NationalDec 31. 2020Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha
By The Nation
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed the Public Health Ministry to negotiate deals for Covid-19 vaccines with other pharmaceutical firms, government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said on Thursday.
He said the PM’s aim is for at least 50 per cent of the population inoculated against the virus next year.
On November 27, the ministry and AstraZeneca signed an agreement for the purchase of 26 million doses, which should be delivered in the first half of 2021.
Thailand has recently been hit with a new wave of infections.
Sa Kaeo authorities announced that people who arrive from the high-risk provinces of Bangkok, Chon Buri, Rayong and Samut Sakhon will need to undergo a 14-day self-quarantine.
The local government order required people from any of the four provinces to report to public health officials on arrival and quarantine themselves for 14 days.
This order stays in effect until January 5, the authorities added.
They also announced that officials have the power to suspend services or operations of any venue/place in Sa Kaeo if their operations are not in line with Public Health Ministry requirements.
Fewer people returned to their hometowns in Kalasin for this New Year holiday, compared to the exodus in 2019, Nation Channel reported on its website.
The report took into account travel by both interprovincial buses and trains.
A traveller who took a bus from Bangkok told Nation reporters that passenger numbers were sharply lower than those of last year.
He said the reasons why fewer people returned home this time round included working overtime or the escalating Covid-19 situation.
“Some people think they will be infected from travelling with others, while some are afraid of being virus carriers,” the passenger explained.
Another traveller who took a train from Bangkok to Kalasin confirmed that passenger numbers this year were lower than in previous years. According to him, some passengers had cancelled their tickets or changed the date of their trips due to the virus crisis.
However, Kalasin is presently a “safe” province without any confirmed new Covid-19 cases.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) confirmed that 21 districts in the capital have Covid-19 cases but several venues can remain open as usual.
BMA spokesman Pongsakorn Kwanmuang said the 21 districts are Dusit, Bang Kapi, Khlong Sam Wa, Prawet, Taling Chan, Bangkok Noi, Bang Phlat, Thonburi, Nong Khaem, Bang Khae, Bon Bon, Bang Khun Thian, Thung Khru, Bang Kho Laem, Sathorn, Pathumwan, Wattana, Suan Luang, Bang Sue, Don Mueang and Lat Phrao.
Moreover, he said Internet cafés, massage parlours, fitness clubs, swimming pools and salons can remain open as usual.
Bars and nightclubs can also stay open but under certain conditions, including that staff are prohibited from being in close quarters with customers, while customers themselves are banned from dancing. And these venues must close by midnight.
Thai Lion Air is granting a “credit shell” to passengers who wish to reschedule their domestic flights during this New Year festival as per the government’s policy to reduce travel to curb the spread of Covid-19.
“Customers who reserved domestic tickets before December 29 for flights departing from December 19 to January 15 will be entitled to a credit shell that allows them to reschedule their flights at the airline’s ticket booths,” the company announced.
“Flight rescheduling is allowed just once, by March 31, with no differential charge or rescheduling fee, except for departing dates February 26-28, which will incur a differential charge,” it said.
Other criteria include: flight rescheduling must be finalised at least four hours before departure time; no route change is allowed; the credit shell cannot be redeemed as a cash refund except in case the flight is cancelled by the airline.
On Wednesday, a Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) news source reported that CAAT had discussions with Nok Air, Thai Smile, Thai Lion Air, Thai AirAsia, Bangkok Airways and VietJet Air, urging them to facilitate passengers who need to reschedule or change their flights by offering a credit shell or a similar services. Each airline reportedly promised to announce measures later.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) announced on Wednesday that from December 31 it is prohibiting airlines from serving food and drinks to passengers on board planes flying domestic routes, except in emergency cases or if need be, in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19.
The announcement, signed by acting director Saran Benjanirat, stipulated that “if necessary, the airline operator can provide food or drink in a separated area to passengers who need it, away from other passengers as much as possible”.
CAAT also prohibited the distribution of newspapers, magazines or any pamphlets to passengers on flights, except those related to safety, in order to reduce touching surfaces that could spread the virus.
“Airlines will need to strictly adhere to other Covid-19 preventive measures announced by government agencies,” the announcement added.
The order will remain in effect until further notice.
The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA) has urged people not to believe or share news or Internet posts claiming that customers who download the MWA mobile application this month will receive a Bt100 discount on their water bills as a “New Year gift”.
“The campaign was held in 2018 and is already long expired,” the MWA announced on Wednesday. “Please do not share such news or posts as it could cause misunderstanding. Only obtain the latest information from the MWA via our Facebook page @MWAthailand, or call 1125.”
The authority said as a genuine New Year gift for 2021, it is offering a 10 per cent discount on the installation fee for new users who apply to install a residential water meter of half-inch diameter in Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan from January 1 until February 28.
“Previous users who reapply after the service was cancelled or cut off will not be eligible under this campaign,” it made clear.
A sightseeing boat reportedly carrying 12 passengers, including two children, capsized in the Khlong Siyad Reservoir, a tourist attraction in Chachoengsao’s Thatakiab district, at 3.30pm on Wednesday, resulting in two deaths. One person is still missing.
A news source said nine passengers, who were able to swim back to shore safely, reportedly said strong winds whipped up waves, which entered the boat. It then lost balance and capsized.
Phanom Sarakham Unit divers searched the reservoir until 11pm and found two bodies – later identified as tourist Terdsak Prabphai, aged 52, and Ratchada Pidtathane, 49, the boat driver’s wife. Tourist, Tang Huadchai, 65, is still missing.
Officials were set to conduct another search again on Thursday morning.
Khlong Siyad is a large reservoir covering 50,000 rai. It can hold approximately 420 million cubic metres of water. Back in 2009 a tourist boat capsized there, resulting in five deaths.
A strong high-pressure system is presently covering upper Thailand, resulting in cool to cold weather with strong winds and a 2-4°C decrease in temperatures, the Meteorological Department said on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the strong northeast monsoon prevails over the Gulf and the South, causing more showers and isolated heavy rain in the area, it said, advising all ships to proceed with caution while small boats should stay ashore until at least January 3, with waves in the Gulf being 2-4 metres high and more than 4 metres in areas experiencing thundershowers.
Here’s the weather forecast for the next 24 hours:
North: Cool to cold weather; temperature lows of 15-19 degrees and highs of 32-33 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 3-10 degrees Celsius.
Northeast: Cool to cold weather with strong wind; temperature lows of 14-16 degrees and highs of 30-31 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 9-14 degrees Celsius.
Central: Cool weather with strong wind; temperature lows of 17-20 degrees, highs of 32-33 degrees Celsius.
East: Cool weather with strong wind; temperature lows of 18-23 degrees, highs of 33-34 degrees Celsius; waves 1-2 metres high and 2 metres offshore.
South (east coast): Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 30 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 21-24 degrees, highs of 30-32 degrees Celsius; waves 2-4 metres high and over 4 metres during thundershowers.
South (west coast): Partly cloudy with thundershowers in 20 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 22-25 degrees, highs of 31-34 degrees Celsius; waves 1-2 metres high and 2 metres during thundershowers.
Bangkok and surrounding areas: Cool weather with strong wind; temperature lows of 19-21 degrees, highs of 32-34 degrees Celsius.
Myanmar has approved PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP)’s plan to invest in the “Integrated Domestic Gas to Power” project.
Phongsthorn Thavisin, PTTEP CEO, said the corporation has signed a pact for the project with Myanmar’s Electricity and Energy Ministry. The deal is to use natural gas from the Gulf of Martaban (Myanmar coast of the Andaman Sea) to generate electricity, he said.
Phongsthorn added that this move is key to PTTEP’s growth under its “Execute and Expand” strategy.
The investment will cover the development of gas source and installation of electric cables in specific areas. The project is expected to cost around US$2 billion, but the final decision on the investment will be made in the beginning of 2022. The electricity generated under this project will be sold to Myanmar under a 20-year contract.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha
