Measures for Covid-19 Free Setting have been tightened in Bangkok’s Khao San Road, with officials conducting antigen tests and ensuring no booze is sold after 11pm.
Wasan Boonmuenwai, director of the Phra Nakhon district office, said on Sunday that 35 of the 9,670 visitors screened since November 1 tested positive. He added that officials have been conducted ATK tests every three days in all establishments and eateries on the road, which is popular among backpackers.
Visitors are screened at all entrances and required to show their vaccination certificates. Those who finished their vaccination course four months ago will be required to undergo an ATK test.
Wasan has called on businesses to strictly adhere to regulations, adding that more than 10 eateries face a 6,000-baht fine for selling booze after 11pm. He added that police officers in uniform and plainclothes are constantly monitoring venues to ensure airconditioned
Bangkokians flocked to the newly opened Khlong Chong Nonsi public park on Saturday to enjoy the colourful lights before it is officially reopened next month. The lights will be taken off after January 5.
Suvarnabhumi Airport has waived parking fees for Zone C from midnight December 30 to midnight on January 4.
Zone C can accommodate 718 cars, while a shuttle service is provided every 15 minutes between the parking lot and terminal. The service is available 24 hours.
Airport director Kittipong Kittikachorn said that for the 12 days between Christmas and January 5, Suvarnabhumi is expected to attract more than 590,000 passengers or an average of about 49,000 people per day, marking a 72.24 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.
The forecast numbers have been split into approximately 188,637 international passengers, including departures, and 402,453 local passengers.
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration resolved on December 21 to temporarily suspend the Test & Go scheme until January 4 to curb the spread of Omicron.
Most of the 200 or so Omicron patients in Thailand have mild symptoms or are asymptomatic, but infections are expected to jump soon.
Assoc Prof Dr Nithipat Jearakul, chief of Siriraj Hospital’s Department of Respiratory Disease and Tuberculosis, said on Saturday that as of December 19, some 3 per cent of Covid-19 cases had been tracked down to Omicron. However, he said, though Omicron cases in Thailand account for just 3 per cent of total Covid-19 cases, the number will soon start surging, especially at the beginning of 2022.
He said the daily number of new patients may peak at 10,000 to 20,000, but the number of severe cases will be around 2 per cent or 200 to 400, which the medical sector can cope with.
However, he said, this forecast is only an estimate and will depend very much on how the situation is controlled during the New Year break.
The doctor said treatment for Omicron patients is the same as those affected by other variants.
Though most Omicron patients develop mild symptoms, all hospitals in Bangkok are prepared for an influx of cases. Siriraj Hospital, meanwhile, does not have any Omicron patients.
The Naresuan Force has tightened security in Tak’s Mae Sot district in response to clashes at the Myanmar border last week. Troops also visited the Ban Muen Ruechai area in Phop Phra subdistrict on Saturday to provide aid and basic necessities.
Stray shells landed on the Thai side when gunfights between the Myanmar military and Karen National Union (KNU) broke out some 600 metres from the border in Karen State’s Myawaddy area.
The Naresuan Force is now patrolling the area 24 hours and providing necessities to impacted locals. The soldiers are also helping repair damaged homes.
Few recipients of the inactive Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine developed serious side effects, Chulabhorn Royal Academy’s secretary-general Dr Nithi Mahanonda said in a Facebook post on Friday.
Nithi said 14,326,065 Sinopharm doses have been administered in Thailand between June 25 to December 22, and of them, 7,175,786 are the first jab and 7,150,279 the second.
“After the first jab, only 27,173 people or 0.38 per cent developed mild side effects in the first 30 minutes, 44,798 people or 0.62 per cent developed side effects one day later and 22,212 people or 0.31 per cent showed symptoms seven days later,” he explained.
Side effects included headache, muscle ache, fatigue, soreness in the jab site and fever.
“After the second jab, 4,162 people or 0.06 per cent developed side effects in the first 30 minutes, 23,047 people or 0.32 per cent one day after the jab, and 15,039 people or 0.21 per cent after seven days.”
So far, he said, 23 people have died and 17 developed severe conditions after getting a Sinopharm jab.
As many as seven establishments in Thailand , namely Hard Rock Cafe Bangkok, Scala, Nang Loeng racecourse, Sriracha Tiger Zoo, Siam Niramit, Lhong 1919 and Dhara Dhevi Hotel Chiang Mai, have been closed amid the ongoing Covid-19 crisis so far.
The Covid-19 pandemic had caused a severe impact on many sectors, including public health and the economy. Meanwhile, the pandemic is likely to prolong due to virus mutation.
Here are seven establishments that have been closed:
Hard Rock Cafe Bangkok
Hard Rock Cafe Bangkok, a restaurant and clothing store in Siam Square shut its doors on March 31 and June 30, respectively, after they were opened in March 1991, due to the expiration of a 30-year lease contract.
However, the operator said people can buy clothes at Rock Shop at the first storey of Maneeya Centre Building. The operator also promised that Hard Rock Cafe will return soon.
Scala
Scala, a standalone cinema in Bangkok’s Pathumwan district, shut its doors on July 5 last year after it was opened along with three cinemas namely Sala Chalerm Thai, Siam and Lido in 1968. These cinemas were operated by Apex Group.
However, Central Pattana (CPN) announced on November 1 this year that it won the bidding for Block A at Siam Square, including Scala cinema and 79 units of 3-4 storey commercial buildings, from Property Management of Chulalongkorn University.
Once the land is transferred next year, CPN said it will build a community mall in the area.
Nang Loeng racecourse
Nang Loeng racecourse or Royal Turf Club of Thailand under the Royal Patronage in Bangkok’s Nang Loeng area shut its doors on September 16, 2018, after it was opened on December 18, 1916.
The racecourse was demolished in March 2019 to be ready for the construction of King Rama IX Memorial Park. The construction is expected to be completed in 2024.
Sriracha Tiger Zoo
Sriracha Tiger Zoo in Chonburi’s Sriracha district shut its doors on July 15 this year after it was opened on April 23, 1997, due to the Covid-19 crisis.
Despite the operator trying various ways to attract domestic and foreign tourists, such as running street food and free admission, The zoo faced a liquidity shortage due to the pandemic.
Siam Niramit
Similar to Sriracha Tiger Zoo, Siam Niramit theatre in Bangkok that featured Thai culture shows shut its doors on September 10 this year after it was opened on October 28, 2005, due to the Covid-19 crisis.
However, another Siam Niramit branch in Phuket is being temporarily closed.
Lhong 1919
Lhong 1919, a tourist attraction that featured various Chinese architectures, co-working spaces, restaurants and cafes shut its doors on December 1 this year after it was opened on November 2, 2017.
This tourist attraction, that was Huai Tung Long Port during the reign of King Rama IV, was transferred to Asset World Corporation to be developed as the world health tourism centre.
However, the Mazu shrine is still open to devotees to pay respect.
Dhara Dhevi Hotel Chiang Mai
Dhara Dhevi Hotel Chiang Mai, the 123-room five-star luxury hotel, was slated to go under the hammer on November 12, December 3 and 24, January 14, February 4 and 25 due to the pandemic.
The hotel had to shut temporarily in early 2020. It then filed for rehabilitation in June 2020. The Appeal Court dismissed this petition on November 18, forcing the hotel to announce bankruptcy.
After strong earthquakes hit Laos over the past week and resulted in strong tremors in Thailand, many netizens are asking why the country does not have a more efficient emergency disaster alert system.
In response, seismologist Dr Penneung Wanichchai explained that earthquakes sometimes hit areas within seconds, giving the authorities little or no time to raise the alarm.
Citing the North of Thailand, which has many active fault lines, said there may not be enough time to issue a warning.
Penneung, who works with the Asian Institute of Technology, added that even in Bangkok, where the closest fault line is several hundred kilometres away, the warning system may only have 10 or 20 seconds to issue a warning before seismic waves run through the capital.
He said this short warning period may not be enough to evacuate people but may give them time to shift to a safe place or slow down a high-speed train.
He added that the best defence is for people to be ready at all times and build strong, stable buildings that can withstand earthquakes.
The Supreme Patriarch extended New Year greetings to the people of Thailand on Saturday, calling on them to be generous and merciful for the sake of the nation.
The e-card carries an image of Somdet Phra Ariyavongsagatanana IX and the handwritten message: “Tatam Mittani Khanthati, the giver will receive friendship. On the occasion of the New Year 2022, may you have the generosity and mercy to share for the wellbeing of the Thai nation.”
From January 1, the digital health pass on Thailands Morprom platform will be accepted in the 60 countries/territories that already accept the EU Digital Covid Certificate.
The Morprom system lists the user’s vaccination history, test results, health certificates as well as health information collected from tracking systems. It is currently being used by people to enter shopping malls, restaurants, cinemas, gyms, stadiums, etc.
It is accepted under the same conditions as the EU Digital Covid Certificate.
The countries that accept the EU digital certificate include Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Cape Verde, El Salvador, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Israel, Iceland, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Vatican, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Panama, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, England, Uruguay and the Vatican City.
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