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Anutin in quarantine after meeting with infected Samut Sakhon governor

NationalDec 28. 2020

By The Nation

There were 144 new Covid-19 patients, including 115 domestic cases, over a 24-hour period on Monday, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) said.

14 migrant workers also found positive in Samut Sakhon during proactive testing.

As for cases linked to the Samut Sakhon outbreak, there were two each in Pathumthani, Nonthaburi and Nakhon Nayok, 17 in Nakhon Pathom, five in Samut Prakarn, 10 in Bangkok, and one each in Ratchaburi, Samut Sakhon and Sukothai.

The CCSA said 21 cases were linked to Rayong’s gambling den outbreak, one in Chonburi and one in Chiang Mai.

Forty-nine cases are under health investigation for tracking the source of the infection: seven in Bangkok, five in Chonburi, one in Nakhon Pathom and Nonthaburi, and 35 in Rayong.

Fifteen travellers from abroad tested positive in quarantine facilities. The new cases in quarantine facilities comprised one Thai who had returned from Switzerland, two from the United States, one from Japan, three from the United Kingdom, one from Turkey, a Ukrainian businessman from Netherlands, a Nepali man, a German man, two Japanese men, and a Danish man from their respective countries.

CCSA spokesman Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin confirmed that Samut Sakhon Governor Veerasak Vijitsaengsri has been infected with the disease and has been admitted to hospital. Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who had participated in the meeting with the governor, has quarantined himself and taken a virus test. He is awaiting the result.

Meanwhile, 19 patients have recovered and been discharged.

The total number of confirmed cases in Thailand increased to 6,285 (1,450 in state quarantine and 1,370 from active case finding), 2,045 are in hospital and 4,180 have recovered and been discharged, while 60 have died.

According to Worldometer, as of 10am on Monday, the total number of confirmed cases had increased to 81.14 million (up by 410,102), 57.29 million have recovered, 22.07 million are active cases (105,385 in severe condition) and 1.77 million have died (up by 7,041).

Thailand ranks 142nd for most cases in the world, while the US has the most number with 19.57 million, followed by India 10.2 million, Brazil 7.48 million, Russia 3.05 million and France 2.55 million.

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37 test positive for Covid-19 in Nakhon Pathom

NationalDec 28. 2020

By THE NATION

As many as 37 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in Nakhon Pathom province, with authorities planning to test 2,000 others who may be at risk.

Of the 37, five each came from Muang and Don Tum districts, seven from Kamphaeng Saen, eight from Nakhon Chai Si and the remaining 12 from Bang Len.

So far, no infections have been reported in Sam Phran and Buddhamondhol districts. Local officials aim to check some 2,000 Thais and foreigners living in Sam Phran district. This operation is expected to take three days.

Nakhon Pathom authorities have not imposed any lockdown measures so far.

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Worship in the new normal

NationalDec 28. 2020Photos by Tanachai Pramarnpanich

By The Nation

In a move to curb infections, Central World department store in downtown Bangkok has marked out spots where worshippers can stand to pay respect to the Ganesha and Trimurti shrines.

Devotees are required to wear a face mask and have their temperature checked before entering the area.

This year, Central World will be holding the countdown via live broadcast to contain the spread of Covid-19.

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Thai currency to move within Bt29.80 and Bt30.30 range this week

NationalDec 28. 2020

By THE NATION

Between December 28 and January 1, Kasikornbank expects the baht to move within the range of Bt29.80 and Bt30.30 against the US dollar.

KResearch said the key factors to be monitored closely are the global Covid-19 situation, the central bank’s report on economic and monetary conditions for November and foreign fund flows into the country.

Meanwhile, the US economic data to be released this week include October property price index, November pending home sales data and weekly unemployment claims report. Market participants may also eye the Chinese purchasing managers’ index (PMI) for December, which may shed light on the state of the private sector.

The baht fell early last week in line with other regional currencies, while the dollar strengthened as a safe-haven currency amid heightened concerns about the Covid-19 situation both at home and overseas.

The baht, however, pared some losses, while the greenback suffered sell-offs amid position adjustment after the Thai government announced Covid-19 control zoning, but did not enforce a national lockdown.

On Friday, the baht stood at Bt30.08 to the US dollar compared to Bt29.83 on the previous Friday (December 18).

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Samut Sakhon governor tests positive, Anutin awaits results

NationalDec 28. 2020Veerasak Vichitsangsri

By The Nation

Samut Sakhon governor Veerasak Vichitsangsri reportedly tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday and people who had been his close contact with him will soon be tested for the virus.

Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesperson of the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration, said several high-ranking civil servants are believed to be infected and said everybody at risk should report to public health officials immediately.

Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is currently isolated and waiting for test results.

On Sunday, Veerasak had led Anutin and other public health officials to visit a hospital in Samut Sakhon.

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500 migrant workers cured of Covid-19 to receive certificate from ministry

NationalDec 28. 2020

By The Nation

Five hundred migrant workers have been successfully treated for Covid-19 and will be handed certificates of recovery, the Department of Disease Control (DDC) said.

.Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the DDC, on Monday said that the Public Health Ministry has handed over a document certifying Covid-19 immunity to some migrant workers who have recovered. The documents were given on Sunday to some as a proof of their recovery.

However, there are many other people who have recovered in the Central Shrimp Market Community. The ministry is preparing to hand over documents to confirm their recovery.

However, they will still have to be quarantined in a designated area.

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Baht moving in narrow range but expected to gain from movement of gold price

NationalDec 28. 2020

By THE NATION

The baht opened at 30.07 to the US dollar on Monday, strengthening from 30.09 at close on Friday.

The Thai currency is likely to move between 29.90 and 30.10 on Monday and between 29.80 to 30.20 this week, said Jitipol Puksamatanan, senior director of the chief investment office at SCB Securities.

He explained that the baht presently was moving in a narrow range, and the only factor pressuring the currency was the new wave of Covid-19 in Thailand.

He advised investors to monitor the direction of gold price, which has started to recover and could support Asian currencies including the baht. Besides, the political situation in the US, as well as the Brexit issue between the UK and EU, were worth monitoring this week.

He expected Thailand to end 2020 with foreign exchange reserves of $260 billion, or around 50 per cent of the gross domestic product.

The dollar index this week would tend to move between 89.5 to 90.5 points, from the present 90.2 points, he said.

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Democrat MP tells PM, ministers to take responsibility for gambling dens in Rayong

NationalDec 28. 2020

By THE NATION

A Democrat MP blamed the prime minister and two ministers for letting gambling dens exist in Rayong, which has resulted in 85 cases of Covid-19 infections.

Dr Banyat Jetanajan, Democrat member of the House of Representatives for Rayong province, said on Sunday that Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Deputy PM General Prawit Wongsuwan and Interior Minister General Anupong Paochinda must take responsibility for letting gambling dens exist in Rayong, which had led to the infection among local people. He warned the real number of infections could be even higher.

“I have raised the issue of gambling dens in Rayong for discussion in Parliament meetings many times, so I believe the PM and related ministries must be aware of the problem,” he said. “After the crackdown on a large gambling den in the Map Ta Phut area in June, how come there are still gambling dens in the province, making Rayong the second biggest hotspot after Samut Sakhon in the new wave of Covid-19?”

“As a Rayong resident, I am highly concerned about the economy, tourism and well-being of the people of Rayong that would be severely affected by the new outbreak,” he added. “But as an MP in the government coalition, I want the government to clarify why there are still gambling dens as well as show sincerity in solving the problem for good.

“I sympathise with local residents who have sacrificed greatly to keep the province safe from Covid-19 since the outbreak started, but due to the irresponsibility of some government officials who failed to rid the province of gambling dens, they have to suffer the consequence from these mass infections,” added Banyat.

“The government must bring those who neglected their duty to face justice and make sure that Rayong has no gambling dens,” Banyat said.

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Health agency urges people against believing offers of Covid-19 vaccine

NationalDec 28. 2020

By THE NATION

The Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not provided any certification for the use of Covid-19 vaccines in Thailand and warned people against believing any person or establishment that promises to get them vaccines by reservation.

Dr Thares Krainairawiwong, Department of Health Service Support, said that

“On December 26, a private hospital in Bangkok announced its offer of Covid-19 vaccines at Bt4,000 per person for the first 1,000 customers who made reservations before January 31,” he said. “Currently the FDA has not permitted any healthcare operator to provide Covid-19 vaccine to patients and such an advertisement by the hospital could be an exaggeration.

“The Department has contacted the hospital and ordered them to take down the advertisement,” he added.

“We will launch an investigation into the hospital for possible violation of Health Facility Act BE 2541 under Section 38 Paragraph 1, for posting an unauthorised advertisement, and Section 38 Paragraph 2, for providing false or exaggerated information that could lead to misunderstanding about the health facility’s operations.”

The violator of Paragraph 1 will face a maximum fine of Bt20,000 and an extra Bt10,000 per day until the advertisement is taken down, while the violator of Paragraph 2 will face a similar fine plus a maximum one-year imprisonment.

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Woman from Rayong ‘first Covid-19 case in Chiang Mai’

NationalDec 28. 2020

By THE NATION

The Chiang Mai public health office held an emergency meeting on Sunday evening at City Hall regarding a new case of Covid-19 found since mass infections were reported in Samut Sakhon province earlier this month and in Rayong province a few days ago, a source said.

“Dr Kittiphan Chalom, Chiang Mai’s public health deputy chief, said that the patient is a 46-year-old woman, a resident of Rayong’s Muang district, who had arrived in Chiang Mai on December 26,” said the source. “She showed symptoms, such as dryness in the throat and 37.4 degrees temperature and received testing on December 27. She was found positive.”

Kittiphan added that she is now being treated in a negative pressure room at Nakornping Hospital in Mae Rim district.

“This is considered an imported case from another province. There is still no local outbreak within Chiang Mai at the moment,” he said.

The source speculated that the CCSA would make an official announcement about this case on Monday.

According to Kittiphan, preliminary tracing of the patient’s travel history revealed that she had visited a fitness centre in Rayong province on December 24 and had close contact with a trainer who was later confirmed as infected. On December 26, she travelled from U-Tapao Airport to Chiang Mai International Airport on Thai AirAsia flight FD101, seat 22C, with her husband, her two children and a babysitter.

“In total, 127 persons have been found to have had contact with her l and carry a risk of infection, 30 of whom carry high risk that health officials had already contacted them to collect samples for testing,” he said. “The rest 97 persons were told to stay in self-quarantine to monitor their symptoms for 14 days.”