Thailand is among 49 countries that have been hit by the five Covid-19 variants of concern, namely Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Omicron, a Chulalongkorn University lecturer said on Saturday.
Citing the World Health Organisation Weekly Epidemiological Update, Faculty of Medicine lecturer Thira Woratanarat said Omicron alone has spread to 113 countries. As of Friday, Omicron has made the infection rate in the United Kingdom, France and Italy surge by 3.7, 4.94 and 2.64 times respectively compared to the same period last year.
He added that the number of Omicron cases in Thailand is expected to rise as this variant spreads 4.1 per cent faster than Delta and only has a three-day incubation period. The vaccines provide little or no protection.
“What we need to do now is administer mRNA booster shots and people should protect themselves by wearing facemasks, maintaining at least a metre’s distance and avoiding gatherings.”
Thira added that strictly adhering to preventive measures is the only way Thailand can keep its Covid-19 infections manageable.
Ministry of Public Health reported on Sunday (December 26) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 2,532 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 23 of whom have been found in prisons.
Death toll increased by 22, while 3,771 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.
The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 2,209,970 – 2,152,528 of whom have recovered, 35,862 are still in hospitals and 21,580 have died.
Separately, another 65,758 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 148,072 their second shot and 175,388 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 102,561,331.
According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 279.83 million on Sunday, 250.03 million of whom have recovered, 24.39 million are active cases (88,590 in severe condition) and 5.41 million have died (up by 3,907).
Thailand ranks 24th in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 53.02 million, followed by India with 34.78 million, Brazil with 22.23 million, the UK with 11.89 million and Russia with 10.34 million.
The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Sunday (December 26) that the weak high-pressure system covers upper Thailand.
Cool to cold weather with fog in the morning are likely in the North and cool with light fog in the morning are likely in the Northeast, the Central and the East regions.
On mountaintops of the North and the Northeast, cold to very cold is forecast. The minimum temperature of the North mountaintops is in range of 4-12 degrees Celsius while the Northeast ranges by 8-15 degrees Celsius.
People should keep healthy due to the variable weather, and all transport take more caution in poor visibility, the department said.
The department said the westerly trough move pass the North, the upper Northeast and the upper Central regions while the southeasterly winds bring the moisture from the Gulf of Thailand to the lower Northeast, the lower central and the East regions with isolated rains in the areas.
Farmers in the upper North should prepare for crop’s damage due to isolated rains, the department said.
The department went to say that the weak northeast monsoon prevails across the Gulf and the South cause less rain and isolated thundershowers in the South.
The another rather strong high-pressure system from China extend to lower China. It is expected to cover the Northeast of Thailand by tomorrow (December 27) with cool to cold, strong winds and a decrease in temperature by 1-3 degrees Celsius likely first in the Northeast and then the rest regions.
The 24-hour weather forecast for different regions:
North: Cool to cold with fog in the morning. Isolated thundershowers; temperature lows of 15-21 degrees and highs of 28-32 degrees Celsius; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 4-12 degrees Celsius.
Northeast: Morning cool with strong winds and a decrease in temperature 1-3 °C. Isolated light rains; temperature lows of 16-22 degrees and highs of 26-30 degrees Celsius; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 8-15 degrees Celsius.
Central: Cool with light fog in the morning. Isolated light rains; temperature lows of 20-23 degrees Celsius, highs of 30-32 degrees Celsius.
East: Cool with light fog in the morning. Isolated thundershowers; temperature lows of 22-24 degrees Celsius, highs of 31-33 degrees Celsius; waves below 1 metre high and about 1 metre offshore.
South (east coast): Isolated thundershowers; temperature lows of 22-24 degrees Celsius, highs of 28-31 degrees Celsius; waves about 1 metre high and 1-2 metres in thundershowers.
South (west coast): Partly cloudy and isolated light rains; temperature lows of 22-24 degrees Celsius, highs of 30-34 degrees Celsius; waves below 1 metre high and about 1 metre offshore.
Bangkok and surrounding areas: Light fog in the morning. Isolated light rains; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees Celsius, highs of 32-34 degrees Celsius.
The 36th Border Patrol Regiment on Saturday held a special evacuation drill for teachers and students of Ban Tha Ta Fang school in Mae Hong Son’s Mae Sariang district, which is very close to the Myanmar border.
The drill was held to prepare them in case there are clashes near the border and stray artillery shells fall on Mae Hong Son.
“Soldiers on border patrol had built a bomb shelter in the school earlier, and the drill today will teach them how to get to the shelter quickly and safely,” regiment commander Colonel Somphop Jaiboon said. “The shelter is 8 meters long, 5m wide and 1.5m high. It is stocked with food and water that will cover all students and teachers for at least three days.”
Border patrol soldiers in Mae Hong Son have on the alert clashes broke out between the Myanmar military and the Karen National Union. They are also providing safety drills to villagers in risky areas to ensure they can escape without problems in case of an emergency.
The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC)’s Centre for Economic and Business Forecasting (CEBF) expects people to spend 85.8 billion baht during the New Year break, 6.2 per cent less than last year and the lowest in 12 years.
The expected spending was split as follows: • Domestic travel: 47.91 billion baht • International travel: 1.73 billion baht • Celebrations: 10.03 billion baht • Shopping: 15.79 billion baht • Making merit: 7.87 billion baht
The centre also said that the population wants the government to do the following: • Manage the country transparently • Combat corruption • Decentralise administration so local governments can work efficiently • Launch more economic stimulus schemes like Khon La Khrueng (Let’s Go Halves) and Chim Shop Chai (Eat, Shop, Spend) • Solve the Covid-19 problem.
Meanwhile, the centre revealed that the most bought New Year presents were gift baskets, food and supplement drinks.
The average spending on local travel came in at just under 5,500 baht per person and international travel at slightly more than 21,000 during the New Year break.
A survey conducted by CEBF showed that 71.2 per cent of Thais expect the state of the economy to affect their spending, while 68.3 per cent said it was also Covid-19 and 43.2 per cent said it was debt.
The top three things people want the government to do are take care of the cost of living, solve the Covid-19 situation and address the household debt problem.
The study also found that 28.4 per cent of people believe the economy will worsen next year, 26.5 per cent believe it will remain unchanged, 25.4 per cent expect it to worsen only slightly, while 0.1 per cent were positive. Most people chose the “do not know” option, while some thought the economy will grow by 2.51-3 per cent.
Most people also want the government to extend economic stimulus measures like the Khon La Khrueng scheme (Let’s Go Halves), Shop Dee Mee Kuen (Shop and Payback), and Rao Tiew Duay Kan (We Travel Together).
The survey showed that 72.7 per cent of people are worried about Omicron, while 27.3 per cent are not worried.
However, the Omicron situation has affected the decision to travel during the New Year break for 59.6 per cent of the respondents.
Seven airlines under the Thai Airlines Association are ready to fly passengers during the New Year holidays under enhanced Covid-19 prevention measures, association president Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth said on Friday.
The airlines are Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia X, Thai Smile Airways, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air and Thai Vietjet.
“To cope with the threat of the Omicron variant, the association has instructed its members to strictly adhere to disease control measures as well as monitor latest updates on the variant,” he said. “The seven airlines have been following the regulations set by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand [CAAT] and the International Air Transport Association [IATA].
“All passengers on board are required to wear a facemask at all times, provide a certificate of vaccination and/or test result as required by the authorities at the destination and maintain a distance from each other,” he said.
“The airlines have fitted their aircraft with a state-of-the-art filtration system and are required to regularly disinfect the planes to ensure the safety of all passengers and crew. No food or beverage will be served except in cases of emergency.”
Puttipong also cited IATA’s latest announcement saying that aircraft cabins create a very low-risk environment for contracting Covid-19 even though Omicron is more transmissible.
“According to IATA’s medical adviser Dr David Powell, factors that contribute to the low risk include aircraft design characteristics [direction of airflow, rate of air exchange and filtration], the forward orientation of passengers while seated, well-enforced masking and enhanced sanitary measures. The controlled nature of the aircraft cabin compared to other enclosed environments adds a further measure of protection,” Puttipong added.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) on Friday issued a special “Notice to Airmen” warning airlines to prevent crowds from being formed at airports.
Airlines have been instructed to hand out entry documents and other forms to passengers and have them filled out before the flight lands. This will ensure a smooth flow of passengers at terminals and curb the spread of Covid-19.
CAAT said it was implementing these new rules because many foreign visitors are entering the country with a Thailand Pass that was issued before Wednesday.
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) suspended Thailand Pass registrations as of midnight on Wednesday and will review the situation again on January 4. However, some 200,000 people already hold a Thailand Pass and can enter the country.
Apart from entry documents, passengers also need to fill a consent form agreeing to take the mandatory RT-PCR test upon arrival and on the fifth or sixth day of their stay in Thailand. The second test will be provided for free at designated public or private hospitals.
People who have been vaccinated and wish to travel overseas can now pick up their vaccine passport at MedPark Hospital in Bangkok’s Klong Toei district.
Suthat Chottanapund, director of the Institute for Urban Disease Control and Prevention, said on Friday that MedPark was chosen because it is easy and convenient to get to.
• Present required documents at the registration point on the ground floor of MedPark Hospital on the appointed date and time.
• Documents required are 1. National ID plus a signed copy 2. Passport with at least six months validity plus signed copy 3. Certificate with QR code showing the recipient has taken both shots of the Covid-19 vaccine.
• If the passport is being picked up by someone else, then they must carry an authorisation letter, the applicant’s documents as well as their ID card and signed copy. One power of attorney letter is accepted per passport.
• A representative can pick up a maximum of five passports per day.
The process takes around half an hour, and people who already have a vaccine passport but want it to reflect their third or fourth jab can have it updated for free.
MedPark provides the service on working days except public holidays from 9am to 3pm. Appointments must be made seven days in advance and service is limited to 150 people per day.
Three British tourists have tested positive for the Omicron variant of Covid-19, the Prachuap Khiri Khan public health office said on Friday.
“The Omicron cases were found in two groups of British tourists. The first group comprises a married couple aged 52 and 51, who entered Thailand on November 26 under the Phuket sandbox scheme,” the provincial public health office chief Dr Wara Selawattanakul said.
“On December 6 they took a flight to Bangkok and then a taxi to Phetchaburi. On December 12, they checked into an SHA hotel in Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan.
“The couple then took an RT-PCR test on December 16 while getting ready to return to England, and the wife [51] tested positive for Omicron,” he said. “The husband, however, has small traces of the new coronavirus and will need to be tested again to confirm.”
The couple is in quarantine.
The second group comprises two men and one woman aged 53, 75 and 47. They arrived in Thailand on December 3 under the Phuket Sandbox scheme and took a flight to Bangkok on December 11.
The group then headed for Cha-am in Phetchaburi on December 12 before heading for Hua Hin on December 15.
The group stayed at SHA-certified hotels and ate at five restaurants in Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan.
“The group took an RT-PCR test on December 16 and the two men tested positive for Omicron,” Wara said. “They were sent to a hospital in the province, while the woman is in quarantine.”
Ministry of Public Health reported on Saturday (December 25) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 2,766 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 57 of whom have been found in prisons.
Death toll increased by 30, while 3,805 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.
The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 2,207,438 – 2,148,757 of whom have recovered, 37,123 are still in hospitals and 21,558 have died.
Separately, another 89,378 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 214,868 their second shot and 258,008 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 102,172,113.
According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 279.36 million on Saturday, 249.66 million of whom have recovered, 24.29 million are active cases (88,761 in severe condition) and 5.41 million have died (up by 5,524).
Thailand ranks 24th in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 52.99 million, followed by India with 34.78 million, Brazil with 22.23 million, the UK with 11.89 million and Russia with 10.34 million.
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