#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018297

Search is on for a European man who had reportedly engaged in physical contact with Thailand’s second monkeypox patient.

The Department of Medical Sciences said on Thursday that test results showed a 47-year-old Thai man, who was admitted to Vajira Hospital in Bangkok last week, was positive for monkeypox.

Sopon Iamsirithaworn, Department of Disease Control deputy director, confirmed that the second monkeypox case had engaged in physical contact with a European man.

He added that the second monkeypox case and the European man came to know each other via social media.

“We don’t know where the foreigner lives or whether he has left the country,” he said.

Sopon Iamsirithaworn

The Public Health Ministry’s disease investigation team is trying to track down the man.

He said the disease investigation team will check CCTV camera footage and cooperate with related agencies, such as Tourist Police and embassies, to find the European man.

He feared that this could be the beginning of monkeypox outbreak in Thailand, adding that the disease investigation team would also find other people who had come into contact with the patient.

Earlier on Thursday the department director-general, Opas Karnkawinpong, said they are conducting tests on 10 people who had come in contact with the second monkeypox patient.

Published : July 29, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018284

The Royal Gazette recently published a revision in the emergency decree’s Article 9, which will go into effect on August 1.

The article was revised to prepare for an expected surge in Covid-19 infections worldwide due to the highly transmissible Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants now that countries are reopening and easing restrictions.

Covid-19 infections in Greater Bangkok and tourism provinces have continued to rise despite the campaign for people to get their booster shots.

In response, the public health sector has agreed to revise measures to effectively contain the virus’s spread.

Agencies have been instructed as follows:

• Mark all areas nationwide as Covid-19 surveillance zones in line with the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)’s order.

• Enforce Covid-19 prevention measures to contain the spread of the virus in risky venues and provide guidelines for filming television shows, films and videos.

• Prevent activities that may trigger infection clusters unless authorised by the authorities.

• Welcome foreigners in line with the country’s reopening policy and public health measures.

• Prepare medical staff and supplies, including Covid-19 vaccines, to deal with possible outbreaks and encourage people, especially the vulnerable, to get booster doses.

• Prepare plans to transition Covid-19 from a dangerous communicable disease to a disease under surveillance to help people make adjustments and live safely.

Published : July 29, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018278

The Public Health Ministry reported on Friday (July 29) that over the past 24 hours, 2,480 Covid-19 patients have been admitted to hospitals.

The death toll has risen by 37, while 1,853 patients have recovered and discharged from hospitals. 

The number of cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022, stands at 2,363,115.

The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 4,586,550 – 4,530,673 of whom have recovered, 24,550 are still in hospitals and 31,327 have died.

Separately, another 8,443 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 16,285 their second shot and 64,709 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 141,507,957.

According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 579.78 million on Friday, 549.64 million of whom have recovered, 23.73 million are active cases (47,161 in severe condition) and 6.41 million have died (up by 1,792).

Thailand ranks 27th in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 92.92 million, followed by India with 43.98 million, Brazil with 33.75 million, France with 33.74 million and Germany with 30.79 million.

Published : July 29, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018276

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa has ordered an importer to ship 130 tonnes of goods categorised as garbage back to Australia, a senior official said on Thursday.

Atthapol Charoenchansa, director-general of the Pollution Control Department (PCD), said Varawut gave the order after a joint inspection by his department and the Customs Department found that a recent import by Inter Pacific Paper Co Ltd contained “municipality garbage” instead of used paper as declared by the company.

The two departments jointly checked the consignments of Inter Pacific Paper at Laem Chabang Deepsea Port in Chon Buri province on Wednesday.

Inter Pacific Paper had declared that the goods were “waste paper-mixed paper” with the Customs code 4704.90.00.

But officials of the two departments opened all the containers and found that they contained pieces of used paper mixed with other rubbish objects, including cloth bags, food containers, face masks, napkins, spray cans, and medicine Ziplock bags, Atthapol said.

He said the paper waste included 20-30 per cent of other objects, so the shipment was classified by the Customs Department as municipality garbage under 3825.10.00 Customs code.

Atthapol said goods with the code 3825.10.00 were prohibited from being imported or even for transhipment via Thailand.

Atthapol said Varawut, who chairs the committee on plastic and electronic waste management, ordered the authorities to take legal action against Inter Pacific Paper for importing prohibited goods.

Atthapol said the PCD will coordinate with the Customs Department to order the importer to send the containers back to the country of origin as soon as possible.

Atthapol said his department would also seek cooperation from the Foreign Trade Department to inform Australian authorities about Thailand’s policy that prohibits import of municipality garbage.

The director-general said the PCD and Customs department have held a meeting with executives of Inter Pacific Paper and received a clarification from the firm.

Inter Pacific Paper explained that it had ordered paper waste from the seller with a condition that it must not have more than one per cent contamination with other types of garbage.

The goods were supposed to be used as raw material at a paper recycling plant in Ban Srang district in Prachin Buri province.

The company said it mostly used paper waste in the country and imported only 4 per cent paper waste. Other garbage types would be sorted out and sent as fuel to a cement plant, Inter Pacific Paper explained.

The company promised to better check its import shipments from the country of origin in future.

Published : July 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018267

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has organised special train rides using historic steam locomotives to mark His Majesty the King’s birthday on Thursday.

The trips between Bangkok and Ayutthaya started at Hua Lamphong station at 8am in a ceremony presided over by SRT governor Niruj Maneepun.

The trains were drawn by Pacific-class steam locomotive numbers 824 and 850, built by Japan’s Nippon Sharyo in 1949 and 1950, respectively.

The two historic locomotives, built shortly after World War II, are normally parked at the SRT’s Thonburi Locomotive Depot and used for special rides organised on certain public holidays, according to Aekkarat Sriarayanpong, the SRT’s public relations director.

The next such train trips will be held on August 12, the Queen Mother’s birthday.

Similar trips using the steam locomotives are also organised on October 23 (King Chulalongkorn Memorial Day), December 5 (late King Bhumibol’s birthday), March 26 (SRT foundation day), and June 3 (Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday).

Aekkarat said the SRT expected to boost domestic tourism by holding such special trips. He added that recovery of the tourism industry would create more jobs and help strengthen the local economy.

Published : July 28, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018266

The second confirmed monkeypox case in Thailand was found in Bangkok on Thursday, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said.

He said a 47-year-old Thai man who had engaged in physical contact with a foreigner was admitted to Vajira Hospital last week after developing fever, muscle pain and rash throughout his body.

He said the hospital’s medical staff would be monitoring the patient’s symptoms for 21 days.

Meanwhile, Department of Disease Control director-general Opas Karnkawinpong said they are conducting tests on 10 people who had come in contact with the second monkeypox patient.

He added that the disease investigation team is accelerating tracking down other people who came into contact with the patient.

He also advised people who develop monkeypox symptoms to consult a doctor at hospitals near their homes.

Published : July 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018264

The Defence Ministry has trained its sights on tackling Covid-19 and monkeypox during the current long holiday and is ready to set up field hospitals if the number of coronavirus patients shoots up.

Defence Ministry spokesman General Kongcheep Tantravanich said on Thursday that the ministry had always cooperated with the Public Health Ministry in screening and moving Covid-19 patients into the treatment system.

He said the military is ready to set up field hospitals if the number of patients suddenly increases, as it has done before.

The military continues to work closely with the Public Health Ministry, Kongcheep said.

Meanwhile, it is also intercepting illegal immigrants who could smuggle illegal items and drugs into the country, he said.

Border security forces are cooperating with neighbouring nations in a move to prevent monkeypox, the spokesman said.

They were strict in screening suspects and sharing information between countries to keep the virus from spreading to Thailand, Kongcheep assured.

Every sector is working to its fullest, he added, requesting the public to place their trust in the military’s border defence measures.

Published : July 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018261

The Cabinet approved a budget of 10.974 billion baht to construct a 300-rai (48 hectares) zoo in Pathum Thani province.

Government spokeswoman Ratchada Thanadirek said that the Cabinet approved the budget for five years (2023-27) on Tuesday. The budget for 2023 fiscal year is 1.109 billion baht.

The construction will be divided into two phases. The Cabinet had approved on January 11 a budget for the first phase of 5.383 billion baht, while the budget for phase two is 4.34 billion baht.

The park is expected to open after the first phase in 2026. It will fully open in 2028.

It will be a learning place with focus on environment, animals, conservation, study, and reproduction of wild animals for nature. It will also be an ecotourism tourist destination.

The zoo is located in the Thanyaburi district of Pathum Thani with an area of 300 rai. It is divided into six zones:

• 171 rai for animal display and exhibition area
• 43 rai for flood prevention area and roads
• 33 rai for administration and research area
• 21 rai for park
• 18 rai common and commercial area
• 15 rai for parking

Published : July 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018258

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan has ordered walls of sandbags to be placed along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan as rising sea levels are expected this weekend.

Prawit on Thursday instructed relevant agencies, including the Office of National Water Resources (ONWR), to monitor sea levels and water released from the Chao Phraya Dam upstream.

An increased volume of water is expected between July 28 and August 1 due to rising sea levels and water released from the dam, which could result in the Chao Phraya River rising by 1.9-2 metres.

Communities along the river are expected to be affected, particularly those where concrete embankments are damaged or nonexistent.

Prawit also instructed the ONWR and other relevant authorities to closely monitor the water situation in the provinces likely to be affected by the monsoon forecast between Wednesday and next Monday.

The agencies were told to coordinate with local administrative officials, as well as the police, the military and volunteers in providing aid to affected residents.

Provinces bracing for flooding due to the coming monsoon include Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat, Uttaradit, Nan, Loei, Phichit, Nakhon Ratchasima, Ranong, Trang and Nakhon Si Thammarat.

Published : July 28, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018257

Pattaya will host an international cannabis festival in September to promote the seaside resort city as a hub for the plant-related health tourism.

The CISW Cann Festival Thailand 2022 is scheduled for September 9-11 at Central Pattaya department store.

It is a collaboration between Pattaya City, CISW Green World Co Ltd, and Central Pattaya.

At the festival, Cann Expo and Hemp Expo will highlight products made from cannabis and hemp, including food, beverages and cosmetics.

The event aims to promote the medical use of cannabis and hemp while helping the participants to expand their business network. Also, there will be business matching aimed at drawing Thai and foreign investors to invest in businesses related to cannabis and hemp.

A Miss Cannabis Thailand beauty contest will also be held during the festival, with the winners gaining prize money of over 200,000 baht.

Published : July 28, 2022