Heavy to moderate rains on Sunday gave many Bangkokians relief from the searing summer heat, but also left several roads slightly flooded.
The rains, unleashed under the influence of a tropical storm over the Bay of Bengal, kicked off at about 2pm.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Drainage and Sewerage Department reported that as of 4pm, the capital’s Huai Khwang district had been hit with the heaviest rain measuring at 97.5mm.
Heavy rain was also recorded in Wang Thong Lang (80mm) and Watthana district (76.5mm).
The department also reported that a part of Sukhumvit Road at the Bang Na intersection, Pracha Songkroah, Prachasuk and Thian Ruam Mitr roads in Din Daeng and Ramkhamhaeng Soi 3 in Suan Luang district had been flooded. However, the floods were shallow and there was no traffic congestion as Bangkok roads usually have light traffic on Sundays.
Nok Air said on Friday that it needs two or three months to promote Yala’s Betong International Airport among local and foreign tourists before it can start flying again.
The airline issued this statement after it cancelled its Don Mueang-Betong flights on Wednesday, one day after the airport was officially opened on March 14.
The original plan was for Nok Air to fly three times a week – Monday, Wednesday and Friday – from Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport. It allocated its Bombardier Dash 8-Q400 aircraft, which can carry 86 passengers, for the route.
Teerapol Chotichanapibal, Nok Air’s chief commercial officer, said the bookings were far fewer than expected even though the airline’s announcement of the new route received a good response among customers and agents.
However, he admitted that the drop in bookings may partly be due to the surge in daily Covid-19 cases which affected customers’ confidence.
“The drop in sales is why the airline had to cancel its flights,” he said, adding that Nok Air first needs to spend the next two or three months promoting Betong as a tourist destination.
He said the airline aims to attract 5 per cent of the local tourist market by offering flights for as little as 3,500 baht and also hopes to draw Malaysian tourists once the border reopens on April 1.
“We urge the government to guarantee 75 per cent of revenue for the first six months, so the airline does not suffer too much of a loss,” he said.
Meanwhile, Betong Tourism Business Association vice president Narin Ruengwongsa said the association will meet Nok Air and tour agencies on Monday to discuss marketing strategies and pricing.
“The tourism sector in Betong expects Nok Air to start Don Mueang-Betong flights from April 1 in line with Malaysia’s border reopening plans and the Qingming festival,” he said.
He added that travellers from Malaysia and Singapore are expected to flood in once the border is reopened.
More than 600,000 Malaysian and Singaporean tourists had visited Yala before the Covid-19 pandemic emerged in 2019, he said.
Separately, Betong Hotel Club president Phruek Wongnamroj expects the price of hotel rooms to rise by 30 to 40 per cent if Nok Air starts flying to Betong and Malaysia reopens its border.
“We expect more Thais to also visit Betong once flights start running,” he said, adding that Betong will also benefit from tourism stimulus measures such as Rao Tiew Duay Kan (We Travel Together) and Tour Tiew Thai schemes.
A tropical cyclone is expected to bring heavy rains to the North, western parts of the Central region and the South on Sunday, the Thailand Meteorological Department has said.
According to the weather report, an active low-pressure cell over the Bay of Bengal will develop into a tropical cyclone before moving to the upper portion of the bay and hit Myanmar from Sunday to Tuesday.
The storm will also strengthen prevailing winds over the West of Thailand.
“Isolated heavy to very heavy rains are expected in the North, western parts of the Central region and the South. People in these areas should beware of severe conditions,” the department said.
It further explained that strengthening winds and thundershowers will create 2-metre high waves in the lower Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand.
“All ships and boats should proceed with caution and keep away from thundershower areas. Small boats should stay ashore in the upper Andaman area,” the department warned.
People have been encouraged to stay tuned for weather updates.
As many as 101,691 complaints and comments had been submitted to the government in 2021, and 93.44 per cent or 95,024 of them have been resolved, the Prime Minister’s Office recently told the Cabinet. The remaining 6,667 issues are still under consideration, it said.
In response, the Cabinet resolved to boost the efficiency of grievance management so people have better access to services and are given solutions as soon as possible.
The government agencies, state enterprises and local government organisations to receive the most complaints are:
Government agencies
• Finance Ministry (8,017)
• Royal Thai Police (4,901)
• Public Health Ministry (4,812)
• Labour Ministry (4,655)
• Transport Ministry (1,258)
State enterprises
• Government Savings Bank (566)
• Provincial Electricity Authority (457)
• Provincial Waterworks Authority (425)
• Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (416)
• National Telecom (407)
Local government organisations
• Bangkok (7,301)
• Nonthaburi (1,403)
• Samut Prakan (1,216)
• Pathum Thani (1,044)
• Chonburi (939)
Meanwhile, the top 10 complaints and comments are as follows:
• Medical treatment, such as Covid-19 prevention measures, Covid-19 vaccine allocation and venues for Covid-19 patients (19,631)
• Comments on government’s policy and projects, such as regulation, eligibility, registration and payment under relief measures (7,404)
• Cost of living, such as regulations under Rao Chana, Mor33 Rao Rak Kan and Covid-19 relief measures (5,512)
• Noise pollution from entertainment venues, restaurants and residences, as well as drinking and motorcycle racing (4,533)
• Issues with telephone services, Line accounts and Covid-19 related call centres (3,567)
• Electricity, such as power outages and electricity service expansion (3,488)
• Politics such as anti-government protests and constitutional amendments (2,785)
• Complaints related to water flow, quality as well as water subsidy measures amid Covid-19 crisis (2,714)
• Gambling, such as tip-offs on gambling dens (2,447)
• Roads such as construction and repair of asphalt and concrete roads
Public Health Ministry reported on Sunday (March 20) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 24,996 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 31 of whom have arrived in Thailand from abroad.
Death toll increased by 84, while 22,292 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.
Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 1,130,534.
The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 3,353,969 – 3,089,584 of whom have recovered, 240,139 are still in hospitals and 24,246 have died.
Separately, another 80,434 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 19,935 their second shot and 121,293 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 127,290,646.
According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 470.04 million on Sunday, 400.42 million of whom have recovered, 63.53 million are active cases (62,279 in severe condition) and 6.09 million have died (up by 3,730).
Thailand ranks 16th in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 81.40 million, followed by India with 43.00 million, Brazil with 29.61 million, France with 24.05 million and the UK with 20.09 million.
Thailand is aiming to administer Covid-19 booster shots to more than 70 per cent of the population before the virus can be declared endemic, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Public Health Ministry is accelerating its vaccine rollout for the elderly across the country to protect them from the virus ahead of the Songkran festival in mid-April.
Thanakorn said booster shots are necessary if people want to coexist safely with Covid-19. Not many people in Thailand have taken booster shots.
He said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has expressed concern for the elderly, children and those with chronic conditions who can develop severe symptoms if infected.
Prayut has suggested that village health volunteers across the country find a way of actively encouraging local residents, particularly those at high risk, to get booster shots so the 70-per-cent target can be met, Thanakorn said.
More than 126.9 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered from February 2021 to March 17, and of those, 20.2 million were booster shots.
Of the total doses administered, 54.7 million were first shots, 50 million second shots and 1.9 million fourth shots.
Since January 1, Thailand has recorded 1,079,734 cumulative Covid cases and 2,377 deaths.
Separately, the Public Health Minister will kick off its project to deliver booster shots to the elderly and other high-risk individuals from March 21 to 31 in a bid to prevent a possible outbreak after Songkran.
Millions of people are expected to head to their hometowns during the April 13-17 holiday to visit their elderly relatives – an exodus that sparked a severe outbreak during the same period last year.
In a related development, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is also launching a vaccination rollout for the elderly from March 21-31. Those interested in getting a Covid-19 jab can contact the closest public health centre or any of the 11 BMA-run hospitals in the city or make a reservation via the QueQ mobile application.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed relevant state agencies to provide the “best possible assistance” to Russian and Ukrainian tourists stranded in Thailand.
“The government is also providing humanitarian aid to Russians and Ukrainians in Thailand who are affected by the ongoing war,” government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Saturday. “All those tourists should rest assured that the government will offer care, convenience and help to the best of our ability.”
Some 7,000 Russian and 1,000 Ukrainian tourists are trapped in Thailand, mostly in Phuket and Surat Thani, the Tourism and Sports Ministry said.
Thai authorities have been providing them with alternative payment channels, accommodation while they wait for flights home, interpreters and a hotline service for assistance.
Russian banks were expelled from the SWIFT system, which manages financial transactions and payments between banks worldwide.
Many flights to Russia and Ukraine have been cancelled since the war was sparked on February 24, with several Ukrainian airports being destroyed.
Thanakorn said tourists who are unable to make transfers due to the SWIFT ban have been advised to use other systems such as TransferWise, Western Union and MoneyGram. Money transfers can also be made through Thai commercial banks and non-banking channels such as Thailand Post, he added.
Thai authorities are working closely with Russia and Ukraine embassies in providing help to their nationals stranded in Thailand, the spokesman said.
Tourists whose flights home were cancelled have been advised to other airlines like Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines to get home, he said.
Protecting infants from the prevalent Omicron variant is essential if we want to move on from the two-year-long pandemic, a virologist said on Saturday.
Dr Anan Jongkaewwattana, director of the Veterinary Health Innovation and Management Research Group of the National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (Biotec), said in a Facebook post that adults who may be infected should avoid getting tactile with babies to protect them from the virus.
“Infants are not vaccinated so they have a high risk of infection, much like other vulnerable groups. If you know you are infected and even if you have mild or no symptoms, avoid touching babies,” he said.
“Everybody wants to move on from Covid now. But if you allow infants to get infected, it will not be over easily.”
Anan also cited a March 18 report from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that said the number of American children aged 0 to four being hospitalised with Omicron infection was five times more than the previous peak during the Delta variant outbreak.
He said though Omicron does not cause severe illness, it poses a high risk to infants as they are not vaccinated against the virus.
The CDC report said Covid-19 can cause severe illness in children aged up to four as they are not yet eligible for vaccination.
“Important strategies to prevent Covid-19 among infants and young children include vaccination of currently eligible populations such as pregnant women, family members, and caregivers of infants and young children,” it said.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has launched a new campaign to promote responsible tourism among younger travellers.
The “Green novices, anyone can go green easily” campaign offers over Bt400,000 in prizes to young domestic travellers who take part in “challenges”.
The challenges include producing online content promoting eco-friendly tourism and taking trips with a budget of just Bt1,000, said TAT’s deputy governor for domestic marketing Thapanee Kiatphaibool.
People interested in taking part in a challenge or booking package tours for eco-friendly community trips in 25 provinces can visit the campaign website at www.มือใหม่หัดกรีน.com.
Travel vloggers can vie for more than Bt200,000 in prizes by submitting their videos promoting responsible tourism among youngsters at www.มือใหม่หัดกรีน.com/challenge.
Meanwhile, students are invited to complete an eco-friendly trip on an assigned route by spending no more than Bt1,000, with Bt100,000 in prizes up for grabs.
The campaign also includes a quiz competition, with participants required to answer questions that test their knowledge of eco-friendly tourism. The winners of a lucky draw receive prizes totalling Bt100,000.
The TAT and Sanook Travel websites have tips on how to become responsible tourists at a young age. Among the eco-friendly ideas are using fabric bags and personal tumblers to reduce plastic use, choosing coral-friendly sunscreen, and leaving no food waste.
The campaign also offers a selection of environment-friendly products and accommodation for tourists who want to go green.
Collaborating in the campaign are Airbnb, Robinhood Travel, TraveliGo.com, Nakhonchai Air, Avis, Canon, Element 72, Stanley, Keen, Rubber Killer, Ecotopia at Siam Discovery, and Sanook.com.
Illegal burning of farm waste and forest fires have pushed the PM2.5 levels in the North to unhealthy levels again, the Department of Health announced on Saturday.
Dr Suwanchai Wattanayingcharoenchai, the department’s director-general, warned that severe air pollution will affect people in high-risk groups, especially vulnerable children.
The provinces affected are Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Lampang, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Phrae, Phayao and Tak, with PM2.5 levels in Mae Hong Son’s Muang district hitting 140 micrograms per cubic metre of air (µg/m3).
Pollution from PM2.5 (particles measuring 2.5 microns or less in diameter) in these provinces has risen beyond safe levels for the past 19 days and hit unhealthy levels over the past 11 days.
Thailand’s safe level of PM2.5 is 50µg/m3, though the World Health Organisation (WHO) sets it at 25µg/m3.
According to WHO’s estimates, up to 570,000 newborns to five-year-olds succumb to severe pollution yearly across the world because their immune systems and lungs are not fully developed.
Also, children breathe more deeply when playing, and if they are playing in polluted areas, they stand to develop respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
According to the Public Health Ministry, 27,550 children aged between 0 and nine in eight provinces in the North were found to have developed pollution-related diseases last year. Of them, 2,688 children were in Mae Hong Son alone.
Suwanchai, meanwhile, said that though children are on a school break at present, they should be dissuaded from playing outside. He said children, especially those in risky areas, should stay indoors and wear protective masks when outside. Also, he advised parents to ensure all doors and windows are closed and that children are fed healthy food and hydrated.
He also advised parents to immediately seek medical help if their child shows abnormal symptoms and children with lung disease should always carry their medicines.
The department also reported that a part of Sukhumvit Road at the Bang Na intersection, Pracha Songkroah, Prachasuk and Thian Ruam Mitr roads in Din Daeng and Ramkhamhaeng Soi 3 in Suan Luang district had been flooded. However, the floods were shallow and there was no traffic congestion as Bangkok roads usually have light traffic on Sundays.
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