The second phase of the Khlong Chong Nonsi Park project is 70 per cent complete and a part of should be ready for visitors by December 23, Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang said on Saturday.
Phase 2 runs for 200 metres from Sathorn Road to Soi Narathiwat Ratchanakarin 7. Aswin said the activity square will be opened to the public and tourists for use on December 25 and reckons this phase will be 100 per cent ready by February. He also said he expects the entire project to be completed by August 2022.
The Khlong Chong Nonsi Park project is divided into five phases, namely:
• Surawong to Sathorn road
• Sathorn Road to Soi Narathiwat Ratchanakarin 7
• Soi Narathiwat Ratchanakarin 7 to Chan Road
• Chan Road to Ratchadapisek Road
• Ratchadapisek to Rama III road.
This is one of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s five pilot projects to revive the capital. The others are Phadung Krung Kasem Canal Restoration, the improvement of Rama 1 and Silom roads Improvement and the 100 Years Lumpini Park Anniversary project.
Three Thai nationals tested positive for the Omicron variant on Friday after returning home via the Phuket sandbox scheme from their annual “Umrah” pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
Dr Muhammad Labaiji, deputy director of Khok Pho Hospital in Pattani who had also joined the trip, said on Sunday that three Omicron infections were confirmed after 137 returnees underwent RT-PCR tests upon returning from Mecca last week.
The three patients have been transferred to Pattani’s Khok Pho Hospital, he said, adding that those not infected have completed their five-day quarantine in Phuket and will spend another 14 days in self-isolation when they return home.
Umrah, a “lesser pilgrimage” compared to Hajj, is not mandatory and usually takes up to 15 days in Mecca – Islam’s holiest city.
Ministry of Public Health reported on Sunday (December 19) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 2,899 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 21 of whom have been found in prisons.
Death toll increased by 22, while 4,389 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.
The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 2,191,528 – 2,128,358 of whom have recovered, 41,793 are still in hospitals and 21,377 have died.
Separately, another 89,262 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 137,385 their second shot and 149,634 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 99,761,523.
According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 274.53 million on Sunday, 246.33 million of whom have recovered, 22.84 million are active cases (89,276 in severe condition) and 5.36 million have died (up by 5,156).
Thailand ranks 24th in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 51.69 million, followed by India with 34.73 million, Brazil with 22.21 million, the UK with 11.27 million and Russia with 10.18 million.
The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Sunday (December 19) that another rather strong high-pressure system covers upper Thailand with cool to cold, strong winds, as well as a decrease in temperature by 2-4 °C in the North and by 1-3 °C in the rest 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 2-11 °C while the Northeast ranges by 5-13 °C. People should keep healthy due to the variable weather, and all transport take more caution in poor visibility.
In addition, the active low-pressure cell that covered Malaysia has moved into the Malaca Strait. Isolated heavy rains remains for the lower South of Thailand. People should beware of the severe condition that may cause overflows and flash floods.
The rather strong wind forces the waves in the upper Gulf 1-2 metres high, in the lower Gulf about 2 metres high, and in thundershowers more than 3 metres high. People along the Gulf shore should beware of inshore surges. All ships should proceed with caution and keep off thundershowers.
Typhoon “RAI” over the middle South China Sea has not affected Thailand.
The 24-hour weather forecast for different regions:
North: Morning cool to cold; temperature lows of 12-16 degrees and highs of 26-30 degrees Celsius; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 2-11 degrees Celsius.
Northeast: Cool to cold with strong winds; temperature lows of 12-16 degrees and highs of 26-28 degrees Celsius; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 5-13 degrees Celsius.
Central: Cool in the morning and strong winds; temperature lows of 17-19 degrees Celsius, highs of 29-31 degrees Celsius.
East: Cool in the morning and strong winds; temperature lows of 17-22 degrees Celsius, highs of 30-32 degrees Celsius; waves about 1 metre high and 1-2 metres offshore.
South (east coast): Cool in the morning in the upper part, scattered thundershowers with isolated heavy rains in the lower part; temperature lows of 20-25 degrees Celsius, highs of 28-31 degrees Celsius. Chumphon northward: Waves 1-2 metres. Surat Thani southward: Waves about 2 metres high and above 3 metres during thundershowers.
South (west coast): Scattered thundershowers and isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 23-24 degrees Celsius, highs of 30-32 degrees Celsius. Krabi northward: Waves about 1 metre high and 1-2 metres offshore. Trang southward: Waves 1-2 metres high and about 2 metres during thundershowers.
Bangkok and surrounding areas: Cool in the morning and strong winds; temperature lows of 19-21 degrees Celsius, highs of 30-32 degrees Celsius.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Saturday instructed the Public Health Ministry to issue an official rule that all visitors to large New Year festivals present proof of vaccination and ATK tests taken no more than 72 hours ago.
Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said event organisers are required to strictly adhere to the ministry’s Covid Free Setting measures.
Visitors to events with more than 1,000 people are required to be fully vaccinated and present antigen test results taken within 72 hours. For smaller events, visitors are only expected to present proof of being fully jabbed.
Thanakorn also asked people to not fall for fraudsters who offer to issue Covid-19 vaccination certificates for those who have not been jabbed. Both fraudsters and users will be punished in this case because they could spread the disease.
A correct certificate will have a QR Code which will display information about the vaccinee, the doctor who administered the jab, the brand of the dose and its bottle number.
He added that the premier was worried about restrictions being eased over the New Year, such as the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration allowing restaurants to serve booze on New Year’s Eve until 1am.
Workers whose earnings dropped significantly since the government closed entertainment venues to curb the spread of Covid-19 will soon be given 5,000 baht each in compensation, deputy government spokesperson Traisulee Traisoranakul said on Saturday.
“The Labour Ministry will propose the plan at the next Cabinet meeting and the money may be disbursed before the end of the year,” she said. “To be eligible, candidates must be Thai nationals, part of the social security scheme and be able to provide an employment certificate from businesses that have registered with Commerce or Interior ministries. This applies to entertainment businesses like pubs, bars, massage parlours and karaoke joints that have been ordered closed.”
Once approved, the ministry will deposit the money directly via the PromptPay account linked to the candidate’s national ID.
Those who are not part of the social security scheme, such as the self-employed, can apply to become beneficiaries under Article 40 of the Social Security Act before January 14.
“Only Thai nationals aged 15 to 65 will be eligible to apply under Article 40. They can choose to contribute 70, 100 or 300 baht per month, but the more you pay, the better benefits you will get in case of illness or injury,” Traisulee added.
The Royal Thai Navy’s Hydrographic Department has announced that the level of Chao Phraya River near Samut Prakan’s Phra Chulachomklao Fort will rise by up to 1.9 metres from Saturday to December 27.
The Hydrographic Department said it will provide updates on Chao Phraya’s water level on its website.
The high tide has been put down to the strong Northeast monsoon prevailing over the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, which will also bring heavy rain to the South.
Citizens are being urged to be cautious and closely monitor the water situation.
Thai authorities traditionally offer free or subsidised services as a New Year present to the public. This year it is offering a bunch of freebies to motorists during the holiday period to help make travel a more enjoyable experience.
Here is a list of the freebies offered:
• Toll-free expressway: The Expressway Authority of Thailand announced earlier this month that no tolls will be charged from December 30 to January 3 on its two main expressways – Burapha Withi (Bang Na-Chonburi) and Kanchanapisek (Bang Phli-Suksawas).
• Toll-free motorways: The Department of Highways will waive toll fees on two motorways – No 7 (Bangkok-Chonburi-Pattaya) and No 9 (Bang Pa In-Bang Phli-Bang Khun Tian) from midnight on December 30 to January 2 midnight.
• Free vehicle check-up: The Department of Land Transport is inviting motorists to bring their vehicles to any of the more than 2,000 participating service centres displaying the sign “Free Check-up for Road Safety”. The campaign runs throughout December with participating partners including leading petrol and LPG/NGV stations nationwide.
For non-motorists, the Transport Company will offer a 10 per cent discount on all interprovincial buses for passengers travelling between December 20 and January 20. To be eligible, passengers must book their tickets via the company’s website https://tcl99web.transport.co.th/Home or through its mobile application. Tickets bought under this promotion cannot be refunded or changed.
After handing a petition addressed to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Thursday, Nakhon Si Thammarat’s “Save Na Bon” group set up camp outside the United Nations headquarters in Bangkok.
Their demand is that the government bring the development of bio-mass power stations in their district to a halt because they fear the environmental impact the power plants may have. They are also concerned that the power plants may switch to coal or other fossil fuels later, causing further damage to the environment.
Protesters say that land clearing for the project is already underway.
One of the protest leaders said people in Na Bon make their living from fruit orchards and rubber plantations and do not want power plants to be built near their communities.
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