#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012314

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed government agencies concerned to come up with road maps on Thai-Saudi cooperation in various fields within two months.

Government Spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Monday that the prime minister wants government agencies to speed up drafting of road maps to follow up on the normalisation of Thai-Saudi diplomatic ties on January 25.

Prayut led a high-level delegation to Saudi Arabia to normalise ties on January 25 after three decades of estranged relations.

The prime minister wants to see perked up cooperation between the two kingdoms, especially on trade, investment and labour, the spokesman added.

The government agencies concerned must set up mechanisms on bilateral cooperation to draft cooperation frameworks and concretely implement the frameworks, Thanakorn said.

“The prime minister emphasised the formulation of road maps for cooperation to cover all dimensions to follow up on the momentum of his historic visit to Saudi Arabia,” the spokesman said.

“Comprehensive consultations will have to be made with coordination by both state and private sectors for the highest interest of the two peoples. The prime minister also wants to see concrete results within two months.”

Meanwhile, the Commerce Ministry has consulted with the Central Islamic Committee of Thailand and Thailand’s Chamber of Commerce on how to reach the goal of a 6.2 per cent export growth to the Middle East nation.

The research arm of Kasikornbank has predicted that Thailand’s exports to Saudi Arabia may grow by 15 per cent with an export value of some US$1.9 billion.

Kasikornbank said Thailand has the potential to export agricultural and industrial products to the Middle East country, including halal foods, rice, processed seafood, fruits, spice, instant cereal meals, rubber products, wood products, and electric appliances.

The bank said Thailand also has the potential to offer medical and hospitality services to Saudi patients and tourists.

The Labour Ministry has said that concerned government agencies are coordinating with Saudi Arabia’s job placement office on details of vacancies in the Middle East country.

The Labour Ministry also plans to train Thai labourers through upskilling and reskilling programmes so that their qualifications will meet the demands of Saudi employers. The ministry is allowing Thai workers to register for jobs in Saudi Arabia via the Overseas Employment E-service website of the Department of Employment.

Published : February 14, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012303

Removing Covid-19 from the list of emergency conditions will affect low-income households and daily labourers, Anusorn Thamjai, former dean of Rangsit University’s Faculty of Economics, warned on Sunday.

He said curbing the spread of the virus will also become more difficult because workers will not tell their employers they are infected, skip treatment and avoid isolation.

If there is no free treatment, then Covid-19 will spread more in the low-income sector and end up having a greater impact on the economy, he warned.

However, he said, if the government keeps Covid-19 part of the emergency diseases list, the economy will progress because the government will get more tax revenue to use for public healthcare.

Also, he said, all Covid-19 patients should be provided with free healthcare as not many people have private health insurance.

This can be financed by shifting funds from the defence budget to the Public Health Ministry until the crisis ends.

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The Thai Life Assurance Association may also not cover daily compensation or treatment for people isolating at home if the government declares Covid-19 as endemic.

He said before declaring it as endemic, the government should be sure that Covid-19 will not spread, or it may end up having to close the country again.

Meanwhile, he also warned that providing low-quality vaccines to students would not prevent infection and may put them at long-term risk.

Published : February 14, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012301

The Public Health Ministry’s Department of Health Service Support has written to medical institutions nationwide, asking them to be ready for rising Covid-19 cases.

The letter, which was sent on Sunday, also said hospitals and medical facilities should be ready to provide treatment to patients under home isolation and community isolation.

The letter was triggered by the number of Covid-19 cases in Thailand rising beyond the 10,000 mark daily.

The letter also called for integration between government and private sectors as well as resource management, which is necessary to effectively contain the spread of Covid-19.

“The department wants medical institutions to use antigen test kits [ATKs] on people at risk of infection and RT-PCR tests when necessary,” it said.

“Meanwhile, patients with mild symptoms should receive treatment under home or community isolation schemes,” the letter concluded.

Published : February 14, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012299

Rising sea levels and saltwater intrusion is expected to affect communities along the Chao Phraya River for most of this week, the National Water Command warned on Sunday.

The Royal Thai Navy’s Hydrographic Department also warned that sea levels are expected to rise between February and April this year. Citing data collected by its Phra Chulachomklao Fort station, it said the river’s level will rise by 1.4 metres to mean sea level from Monday to Friday, by 1.5 metres from February 28 to March 4 and by 1.25 metres from March 16 to 18.

“The rising sea level will push up Chao Phraya’s water level and affect communities nearby, while saltwater intrusion will affect the quality of water for consumption and agriculture,” the National Water Command said.

It added that related agencies have been urged to monitor the situation, check the durability of buildings near the river, strengthen the water barrier, inform people living nearby and prepare machines and equipment to mitigate the impact.

“Related agencies have also been urged to check the quality of water and adjust their water management plans to ensure the water quality meets standards and saltwater can be pushed back to the sea as soon as possible,” it added.

Published : February 14, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012298

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index is expected to move between 1,690 and 1,695 points on Monday amid uncertainty over rising Russia-Ukraine tensions, Krungsri Securities said.

Uncertainty over the US Federal Reserve’s move to raise the interest rate to tackle inflation is also pressuring the index.

“However, the sharp rise in oil price and mass buy-ups of company shares that are expected to grow based on their business turnover last year would help boost the index,” Krungsri Securities said.

It recommends the purchase of the following as an investment strategy:

• PTTEP, TOP, PTTGC, IVL, SPRC and BCP will benefit from the rising price of oil and gross refining margin.

• BBL, KBANK, KTB, SCB, TTB, BLA and THREL will benefit from news of the US interest rate hike.

• IVL, TOP, SPRC, GULF, BANPU, TU, CPF, SPALI, ORI, WHA, AMATA, HMPRO, CPN, CRC, BLA, NER, ITEL, XO, ASK, UBE, FORTH, TH and SNNP are expected to grow based on their business turnover last year.

The SET Index closed at 1,699.20 on Friday, down 3.8 points or 0.22 per cent. Transactions totalled 95.43 billion baht with an index high of 1,703.95 and a low of 1,690.69.

Published : February 14, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012297

Public Health Ministry reported on Monday (February 14) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 14,900 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 192 of whom are foreign travellers.

Death toll increased by 26, while 9,810 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 384,792.

Published : February 14, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012296

Move Forward party leader Pita Limjaroenrat said he will seek changes via Parliament so that epileptics in Thailand don’t have to pay for expensive operations to get their lives back on track.

Posting on Facebook a day ahead of International Epilepsy Day on Monday (February 14), Pita revealed that he is among an estimated 700,000 epileptics in Thailand and more than 50 million worldwide.

While 70 per cent of people who suffer from epileptic seizures can be cured with drugs, a minority need expensive surgery costing between 200,000 and 700,000 baht per person, he said.

“Even though patients can use privileges under the gold card scheme and social security system, this is not enough [to cover surgery for epilepsy].”

He added that he would seek to change the law in Parliament so that epilepsy patients and their guardians benefit.

“As an epilepsy sufferer myself, I want to help create public awareness of the disease and encourage patients who are suffering,” said Pita.

Greater awareness of symptoms and how to get treatment was vital to easing burdens on epilepsy patients and their families, he explained. He added that anti-epilepsy drugs can cause side effects such as drowsiness but they enable sufferers to live a normal life.

He also revealed that he has lived with the disease since he was 14 years old.

On Monday, about 140 countries will spread the Valentine’s love to epilepsy, a disease long associated with greatness.

The list of famous people thought to have suffered from epileptic seizures runs from Alexander the Great and Napoleon Bonaparte to Leonardo da Vinci and Vincent Van Gogh.

Published : February 14, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012294

Special marriage registration events are awaiting couples at Bangkok’s 50 district offices to mark Valentine’s Day on Monday.

Lovers tying the knot will be treated to special ceremonies and souvenirs at Thung Khru, Bang Bon, Chom Thong, Rat Burana, Ladprao, Bang Kho Laem, Chatuchak, Yannawa, Saimai and Bang Khun Thian offices. Marriages will be registered from 8am to 4pm under anti-Covid protocols including temperature checks, face masks and social distancing.

Those registering marriages at Bang Rak District Office will declare their love from the heights of the National Telecom tower. Meanwhile, 399 couples who registered before February 7 would be eligible to receive golden marriage certificates.

Elsewhere, couples at Pom Prap Sattru Phai’s office can seal the deal at “A love promise forever”, with a prize draw for luxury hotel stays and gift sets from famous outlets.

Published : February 13, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012292

Thai health officials have launched a nationwide food inspection after people in several provinces fell sick after eating sausages produced at a bootleg factory in Chonburi.

Nitrite found in four types of sausage made at the factory was 35-48 times higher than safe levels, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“The FDA is taking legal action against the factory owner,” confirmed FDA deputy secretary-general Weerachai Nolwachai.

The factory operator faces up to two years in prison, a fine of 20,000 baht or both.

FDA and provincial public health officials are now analysing 102 samples taken from sausage factories and outlets across 66 provinces, he added.

So far, the analysis has found contamination at two bootleg factories in Ayutthaya that manufacture 13 types of sausages. Operations at both factories had been suspended and 4.3 million baht worth of equipment seized, Weerachai said.

He added that health officials in provinces bordering Myanmar have been instructed to inspect local sausage outlets after the Myanmar Health Ministry warned people not to consume sausages from Thailand.

The FDA warned sausage manufacturers to stick strictly to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards to ensure consumers’ safety.

“Meanwhile, consumers should purchase sausages from reliable sources,” said Weerachai.

Anyone who finds unsafe food products can call the FDA hotline at 1556 or Public Health Offices nationwide.

Published : February 13, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012288

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Sunday urged agencies to accelerate work on 218 human rights issues highlighted during the United Nations’ periodic review of Thailand last November.

The UN Human Rights Council (UNHCR) and UN members made 278 recommendations to Thailand at the latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which takes place every four and a half years.

The Cabinet has so far approved 218 of those recommendations, government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek said. As a result, Thailand pledged to work on issues such as human rights for stateless persons, labour issues and combating torture and cruel punishment.

The Foreign Ministry would inform the UNHRC of Thailand’s commitment soon, added the spokesperson.

Published : February 13, 2022

By : THE NATION