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Highways dept suggests new routes Bangkokians can use to escape during holidays

NationalDec 24. 2020

By The Nation

In a bid to avoid congestion and ensure smooth travel between provinces, the Department of Highways on Thursday released details of new routes from Bangkok motorists can take during the New Year holidays.

The routes are:

To North

• Rangsit route to Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Ang Thong, Singburi, Chai Nat’s Manorom district and Nakhon Sawan.

• Nonthaburi route to Suphanburi, Chai Nat and Nakhon Sawan.

• Rangsit route to Ayutthaya’s Wang Noi district, Saraburi, Lopburi, Nakhon Sawan’s Tak Fa district and Phitsanulok.

• Rangsit route to Pathum Thani’s Klong Luang junction, Chiang Rak Noi subdistrict, Highways 347 and 32 to the North.

• The Eastern outer ring road to Wang Noi district, Rojana Road and Highway 32 to the North.

To Northeast

• Saraburi route through Muang Khom, Tha Luang, Dan Khun Thot, Kham Thale So and Mittraphap Road to Nakhon Ratchasima.

• Wang Noi district route to Saraburi, and then via Pak Chong and Sikhiu to Nakhon Ratchasima.

• Nakhon Nayok route to Ban Na, Kaeng Khoi and Pak Chong to Nakhon Ratchasima province. Motorists can also use Highway 33 in Ban Na Rai to head for Kabin Buri district in Prachinburi and Aranyaprathet in Sa Kaew.

• Chachoengsao route to Phanom Sarakham, Kabin Buri, Wang Nam Khiao, Pak Thong Chai to Nakhon Ratchasima.

To East

• Highway No 7 to Chonburi and Pattaya.

• Bang Pakong route to Chonburi.

• Phanat Nikhom route to Chonburi.

To South

• Samut Sakhon route to Samut Songkhram, Wang Manao intersection, Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan.

• Samphran route to Nakhon Chai Si, Nakhon Pathom, Ratchaburi, Wang Manao intersection, Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan.

• Borommaratchachonnani route to Nakhon Chai Si, Nakhon Pathom, Ratchaburi, Wang Manao intersection, Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan.

The department’s director-general Sarawut Songsivilai said he has instructed traffic officials to ensure smooth traffic in 10 routes, namely:

• Don Muang to Rangsit, Bang Pa-in junction, Ayutthaya, Bang Pahan, Ang Thong, Sing Buri, Chai Nat, Uthai Thani and Nakhon Sawan.

• Lat Bua Luang to Suphan Buri and Chai Nat.

• Bang Pa-In junction to Wang Noi, Nong Khae, Saraburi, Kaeng Khoi, Pak Chong, Lam Takhong, Sikhiu, Pak Thong Chai intersection and Nakhon Ratchasima.

• Ramindra to Min Buri, Nong Chok, Chachoengsao, Prachinburi, Kabin Buri and Pak Thong Chai intersection.

• Rangsit to Thanyaburi, Ongkharak, Ban Na and Kabin Buri.

• Bang Khun Thian junction to Samut Sakhon, Ban Bo, Samut Songkhram and Wang Manao junction.

• Taling Chan to Salaya, Nakhon Chai Si, Nakhon Pathom, Bang Phae, Ratchaburi and Wang Manao junction.

• Thap Chang to Suvarnabhumi, Lat Krabang, Bang Pakong, Nong Kham, Nong Prue and Pattaya.

• Bang Na to Bang Phli, Bang Wua and Bang Pakong.

• Kanchanaphisek Eastern and Western outer ring roads.

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Schools in 18 provinces temporarily closed to halt virus flare-up

NationalDec 24. 2020

By The Nation

A total of 885 schools nationwide were temporarily closed on Friday as part of measures to contain the latest outbreak of Covid-19.

Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) said 234 high schools and 651 primary schools closed their doors for 12 days. Most are in provinces hit by Covid-19 infections linked to last week’s outbreak in Samut Sakhon province, 45 kilometres south-west of Bangkok.

Schools have been closed in Bangkok along with 17 other provinces – Kanchanaburi, Kamphaeng Phet, Chiang Mai, Ratchaburi, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Phitsanulok, Phichit, Ayutthaya, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Pathom, Saraburi, Suphan Buri, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram and Uttaradit.

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Migrant labourers dumped in Samut Prakan test negative

NationalDec 24. 2020

By The Nation

Tests on 14 Myanmar workers found dumped at the entrance to Green Lake Village on Bangna-Trat Road in Samut Prakan have all come back negative for Covid-19.

Police are investigating the owners of a plastics factory that employed the workers after they were found abandoned on Tuesday night. Another four workers dumped by the factory were rounded up on Wednesday.

Samut Prakan police chief Chumpol Pumpuang said all 18 abandoned workers were screened and cleared of Covid-19 infection but have been sent to a quarantine facility for 14 days, as per Public Health Ministry rules.

Only six of them have work permits.

Police investigating the plastics factory where they worked found 34 Myanmar nationals – seven men and 27 women – still working there. All had work permits.

Questioned about the dumped workers, the factory manager claimed a driver had taken them to other areas without informing the factory. The manager assured police that all the remaining migrant workers would be tested for Covid-19.

Police said they will interrogate the factory’s administrators before deciding whether to charge them with violating the Disease Control Act for moving migrant workers without permits.

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Bangkok’s historic Ying Charoen Market ‘free from Covid’

NationalDec 24. 2020

By The Nation

Health authorities have found no Covid-19 infections among 51 seafood vendors and migrant workers tested at Ying Charoen Market in northern Bangkok.

The 65-year-old market in Bang Khen district is still open. However, sales of seafood have been suspended as a precaution after the Covid-19 outbreak in a Samut Sakhon wholesale seafood market last week. Ying Charoen Market’s seafood vendors are also self-quarantining for 14 days. The market’s operator says more than 97 per cent of stores are open for business as usual.

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Restauranteur shows kindness as Myanmar workers hit with more discrimination

NationalDec 24. 2020

By THE NATION

A Bangkok restaurant owner announced on social media that she was ready to welcome all Myanmar nationals to her eatery after many shops and stores decided to shut their doors to migrants amid the new Covid-19 wave.

The virus has returned to Thailand and most of the infected persons this time are migrant workers from Myanmar. This has given rise to prejudice against Myanmar nationals, but also an online movement calling for equality and human dignity between locals and foreigners.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday night, Chatthamon Singtankong said migrant workers living in and near the Prachauthit area were welcome to dine at her restaurant.

She has even offered to provide free food to those who don’t have money. Her restaurant is open from 6am to 7pm daily.

Her post was applauded by other Facebook users, and some even wanted to donate her money, but she refused.

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58 new domestic cases, no countrywide lockdown for now

NationalDec 24. 2020

By The Nation

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration on Thursday (CCSA) reported 67 new cases – 58 domestic ones – over a 24-hour period, while spokesman Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin confirmed that there would not be a lockdown across the country for now.

Of the 58 domestic cases, 55 have been linked to the Samut Sakhon outbreak, one connected to the cluster in Tak province, and two patients who went to a crowded area.

The Department of Disease Control (DDC) will later report about tests on migrant workers.

Meanwhile, the new cases under quarantine comprise three Thais who returned from Myanmar, one from Japan and one from Qatar, as well as an American businessman from the United Arab Emirates and two Americans who travelled from their country.

Separately, an asymptomatic Cambodian woman, 19, was found on December 17 illegally entering the country and was taken for hospital treatment in Chon Buri.

The CCSA has come out with colour coding – red, orange, yellow and green – for each province depending on the number of infections.

Samut Sakhon is presently the only province coded red, which requires the highest level of surveillance. Health officers must take the highest proactive virus search while migrants have been ordered to stay in one particular area. Residents need to wear a face mask all the time in all areas and follow health guidelines, including installing the MorChana app, a more advanced version of the ThaiChana application. The province has also set up many checkpoints. High-risk venues including entertainment ones and schools have been closed. The fishery business can still operate, but under Public Health Ministry guidelines. Factories and offices can stay open but the work-from-home option is recommended.

The provinces coded orange – which signify more than 10 cases – presently consist of Bangkok, Ratchaburi, Samut Songkhram and Nakhon Pathom. These provinces are on full alert for any new infections.

The yellow-coded, or moderate-risk, provinces which have less than 10 patients are Saraburi, Samut Prakan, Suphan Buri, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Uttaradit. Chachoengsao, Kamphaeng Phet, Phetchabun, Ayutthaya, Phuket, Phetchaburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Prachin Buri, Krabi, Khon Kaen, Chainat, Udon Thani, Phichit, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Sawan and Angthong.

Provinces coded green are ones where there are no Covid-19 cases.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and CCSA executive said before a brief conference that the current Covid-19 situation in the country is different from the one abroad, according to DDC reports.

He thanked all staff and the people for having patience and making sacrifices so Thailand could succeed in overcoming the virus, just as it did earlier this year.

Prayut said he regretted that the New Year festival, a time when everyone is happy, will now see restrictions on celebrations to keep the virus from spreading.

Another critical issue is that foreign workers who are spread across the country need to be taken care of, he said, adding that he didn’t blame illegal workers since it was their employers who brought them in so they could pay low wages. They did not follow the labour law and should be ashamed of themselves, Prayut said.

He added that the Cabinet would next week discuss a solution to register more labour workers to meet demand.

Meanwhile, 21 patients have recovered and been discharged in the past 24 hours.

As of Thursday afternoon, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand has increased to 5,829 (1,402 in state quarantine and 1,273 from active case findings). Of these, 1,653 are in hospital and ad-hoc quarantine facilities and 4,116 have recovered and been discharged. The death toll remains at 60.

According to Worldometer, as of 10am the number of confirmed global cases has increased to 79.05 million (rising by 683,008). Of these, 55.62 million have recovered, 21.67 million are active cases (106,569 in severe condition) and 1.74 million have died (an increase of 13,423).

Thailand ranks 143rd for most cases in the world, while the US has the most number, with 18.91 million, followed by India 10.12 million, Brazil 7.37 million, Russia 2.93 million and France 2.5 million.

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Rushing results in a squished load of oranges

NationalDec 24. 2020

By The Nation

Speeding to complete his delivery before lockdown measures were applied in Nan nearly landed a man and his wife in a ditch.

Police arrived at the site in Muang district on Wednesday night to find a white Toyota pick-up truck stuck to a power pole with driver Chakrit Kantalue, 27, and his wife nearby.

Chakrit said he had bought oranges worth more than Bt100,000 to sell outside the province, but new lockdown measures made things difficult.

He said they tried to take a shortcut by taking the road up a mountain, but found the road covered in wet latex, which made his car slide and crash into the power pole.

Though the car did not slide further and land in a ditch, the load of oranges has been damaged. Chakrit said they may not be able to cover the cost of hoard of oranges.

Nobody was injured in the accident.

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Employers warned against hiding migrant workers, especially undocumented ones

NationalDec 24. 2020

By THE NATION

Business owners are required to report the number of migrant workers they have hired, while officials from the Department of Industrial Works in each province have been instructed to keep a close eye on the state of foreign workers, Industry Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit said on Thursday.

“Business owners have been told to remain calm and not try to hide their foreign staff,” he said. “Shifting them to other areas will only increase the risk of the Covid-19 virus spreading from migrant workers to local people in other provinces.”

He further added that businesses that hire foreign workers should be socially responsible and employ Covid-19 preventive measures, including screening people coming from risky areas, ensuring everyone wears a mask and social distancing is applied in facilities.

“If you find a worker has contracted the virus, notify public health officials immediately so they can start investigating and can isolate people who have been in close contact with the patient,” he said. “The sooner we minimise the scope of the virus spreading, the smaller the impact it will have on the economy.”

As for news that some business owners in Samut Sakhon province, which has recently become a hotspot for infections, are moving their workers to other provinces to avoid inspection, Suriya said the ministry is looking into the matter. He said he believes these workers may have entered the country illegally.

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ONWR proposes project to produce freshwater from seawater in Eastern Economic Corridor

NationalDec 24. 2020

By THE NATION

The Office of National Water Resources (ONWR) has proposed a plan to produce freshwater from seawater in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) to prevent water shortage in the area.

The proposal was made to the National Water Command Centre, which is chaired by Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, said ONWR deputy secretary-general Samrerng Saengpuwong.

“The ONWR has been working with the Eastern Economic Corridor Committee in studying saltwater distilling techniques in Spain, Singapore, Mexico, Israel, the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, China, the United States, Australia and South Africa,” he said. “Most of them have employed the reverse osmosis technique, which produces drinkable freshwater that has the same quality as tap water.”

Samrerng said current technology permits the production of 136,000-624,000 cubic metres of freshwater per day from static facilities, while some countries such as Japan have invested in mobile distilling facilities capable of producing 1,600-2,000 cubic metres per day per unit.

“In 2020 the EEC recorded total water resources of 2.53 billion cubic metres, with 1.36 billion in local water reservoirs, 597 million from the Chao Phraya basin, 395 million from runoff for the drought season, 100 million in diversion pipes and 79 million in groundwater wells,” he said.

“Total water usage this year is 2.41 billion cubic metres, while in 2027 it is estimated to increase to 2.88 billion and reach more than 3 billion by 2037,” Samrerng said.

“If we can produce 200,000 cubic metres of freshwater from seawater in the EEC, it will increase water capital by 2.2 per cent of total water resources and could support increasing use by several industries in the area,” he said.

“The ONWR estimates that the project could start in 2021 by selecting suitable areas to build a facility, drafting construction plans and preparing to sign a water trading contract with partners. Construction is expected to start by 2022-2023 on an approximate 20 rai of land, while the facility should be operational by 2024,” he added.

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GSB squashes Internet rumour that a Nakhon Nayok staffer contracted Covid-19

NationalDec 24. 2020

By THE NATION

The Government Savings Bank (GSB) on Thursday announced that a staffer at its Ongkharak branch in Nakhon Nayok has tested negative for Covid-19, contrary to an Internet rumour that the man was infected after visiting a prawn market in Samut Sakhon, a hotspot of new mass infections.

“The staffer has a relative who carries a high risk of infection after travelling to Samut Sakhon, as he works as a truck driver at the market,” the GSB said.

“The relative tested positive on December 21, so we ordered the staffer to get a test immediately. The test came back negative on Wednesday [December 23],” it said.

“However, the bank shut down its Ongkharak branch from December 22 to 24 to undertake cleaning, disinfection and ozone treatment at the premises and surrounding areas under the supervision of the Department of Disease Control,” the bank said.

“We have instructed all staff to strictly follow Covid-19 preventive measures to ensure the safety of both the staff and customers,” it added.

The GSB Ongkharak branch will resume operations on December 25.