The Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) is expected to start producing the antibody nasal spray solution to prevent Covid-19 by the third quarter of this year.
“GPO’s Viral Vaccine Division under the Department of Biological Products received a certificate of registration on June 6, allowing it to start manufacturing the solution containing the human IgG1 Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody,” GPO director Rangsee Padlee said on Thursday.
GPO’s nasal spray was first introduced for trials in February in cooperation with the Chulalongkorn University, Silpakorn University, Health Systems Research Institute and High Bioscience Ltd.
The spray is currently in its last clinical trial phase conducted by the National Cancer Institute.
The GPO had earlier been given the go-ahead by the Thai Food and Drug Administration.
“We are glad to offer people another option in preventing Covid-19, which will help Thailand overcome the pandemic in a safe, sustainable manner. Furthermore, the ISO certificate we received will pave the way for future research and manufacturing of new medicines for the treatment of respiratory diseases,” Rangsee said.
Thailand’s first McDonald’s branch will be shuttered for two years from June 30 as the shopping complex is renovated.
The branch is located in Amarin Plaza in downtown Bangkok, which will be closed for renovations and linked with Gaysorn Village.
The branch, which was opened 37 years ago in 1985, is giving away gift vouchers to winners of the best picture and caption. The campaign runs until June 22 and gifts will be handed out on June 24.
Patrons who spend more than 200 baht at the branch will also get a limited-edition T-shirt.
Other branches nearby are operating as usual.
The first McDonald’s restaurant was opened by Richard and Maurice (Mac) McDonald in 1940 on Route 66 in San Bernardino, California. They later sold their company to Ray Kroc in Des Plaines, Illinois.
Currently, there are around 36,000 McDonald’s restaurants in 119 countries and territories.
The government has managed to talk operators of oil and gas refineries into contributing up to 8 billion baht per month from July to September to the Oil Fuel Fund.
“Increasing the Oil Fuel Fund’s liquidity will help ease people’s financial burden during the fuel price crisis, as it can continue providing a 20-billion-baht monthly subsidy,” Energy Ministry’s permanent-secretary Kulit Sombatsiri said on Thursday.
The government panel tasked with easing the impact of rising fuel prices and inflation met with operators of gas and oil refineries on Thursday. The committee is chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
The meeting agreed that diesel refineries will contribute up to 6 billion baht per month, and benzine and gas refineries will contribute up to 1 billion baht each per month.
Kulit said this should immediately bring the price of benzine down by 1 baht per litre.
“Operators have agreed to fully cooperate with the government and there is no need to issue a ministerial announcement,” he added.
Separately, Danucha Pichayanan, secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Council, said the meeting on Thursday also agreed to extend subsidy measures expiring on June 30. This extension does not include the reduction of contributions to the Social Security Fund, which will be decided upon by the Cabinet next week.
The scrapping of the Test & Go scheme from May 1 has given a significant boost to Thailand’s tourism industry, said Laura Marie Arens, Google’s chief of Travel Vertical Search for Asia-Pacific.
She was speaking at the Google Hotelier Summit 2022 held on Thursday at the Athenee Hotel in Bangkok.
Arens added that the number of Google searches for Thailand has also risen since May 1.
Marisa Sukosol Nunpakdee, Thai Hotels Association president, said in response to the industry’s recovery, demand for workers has also risen since more than half had been laid off during the Covid crisis.
“Hotels with enough capital are paying more to hang on to their staff,” she said.
However, she said, smaller properties with limited finance were unable to pay workers and had limited access to technology.
She also expects the number of business, leisure, wellness and individual tourists to rise in the future.
“New generation tourists will pay attention to experiences received from locals and a variety of products,” she added.
Ministry of Public Health reported on Friday (June 17) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 1,967 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, one of whom has arrived in Thailand from abroad.
Death toll increased by 19, while 2,123 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.
Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 2,271,445.
People aged 20 and above are allowed to possess and use cannabis and its extract, the Public Health Ministry announced on Thursday.
The edict, which goes into effect on Friday, aims to ensure people’s safety and promote the use of cannabis sustainably.
The announcement, published in the Royal Gazette, also specifies that people cannot smoke weed or its extract in public areas or give access to pregnant women, nursing mothers or people aged below 20.
Physicians, however, can prescribe cannabis and its extract, and patients can possess and use this medication for 30 days.
Students at Chaiyabhumbhakdeechumphon School in Chaiyaphum province made pedestal trays to support the LGBT movement and celebrate pride month.
Twitter account ‘@saliandking10’ posted this story on Twitter a few years ago to share the story of “Teacher Respect Day” as the user was impressed by the students’ action to support LGBT.
Photo Credit: Twitter account @saliandking10
The user was proud that it came from their school. The user added that it was clear that society is more open about LGBT than before.
The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) has denied speculation its deal with a Chinese submarine maker would be cancelled or revised, as the company is unable to acquire the German-made diesel engines stipulated in the purchase contract.
Navy commander-in-chief Admiral Somprasong Nilsamai said on Thursday that negotiations with China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co (CSOC) were still underway.
The Thai Navy has been firm in its demand for German-made MTU 396 engines to be installed in the 13.5-billion-baht S26T Yuan-class submarine it is buying from China, he said.
The RTN last week gave CSOC another 60 days to honour the agreement’s terms over the engines.
When asked if the Navy would cancel its agreement if the Chinese company could not obtain the stated engines, Somprasong said on Thursday: “There are steps [to be taken] and we still have time.”
When asked if the CSOC would refund the RTN’s advance, “We are not there yet. The talks are still ongoing,” said the commander-in-chief.
The German government has prohibited the export of the engines to China because of their use for military purposes, as Germany is bound by a European Union arms embargo imposed on China in 1989 after the Tiananmen Square massacre.
All Covid-19 control zones across Thailand would be clubbed together as green zone (low surveillance) in a bid to enable people to go about their routine activities as usual in line with laws, the Public Health Ministry said on Thursday.
The ministry will make this suggestion to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) during the meeting on Friday, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said.
He said the ministry will discuss with the CCSA whether all entertainment venues, including pubs, bars and karaoke shops, should be allowed to reopen in line with laws.
Entertainment venues in 46 yellow provinces (high-surveillance) are still not allowed to reopen even though venues in 14 green provinces (low surveillance) and 17 blue provinces (tourism pilot) have been allowed to reopen since June 1.
He added that the ministry will maintain recommendations on wearing face mask to contain the spread of Covid-19, but the ministry also will evaluate venues where people can take off their masks.
Meanwhile, Department of Disease Control director-general Dr Opas Karnkawinpong said people across Thailand would be allowed to go about their activities as usual in line with laws.
He said the Public Health Ministry is not worried about allowing all entertainment venues to reopen in line with laws.
He added that the ministry will monitor the number of Covid-19 patients who develop severe symptoms and Covid-19 deaths as well.
Opas added that there is still misunderstanding on whether face mask is compulsory or a recommendation because no one has been arrested for not wearing a face mask so far.
However, the ministry is still recommending wearing face mask, except when dining, living alone, or staying in well ventilated areas, he said.
As of May 20, 14 green provinces (low surveillance) are: Chai Nat, Phichit, Ang Thong, Nan, Maha Sarakham, Yasothon, Nakhon Phanom, Lampang, Amnat Charoen, Buriram, Trat, Surat Thani, Surin and Udon Thani.
17 blue provinces (tourism pilot) are: Bangkok, Krabi, Kanchanaburi, Chanthaburi, Chonburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nonthaburi, Narathiwat, Pathum Thani, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phang-nga, Phetchaburi, Phuket, Rayong and Songkhla.
46 yellow provinces (high-surveillance) are: Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Khon Kaen, Chachoengsao, Chaiyaphum, Chumphon, Trang, Tak, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nakhon Sawan, Bueng Kan, Prachinburi, Pattani, Ayutthaya, Phayao, Phatthalung, Phitsanulok, Phetchabun, Phrae, Mukdahan, Mae Hong Son, Yala, Roi Et, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Lopburi, Loei, Lamphun, Sisaket, Sakon Nakhon, Satun, Samut Prakan, Samut Songkhram, Samut Sakhon, Sa Kaeo, Saraburi, Singburi, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Nong Khai, Nong Bua Lamphu, Uttaradit, Uthai Thani and Ubon Ratchathani.
The Swedish Embassy in Thailand last week won pledges from 12 Swedish companies that they would allow their male employees to take paternity leave with pay for at least 30 days a year.
Jon Astrom Grondahl, Sweden’s ambassador to Thailand, disclosed the initiative of the embassy and the Swedish firms in Thailand during his interview with Krungthep Turakij.
The 12 Swedish firms operating in Thailand included Ikea, Volvo, ABB, Electrolux, AstraZeneca, and Atlas Copco.
The ambassador said the 12 Swedish firms gave the commitment voluntarily to allow their male staff to take leave to help their wives take care of their children for at least a month.
The ambassador said the paternity leave would promote sexual equality in line with the policy in his home country.
The ambassador said his country was the first in the world to enact a law that allows both parents to take leave with pay for up to 480 days when they have a child or adopt a child. The 480 days could be taken over a time until the child turns 8 years.
The ambassador recounted that he was born in 1975, a year after the law was enacted so his father was among the first group of Swedish men who took paternity leave.
The envoy said when his daughter was born, he also got the right to take six months leave to take care of her.
Ekachai Chakornsakul, human resources manager of Electrolux Thailand, said his company had consulted the employees before agreeing to adopt the paternity leave policy.
“This is a very good initiative. It’s good to have fathers take care of their children,” Ekachai said.
He said Electrolux supports sexual equality, so it welcomed the initiative.
Assoc Prof Dr Somporn Kamolsiripichai, a senior adviser to Global Bugs Asia, said allowing male staff to take paternity leave is a good incentive.
He said Global Bugs is a startup that works for community development in Hua Hin and the paternity leave policy had made local people interested in working for his company.
Sanjay Safaya, country manager of Atlas Copco Thailand, said Atlast Copco has branches in many countries and male staff at all branches can take paternity leave.
The ambassador denied trying to sell the idea of paternity leave to the Thai government, but said he had done so indirectly by telling the Thai government about Sweden’s law.
He said he hoped that the initiative by the 12 Swedish companies would prompt the Thai government and private sector to have more discussions about paternity leave.
The ambassador said the embassy would not have to monitor whether the companies would honour their word because they had given the commitment voluntarily.
“But the embassy will use soft power by promoting good deeds of the companies on our Facebook wall,” the ambassador added.
SootinClaimon.Com 