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188 new Covid-19 cases reported, including 13 caught sneaking across border

NationalJan 15. 2021

By The Nation

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) reported 188 new cases on Friday, including 34 people who returned from overseas or sneaked across the border.

Of the returnees, 13 are Thai nationals, including one from the US, one from the Czech Republic, one from Sudan, one from the United Arab Emirates, six from Germany and three from Turkey.

Also testing positive were a British national who flew in from Hungary, a French national from Belgium, an Indian from Kuwait, a Filipino, a Pakistani national, a Russian, a Swiss national and an Egyptian national who flew in from their respective nations.

Meanwhile, 13 Thais were arrested for sneaking across the Thai-Myanmar border and sent to Mae Sot hospital for treatment.

Of the new cases, 81 were exposed to the virus while visiting high-risk areas. Provinces with the highest number of infections are Bangkok with 27 and Samut Sakhon with 47.

Proactive testing led to 73 cases, mostly in Samut Sakhon where 52 foreigners tested positive.

Meanwhile, 628 patients have recovered and been discharged.

The total number of confirmed cases in Thailand has risen to 11,450 – 9,204 of which were contracted domestically, including 3,260 found via proactive testing and 2,246 returnees. So far, 8,288 have recovered and been discharged, 3,093 patients are still in hospital and the death toll remains at 69.

According to Worldometer, as of midnight on Thursday, the total number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 93.53 million (up by 749,265), 66.8 million have recovered, 24.7 million are active cases (111,793 in severe condition) and 2 million have died (up by 16,001).

Thailand ranks 128th on the global list of most cases, while the US tops the list with 23.85 million, followed by India 10.53 million, Brazil 8.32 million, Russia 3.49 million and the United Kingdom 3.26 million.

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Pollution hits unhealthy levels in 11 areas of Bangkok, its vicinity

NationalJan 15. 2021

By The Nation
Photos by Korbphuk Phromrekha

Air pollution in 11 areas in Bangkok and its vicinity hit unsafe levels on Friday morning with PM2.5 readings coming in at 44 to 111 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m3), the Pollution Control Department reported.

The department said it expects the PM2.5 level to rise until Saturday due to a drop in wind speed, adding that the situation should improve on Sunday.

Thailand’s standard for safe levels of PM2.5 (particles less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter) is 50μg/m3, whereas the World Health Organisation sets it at 25μg/m3.

11 areas where the pollution has hit unsafe levels are:

Bangkok:

• Bang Khunthien 111μg/m3

• Phra Khanong 91μg/m3

• Bang Na 99μg/m3

• Sai Mai 92μg/m3

• Prawet 108μg/m3

• Nong Khaem district 92μg/m3

• Don Mueang 93μg/m3

• Chom Thong 93μg/m3

Samut Prakan

• Muang district 111μg/m3

• Bang Sao Thong 99μg/m3

Samut Sakhon

• Muang district 111μg/m3

People in areas with high levels of PM2.5 have been advised to monitor their health and reduce time spent outdoors, especially the elderly, children and patients with respiratory ailments.

Pollution levels can be monitored via the Air4Thai.com website or its smartphone app, or via bangkokairquality.com.

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Baht stays firm, but funds inflows to determine direction

NationalJan 15. 2021

By THE NATION

The baht opened at 30 to the US dollar on Friday, unchanged from Thursday’s closing rate.

The Thai currency is likely to move between 29.90 and 30.05, said Krungthai market strategist Poon Panichpibool.

On Thursday night, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq indexes fell by 0.4 and 0.1 per cent, after initial jobless claims announced this week were almost 1 million positions. It was worse than what the market expected at around 800,000 positions.

Meanwhile, tech stocks were sold for speculation, due to investors’ concerns over their value, while the US Ten-Year Treasury yield rose by 4 basis points to 1.13 per cent.

Poon explained that the Treasury tended to grow continually, after Joe Biden reportedly decided to propose a stimulus measure to the Congress.

In the financial market, the dollar weakened, compared to other main currencies. This happened after the Fed chairman assured that his organisation would not hasten relaxation of quantitative easing or increase the tax rate.

Poon mentioned that US retail sales in December rose by 0.2 per cent from November, when sales had contracted by 1.1 per cent. Also, the UofM Consumer Sentiment this month touched 81 points from 80.7 points in December.

In Thailand, the market strategist said that the baht’s direction would depend on funds flow from foreign countries, and the virus situation in the country was a key factor.

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[Update] Visitors to 27 Chonburi hotspots urged to get Covid tests

NationalJan 15. 2021

By The Nation

*Correction : De Florist Café was wrongly named as a spot visited by a patient. The patient actually visited Dripoly Restaurant. We apologise for the mistake.

Chonburi’s Provincial Health Office has issued a list of Covid-19 hotspots as part of its efforts to track down at-risk members of the public. 

People who visited 27 locations in the province between December 20 and 31, 2020 and have not yet been tested for Covid-19 are urged to contact their local district health office for virus screening.

The 27 locations are as follows:

– James Boy Pub and Karaoke, Sri Racha district

– Satang Pub, Sri Racha

– Sense of the Sea bar, Bang Lamung

– Dripoly, Bang Lamung

– Spicy restaurant, Sri Racha

– Flower Snack Japan shop, Sri Racha

– Brewery 90 Sriracha, Sri Racha

– Orange Bar Amata Nakorn, Muang Chonburi

– Cool Club restaurant, Sri Racha

– Halem Snack Japanese shop, Sri Racha

– Bar Snack shop, Sri Racha

– Midori Snack, Sri Racha

– Pa Dang Beer Brewery, Sattahip

– Mountain Bar and Bistro restaurant, Sattahip

– Nuu Mai Deu restaurant, Sri Racha

– Kiss Snack bar, Sri Racha

– Hops Bar Pattaya, Bang Lamung

– OPPAI Snack shop, Sri Racha

– SANKYU39 Bar & Bistro, Sri Racha

– 48 Bar, Sri Racha

– Friend Zone club, Bang Saen

– BUZZED BAR, Sri Racha

– MEETING CLUB, Sriracha

– Differ Club Pattaya, Bang Lamung

– Lan Lom restaurant, Sri Racha

– Snooker club near Brewery 90, Sri Racha

– Plearn Bar 168 restaurant, Sattahip

To report Covid-19 symptoms after visiting any of the locations above, phone Muang Chon Buri District Public Health Office at (038) 282148, Sriracha District Public Health Office at (038) 322503, Sattahip District Public Health Office at (038) 245330, or Bang Lamung District Public Health Office at (038) 221925.

Chonburi recorded 10 new cases of Covid-19 on Thursday, bringing total to 630 cases from the outbreak that began in mid-December. Of these, 357 are still being treated in hospital.

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Officer suspended after being charged with raping Myanmar drug suspect in police station

NationalJan 15. 2021

By THE NATION

A police senior sergeant-major in Surat Thani province has been suspended from duties for allegedly raping a Myanmar drug suspect at a local police station.

The officer was an investigation squad leader at Bo Phut Police Station in Surat Thani’s Koh Samui district.

Surat Thani police chief Pol Maj-General Sathit Pholpinit issued an urgent order on January 13 suspending the officer, and appointed a disciplinary committee to investigate the incident within seven days.

The alleged incident reportedly took place at around 1.50am-2.30am on January 13, when the suspect took a 21-year-old female Myanmar national, who had been detained at Bo Phut Police Station on a drug charge, out of her holding cell to another room. After allegedly being raped, she was taken back to the cell.

After the incident, the victim notified the Myanmar Embassy, which filed a complaint with Bo Phut police chief Pol Colonel Yutthana Sirisombat. Yutthana reportedly said that he had interrogated the senior sergeant-major, who partly admitted and partly denied committing the alleged crime.

The officer was then charged with raping a woman and is now under detention at Koh Samui Court, while the victim has been brought to Koh Samui Hospital for physical examination.

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40 arrested in raid on gambling den in Nonthaburi

NationalJan 15. 2021

By THE NATION

Forty people have been arrested after police raided a house in Nonthaburi province suspected of being a gambling den.

The raid of the house in Soi Wat Lad Pla Duk on Kanchanaphisek Road in Nonthaburi’s Bang Bua Thong district on Thursday night followed a tip-off.

“Officials have arrested 40 persons, 33 are Thai nationals and seven are migrant workers of the casino,” said Pol Maj-General Jiraphop Phuridet, deputy chief of the Central Investigation Bureau.

“Officials have also confiscated decks of cards of the Dragon-Tiger game, plastic chips and some cash as evidence.”

All the suspects were taken to Bang Bua Thong Police Station for interrogation and screening for Covid-19 in isolation rooms.

Preliminary investigation of the migrant workers revealed that the casino had been opened for only two days at the house and the owner had plans to move it around to other locations periodically. Police are gathering evidence and information to track down the owner.

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Bt75-million budget approved for building infrastructure in land reform projects

NationalJan 15. 2021

By THE NATION

A budget of Bt75 million has been approved by the Agricultural Land Reform Office (ARLO) for the building of infrastructure in 61 land reform projects to increase agricultural efficiency after the lands have been delivered to farmers.

ARLO secretary-general Vinaroj Supsongsuk said the board of directors had approved Bt71.2 million for building underground water wells and solar power water pump systems for 61 projects in 18 provinces, while Bt4.4 million would be used to build a 3.95-kilometre road to connect a plantation in the Khao Phanom district in Krabi province to a main road.

“The infrastructure would help ensure continued water supply to farming areas as well as improve transportation to the plantation,” he said.

In 2020, the ARLO had taken repossession of over 494,000 rai (79,040 hectares) of land from those who had possessed them illegally and has distributed the land to 43,128 farmers.

“One of ARLO’s main missions in 2021 is to allocate 5,479 rai of land to over 200 farmers in Krabinoi subdistrict in Krabi under the Krabinoi Smart City initiative,” he added.

“ARLO will help build infrastructure such as water source, electrical system and roads in the community to promote business expansion, local employment, as well as tourism industry, as Krabinoi is located near Krabi International Airport.”

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Upper Thailand gets warmer by 1-3°C, while monsoon weakens in South

NationalJan 15. 2021

By THE NATION

The weakening high-pressure system over upper Thailand would push temperatures up by 1-3 degrees Celsius, but the overall weather would remain cool to cold with morning fog, the Thailand Meteorological Department forecast on Friday.

Mountaintops remain cold to very cold.

Meanwhile, the northeast monsoon prevailing across the Gulf of Thailand and the South is also weakening. Waves in the lower Gulf are about two metres high. All ships should proceed with caution, the department said.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

North: Cool to cold weather with morning fog; minimum temperature 12-17 degrees Celsius, maximum 26-32°C; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 5-12°C.

Northeast: Cold weather with morning fog; minimum temperature 10-15°C, maximum 28-31°C; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 6-13°C.

Central: Cool weather with morning fog; minimum temperature 16-18°C, maximum 30-32°C.

East: Cool weather with morning fog; minimum temperature 17-21 degrees, maximum 29-33°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres offshore.

South (east coast): Cool weather with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; minimum temperature 18-25°C, maximum 28-30°C; waves two metres high and over two metres during thundershowers.

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

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Cool weather with morning fog; minimum temperature 17-19°C, maximum 30-32°C.

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Thailand launches anti-suicide team to help people in despair

NationalJan 15. 2021

By THE NATION

The national public health committee has appointed a team to halt the rising suicide trend in Thailand.

Speaking in his role as the committee’s chair, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the team will integrate operations of several government agencies, including the ministries of Social Development and Human Security, Education, and Justice.

Anutin said the operational team will inform people of their basic rights and welfare entitlements, and also offer solutions for their problems. The team will screen people in at-risk groups including the mentally ill, alcohol or drug addicts, and people who have already attempted suicide.

Statistics show that 53,000-54,000 people try to kill themselves in Thailand each year. Of these, about 4,000 are successful in committing suicide.

The suicide rate has risen since 2017, with males accounting for the majority of victims. Statistics for 2020 demonstrate that the economic crisis triggered by Covid-19 was a key factor in suicide deaths.

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Visitors to 27 Chonburi hotspots urged to get Covid tests

NationalJan 14. 2021

By The Nation

Chonburi’s Provincial Health Office has issued a list of Covid-19 hotspots as part of its efforts to track down at-risk members of the public.

People who visited 27 locations in the province between December 20 and 31, 2020 and have not yet been tested for Covid-19 are urged to contact their local district health office for virus screening.

The 27 locations are as follows:

– James Boy Pub and Karaoke, Sri Racha district

– Satang Pub, Sri Racha

– Sense of the Sea bar, Bang Lamung

– De Florist Cafe, Bang Lamung

– Spicy restaurant, Sri Racha

– Flower Snack Japan shop, Sri Racha

– Brewery 90 Sriracha, Sri Racha

– Orange Bar Amata Nakorn, Muang Chonburi

– Cool Club restaurant, Sri Racha

– Halem Snack Japanese shop, Sri Racha

– Bar Snack shop, Sri Racha

– Midori Snack, Sri Racha

– Pa Dang Beer Brewery, Sattahip

– Mountain Bar and Bistro restaurant, Sattahip

– Nuu Mai Deu restaurant, Sri Racha

– Kiss Snack bar, Sri Racha

– Hops Bar Pattaya, Bang Lamung

– OPPAI Snack shop, Sri Racha

– SANKYU39 Bar & Bistro, Sri Racha

– 48 Bar, Sri Racha

– Friend Zone club, Bang Saen

– BUZZED BAR, Sri Racha

– MEETING CLUB, Sriracha

– Differ Club Pattaya, Bang Lamung

– Lan Lom restaurant, Sri Racha

– Snooker club near Brewery 90, Sri Racha

– Plearn Bar 168 restaurant, Sattahip

To report Covid-19 symptoms after visiting any of the locations above, phone Muang Chon Buri District Public Health Office at (038) 282148, Sriracha District Public Health Office at (038) 322503, Sattahip District Public Health Office at (038) 245330, or Bang Lamung District Public Health Office at (038) 221925.

Chonburi recorded 10 new cases of Covid-19 on Thursday, bringing total to 630 cases from the outbreak that began in mid-December. Of these, 357 are still being treated in hospital.