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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012620

The Eastern Economic Corridor Office (EECO) will allow CP Group, the contractor of the high-speed rail project linking three airports (Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and U-Tapao), to adjust the contract terms due to the impact on estimated commuter numbers from the Covid-19 outbreak.

“The project estimates 80,000 passengers, but due to travel restrictions during the Covid-19 outbreak this number is unlikely to be achieved,” The EECO secretary-general, Kanit Sangsubhan, said on Monday. “Therefore, the office will discuss with CP Group adjustment to the contract terms by extending the period in which CP can collect commercial profits from the project. The extension will be considered while protecting the government’s benefits and being fair to the private partners.”

Kanit added that the high-speed rail project in the section between Suvarnabhumi and U-Tapao airports is progressing as planned. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) had delivered over 3,400 rai (544 hectares) of land to CP Group to prepare for the construction.

“Currently there are about 20 rai of land that the current owners are not ready to move out of, but the SRT maintains that they will find them new residences and deliver the land before May,” he said.

The EECO has also established a new wholly owned subsidiary called EEC Airport Asset Development Ltd to handle the commercial benefit arrangement in the Aerotropolis project at U-Tapao Airport with private partners in the first 10 years. The office will also declare the Aerotropolis a special economic zone and will grant special visas and work permits at 5+5 years for investors and employees in the Aerotropolis in a bid to attract foreign investment.

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Published : February 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012619

Thailand will not impose a lockdown despite a level 4 Covid-19 alert nationwide, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Tuesday.

He said the level 4 alert was aimed at reminding people to maintain distance, work from home and avoid gatherings to contain the spread of the virus.

He assured that Thailand would not impose a lockdown, and asked people to calm down as the number of Covid-19 cases in many countries had risen as well.

“Thailand should seek the best solution to deal with the pandemic,” he said. “Even though people can be infected with Omicron easily, they can recover quickly too, while the infection symptoms are not severe compared to other variants.”

Anutin added that the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration would discuss immigration measures, on whether to continue with RT-PCR tests for tourists on the fifth day of their arrival in Thailand.

He said the fifth-day test was likely to be scrapped as most new Covid-19 patients were found among people in the country rather than among foreigners.

Anutin dubbed as untrue news of Covid-19 patients lying on pavements waiting for help. He said there are enough beds in hospitals to treat patients.

He also confirmed that Covid-19 patients who develop severe symptoms can receive free treatment under the Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients, but patients who are asymptomatic or have only mild symptoms should receive treatment at home so that the public health system is not overloaded.

Published : February 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012615

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is making arrangements for more beds for Covid-19 patients if the country’s cases continue to increase.

Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang said during a BMA meeting on Monday that Covid-19 patients who are asymptomatic or have only mild symptoms should receive treatment under home isolation or community isolation schemes to ensure availability of beds in hospitals for Covid-19 patients who develop severe symptoms, as well as patients who suffer from other diseases.

He added that the Medical Service, Health and Public Relations departments have been tasked with creating awareness among people that anyone who has been infected with Covid-19 will receive treatment under home isolation and community isolation schemes in line with standards.

“Medical staff will evaluate patients’ symptoms every day until they recover,” he said.

He also invited the elderly aged 60 years or above, people who have chronic diseases, and people who have not received their booster jabs to register at 105 Bangkok vaccination centres via QueQ application as soon as possible.

“In addition, people can register for Covid-19 vaccine jabs at 69 public health service centres and 50 district offices across the capital,” he added.

As of February 21, the BMA Medical Service Department has 3,460 beds, of which 484 beds were available, while 31 community isolation facilities have 3,981 beds, of which 2,065 beds were available.

Published : February 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012614

The Ministry of Public Health has instructed all provincial health offices to prepare medical personnel and treating systems for Covid-19 cases, and speed up the administering of vaccines.

Public Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit on Monday sent letters to chief public health executives of every province and every hospital director to prepare for Covid-19.

He told them to make four key arrangements:

1. Prepare resources, beds, medical personnel, home isolation, community isolation system and accept patients with severe symptoms with hospitals.
2. Publicise the number of provincial public health offices and every hospital so that patients will be confident that they will be able to enter the treatment system.
3. Speed up the administering of booster dose, especially to elders aged over 60 and people with seven underlying diseases.
4. Publicise with universal prevention and vaccine, universal prevention, Covid-free setting, and antigen test kit (VUCA) guidelines for citizens to protect themselves and their families.

Kiattiphum added that if the government sector and citizens follow prevention measures strictly, the severity will ease and Covid-19 will eventually become an endemic.

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Published : February 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012613

The National Health Security Office (NHSO) on Monday revealed three methods people could follow for home isolation for Covid-19 patients.

1.Call 1330 dial 14: Patients in every province and coverage scheme could contact home isolation service units 24 hours a day without charge. The NHSO has increased the line from 17,000 lines per day to 20,000.

2. Line Official Account @nhso: Patients could add this account which has the menu to fill in the information to enter home isolation. Patients could also ask administration from 8am to 8pm or send to its Facebook’s inbox at https://www.facebook.com/NHSO.Thailand, if they do not know how to enter the information.

3. Scan QR Code at the NHSO website or click to enter the form: Patients could fill in their information and save. After 15 to 20 minutes, they could check which service units are available. After that, they could scan again to verify and wait for service units to send the medical equipment.

NHSO recommends registering with QR Code or website first. They could also add its Line account to fill in the information because they will not have to call. Moreover, patients could call service units directly.

NHSO deputy secretary-general Dr Yupadee Sirisinsuk said that patients with mild symptoms should enter home isolation first. She said the NHSO has sufficient service units to treat home isolation patients and it is finding more service units for patients in the future.

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Home isolation patients with severe symptoms will enter hospitals immediately, or they could contact their service units or 1330 hotline.

Yupadee said that the number of Covid-19 patients is likely to increase as the number of new cases exceeds 18,000 per day, excluding unconfirmed cases from those who have been tested using antigen test kits totalling around 10,000 cases per day.

However, most patients have mild symptoms so the situation is not worse than the previous wave. According to the Ministry of Public Health, vaccinated patients who have taken ATK tests could enter home isolation immediately without RT-PCR test results.

Published : February 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012606

The Marine Department is confident that the implementation of a plan by the beleaguered Star Petroleum Refining (SPRC) Plc to seal leaks in its undersea pipeline off Rayong and siphon 12,000 litres of oil off the pipe, will help prevent further leaks.

“SPRC reported that there are two leaks at the pipeline about a metre apart. The first leak has already been successfully sealed,” the department’s deputy director-general, Phuripat Theerakulpisut, said on Monday.

“The second leak, which is a 70-centimetre-long tear, will be sealed with specialised triple-ply adhesive tape. The company expected to complete the job in 11 days starting Wednesday, after which the 12,000 litres of oil will be siphoned off the pipe to be properly disposed of.

“The Marine Department and relevant agencies will supervise the operation closely as well as make a video recording for evidence,” he added.

Thousands of litres of oil gushed from an undersea pipeline at SPRC’s single point mooring some 20 kilometres southeast of Rayong’s Map Ta Phut port on January 25. The company was responsible for another oil spill on February 10 as it moved the pipeline to investigate the leak. The second spill caused about 5,000 litres of residual oil in the pipe to gush into the sea.

“After discussions with the company and experts in relevant fields, all parties are 99.9 per cent confident that there will be no third leak, and if there is any we will be able to handle it promptly,” he said.

Phuripat added that the department is gathering evidence to support its complaint filed at Map Ta Phut Police Station on January 26 demanding suitable compensation to affected parties and agencies from SPRC for being responsible for the oil spill off the coast of Rayong. It is also looking into suspending the company’s licence to operate the offshore oil facilities.

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Published : February 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012605

The Ministry of Public Health on Monday predicted that infection levels in Thailand will remain high for 1-2 weeks as a result of social gatherings, and urged all provinces to adhere to the level 4 Covid-19 alert to prevent case overload.

Covid level 4 alert has been sounded nationwide since early this year in the wake of the Omicron case surge.

Here’s a summary of measures that need to be followed for each alert level:

Level one

• All risky venues can open if they comply with Covid Free Setting standard
• Public gathering is allowed under smart living and new normal standards
• Interprovincial travel by public transport is allowed under Covid Free Setting standard
• Visitors can enter Thailand as normal

Level 2 alert

• All risky venues must restrict number of entrants, while maintaining Covid Free Setting standard
• Number of participants in public gatherings to be determined by each province, depending on the outbreak situation
• Interprovincial travel by public transport is allowed under Covid Free Setting standard
• Test & Go scheme is implemented for foreign visitors

Level 3 alert

• All entertainment venues are closed, people are advised against going to closed areas with no proper ventilation
• Number of participants in public gatherings to be determined by each province, depending on outbreak situation
• Screening measures must be imposed for interprovincial travel by public transport, people are advised to work from home if possible
• Sandbox programme is implemented for foreign visitors

Level 4 alert

• Only venues necessary for daily life are allowed to open, people are advised against going to closed areas with no proper ventilation
• Number of participants in public gatherings to be determined by each province, depending on outbreak situation
• People are advised to avoid or delay interprovincial travel, and to work from home if possible
• Quarantine measures are implemented for foreign visitors for fewer days

Level 5 alert

• Only venues necessary for daily life are allowed to open, people are advised against going to closed areas with no proper ventilation
• Maximum 5 persons allowed for public gatherings
• Each province imposes curfew and establishes screening checkpoints at all entrances
• Quarantine measures are implemented for foreign visitors for the full number of days

The Public Health Ministry also noted that these guidelines are subject to change pending the discretion of the communication disease committee in each province.

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Published : February 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012603

Ministry of Public Health reported on Tuesday (February 22) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 18,363 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 127 of whom have arrived in Thailand from abroad.

Death toll increased by 35, while 15,651 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 526,126.
 

The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 2,749,561 – 2,557,796 of whom have recovered, 169,074 are still in hospitals and 22,691 have died.

Separately, another 36,655 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 24,981 their second shot and 129,037 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 121,915,999.

According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 426.47 million on Tuesday, 353.66 million of whom have recovered, 66.9 million are active cases (81,243 in severe condition) and 5.91 million have died (up by 6,173).

Thailand ranks 32nd in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 80.15 million, followed by India with 42.85 million, Brazil with 28.25 million, France with 22.3 million and the UK with 18.65 million.

Published : February 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012596

The news of police officers arresting foreign tourists who were riding electric scooters in Patong subdistrict of Phuket province went viral on Monday.

The police charged the tourists with alleged use of unregistered vehicles on roads and seized the scooters to take legal action against the entrepreneurs operating electric scooter rental business.

The news immediately went viral among netizens. Some people questioned why the police did not arrest the entrepreneurs instead, and some warned that the police action could affect tourism in Phuket.

Patong Police Station said police had banned the use of electric scooters, as users and other motorists would be at risk of road accidents.

It added that electric scooters could not be registered under the laws, as they would endanger the users, citing remarks by the Phuket Provincial Land Transportation Office.

Published : February 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40012595

Phichet Panaphong, deputy governor of Phuket, said Phuket would like to be a pilot province where Covid-19 is relegated from pandemic to endemic. For Covid to be treated as an endemic, the number of infected patients in a province must not exceed 1 per cent and the death rate should not be higher than 0.1 per cent, as per the conditions set by the Ministry of Public Health.

The province has also asked to reduce quarantine time for Covid-19 patients from a full 10 days to be divided into 5:5 days – 5 days at home or hospital quarantine or hospital treatment according to symptoms, and 5 days with permission to allow patients to work while maintaining self-protection measures. This aims to fix the long leave of absence that may lead to jobs loss, the province’s deputy governor Phichet Panaphong said.

They have also requested to be a pilot province to cancel the daily report of the number of infected people, only colour codes of patients in various conditions; yellow (mild and semi-critical), red (critical), black (death).

On February 1, the Test & Go project restarted in Phuket. Pichet admitted that many problems had occurred on the job site, which all parties, including government agencies and the private sector, had tried to help each other find solutions, such as virus-detection capability at airports, the change of entry system from Certificate of Entry to Thailand Pass, the issue of insurance not covering minor sickness claims, etc.

“Phuket is a safe city for everyone and has the potential and resources to care for infected people, both locals and tourists,” said Phichet.

As of February 19, 549 new cases were found locally, 67 in Phuket Sandbox, and 49 cases in Test & Go, totalling 665 cases.

Published : February 21, 2022

By : THE NATION