The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) on Friday (September 4) announced the cancellation of three stops in Pathum Thani province to facilitate the construction and operation of the Red Line Mass Transit System project (Bang Sue-Rangsit section).
The following trains will no longer stop at these three locations from September 15:
South Korea’s daily new cases stay below 200 for the second consecutive day
Level 2.5 social distancing rules will remain in place for another week in the Greater Seoul area with no definite slowdown in the infection rate.
Korea reported 198 new COVID-19 cases Friday – 189 locally transmitted and nine imported — posting fewer than 200 for the second consecutive day. The total caseload rose to 20,842, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
With tightened social distancing rules in place, the “explosive” spread of the virus was contained and the country’s daily new COVID-19 cases stayed below 300 for the sixth consecutive day on Friday.
Health authorities, however, are on high alert over surges in the number of patients with severe symptoms or unclear infection routes, as well as the sporadic virus outbreaks popping up across the country.
“The number of cases has been somewhat declining recently, but it is yet to be clearly stabilizing,” Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Friday at a pan-government meeting on the country’s response to COVID-19.
“Rather than hastily relax quarantine measures, we should do everything in our power to overturn the current phase,” he said, asking for understanding and patience.
What changes?
The level of social distancing in the Seoul metropolitan area – home to nearly half of the country’s population — was raised to Level 2 on Aug. 16 and to Level 2.5 on Aug. 30. Other parts of the country have had Level 2 social distancing guidelines in place since Aug. 23.
Level 2 social distancing rules, which had already been in place nationwide, were extended across the country until Sept. 20. Under the rules, 12 types of high-risk businesses including nightclubs and karaoke rooms should be shut down and indoor gatherings of more than 50 people are banned along with outdoor gatherings of more than 100 people, among other measures.
In the Seoul metropolitan area, Level 2.5 social distancing rules, which were to end Sunday, will be in force until Sept. 13, with restrictions to apply to more businesses.
Under the Level 2.5 social distancing campaign, operating hours were slashed for restaurants, bakeries and bars, with only takeout and delivery services allowed after 9 p.m. Dining in was banned at franchise coffee chains, with only takeaway and delivery services allowed. Private cram schools and indoor sports facilities were shut down. One-third of all employees working in the government, state-run agencies and public institutions are required to work from home.
The government said Friday franchise bakeries and ice cream shops were added to the list of establishments where customers are not allowed to dine in. Only delivery services and takeaway will be allowed.
Remote learning was also extended for students in the Seoul metropolitan area, except for seniors in high school, with all kindergartens, elementary, middle and high schools, and special-purpose schools in the region to remain closed until Sept. 20.
For other kindergartens and schools outside the Seoul metropolitan area, existing rules apply until Sept. 20 — student attendance is limited to one-third the normal numbers in classrooms for kindergartens, elementary and middle schools, and to two-thirds for high schools.
Fears over the spread of the coronavirus led to a closure of a record-breaking 8,252 schools across the country as of Friday, according to the Ministry of Education A total of 450 students and 103 educators tested positive for the coronavirus so far.
‘It has not yet time to let our guard down’
Health and Welfare Minister Park Neung-hoo said at a briefing Friday that the ministry has yet to let its guard down.
“The number of new cases has been triple digits for about 20 days and the coronavirus continues to spread in the Seoul metropolitan area,” Health and Welfare Minister Park Neung-hoo said at a briefing Friday.
The level of social distancing will only be lowered when “the number of new COVID-19 cases comes down to the level that the country’s quarantine and medical system can handle,” he added.
The number of COVID-19 patients in serious or critical condition hit a record high of 157 as of midnight Friday, up 3 from a day earlier, raising fears over a possible shortage of hospital beds. This marks a 17-fold increase from only nine people on Aug. 18.
Transmission routes were unidentified for 23.3 percent of the new cases reported from Aug. 21-Sept. 3, according to the KCDC, which could mean the virus is being spread silently.
COVID-19 cases linked to the Sarang Jeil Church and to a massive rally held in central Seoul on Aug. 15, which are at the center of the second wave of COVID-19 here, rose to 1,152 and 473, respectively, as of Friday at noon.
Of the locally transmitted cases, the vast majority were still registered in the Seoul metropolitan area – 68 in Seoul, five in neighboring Incheon and 55 in Gyeonggi Province, which surrounds the capital.
Outside the Seoul metropolitan area, 20 cases were reported in South Chungcheong Province after another cluster of infections was found at a kimchi manufacturing factory in Cheongyang-gun. Since the initial patient tested positive Wednesday, 22 people have been diagnosed with the coronavirus.
Ten cases were registered in Gwangju, seven in Daegu, four each in North Province and North Gyeongsang Province, three each in Busan, Daejeon, Ulsan, Gangwon Province and South Gyeongsang Province and one in South Jeolla Province.
Of the nine imported cases, five were identified while the individuals were under mandatory self-quarantine in Korea, with the other four detected during the quarantine screening process at the border. Two cases came from China, two each from other parts of Asia, Europe and the Americas, and one from Africa. Four of the newly diagnosed people were foreign nationals.
So far, 15,783 people, or 75.73 percent, have been released from quarantine upon making full recoveries, up 254 from a day earlier. Some 4,728 people are receiving medical treatment under quarantine.
Two more people died of the coronavirus, bringing the death toll to 331. The overall fatality rate amounted to 1.59 percent.
The country has carried out 2,018,906 tests since Jan. 3, with 52,266 people awaiting results as of Friday.
The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Saturday (September 5) that a weak monsoon trough lies across the upper Central and the upper Northeast regions, while the southwest monsoon prevails over the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand.
Thundershowers and some heavy rains continue over some parts of the country. People in the risky areas should beware of the severe conditions that may cause flash floods and water runoff, the department warned.
The department also said that the category 5 typhoon “Haishen” is expected to move to the south of Japan and the Korean peninsula on September 6-7, with no effect on Thailand.
The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:
North: Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 30 per cent of the areas; minimum temperature 24-27 degrees Celsius, maximum 35-37°C .
Northeast: Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas; minimum temperature 24-26°C, maximum 34-36°C.
Central: Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas and isolated heavy rain; minimum temperature 24-26°C, maximum 34-36°C.
East: Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas; minimum temperature 24-26°C, maximum 31-35°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
South (east coast): Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas and isolated heavy rain; minimum temperature 23-26°C, maximum 32-35°C; waves less than a metre high and one metre during thundershowers.
South (west coast): Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas and isolated heavy rain; minimum temperature 23-25°C, maximum 32-34°C; waves a metre high and two metres high during thundershowers.
Bangkok and surrounding areas: Cloudy with thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas; minimum temperature 25-26°C, maximum 34-36°C.
Rice mills are seeking government aid as drought has delayed rice harvests in the Central region, causing an oversupply, which will force mills to purchase more rice than they are prepared for.
Kriengsak Tapananon, president of the Thai Rice Mills Association, said weather conditions in the Central region has forced farmers to sow rice in August, delaying the harvest season to between October and November.
“The price of finished rice may also drop because there will be an oversupply as farmers in the North and Northeast also harvest rice at around October to November every year,” he said, adding that rice mills will need to be financially prepared to purchase the entire harvest.
Also, he said, since rice mills are not producing at their full capacity this year, their earnings have also dropped.
“Rice mills will be producing 50 to 60 per cent less, which means their production costs will rise. Many mills will have to bear a heavier burden, especially the burden of employees’ wages, as they have not laid off any workers. Hence, we are calling on the government to grant loans or postpone the repayment of debts,” he said.
He added that he was concerned about exporters being unable to pay rice mills due to brokers’ default in payment.
Meanwhile, Charoen Laothamatas, president of Thai Rice Exporters Association, said Thailand has only exported 3.3 million tonnes of rice in the first seven months of this year.
“However, we have to monitor the production of rice in the last quarter to see if Thailand reaches its export target of 6.5 million tonnes or not,” he said.
He added that purchase orders for Thai rice were recently low because the price of 5 per cent Thai white rice was around US$500, compared to $478 from Vietnam, $370 from India and $390 from Pakistan.
Amnesty International has urged its supporters across the world to send letters to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha demanding that his government drop charges against 31 pro-democracy protesters.The campaign also calls on the government to support the right of all Thais to protest peacefully. The protesters are calling for an end to government intimidation, dissolution of Parliament, and a rewrite of the junta-drafted Constitution.
Amnesty’s campaign was launched this week after 16 pro-democracy protesters were charged with offences including sedition, and arrest warrants were issued for 15 more.
The rights group said the the broadly worded sedition law is often used by the government to silence critical voices with the threat of up to seven years in prison.
The slew of recent arrests of peaceful demonstrators showed Thai authorities were intensifying their crackdown on freedom of expression and assembly, it added.
On Thursday, prominent pro-democracy activists Arnon Nampa and Phanuphong Chadnok were jailed after a court ruled they had violated bail conditions by continuing to organise and attend anti-government protests.
Chemicals’ superpowers need to be handled carefully, says industry
NationalSep 04. 2020Kriengkrai Thiennukul, vice chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) (Centre)
By The Nation
“Are chemicals a hero or villain?” was the provocative question fizzing at an industry seminar at Bangkok’s Landmark Hotel on Thursday (September 3).
The aim of the talk was to create awareness that chemicals help drive the country’s economy but also that they must be used responsibly to avoid damaging people’s health and the environment, explained Kriengkrai Thiennukul, vice chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).
“The chemical industry is one of the upstream sectors that play an important role in driving the country’s economy,” he said.
Last year, Thailand exported chemicals worth over Bt100 billion while also importing more than Bt480 billion of chemicals to feed local demand.
“Chemicals also play an important role in people’s daily lives, such as in seasonings, medicines, cosmetics and pesticides,” Kriengkrai noted.
“However, using chemicals incorrectly can affect people’s daily lives as well, so creating awareness on using chemicals safely is very important,” he added.
Petcharat Eksangkul, honorary president of the Chemical Industry Club, added some practical safety tips to the mix.
“The best way to use chemicals safely is to read the instructions, know the chemical safety signs, and wear personal protective equipment before using chemical products,” she said.
New subsidy meant to help small businesses, govt insists
NationalSep 04. 2020Traisulee Traisoranakul, Deputy government spokesperson
By The Nation
The government insists its new stimulus package “Kon La Khreung” (Let’s Go Halves) aims to benefit consumers and small businesses, not capitalists as has been claimed by critics on social media.
Deputy government spokesperson Traisulee Traisoranakul said on Friday (September 4) that some social-media users have said the new scheme providing a Bt3,000 subsidy per person to 15 million consumers had been launched to benefit large department stores and convenience outlets.
“Stores who participated in the previous ‘eat, shop, spend’ scheme will be part of this project, but we are also targeting street vendors, food stalls, small mom-and-pop stores,” she said.
Traisulee added that to ensure that cash flows to small businesses, the government has set up a criterion that consumers spend no more than Bt100 per day to buy items at half price, and the other half will be paid by the government.
“The aim is to help as many small businesses as possible,” she said, adding that the government also wants to ease people’s cost of living and stimulate the grassroots economy that has been hit by the Covid-19 crisis.
“Though department stores and convenience outlets are also participating, this scheme will benefit small businesses more,” she added.
Beijing has announced that it is opening its airspace to flights from Thailand, Cambodia, Pakistan, Greece, Denmark, Austria, Sweden and Canada as of Thursday (September 3).
The government spokesperson said the authorities were initially focusing on flights from low-risk countries and that business operators will be the first group allowed in.
People flying to Beijing are required to produce their Covid-19 test results before boarding the aircraft.
The Government Savings Bank (GSB) has earmarked Bt5 billion to cover loans for fishermen to improve their boats and equipment in a move to promote sustainable fishing and to improve their liquidity amid the Covid-19 crisis.
“To be eligible, applicants must be operators of fishing boats with a capacity of no more than 60 gross tonnage,” the bank’s president Withai Ratanakorn said. “Loans are limited at Bt10 million per applicant, and come with a seven-year repayment plan at an interest of 4 per cent per annum.”
He added that applicants must be over 20 years old, Thai nationals or juristic persons under Thai law, and should have owned the fishing boat for at least one year.
“Applicants can use their fishing boat, land or other property as collateral or use the Thai Credit Guarantee Corporation as guarantor,” he said.
Loans are available from now until May 25, 2021 for fishermen from 22 seaside provinces, namely Trat, Chanthaburi, Rayong, Chonburi, Chachoengsao, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla, Pattani, Narathiwat, Satun, Trang, Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi and Ranong.
The Royal Thai Police announced on Thursday (September 3) that they have arrested four Cameroon nationals and three Thai women for allegedly scamming people in South Korea and Hong Kong of more than Bt12 million over fraudulent sale of face masks.
The arrests were made in collaboration with Seoul and Hong Kong police.
“The gang was allegedly running a company called Timbermate and selling face masks and thermal scanners via the Echo Sport shop,” said Pol General Suwat Jangyodsuk, deputy National Police chief and director of the Technology Crime Suppression Division.
“They also ran a website to sell these products to foreigners.
“One South Korean national and two Hong Kong people filed complaints with the Royal Thai Police’s Foreign Affairs Division that they had transferred more than US$400,000 or about Bt12 million to the company for face masks, but did not receive the products.
“Police began tracking down the suspects from August 31 and caught them in Khon Kaen, Maha Sarakham and Kalasin provinces,” he added.
“The suspects include three men and a woman all from Cameroon and three Thai women. Officials also confiscated more than 150 items in their possession, such as computers, laptops, mobile phones, bank passbooks, ATM cards, cars, face masks, thermal scanners and Bt6.14 million in cash.”
The suspects face several charges, including fraud, money laundry, uploading false information online, working without a work permit and overstay.
To report scams or technology related crimes, call the Technology Crime Suppression Division at 1155 and 1599.
(Yonhap) 
Kriengkrai Thiennukul, vice chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) (Centre) 
Traisulee Traisoranakul, Deputy government spokesperson 
