquality.com.

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369 new Covid-19 cases, most of them foreigners in Samut Sakhon

NationalJan 18. 2021

By The Nation

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) reported 369 new cases on Monday, including 12 people who arrived from overseas.

Of the returnees, eight are Thai nationals — one from the United Kingdom, one from Germany, five from Malaysia, and one from Bahrain.

Also testing positive were two American men, a French man and an Omani woman, who flew in from their respective nations.

Of the new cases, 82 were exposed to the virus while visiting high-risk areas. Provinces with the highest number of infections were Bangkok with 12 and Samut Sakhon with 51.

Proactive testing led to 275 cases, mostly in Samut Sakhon where 269 foreigners tested positive.

Meanwhile, 191 patients have recovered and been discharged.

The total number of confirmed cases in Thailand has risen to 12,423 – 10,134 of which were contracted domestically, including 3,982 found via proactive testing and 2,289 returnees. So far, 9,206 have recovered and been discharged, 3,147 patients are still in hospital and the death toll remains at 70.

According to Worldometer, as of midnight on Sunday, the total number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 95.48 million (up by 532,235), 68.17 million have recovered, 25.27 million are active cases (113,185 in severe condition) and 2.04 million have died (up by 9,151).

Thailand ranks 128th on the global list of most cases, while the US tops the list with 24.48 million, followed by India 10.57 million, Brazil 8.49 million, Russia 3.57 million and the United Kingdom 3.4 million.

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Limited room for baht to weaken in the short term

NationalJan 18. 2021

By THE NATION

The baht opened at 30.07 to the US dollar on Monday, strengthening from Friday’s closing rate of 30.10.

The Thai currency is likely to move between 30 and 30.15 on Monday and 29.85 and 30.20 within this week, said Krungthai market strategist Poon Panichpibool.

Poon forecast that the financial market would remain in a risk-off state this week, from factors worth monitoring, such as the US political situation and the Covid-19 crisis across the world.

In the US, the Mfg. & Services purchasing managers index for this month fell from December to 53 points, pointing to reduced economic activities in that time.

Meanwhile, the EU has been pressured by the virus crisis. This situation would compel the European Central Bank (ECB) to continue with relaxed financial policies, such as a freezing of the deposit facility rate at minus 0.50 per cent.

Moreover, the market is monitoring a meeting of EU finance ministers to discuss the EU recovery fund, which was a key factor to stimulate the EU economy amid the Covid-19 crisis.

In Thailand, December exports to be announced this month will tend to contract by 2 per cent from exports in December 2019, due to a problem with containers across the world, though demand for products had recovered.

In the short term, the dollar will still be supported by the market, amid the market’s concerns about the present economy. At the same time, the baht tends to fluctuate from funds flowing out from Thai stock and bond markets.

However, according to the market strategist, the baht will weaken only slightly, since foreign exporters want to sell the currency when it weakens near 30.20 per US dollar.

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Beware of apps having similar names as govt campaign, ministry warns

NationalJan 18. 2021

By THE NATION

The Ministry of Finance has warned people not to download the “RaoChana” mobile application.

Kulaya Tantitemit, Fiscal Policy Office acting director and the ministry’s spokeswoman, said that the “RaoChana” mobile application is not related to the government’s monthly cash handout campaign which has the same name.

The “RaoChana” (We Win) campaign aims to hand out two monthly payments of Bt3,500 to low-income self-employed people and farmers to mitigate financial impact from the fresh Covid-19 outbreak. Those under the social security system, government officials, and employees of state enterprises will not qualify under the campaign.

“The campaign is not yet open for registration,” she said. “Please be careful not to input personal information into any mobile application that is not officially released by the Ministry of Finance.

“The Cabinet would approve the details of the RaoChana campaign on Tuesday and would officially announce the steps to register under the campaign,” she added. “Please only obtain information relating to the RaoChana campaign from the Ministry of Finance at www.mof.go.th, its official Facebook page at @MoFNewsStationThailand, or contact the Fiscal Policy Office at 0-2273-9020 ext. 3558, 3569, 3566, 3557.”

The ministry also is investigating the application as well as other applications with similar names, which might have fraudulent intentions, added Kulaya.

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Private sector contributes to field hospitals to cope with Covid-19

NationalJan 18. 2021

By THE NATION

The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) and its partners will build a field hospital in Samut Sakhon area to cope with the latest Covid-19 outbreak there.

FTI president Suphan Mongkolsuthee said the hospital will have 200 beds.

“FTI will provide all the funding, estimated at Bt6 million to Bt10 million,” he said. “We are now surveying the location and will start construction immediately if the project is approved by nearby communities.”

Suphan added that FTI chose Samut Sakhon to establish a field hospital as there are several migrant workers in the province who have contracted the virus and who might have trouble accessing the same level of healthcare services as Thai nationals.

“If the first hospital was successful, we might consider building more in other provinces,” he added.

Meanwhile, Kalin Sarasin, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) has said that the TCC in cooperation with Siam Cement Group (SCG) had donated portable toilets as well as medical equipment to the Ministry of Public Health’s field hospital in Samut Sakhon to increase its efficiency in patient care. “Entrepreneurs who are members of TCC are also considering donating lands in Samut Sakhon to build additional field hospitals in case we need more,” he added.

Amphai Hankraiwilai, president of the Samut Sakhon Chamber of Commerce, said that currently the province had three field hospitals for treating and quarantine of Covid-19 patients.

“Two government-run hospitals are at Central Prawn Market and Provincial Central Stadium, while a private-built hospital was converted from a factory of Pattaya Food Group into a 600-bed field hospital,” she said.

“Private companies in the province have so far donated more than 50 rai (8 hectares) of land and factories to build field hospitals in case the pandemic situation in the province worsens.”

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Upper Thailand gets cooler with strong winds, monsoon strengthens in South

NationalJan 18. 2021

By THE NATION

The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Monday that the rather strong high-pressure system from China covers the Northeast and will extend to cover the upper country by today, bringing temperatures down by 3-5°C, accompanied by strong winds.

Meanwhile, the strong northeast monsoon prevails over the Gulf and the South, triggering strong winds and waves up to 2-3 metres high in the lower Gulf. All ships should proceed with caution and small boats should keep ashore until January 20, the department said.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

North: Cool to cold weather with strong winds; temperature lows of 12-19 degrees Celsius and highs of 29-33°C; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 5-12°C.

Northeast: Cold weather with strong winds; temperature lows of 9-15°C and highs of 25-30°C; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 6-13°C.

Central: Cool weather with strong winds; temperature lows of 17-19°C, highs of 32-33°C.

East: Cool weather with strong winds; temperature lows of 16-21°C, highs of 30-34°C; waves 2 metres high and over 2 metres offshore.

South (east coast): Cool weather with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 19-22°C, highs of 29-32°C; waves 2-3 metres high and over 3 metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Partly cloudy with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 21-24°C, highs of 31-33 l°C; waves 1-2 metres high and 2 metres offshore.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Cool weather with strong winds; temperature lows of 18-20°C, highs of 31-33°C.

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Value of health insurance premiums to rise 1.59% this year

NationalJan 18. 2021

By The Nation

Health insurance premiums are expected to grow 1.59 per cent this year amid worries over the Covid-19 outbreak, the Insurance Commission said on Friday.

Commission secretary-general Suthipol Taweechaikarn said total premiums are expected to rise to Bt101 billion in 2021, compared to Bt99 billion last year.

“Uncertainty over the Covid-19 outbreak has triggered demand for health insurance policies as medical expenses are likely to increase every year,” he said.

Tokio Marine Life Insurance (Thailand) said demand for health coverage policies has grown among customers with high purchasing power. Deputy CEO Somphot Keitkraival said the company will offer a new health insurance policy which covers medical treatment, physical therapy, medical check-up and vaccination, with premiums starting at Bt15,000 annually.

“The company aims to increase health insurance premiums to 50 per cent this year from 40 per cent last year,” he said.

Cigna Insurance CEO Teerawut Sutanaseriporn said his company is employing digital tech to meet customer demand in the new normal era.

“Also, we will increase channels to provide information for customers and grant additional privileges for those who use digital platforms,” he said.

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Thailand’s Covid-19 situation ‘not a cause for concern yet’

NationalJan 18. 2021

By The Nation

Thailand’s Covid-19 situation is not severe, an infectious disease expert at MedPark Hospital, said on Sunday.

Asst Prof Mondej Sookpranee said the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Johns Hopkins (JHU) evaluate the situation in each country once they receive information.

According to WHO, Thailand’s number of Covid-19 cases from December 14 to January 14 and 24-hour average were 7,025 and 271 respectively, accounting for an infection rate of 10.2 per cent and 0.4 per cent respectively per 100,000 population.

Meanwhile, JHU said the country’s number of Covid-19 cases in the past 30 days and 24-hour average were 7,189 and 459 respectively, accounting for an infection rate per 100,000 population of 10.4 per cent and 0.7 per cent respectively.

“Both organisations have evaluated Thailand in “not high burden and not growing” countries, thanks to people’s cooperation to contain the spread of the virus”, Mondej said.

He urged Thais to continue following the government’s Covid-19 prevention measures.

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Nation TV provides relief to flood victims in deep South

NationalJan 17. 2021Photos: Charoon Thongnual

By The Nation

Nation TV, in collaboration with volunteer partners, launched a caravan to deliver 2000 sets of survival bags to flood victims in the three deep South provinces. Pattani got 853 bags, Yala 872 and Narathiwat 275.

At CS Pattani Hotel, the Nation TV news team brought the donations through Nation Foundation under the scheme “Nation TV: Joining together to fight flood disaster”. They were joined by Pattani Task Force to help deliver the aid to the victims.

Floodwater levels in some areas of Pattani province are still high, such as in Ban Yuemo village, Moo 8, Barahoh subdistrict in Muang district of Pattani.

Photos: Charoon Thongnual

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Isoc denies role after protesters’ guard, missing overnight, is found

NationalJan 17. 2021

By The Nation

Pro-democracy protesters and guards gathered outside the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) in Bangkok’s Dusit district on Sunday, demanding the agency investigate an officer who had detained Mongkol Santimetakul, a guard member after the demonstration at Samyan Mitrtown in Pathumwan district on Saturday.

Pompuen Panpuangkaew, another protester guard, said they had lost contact with Mongkol after he posted a Facebook message “help” at 11pm on Saturday.

“At 1am on Sunday, a person who claimed to be an Isoc officer contacted us via Mongkol’s Line account that he will blindfold the detained guard, tie his hands before releasing him in another province,” Pompuen said.

Later, the police officers asked protesters and guards to hold the demonstration outside the Metropolitan Police Bureau to facilitate traffic on the Si Ayutthaya intersection.

At11am, Mongkol posted a Facebook message that he would be released soon, adding that it was a misunderstanding.

However, the protesters and guards went to Phya Thai Police Station to lodge a complaint because they believed that Mongkol was forced to post the message.

At 1pm, a person who claimed to be an Isoc officer contacted Pompuen that he would release Mongkol at BTS Kheha Station in Samut Prakarn province.

Later, another group of guards found Mongkol without wounds and took him to Bang Pu Police Station to lodge a complaint.

Meanwhile, Isoc spokesman, Maj-General Thanathip Sawangsaeng said on Sunday that the agency was not involved in this case.