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Total infections in Samut Sakhon Covid-19 outbreak hit 689 (nationthailand.com)

Total infections in Samut Sakhon Covid-19 outbreak hit 689

NationalDec 21. 2020

By The Nation

The number of people infected after the latest Covid-19 outbreak in Samut Sakhon province has risen to 689.

The Department of Disease Control (DDC) on Sunday assuaged public fears by laying out its plan of action to contain and tackle the spread.

The first patient of this outbreak was a Thai woman who has never gone out of the country, meaning the source of the virus must have come from others, a DDC official said.

As of Sunday evening, 689 patients were found linked to the shrimp market in Samut Sakhon. Most of them were migrant workers in the market. The latest information found nine patients in other provinces — Bangkok (2), Nakhon Pathom (2), Samut Prakan (3), Suphanburi and Ratchaburi one each — Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the DDC, said.

Thousands of Burmese workers Including some Thai people waiting in line for COVID-19 screening Inside the Thai Union Market, Samut Sakhon Province.

Patients in other provinces were customers of the shrimp market, which provincial health officers are now investigating for close contact.

The outbreak area has been identified in Mahachai subdistrict (532 patients found), followed by Tha chin (7), Nawadee (4), and Bangtorad (1), while there are no patients in other subdistricts.

A map shows the density of patients found in Samut Sakhon from Mahachai (red), Tha Chin (dark orange), Nawadee (orange), and Bangtorad (dark yellow)

Public Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit said that the ministry would take around 2-4 weeks to control the situation with an active plan. The provincial government office has ordered a lockdown in the risky areas, not letting people in and out. Food and necessities will be delivered to quarantined people to reduce the risk of the infection spreading, he said.

The first phase tested 10,000 people. If the infected people are found to be highly infectious, the measures for proactive search will be increased to 30,000-40,000 people and cover more areas.

Police officers enclosed barbed wire around the shrimp market in Samut Sakhon province as a territory for COVID-19 quarantine while proactive screening continues.

Health officials expect 10-20 more customers of the market to be infected, so they have urged everyone to get the virus test. Many people who have doubts after visiting the risky areas have shown up, which is a good sign for the virus plan, Dr Kiattiphum said.

He has ensured their readiness with 500,000 pills ready to treat 8,000 people, 46 million masks reserved and 4 million pieces can be produced per day, 3 million pieces of N95 masks, 2 million PPE sets.

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Online business matching generates over Bt14 billion trade amid Covid-19 (nationthailand.com)

Online business matching generates over Bt14 billion trade amid Covid-19

NationalDec 21. 2020

By THE NATION

The Department of International Trade Promotion revealed last week that its online business matching (OBM) generated over Bt14.45 billion in trade value during the Covid-19 months — April to November.

Director-general Somdet Susomboon said that total online matching during the eight months was 84 times, with 485 exporters and 352 importers taking part.

The total trade of Bt14.45 billion was mainly from agricultural products (Bt9.265 billion), auto parts (Bt3.025 billion), processed food (Bt1.075 billion) and others (Bt1.088 billion), Somdet said.

The region with top trade value was Asia (Bt8.436 billion), followed by North and South America (Bt4.068 billion), Africa (Bt1.226 billion), Europe (Bt497.72 million) and the Middle East (Bt226.1 million).

The director-general said that the OBM would continue until September 2021, as the world is still in the grip of a Covid-19 crisis. The category of products to be matched will cover food and drinks, rubber, medical tools, auto parts, jewellery, home decoration and pet products.

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Bangkok asks for cooperation to refrain from all New Year activities (nationthailand.com)

Bangkok asks for cooperation to refrain from all New Year activities

NationalDec 21. 2020

By The Nation

The governor of Bangkok, General Asawin Kwanmuang, along with his deputy Lt-General Sophon Phisutthiwong, called an urgent meeting of relevant agencies, such as the Department of Disease Control, the Ministry of Interior and hospital directors in Bangkok to assess the situation amid the risk of the Covid-19 virus spreading after the outbreak in Samut Sakhon province and nearby areas.

Pongsakorn Kwanmuang, a spokesman for the city administration, said the meeting was called as Bangkok is a neighbouring province of Samut Sakhon and is vulnerable to the epidemic spreading.

Two persons who have been found to be infected in Bangkok had travelled to the affected area. Therefore, Bangkok will have a proactive investigation, especially in 472 markets, including construction sites and the places where the goods were picked up from Samut Sakhon province.

The committees of the Communicable Diseases Committee emphasised three main locations to prevent an outbreak:

1. Entertainment establishments, pubs, bars, entertainment venues and establishments similar to entertainment venues will see more stringent preventive measures by prohibiting dancing or gathering of crowds. Table must not be less than 1.5 metres apart.

2. Boxing stadium, which had seen an outbreak months ago, must be strict about people wearing masks and implement preventive measures, including limiting the number of visitors.

3. Markets must emphasise on 100 per cent wearing of masks.

Meanwhile, people can visit public parks and temples wearing a mask.

The Bangkok administration has asked for cooperation from every sector to refrain from New Year activities. If they want the event to be organised, permission must be requested by applying to the Bangkok Health Office with a strict disease control plan.

Bangkok has coordinated with schools in three districts, which are in the boundary area of ​​Samut Sakhon province, namely Bang Khun Thian, Bang Bon, and Nong Khaem, to be closed for 14 days, from December 21 to January 4. The schools must have a study plan and online teaching arrangements. As for schools in other areas, if it is deemed appropriate to close, the decision can be made by the school administrator to reduce the risk of further transmission.

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Thai Red Cross steps up humanitarian aid to affected community, health workers (nationthailand.com)

Thai Red Cross steps up humanitarian aid to affected community, health workers

NationalDec 20. 2020

By The Nation

The Thai Red Cross Society has shifted in full swing, taking up direct actions in providing relief packages and humanitarian assistance to victims, medical personnel, hospital staff, administrative officials and volunteers who are on the front line in containing the spread of Covid-19 after more than 500 people were tested positive in Samut Sakhon province over the weekend, the society said.

Grisada Boonrach, director of the Thai Red Cross Chapters Administration Office, said all Red Cross officials in Samut Sakhon and adjacent provinces and districts were engaging in massive humanitarian efforts to help the local residents in the prime affected area and to monitor the possible spread of the virus in nearby districts.

“We are doing our part, which is humanitarian support to the brave men and women on the front line, risking their lives to contain the spread of the Covid-19,” Grisada said. “This is a major challenge for Thailand. But I believe if everybody does their part, we can get through this together,” Grisada added.

A vast majority of the 548 who had tested positive in Samut Sakhon were migrant workers. Grisada insisted that this was a humanitarian concern, and officials and the public should not be concerned about ethnicities or nationalities of the victims because the virus knows no boundary.

Grisada said the spike suggested the likelihood of finding more infections stemming from the shrimp market where a 67-year-old Thai woman became the first to be detected earlier this week. Eight other infections have been linked to her, including three family members and five market workers, according to reports.

Among the items that the Thai Red Cross Society distributed include 4,000 relief packages for desperate families in the locked down communities. “This is just the first round. More relief packages are on the ground,” Grisada said.

He expressed his appreciation to Chulalongkorn Hospital for their donation of 2,000 PPE outfits and 10,000 N95 protective masks for medical personnel on the ground in Samut Sakhon. The first round of 10,000 protective masks were donated by the Charoen Pokphand Foundation, he said.

The Thai Red Cross Society was founded in 1893 and is headquartered in Bangkok. It is supervised by the Council of Ministers and expenses are borne by the government. The society’s president is appointed by HM the King upon advice and consent of the council of ministers. The current president is HM Queen Sirikit the Queen Mother who has held the position since August 12 1956.

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Samut Sakhon Covid-19 cases shoot up by another 146 (nationthailand.com)

Samut Sakhon Covid-19 cases shoot up by another 146

NationalDec 20. 2020

The Covid testing is carried out in Samut Sakhon province on Sunday.

By The Nation

Another 146 people in Samut Sakhon province have tested positive for Covid-19.

Provincial vice governor Surasak Phonyangsong revealed the latest information at 2pm on Sunday. The total number of those infected in the latest outbreak in the province has risen to 694.

He added that more than 90 per cent of patients were migrant workers linked to the Mahachai Market.

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Covid-19 prevention measures implemented for Samut Prakan local election (nationthailand.com)

Covid-19 prevention measures implemented for Samut Prakan local election

NationalDec 20. 2020Photos by Korbphuk Phromrekha 

By The Nation

Preventive measures for Covid-19 have been tightened for the local elections in Samut Prakan province on Sunday.

The elections for local government bodies such as the Provincial Administrative Organisation have applied public health standards to prevent a coronavirus outbreak.

People who arrive at the voting locations have to wear face masks and be screened for body temperature before entering the voting centre.

Thai concerns about the pandemic has risen due to the soaring number of infections in Samut Sakhon province, which has exceeded 500.

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Two Covid-19 cases in Nakhon Pathom linked to Samut Sakhon market (nationthailand.com)

Two Covid-19 cases in Nakhon Pathom linked to Samut Sakhon market

NationalDec 20. 2020

By The Nation

A medical team investigating 158 cases linked to Mahachai Market in Samut Sakhon province found two cases of Covid-19, the Nakhon Pathom Provincial Public Health Office said on Sunday.

The patients had reportedly visited the Mahachai Market in Samut Sakhon province on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Pol Maj-General Surachart Manichak, the commander of the Nakhon Pathom provincial police, ordered the setting up of two Covid-19 control checkpoints.

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Three people test positive for Covid-19 in Samut Prakarn (nationthailand.com)

Three people test positive for Covid-19 in Samut Prakarn

NationalDec 20. 2020

By The Nation

Three people in Samut Prakarn province have tested positive for Covid-19, including a Laotian national with a history of shopping at the Samut Sakhon fish market, which is currently at the centre of a new outbreak.

On Sunday, a Samut Prakarn province official said the Laotian had visited the Samut Sakhon fish market on December 14. Authorities are questioning the two Thais to see if their infections are linked to Samut Sakhon.

Staff tested 22 close contacts — 11 high-risk, and 11 low-risk. The high-risk people have tested negative, while results are awaited for the others.

Meanwhile the Public Health Office of Samut Prakan province has issued a public appeal, asking people who had made a trip to the fish market in Samut Sakhon between December 1-19 to get a Covid-19 test at a hospital or health service location near home without cost.

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Govt brushes off UNHCR concerns, vows to use Section 112 to protect monarchy (nationthailand.com)

Govt brushes off UNHCR concerns, vows to use Section 112 to protect monarchy

NationalDec 20. 2020File Photo 

By The Nation

The Thai government would continue using Section 112, the lèse majesté law in the Criminal Code, to protect the monarchy despite concerns expressed by the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights (UNHCR).

Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said on Saturday that a 16-year-old who has been accused of violating Section 112 would be sent to the juvenile court.

He said the government did not restrict freedom of speech and peaceful protests, but those activities could not be allowed to affect national security.

The government is hoping that the public will accept the reconciliation committee that they claim will bring peace to the country.

The UNHCR, which oversees implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, has expressed dismay at the move by Thai authorities to charge at least 35 protesters, including a child, with lèse majesté under Section 112.

The UN rights body called on the government to stop bringing serious criminal charges against individuals for exercising their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

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Songkhla voters cast ballots in local polls amid Covid-19 scare (nationthailand.com)

Songkhla voters cast ballots in local polls amid Covid-19 scare

NationalDec 20. 2020Photos by Charoon Thongnual 

By The Nation

Songkhla residents went to voting locations for local elections with maximum public health security amid a rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in the country.

At Wat Ko Tham in Muang district, people who came to vote had to wear face masks and follow public health measures.

The sudden surge in infections with over 500 cases has increased awareness of preventive measures.

Nipon Bunyamanee, the deputy Minister of Interior, asked the public not to panic.

He expressed his gratitude to the people who came to vote and reassured them that the government could handle the situation.