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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014546

Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned against a mouth spray that claims to “catch and kill” the Covid-19 virus before it moves further into the body.

The product in question – made from longan extract and having been advertised on online media – was registered as a cosmetic food supplement with no medical quality, FDA deputy secretary-general Weerachai Nolwachai said on Thursday.

“The FDA has never approved any mouth spray product with the property of stopping or protecting against the Covid-19 virus,” he made it clear.

“Do not believe any advertisements trying to sell something that does not pass the FDA’s efficacy testing,” he warned.

Weerachai also noted that business owners advertising their cosmetic products with false information could face a maximum of one year in prison, a fine of up to 100,000 baht, or both.

Also, advertisers who use false information about their food products risk a maximum three years in jail, a fine of up to 30,000 baht, or both.

Details about products approved by the FDA can be checked on the agency’s website at http://www.fda.moph.go.th.

If you want to report any suspected medical or food product, call FDA hotline 1556 or lodge a complaint via the FDAThai Facebook account or Line Official account @FDAThai.

Published : April 14, 2022

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) on Thursday scrambled to take action in order to prevent tourists from splashing water as part of Songkran celebrations on Khaosan Road, a popular tourist destination.

As part of the measures, the BMA set up road checkpoints on both sides of Khaosan Road from 1pm.

The move to set up checkpoints was made at an urgent meeting of BMA agencies at 11am, called by BMA clerk Khachit Chatwanit to discuss measures for enforcing the nationwide ban on water splashing on Khaosan Road.

Kachit said the meeting was also attended by representatives from the Metropolitan Police Bureau and restaurant operators on Khaosan Road.

The meeting was held after the BMA clerk was informed by the operation centre of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration to enforce the ban strictly.

On Wednesday, foreign tourists were seen gathering on Khaosan Road in the evening to play water splashing until 11pm, leading to fears of new Covid-19 clusters. After reports on the Khaosan Songkran celebrations, the CCSA operation centre announced that the road is not among permitted venues for holding Songkran celebrations and water splashing is prohibited.

Following the 11am meeting, Phra Nakhon district chief Wasant Boonmuenwai said the two road checkpoints would be manned by BMA environment officials, who will perform antigen tests on those who want to enter the Khaosan area. Police will also be deployed to enforce the ban.

Wasant said Songkran revellers will not be allowed to carry water guns and other tools into the area for water-splashing activities.

He said the tourists will be allowed only to visit restaurants on the road without splashing water as on Wednesday night. Drinking and eating will be allowed until 11 pm.

The Phra Nakhon district chief said five restaurant operators were arrested for violating the 11pm closure time on Wednesday night; three of them have been fined and two others are still facing legal procedure.

Khachit added that there were 10 tourist destinations near Khaosan where tourists are allowed to sprinkle a little water on each others’ hands and head as part of the old Songkran tradition.

The 10 destinations are well-known Buddhist temples: Wat Ratchaborphit, Wat Saket, Wat Kalayanamitr, Wat Arun, Wat Phra Chetuphon, Wat Mahathat, Wat Suthat, Wat Rakang, Wat Ratchanadda and Wat Prayoon, Kachit added.

The traditional celebrations at the temples will be held from morning until 5pm.

Published : April 14, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014542

A medical expert on Thursday warned that Thailand’s Covid-19 cases would likely double or triple after the long Songkran holidays due to parties at many entertainment venues, in a repeat of last year’s events.

Assoc Professor Thira Woratanarat, from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine, wrote in a Facebook post that media reports showed many restaurants-cum-entertainment venues had failed to follow Covid safety measures, as their customers were seen partying, drinking and firing water guns in crowded places.

“You will have to throw away your [medical] textbooks if such things lead to no outbreak. They have all the contributing factors — crowdedness, closeness, poor ventilation, sharing of objects, and long duration,” he wrote.

Dr Thira noted that the number of daily Covid-19 cases had increased two to three times after the long Songkran holidays last year, and he expected a similar situation this year.

“The impact didn’t stop there. The number doubled again a month later,” he added.

He noted that Thailand on Wednesday was ranked seventh in the world and third in Asia for the number of people reporting Covid-positive after antigen self-testing.

Also on Wednesday, he added, Thailand’s Covid death casualties were No. 9 in the world, making up of 15.4 per cent of all reported deaths in Asia.

Thira blamed the spike in Covid cases on a widespread perception that the currently dominant Omicron variant is mild and controllable following the Public Health Ministry’s attempt to lower Covid from a pandemic to an endemic.

He warned that even after they were cured, Covid patients risked long-term impacts of the Long Covid effect to their health and everyday life.

“They could get chronic diseases that could inflict huge financial burden on the patients, their families and the country in the long term,” the medical expert said.

Published : April 14, 2022

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014541

The Stop Drink Network on Thursday advised Songkran event organisers to distribute water-resistant face masks to participants in a bid to contain the spread of Covid-19.

The call came after some Songkran revellers violated the water splashing ban on Bangkok’s Khaosan Road on Wednesday, triggering concerns that it could lead to an increase in Covid-19 infections. Violations were also reported in Phuket and Chiang Mai.

According to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, water splashing, powder smearing and foam parties are prohibited in public areas this Songkran.

The network’s public policy manager, Wisanu Srithawong, said revellers would face difficulty breathing if their face masks were soaked.

He also pointed out that some tourists had not dispersed from Khaosan Road even after 11pm on Wednesday while 70 per cent of them failed to wear face masks.

Wisanu Srithawong

“Hence, we advise event organisers to hand out water-resistant face masks to participants as the situation is currently going out of control,” he said.

“Meanwhile, businesses, tour guides and hotel operators should create awareness among tourists on the issue.”

Wisanu urged people to focus on carrying out traditional activities – such as pouring water on Buddha statues, visiting relatives and taking a short trip – rather than entertainment activities.

“If society focuses on tradition and culture, they will become valuable and meaningful,” he added.

Published : April 14, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014538

Precisely 1,225 traffic violations were reported on Wednesday, the third of the Songkran festival’s “Seven Dangerous Days”, the Department of Probation said on Thursday.

This year, the seven dangerous days are from April 11 to 17.

Of the total, 1,083 cases involved drunk driving, five reckless driving, and 137 “drug-impaired” driving. The court ordered seven drivers to wear electronic monitoring (EM) bracelets on Wednesday.

The past three days saw 2,807 traffic violations – 2,334 drunk driving cases (83.15 per cent), 18 reckless driving (0.64 per cent) and 455 drug-impaired driving (16.2 per cent).

“Surin province reported the highest number of drunk driving cases on Wednesday at 190, followed by Bangkok [131] and Ubon Ratchathani [123],” department director-general Wittawan Soonthornkachit said.

“Compared to the same period last year, the number of drunk driving cases has dropped from 1,398 to 1,083 – a 22.5 per cent decrease.”

Wittawan said drivers who have been ordered to wear EM bracelets must remain in their residences from 7pm to 5am for seven days.

The department’s Electronic Monitoring Control Centre will monitor their movements 24 hours a day and dispatch officers immediately if there is any violation of the court order, Wittawan warned.

“The Department of Probation has set up 78 checkpoints along major roads during the Songkran festival this year. A total 1,485 officers and volunteers are stationed at these checkpoints to provide free drinking water and hand sanitisers to motorists, as well as to ensure that traffic laws are observed,” he added.

Published : April 14, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014533

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expects the “Amazing Songkran 2022 Celebrations” event to draw precisely 458,907 Thai and foreign tourists to Bangkok, generating 1.8 billion baht in revenue.

TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said on Wednesday that the agency organised the event in line with Thai traditions and measures to contain the spread of Covid-19.

“This aims to ensure safety tourism, preserve Thai traditions and enable tourists to gain new travel experiences under the ‘Visit Thailand Year 2022: Amazing New Chapters’ campaign,” he said.

The Amazing Songkran event is being held at 10 temples in Bangkok – Wat Arun, Wat Pho, Wat Rakang, Wat Suthat, Wat Kalayanamit, Wat Prayun, Wat Ratchanatdaram, Wat Mahathat, Wat Saket and Wat Ratchabophit – until April 17.

The event features water offerings to Buddha statues and capturing the moment at a special photo corner or augmented reality spot, as well as enjoying lucky draws and collecting souvenirs.

TAT has arranged special festivities till April 15 at Wat Saket and Wat Ratchabophit, which include traditional culture and performances such as the Khon masked dance, Thai-style antiphon singing and Thai puppet shows, as well as demonstrations of authentic Thai dessert making and fruit carving.

To ensure safety, participants must get a temperature check and abide by measures to contain the spread of Covid-19, as well as refrain from water splashing, powder smearing or alcohol drinking.

TAT is also implementing other measures to gain the confidence of participants, such as providing hand sanitising gels, arranging areas for social distancing and preparing bottles of scented water.

Published : April 14, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014532

Five competitors were all fired up on Wednesday for a durian spicy salad eating contest at Taiton, a restaurant in Chiang Mai’s San Kamphaeng district, to mark Songkran.

This is the second year Taiton has held the competition.

The rules were simple: competitors must pay 299 baht to participate and eat the durian spicy salad in 20 minutes.

The competitor who finishes first will be awarded 10 kilogrammes of durian, while those placed second and third would stand to gain 5kg and 2kg of durian, respectively.

The winner this time round wolfed down his salad in a mere 6.20 minutes.

Taiton owner Amporn Phansri said the restaurant had bought durian from Chanthaburi farmers, who have faced difficulty in exporting the fruit. Taiton uses the purchased durian to cook a variety of food and desserts, such as Masman, Tom Yum, pizza, cake and pudding.

Amporn said the restaurant is offering a buffet of delicacies made from durian at 599 baht per person for the next two months.

She said Taiton is also offering a promotion of “come 5 pay 4” to mark the Songkran festival until Friday (April 15).

“The restaurant will buy all species of durian at up to 3 tonnes per day, such as Monthong, Chanee, Nok Yip and Puangmanee,” she added.

Published : April 14, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014530

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration’s chief operations officer instructed the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) on Thursday to stringently enforce the ban on water splashing.

National Security Council secretary-general General Supoj Malaniyom, who is also the chief of the CCSA operation centre, said he discussed violation of the Khaosan water splashing ban with the BMA city clerk and representatives on Wednesday.

Supoj said the city clerk and BMA representatives told him they would hold a meeting of BMA agencies concerned to ensure the ban is not violated again.

Hundreds of Thais and foreign tourists were seen brazenly using water guns and splashing water on one another in Khaosan on Wednesday evening until 11pm.

The CCSA announced that only the traditional sprinkling of a little water on the hands and head is allowed in areas approved by the authorities.

“The CCSA measures are clear,” Supoj said. “Water splashing is prohibited in public areas and the approved areas can only hold traditional water sprinkling. Khaosan Road is a public area and it has not been given approval to hold Songkran celebrations.

Supoj reminded senior BMA officials that other parts of the country were complying with CCSA measures and most people realised that violations could cause new Covid clusters.

The authorities would first seek cooperation from the public to comply with the ban as they would not like to force people to follow instructions for fear of destroying the happy atmosphere and marring tourism, he said.

“We hope that today [Thursday] we won’t see scenes of water splashing as witnessed yesterday,” Supoj added.

He also quoted Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as saying that people who return from visiting their hometowns during Songkran should check their condition before going back to work. If they notice suspicious symptoms, they should work from home, Supoj advised.

Published : April 14, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014529

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has asked the public and tourism and hospitality operators to keep their guard up during the Songkran festival, the government spokesman said on Thursday.

Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said the prime minister wanted organisers of Songkran celebrations to strictly comply with Covid Free Setting measures to contain the spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

The Covid Free Setting requires that participants show proof of vaccinations, scan their body temperature before entering venues or zones and always wear a face mask.

The spokesman quoted Prayut as reminding everyone that only the traditional sprinkling of a little water on the hands and head is allowed in areas approved by the authorities.

But hardcore water splashing, water gun fights, foam partying, wet powder smearing and drinking or selling of alcohol are all banned, Thanakorn made clear.

It has been reported that several tourist destinations, including Bangkok’s Khaosan Road and Phuket’s Patong Beach, saw Songkran revellers violate the water splashing ban.

Thanakorn quoted Prayut as also saying that water splashing and other Songkran activities are not allowed on roads and in public areas which have not been given permission to hold such activities.

Prayut instructed local administrations to monitor and ensure that business operators and organisers of Songkran celebrations strictly comply with orders from the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration so that the number of new infections after the Songkran holidays is “not too high”.

On Thursday, the Public Health Ministry reported that Thailand logged 24,134 confirmed Covid-19 infections and 115 deaths during the previous 24 hours.

Published : April 14, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014524

Trat’s three popular tourist islands – Koh Chang, Koh Mak and Koh Kut – saw an overwhelming number of visitors on Wednesday as people made a beeline for the islands to celebrate Songkran.

At the Koh Chang ferry port in Klong Yai subdistrict, hundreds of vehicles queued up since 5am on Wednesday to get on ferries, a news source said.

The ferry operator had to therefore use all five of their vessels to transport travellers around the clock as the parking lot at the port could accommodate only 350 vehicles.

“At around 10am, the parking lot was already full, forcing motorists to queue up on the roadside to get on ferries, creating more than 2 kilometres of traffic congestion,” said the source.

Meanwhile, at Laem Sok Port in Ao Yai subdistrict, which operates ferries and speed boats from mainland Trat to Koh Kut and Koh Mak, there were more than 700 travellers waiting to head to the islands as the available vessels were not enough to accommodate the high volume of visitors.

Another news source said some had to wait out in the hot sun as the port’s roofed area overflowed with passengers.

Trat Port Authority senior specialist Sopaphon Kaewwongmai said that due to traffic and passenger congestion, ferries to the three islands would take more time to load and unload cars and passengers, with the usual one-hour trips now taking 1.5-2 hours.

“The authority has instructed all ports in the province to strictly follow Covid-19 preventive measures, including providing hand sanitisers and implementing social distancing in waiting areas,” she added.

Published : April 14, 2022

By : THE NATION