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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013075

Four locally developed Covid-19 vaccines and an antibody-packed nasal spray should be registered with the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) very soon, deputy government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek said on Saturday.

The four vaccines – Chula-Cov19, HXP-GPOVac, Baiya SARS-CoV-2 Vax and Covigen – are undergoing human trials and should be ready for FDA registration once all three trial stages are completed, she said.

The spokesperson said more than 20 Covid-19 vaccines are being researched and developed by different Thai state agencies, universities and companies.

The vaccines are being developed with the use of several techniques, including viral vector, protein subunit, mRNA and virus-like particles, she said.

Among the agencies involved in the research and development are the National Vaccine Institute, Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO), National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (Biotec), Chulalongkorn University and Mahidol University.

Meanwhile, the nasal spray designed to neutralise the Covid-19 virus is expected to be registered with the FDA by June for commercial production in the third quarter of this year, Rachada said on Saturday.

The spray is jointly developed by the GPO, Chulalongkorn University, Silpakorn University, Health Systems Research Institute and Hibiocy Co Ltd.

Meanwhile, another Covid-19 vaccine in the form of nasal spray is being developed by Biotec. Called NASTVAC, the vaccine was tested on animals and is expected to be tested on humans in the second quarter of this year.

The spokesperson said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has lauded Thai researchers and agencies for their devotion and collaboration in developing Covid-19 vaccines.

“Thanks to them, Thailand’s progress with Covid-19 vaccine R&D is at the forefront in the region,” she quoted Prayut as saying.

Published : March 05, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013074

The spike in fuel costs due to the Russia-Ukraine war is boosting inflation and pushing up the price of some 260 consumer goods.

The Commerce Ministry has ordered a freeze on increasing the price for 18 groups of goods and services despite repeated calls from manufacturers since late last year for prices to be adjusted in line with rising production costs.

Under the ministry’s decree, the price freeze applies to instant noodles, fresh food, canned food, bagged rice, seasoning sauce, cooking oil, carbonated drinks, milk and milk products, electrical appliances, washing products, fertiliser, pesticide, animal feed, iron, cement, paper, medicine and medical products.

However, the private sector, including the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Federation of Thai Industries, say price increase will be inevitable for as long as business entrepreneurs continue facing higher costs from the constant rise of petrol prices.

Wattanasak Sur-iam, Department of Internal Trade director-general, said the Commerce Ministry will allow prices to be raised on a case-by-case basis, along the lines of the principle that “consumers must not be too affected while producers can survive”.

The global price of crude oil has risen beyond US$110 per barrel as the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine worsens. Russia is a major supplier of oil and natural gas, while Ukraine is a major producer of agricultural products.

Thai consumers have been hit with rising prices for fresh food, including pork, chicken and eggs, as well as ready-made and freshly made food.

In February, Thailand saw a record inflation rate of 5.28 per cent – the highest in 13 years.

Meanwhile, Ronnarong Phoolpipat, director of the Commerce Ministry’s Trade Policy and Strategy Office, said inflation is spiking in Thailand due to the Russia-Ukraine war, not the state of the Thai economy or value of the baht.

“If the price of oil continues to stay above $110 per barrel, inflation will remain high,” he warned. “Inflation should stay within a manageable limit set by the Bank of Thailand. If necessary, the central back will certainly issue some measures.”

In February, some 260 items saw an increase in price, including electricity, tap water, fuel, pork, rice and curry, cooked food, cooking oil and eggs.

Meanwhile, the price of 65 items remained the same, including mobile phone and internet services, while 105 items became cheaper, such as oranges, ginger, chilli, banana and postage fees.

Published : March 05, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013073

Koh Samui police have revealed details of desperate efforts made to save the life of Australian cricket legend Shane Warne before he succumbed to a suspected heart attack.

Warne, 52, was discovered unconscious inside the villa of his luxury hotel where he was staying with three friends on Friday evening, Police Lt-Col Yutthana Sirisombat of Bo Phut police station said on Saturday.

After finding him unresponsive at about 5pm, Warne’s friends performed CPR and called an ambulance.

The cricketing great was rushed to Thai International Hospital, where attempts to bring him back to life continued for another hour before he was pronounced dead.

His body was sent to the government-run Koh Samui Hospital for an autopsy.

Citing Warne’s management, Australian media reported on Saturday that his family “requests privacy at this time and will provide further details in due course”.

Warne, a leg-spinner with a lethal variety of deliveries in his armoury, took more than 1,000 Test and one-day international wickets in a 15-year professional career that lasted from 1992 to 2007.

He was credited with helping Australia win the 1999 Cricket World Cup. He also played in 194 one-day international matches.

Warne was also named among the five greatest players of the 20th century by cricketing bible Wisden.

News of his death has reverberated across the world as sports fans mourn the loss of a true all-time great.

“Shane Warne is gone and the game is broken,” read the headline of the obituary published by the normally sober Wisden.

The article went on to describe Warne as “one of the greatest cricketers the game has known”.

Published : March 05, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013072

Students who test positive for Covid-19 but have mild or no symptoms can take their Mattayom 1 and 4 exams on March 5-7 and March 26-27, the authorities announced on Saturday.

The Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec) has scheduled two rounds of exams for students moving up to Mattayom 1 and 4 levels nationwide.

The first round (from Saturday to Monday) will be for prestigious schools and those for gifted students, while the second round (March 26-27) will be for general schools.

“Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is worried about the safety of students taking the entrance exams, but wants every child to have the opportunity to take the exam even if they test positive for Covid-19,” government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said. “Hence, the government has tasked Obec and the Public Health Ministry to prepare a separate room for infected students, so they can take their exam isolated from others.”

Thanakorn added that the ministry will also provide free ATK tests for all exam takers, and those testing positive will be taken to a separate room. All rooms will be properly ventilated and each student will be seated at least 2 metres apart.

Schools are required to provide a proper management system for infectious waste and ensure all contact surfaces are disinfected regularly.

Other mandatory measures such as face masks and washing hands regularly with sanitising gel must be observed by both staffers and students throughout the campus.

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Published : March 05, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013071

Chiang Mai’s San Sai district office sent out a team to extinguish a forest fire in Mae Faek Mai sub-district and called on the Air Force Wing 41 to recover unexploded bullets found on the forest floor.

San Sai district chief Siwa Thamikanon said he has also sent the forest fire control and prevention unit, Fire Hawk Team, to investigate the smoke spotted in the forested area at Huai Kiang Reservoir in Nong Yaeng sub-district.

He added that the fires should be controlled within 24 hours because the area is being surveyed with the use of drones.

Siwa also said the fires were probably sparked by foragers from outside the area.

Many sub-districts in the area are at risk of forest fires, such as Mae Faek, Nong Han, Pa Phai, Nong Yaeng and Mae Faek Mai, where the Wing 41 base is located.

Local villagers had noticed unexploded bullets on the forest floor in Mae Faek Mai and informed the Air Force base.

The forest fire control unit has not removed the bullets, so far, and is discussing the issue with the Air Force base.

Published : March 05, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013065

Villagers in Phayao’s Phu Sang district are being encouraged to raise palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) as this edible insect can earn them as much as 300 baht per kilogram.

“Palm weevil larva is a Thai delicacy and is in high demand among restaurants, street food vendors and snack manufacturers,” Sasithorn Assarat, chief of Pasak subdistrict, said on Saturday.

“Raising palm weevil is extremely easy. We start by putting five pairs of adult male and female palm weevils in a plastic tub and feeding them with dried tapioca plants leftover from tapioca harvest.

“The female will lay eggs, then small maggots will come out and grow to become larvae of edible size in about 35 days,” she added. “The larvae can be sold for between 250 and 300 baht per kilo, while adult weevils that can be used for breeding can earn between 1,600 and 2,000 baht per kilo.

“Raising palm weevil can be a good source of income for tapioca farmers during the off season,” she said. “Plus, they can put harvest waste which has no economic value to the fullest use and reduce the need to burn their fields to get rid of it.”

Palm weevil is a great source of protein and can be eaten raw as a side dish, though the most popular method is deep frying it until yellow and eating it as a snack with seasoning sauce.

Published : March 05, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013064

Chiang Mai residents can now get free Covid-19 tests – and drugs if they test positive – without having to leave their cars.

Adrive-through service at Chiang Mai Municipal Hospital in Muang district is providing free antigen test kits (ATK) to motorists. To reduce risk, those who test positive will receive Favipiravir drugs at the drive-through window without leaving their vehicles.

“The drive-through checkpoint will be at Municipal Hospital for three days,” said Chiang Mai Mayor Assanee Buranupakorn on Friday.

It will then rotate to other municipality offices in Muang district for three days each, in Meng Rai, Nakhon Pink, Siwichai and Kawila.

Assanee added that health officials at the drive-through will provide advice on self-isolation and medication for those who test positive and have no or mild symptoms. However, those with moderate to severe symptoms, or suffering from chronic disease, will be admitted to hospital immediately.

The drive-throughs will dispense Favipiravir for three different groups – adults, children and foreigners – with the latter group also receiving instructions in English, said Assanee.

“This way we can ensure a smooth and uninterrupted flow of the drive-through service while reducing the risk of officials contracting the virus from users.”

The drive-throughs will test to up to 6,000 people per day.

Those who test positive at home can receive Favipiravir from the drive-throughs after notifying officials by calling 089 366 3215 or 090 523 0425 and providing personal information. Infected people do not need to visit the drive-through service in person, and can instead hand their ID card to a proxy to collect the drug on their behalf.

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Published : March 05, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013063

Spring News held a seminar at Interlink Tower (formerly Nation Tower) on Friday to mark its 12th anniversary as a leading media outlet in Thailand.

Spring News launched as a television channel in 2010, broadcasting straightforward and accurate news at a time when Thailand was immersed in political conflict.

It quickly gained a strong following among Thai viewers and expanded to an online service 10 years later.

With an audience of 8 million followers and growing, Spring News had to find the best method to present the news online. The presentation had to be new and unique in the Thai media sphere while reaching international standards of journalism.

Spring News changed its work mindset and found the answer: it must be responsible for every news item presented and every topic must be thoroughly checked for truth and accuracy before publication.

The aim was to reduce the focus on drama and social strife in favour of beneficial news topics and inspiring content.

This was how the Spring News concept of “Digitally changing your life” was born.

The move into online media switched the spotlight from TV news anchors to “storytellers”, who add depth, detail and accuracy to the daily picture of Thai events. Positive and beneficial programmes are also a strong feature of the new philosophy.

To fulfil its role as a news publisher, Spring News must first be a creator, filter and innovator in different and engaging formats. It has an important goal, which is to create a healthy society and environment for future generations of Thais to prosper and progress beyond our current difficulties.

This is its commitment to Thailand as Spring News reaches its 12th anniversary.

Spring News invites all people to drive Thai society in a better direction at the website http://www.springnews.co.th or via its social media.

Published : March 05, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013062

Elderly family members should be vaccinated against Covid-19 before the long Songkran holiday from April 13 to 17, the Public Health Ministry has warned.

Vaccination will protect them at a time when many people travel back to their hometowns to visit relatives, it explained.

Seniors have the highest mortality rate from Covid-19, according to the Department of Disease Control (DDC).

“Statistics show that people over 70 years old have about a 3 per cent chance of death after contracting Covid-19, while those aged 60-69 and 50-59 have a 0.6 and 0.2 per cent mortality rate, respectively,” DDC deputy director-general Dr Sophon Iamsirithavorn said.

“Studies also show that giving a booster shot or third jab to seniors helps reduce the chance of death after infection by up to 41 times compared to unvaccinated seniors,” he added.

“Since it takes the vaccine around one month after administration to fully stimulate the body’s immunity, now is the best time to give a booster shot to your elders before relatives come to visit them during Songkran, when the spread of the virus will likely increase because people are travelling.”

The DDC warned daily infections around Songkran could reach 50,000 per day due to the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

“However, we can work together to bring this number down during May and June by increasing social distancing and other disease control measures,” said Sophon.

About 2.17 million seniors aged over 60 are still completely unvaccinated, according to the Public Health Ministry.

It has ordered all provincial public health offices to conduct surveys and send officials to vaccinate the elderly at home if they are unable to travel to hospitals or vaccination units.

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Published : March 05, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013061

The Bank of Thailand (BOT) has extended the deadline for PayPal to transfer its service to PayPal (Thailand) until the end of 2022 to prevent disruptions for existing customers.

“We also asked PayPal to complete its identity verification system or KYC [Know Your Customer] as soon as possible, as well as remedy customers who have been affected by the company’s suspension of services,” BOT assistant governor Sirithida Phanomwan na Ayutthaya said.

BOT held a meeting with PayPal (Thailand) and the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) on Wednesday to address concerns of online sellers who said PayPal’s new policy meant they must re-register as juristic persons to use its international money transfer service.

The policy is scheduled to take effect on March 7.

In early February, PayPal had also announced that it would postpone new registration for both users and sellers until further notice as it seeks to comply with Thai regulations.

“PayPal’s representatives said it planned to suspend some services for Thai customers from March 7 as it needs to transfer the customers to PayPal (Thailand) and adjust its identity verification system to comply with Thai laws,” said Sirithida. “The BOT and AMLO therefore agreed to extend the deadline and allow PayPal to provide services to Thai customers until the end of the year. Meanwhile, the company must finish developing its identity verification system under the bank’s supervision in order to protect Thai customers.”

BOT also said PayPal (Thailand)’s announcement asking users to register as juristic persons in order to verify their identities under the new policy is a misunderstanding, as the central bank and AMLO want both individuals and juristic persons to verify themselves.

“With the deadline extended, existing Thai customers of PayPal can now continue to use its international money transfer service without any interruption or having to register as a juristic person, and they need to verify their identity once PayPal (Thailand) finishes setting up its KYC system,” added Sirithida.

BOT said it will follow up on PayPal (Thailand)’s operation closely and make sure that customers who have been affected in the past months are properly remedied.

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Published : March 05, 2022

By : THE NATION