#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013422

The Public Health Ministry on Tuesday approved half-dose mRNA Covid-19 vaccines as the third shot in a bid to encourage more people, especially the elderly and those with chronic conditions, to get a booster.

Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit, the ministry’s permanent secretary, said recent figures show that most Covid-19 deaths were of the elderly, yet many were reluctant to get an mRNA booster because they feared side effects.

“To deal with this fear, I have instructed health officials to halve the Pfizer dose for the elderly,” Kiattiphum said at a press conference at the Public Health Ministry.

“A half-dose will also be given to members of the general public if they want a fourth shot. This is because studies have shown that just half the dose of an mRNA vaccine can reduce both side effects and improve immunity.”

He added that 97 per cent of the deaths recorded on Monday and announced on Tuesday were of people in the high-risk group, namely the elderly, people with chronic conditions and pregnant women.

Of the 70 patients who succumbed to the virus, 47 were 70 years or older, while 52 had not received any or just one Covid-19 shot, he said.

He added that according to statistics, only 0.1 per cent of patients in the below-50 age group succumbed to the virus. However, he said, the percentage rose to 0.3 for 50-60 years old and 7.5 per cent for the 70 and above.

Kiattiphum said these statistics convinced the Public Health Ministry to speed up providing boosters to the elderly and those with chronic conditions.

He also noted that though the percentage of deaths among elderly people was high, many did not die just due to Covid-19. He said underlying illnesses also contributed to many deaths.

“Studies found that 30 per cent of the senior Covid-19 patients did not have lung inflammation. So, if this group was given better protection, we should be able to reduce the number of deaths. If up to 60 per cent of the elderly population gets the third shot, deaths can be more than halved,” Kiattiphum said.

He added that the Public Health Ministry will also launch two campaigns ahead of the Songkran holidays in a bid to prevent infections and deaths among the elderly.

The first will be to launch a widespread vaccination campaign from March 21 to 30 to ensure most elderly people have received their third or second shot before their families show up for Songkran.

He said about 83 per cent of Thailand’s senior population has received the first shot and 78.5 per cent their second shot, while only 32 per cent have received a booster.

The second will be a “self-clean-up” campaign in which people planning to visit elderly relatives in provinces will be encouraged to avoid social contact, attend parties or crowded areas for at least a week before they return home. They will also be encouraged to take ATK tests before travelling upcountry for Songkran, he added.

Published : March 15, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013420

The 22.5-kilometre-long drainage canal being dug up in Ayutthaya is more than 20 per cent complete and is on target for completion next year, a senior irrigation official said on Tuesday.

Sermchai Siawsirithaworn, director of the Royal Thai Irrigation Department’s Large Water Resources Development Institute, said the project, dubbed Chao Phraya II, is moving smoothly and will be completed as scheduled.

This canal will tackle the yearly flooding in the heart of Ayutthaya’s Muang district by diverting water released by the Chao Phraya Dam. The canal is also expected to reduce flooding in other areas of the lower Chao Phraya basin.

The project’s key features are:

• Located in the Sanam Chai subdistrict of Ayutthaya’s Bang Sai district.

• The 22.50km canal is 200 metres wide, but width reduces to 110m when passing through residential areas.

• There will be an 8m-wide road on either side of the canal.

• A floodgate will be built at the end of the canal.

• Project costs 21 billion baht.

The project is expected to:

• Drain up to 2,930 cubic metres of water per second.

• Mitigate flooding in downtown Ayutthaya and up to 2.5 million farms in the lower Chao Phraya basin.

• Reduce flooding in other parts of Ayutthaya province.

• Irrigate some 229,000 rai of farms in the region.

• Provide 15 million cubic metres of water for consumption.

“Once the canal is ready, it will play a key role in the management of water resources in the Chao Phraya basin,” he said, adding that the drainage will also prevent the river from overflowing.

The director added that fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing Russia-Ukraine has not affected the project so far, and the cost of construction has remained more or less unchanged.

Published : March 15, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013418

A green sea turtle showed up in the early hours of Monday to lay eggs at a beach in Phang Nga’s Khao Lampi-Hat Thai Muang National Park.

This is the fourth clutch of eggs laid on the beach this nesting season.

The eggs were laid some 800 metres from the national park office, national park chief Suwanna Sa-ard said.

She added that the turtle had laid the eggs just after midnight before returning to the sea an hour later. The turtle’s shell measured at 108 centimetres in length and 97cm in width, she said.

“Since the eggs will be in danger due to natural disasters, national park officials have moved them to a hole in front of the national park office,” she said, adding that of the 110 eggs laid, 106 had been fertilised, three were broken and one remained unfertilised.

She added that the national park has assigned officials to ensure the eggs are safe and can hatch in the next 50 to 60 days.

Published : March 15, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013417

Rajamangala University of Technology Isan on Tuesday issued a statement condemning the action of students who organised a “welcoming activity” last Sunday which resulted in the death of a 19-year-old freshman.

Padyos Chonpakdi, 19, a first-year student at the Nakhon Ratchasima university, reportedly died at the hands of six senior students during a brutal hazing session for around 60 new students in a rice field 10 kilometres from the campus.

The victim was reportedly forced to drink liquor then beaten by the senior students until he became unconscious. Padyos was rushed to Fort Suranaree Hospital but died before he reached the doctors.

“The university has prohibited any freshmen welcoming activities either on or off campus since 2021,” said the university’s statement. “We deeply regret this tragic incident and would like to convey our sincerest condolences to the family of the deceased.”

The university said it was cooperating with police investigating the case and will take action against students involved, ranging from disciplinary black marks or suspension to expulsion.

Brutal hazing of new students has been a tradition at many Thai universities and colleges for decades. The rituals see senior students use violence to force freshmen into obedience or have them endure physical torture to earn acceptance from the seniors.

Published : March 15, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013416

Satellite images taken on Monday show a total of 500 hotspots across Thailand, the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) reported on Tuesday.

The worst-hit province was Mae Hong Son, with 81 hotspots.

Sakon Nakhon and Ubon Ratchathani provinces were second and third with 46 and 38 hotspots, respectively, the GISTDA said, citing images from the Suomi NPP satellite.

The satellite uses a VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) sensor to detect hotspots, which are caused by either forest fires or the burning of crops or weeds.

Of the total 500 hotspots, 136 were in agricultural areas, 133 in national forests, 94 in forest reservations, 77 in agricultural land reform zones, 55 in community areas and 5 were beside highways, the GISTDA said.

The agency speculated that these hotspots might have been caused by burning for agricultural activities and foraging.

From January 1 to March 14, the Northeast had the highest number of hotspots at 11,233, followed by the North (9,353) and Central (5,671).

Myanmar has had the most hotspots among Thailand’s neighbours at 2,896, followed by Laos (2,114) and Cambodia (820).

According to information at 9am on Tuesday, particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5) in the air is reaching levels that could affect the health of people in many provinces in the North and Northeast. The Air Quality Index value in Mae Hong Son province was 100, while it climbed to 113 in Nong Khai province.

The increasing number of hotspots in nearby countries could also affect the air quality in the border areas of the North and the Northeast because the wind could blow dust particles and smog. People in those areas have been urged to take care of their health and to wear masks.

The forest fire problem has significantly affected the country, especially the economy and social system.

Soon, Thailand will fully implement the THOES-2 system. One of its missions is to explore, analyse, and monitor the upcoming or expected disaster accurately and in time. It will support related organisations with important information to plan, prevent, relieve, and solve the problem.

The GISTDA said it would continue to monitor and report the situation to related organisations to use for management. People could check the situation at the website https://fire.gistda.or.th/.

Published : March 15, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013414

It is absolutely vital for those who have already received two shots of Covid-19 vaccines to get a booster as immunity generated by the vaccine degrades over time, a medical expert said on Tuesday.

Dr Wirawat Manosutti, deputy director at Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute and a medical adviser at the Department of Disease Control, said the appropriate interval between the second and the third shot is three to six months.

“A three-month interval is recommended for the elderly, frontline medics and people with underlying health conditions, as they carry a higher risk of contracting Covid-19 and developing severe symptoms,” he added.

“To choose a suitable type of booster shot, you should consider the vaccine’s efficacy in raising the body’s antibodies and T-cells against the virus,” Wirawat said. “Currently, both mRNA and viral-vector vaccines are recommended as booster shots as they can both efficiently raise immunity and significantly reduce the risk of developing severe symptoms or death if the recipient contracts the virus.

“Another factor people should consider when choosing the booster shot is the vaccine’s side-effects and your body’s reaction if you received the vaccine as a first or second shot,” he added.

“Covid-19 is a relatively new disease and we still have a long way to go in terms of developing vaccines that are 100 per cent effective,” said Wirawat. “We cannot yet conclude whether more booster shots will be necessary, but for now, everybody should get at least a third shot to keep the disease at bay.”

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Published : March 15, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/pr-news/in-focus/40013413

Thailand must accelerate its transition to a low-carbon economy in all sectors to turn the Covid-19 crisis into an opportunity for growth, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa told a conference on Monday.

Speaking at the “Thailand Climate Finance Conference: From International to Domestic Mechanism”, Varawut identified the electric vehicle (EV) industry, digital industry, sustainable tourism, reuse/recycling, renewable energy, and even agriculture as areas where Thailand would benefit from transition to a green economy.

He said all sectors need to speed up the transition to low-carbon to attract investment for green economic growth.

Varawut Silpa-archa

“However, Thailand still needs a lot of international support in terms of finance, investment, technology transfer, and capacity building, especially in advanced technology with low emissions or reductions in greenhouse gas emissions,” said Varawut.

Joining the conference were representatives of the Bank of Thailand (BOT) and Board of Investment (BOI) as well as other government agencies, the private sector, education sector, public sector, media, and independent organisations.

Thailand’s policy direction for green financing was showcased in a panel discussion led by the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP), BOT, BOI, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and Thai-German Climate Programme GIZ.

Phirun Saiyasitpanich

ONEP secretary-general Phirun Saiyasitpanich said that following Thailand’s pledge to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2065, this conference aimed to make all sectors aware of climate change financing mechanisms and sources of funding for climate action.

Experiences were also shared on how to link international and domestic climate finance to accelerate the fight against global warming and its effects.

Published : March 15, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013412

Everybody should get a booster shot because the rate of deaths from Covid-19 in Thailand is alarming, a lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine said on Tuesday.

Thira Woratanarat said in a Facebook post that while the global rate of deaths from Covid-19 had dropped to 17 per cent, it has risen 38 per cent in Thailand.

He was comparing figures reported by the Public Health Ministry against global figures published on worldometers.info.

Thira pointed out that Thailand logged 66 deaths from Covid-19 on Monday, which was the 18th highest in the world.

He said worldometers.info showed that Covid-related deaths in Thailand had risen 38 per cent compared to 8 per cent in Asia and 17 per cent globally.

Judging by these figures, Thira said, Thais need to get their booster shot as soon as possible and strictly comply with safety measures by wearing a face mask and staying away from other people.

As of Monday, worldwide figures show that 459.22 million have contracted Covid-19 and the virus has claimed 6 million lives.

Published : March 15, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013411

The Russia-Ukraine war would indirectly cause the prices of agricultural products and other goods to rise, Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters before attending the weekly Cabinet meeting, he said the ongoing war in Ukraine had led to sharp increases in the prices of oil and other raw materials, which would affect the production costs of both farmers and goods manufacturers.

“Oil is a major cost component in the manufacturing and services of every nation and Thailand cannot avoid the fallout,” Jurin said.

He explained that Ukraine is a major wheat exporter and wheat is a major ingredient for making animal feed. The rising price of wheat had pushed up the price of animal feed, which would eventually affect the prices of meat.

He added that since Russia is a major exporter of oil and steel, which are major cost factors in transportation and construction, the war had affected manufacturing costs worldwide.

Jurin said the Commerce Ministry has been trying to strike a balance between conflicting demands of three groups – farmers, manufacturers and consumers.

“Manufacturers want prices of agricultural products to be low so that their cost of production will be low, farmers want high prices for their output, while consumers want to buy cheap goods,” Jurin explained.

He said the Commerce Ministry has to coordinate with other ministries to reach a perfect balance of prices.

He added that the Commerce Ministry would consider approving price increases on a case-by-case basis by taking several factors into account.

Published : March 15, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013409

Switching to electric vehicles can save motorists up to 3,700 baht a month, a lecturer from the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida) said on Tuesday.

Sunt Srianthumrong, who lectures in Nida’s Faculty of Environment Development Administration, compared the cost of Gasohol 91, which goes for 40 baht per litre, with the cost of electricity consumed by EVs.

In a Facebook post, he said EV users should first change their home’s power metre to the Time of Use (TOU) tariff sort to cut their power bills by almost half when recharging their EV at night.

The lecturer said motorists planning to replace their current vehicle should not hesitate to purchase an EV, adding that once the government’s EV promotion package kicks off, the prices will drop significantly.

Sunt added that people planning to buy an EV should consider a well-known brand and model that comes in at about 1 million baht. “Once EV measures are fully implemented, there will be several models to choose from,” he said.

He also pointed out that an ordinary vehicle normally uses about one litre of petrol for a distance of 16 kilometres. So, if a motorist drives about 2,000km per month, they will drive 24,000km per year and about 240,000km over 10 years.

As a result, the cost of fuel for a conventional vehicle will come in at about 5,000 baht per month, 60,000 baht a year and 600,000 baht over 10 years.

However, he said, with a TOU metre, the cost of electricity after 10pm drops to 2.80 baht per unit from 4.59 baht per unit during daylight hours.

He pointed out that an EV normally uses one unit of electricity for a distance of 5km, and some brands claim their cars can run as far as 7km. Hence, he said, one kilometre costs 0.56 baht and when a motorist drives about 2,000km a month, the power cost comes in at just 1,121 baht. The cost for a year will come in at 13,459 and 134,592 baht in 10 years.

Based on this calculation, an EV user can save 3,787 baht per month or 46,540 baht a year and 465,408 baht in 10 years, Sunt concluded.

Published : March 15, 2022

By : THE NATION