Thailand’s daily Covid-19 caseload has risen to more than 3,000 after the New Year break because of some people’s irresponsible behaviour and entertainment venues ignoring prevention measures, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Tuesday.
He also blamed agencies for allowing entertainment venues to change their status to restaurants without checking if all prevention measures were in place.
However, he said that since most people followed prevention regulations, Thailand’s death toll and daily Covid-19 cases are not that high.
He added that more prevention measures will be eased once the number of daily cases drops to 2,000.
In a bid to tackle a drop in tourist arrivals after the temporary suspension of the Test & Go scheme, the Tourism and Sports Ministry will this Friday propose that other islands be reopened under the sandbox scheme.
“We need a new campaign to attract foreigners who cannot enter Thailand under the Test & Go scheme until at least next month,” Tourism and Sports Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan said on Monday.
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) will evaluate the Test & Go scheme at the end of January after it was suspended on December 21 to curb the spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant.
The Test & Go scheme allows fully vaccinated travellers to enter Thailand without having to quarantine and the CCSA was scheduled to reevaluate the suspension on January 4.
On Monday, the CCSA announced that foreigners who had registered for the scheme must enter the country before January 10. After that, they can register under the Phuket Sandbox scheme or use alternative quarantine (AQ) services.
“We chose islands [for the new scheme] because they have limited access, which makes it easier to contain cases in case infection clusters erupt,” Pipat said. “Initially, islands in five provinces will launch their own sandbox programmes, with a possibility of connecting with the existing Phuket sandbox programme.”
The islands being considered are:
• Surat Thani’s Koh Samui, Koh Pha-ngan and Koh Tao
• Chonburi’s Koh Larn
• Rayong’s Koh Samet
• Trat’s Koh Chang and Koh Kut
• Krabi’s Phi Phi Islands
“Under the sandbox scheme, vaccinated travellers who test negative against Covid-19 will be allowed to travel on sealed routes to selected attractions, without having to quarantine,” Pipat added.
He added that the ministry also estimates that up to 15 million tourists will come to Thailand in 2022, based on several factors including the pandemic situation, availability of the Test & Go scheme and government policy in target markets.
Countries such as the US, Russia, India and China are still limiting flights to and from Thailand.
Nine dogs all dressed up and fully accessorised, waiting to be served at a dinner table by their owner, took the Thai internet by storm on Monday.
The video, posted by Facebook user Ma Ma Phu Narak, went viral overnight with more than 70,000 likes, 10,000 shares and 5,700 comments.
Viewers applauded the dogs’ table manners as they patiently waited their turn without fighting for food, while others said the owner must be highly skilled in canine training.
Even more remarkable is that all nine pooches are rescue dogs, according to the poster.
“These dogs are all former strays. The owner rescued them from dumping sites, a forest, a temple or the roadside,” read the description to the video. The names of the nine dogs are as follows: Songkran, Hero, Deeddin, Money, Book, Bank, Odd-on, Jidrid and Nin.”
The air quality in Bangkok and adjacent provinces could worsen in the next seven days (January 4-10) due to stagnant weather conditions, the Pollution Control Department said on Monday.
“Also, many people will return to work on January 4, increasing the number of vehicles and dust on city roads compared to the New Year holidays,” said the department’s director-general Atthaphol Charoenchansa. “To avoid making the situation worse, people are advised to use vehicles only when necessary and refrain from burning garbage or weeds in open areas.”
PM2.5 air pollution in Greater Bangkok on Monday ranged from 18 to 34 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m3), still well below the safe threshold of 50μg/m3.
PM2.5 levels in other regions were as follows:
• North: 12 to 24μg/m3
• Northeast: 10 to 22μg/m3
• Central region and West: 12 to 28μg/m3
• East: 14 to 25μg/m3
• South: 10 to 20μg/m3
The PM2.5 situation can be followed on Air4Thai.com and bangkokairquality.com websites, CAPM Facebook page, or via Air4Thai and AirBKK smartphone applications.
Siriraj Hospital announced on Monday that the hospital would not allow any visiting of inpatients from January 4 onward in a bid to curb the spreading of Covid-19.
“All inpatients will not be allowed visitation from January 4 onward until further notice,” said the announcement, signed by hospital director Dr Wisit Wamwanich. “Furthermore, patients that require constant monitoring can have only one nurse per room, while said nurse must not be switched to another room.”
The announcement went on and said that relatives are advised to contact the patients via telephone or video call instead of showing up at the hospital, for everyone’s safety.
Ministry of Public Health reported on Tuesday (January 4) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 3,091 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 2 of whom have been found in prisons.
Death toll increased by 12, while 2,688 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.
The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 2,235,576 – 2,180,321 of whom have recovered, 33,505 are still in hospitals and 21,750 have died.
Separately, another 5,022 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 11,226 their second shot and 16,464 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 104,524,571.
According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 292.99 million on Tuesday, 255.36 million of whom have recovered, 29.38 million are active cases (90,433 in severe condition) and 5.47 million have died (up by 4,297).
Thailand ranks 24th in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 57.08 million, followed by India with 34.96 million, Brazil with 22.31 million, the UK with 13.42 million and Russia with 10.55 million.
The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Tuesday (January 4) that the rather strong high-pressure system covering upper Thailand is weakening. Cool to cold weather is forecast in the North and the Northeast while the Central and the East will experience a cool morning.
Mountaintops in the North and the Northeast are cold to very cold with temperature ranging from 4 to 15 °C. People should take care of their health due to variable weather.
The Department also mentioned that the rather strong northeast monsoon prevails across the Gulf of Thailand and the South. Thundershowers and isolated heavy rains are forecast in the lower South. Waves in the Gulf are about 2 meters high and over 2 meters high during thundershowers. People in the lower South should beware of the severe condition and rain accumulation that may cause flash flood, overflows and inshore surges. All ships should proceed with caution and keep off thundershowers.
The weather forecast for the next 24 hours is as follows:
North: Cool to cold weather with morning fog; temperature lows of 14-18 degrees and highs of 29-33 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 4-12 degrees Celsius.
Northeast: Cool to cold weather; temperature lows of 15-19 degrees and highs of 30-32 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 8-15 degrees Celsius.
Central: Cool weather in the morning; temperature lows of 20-23 degrees, highs of 31-33 degrees Celsius.
East: Cool weather in the morning; temperature lows of 20-23 degrees, highs of 32-34 degrees Celsius; waves a meter high and 1-2 meters high offshore.
South (east coast): Thundershowers in 30 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 22-25 degrees, highs of 28-31 degrees Celsius; waves 1-2 meters high and over 2 meters high during thundershowers.
South (west coast): Thundershowers in 20 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees, highs of 30-32 degrees Celsius; waves a meter high and 1-2 meters high offshore.
Bangkok and surrounding areas: Cool weather in the morning; temperature lows of 21-23 degrees, highs of 31-33 degrees Celsius.
The Public Health Ministry on Monday proposed that the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) put off the reopening of Thailand’s Test & Go scheme and evaluate the situation until the end of January.
The Test & Go scheme, which allows fully vaccinated travellers to enter Thailand without having to quarantine, was suspended on December 21 in a bid to curb the spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant. The CCSA is scheduled to reevaluate the suspension on January 4.
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said foreigners who have already registered for the scheme must enter the country before January 10.
“After January 10, they can register under the Phuket Sandbox scheme or use alternative quarantine [AQ] services,” he said.
People who went upcountry during the New Year holidays should take an antigen test (ATK) before entering their home, the Public Health Ministry’s permanent secretary Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit said on Monday.
Those who test positive should isolate themselves for at least 14 days, he added.
“If it is absolutely necessary for you to return to work right away, take another ATK test to ensure you are not infected,” he added. “During the first week back at work, take two tests at an interval of at least three days and avoid having close contact or sharing meals with others for at least 14 days.”
Kiattiphum added that if an infection is found in an office or factory, it is not necessary to close off the entire premises. “Business owners can employ bubble and seal measures to protect outsiders or let suspected employees stay at home or work from home, if possible,” he added.
He said that though infections in Thailand are rising, the number of deaths is low thanks to more people getting vaccinated. “On Monday, the [Public Health] Ministry recorded 2,927 new patients and 18 deaths. Of the infections, 168 were international travellers, 78 per cent of whom had entered Thailand under the Test & Go scheme,” he said. “To date, Thailand has administered over 104.49 million Covid-19 vaccine doses, 71.2 per cent of which are first doses, 64.1 per cent second doses, and 9.8 per cent boosters.”
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