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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40008929

Thailand is not eligible to receive Pfizer’s secret recipe for its Paxlovid Covid-19 antiviral pill because the kingdom is a moderate- to high-income country, the Department of Medical Services said on Wednesday.

The remark came after Pfizer announced it would hand out its Covid-19 antiviral pill recipe to 95 countries. It did not say which countries.

Department director-general Dr Somsak Akksilp said Thailand would however receive the antiviral pill faster than countries eligible to receive the recipe as Thai government agencies have cooperated with Pfizer.

“Thailand will negotiate with Pfizer in a bid to obtain the Paxlovid recipe,” he said.

Somsak went on to say that the Comptroller-General’s Department will hold a meeting on Thursday to consider the procurement of Molnupiravir Covid-19 antiviral pills.

“We expect to sign a procurement contract by next week,” he added.

Related stories:

• Covid situation in Bangkok, vicinity has improved: Medical Services Dept
• Cabinet approves reopening of pubs, bars on January 16
• Thailand recorded 6,524 Covid-19 cases and 56 deaths on Wednesday

Published : November 17, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40008926

Tourists visit the beach in Pattaya of Chonburi province, Thailand.

Thailand has reopened to vaccinated visitors from more than 60 countries and regions amid efforts to revive its pandemic-battered economy.

Tourists walk on the beach in Pattaya of Chonburi province, Thailand, on Nov. 16, 2021. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

A tourist flies a kite on the beach in Pattaya of Chonburi province, Thailand, on Nov. 16, 2021. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

Tourists are seen on the beach in Pattaya of Chonburi province, Thailand, on Nov. 16, 2021. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

Tourists walk on the beach in Pattaya of Chonburi province, Thailand, on Nov. 16, 2021. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

A tourist walks on the beach in Pattaya of Chonburi province, Thailand, on Nov. 16, 2021. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

Published : November 17, 2021

By : Xinhua

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40008925

Wild elephant conservation volunteers warned people in Chanthaburi to beware of two herds heading towards rubber plantations in Khao Khitchakut and Kaeng Hang Maew districts after one of the elephants was responsible for killing three people and amid the mating season.

The warning came so people would not run the risk of being attacked or killed by the pachyderms.

Chutima Lueang-on, a 31-year-old volunteer, said the elephants had split into two herds: 15 in Khao Khitchakut district and seven in Kaeng Hang Maew.

She explained that the herd of 15 included three baby elephants, while much-feared “Phlai Nok”, an elephant which had previously killed two villagers and a KomChadLuek reporter, was among the second herd.

Chutima said this group is expected to head to the area near San Sai Dam for mating.

Chanthaburi locals warned to avoid two herds of frisky pachyderms amid mating season

“If two herds come together, it will become a big group of 22 elephants, ten of which are large adults,” she warned.

“So we advise people passing through those areas to use a vehicle instead of a motorcycle as they could be attacked by the animals.”

The volunteers along with other officials are closely monitoring the elephants’ behaviour in order to prepare a plan to drive them away from community areas, she added.

Chanthaburi locals warned to avoid two herds of frisky pachyderms amid mating season

Related stories:

• Injured wild elephant stomps KomChadLuek reporter to death in Chanthaburi
• Young elephant dies on Prachin Buri road after being hit by two careless drivers
• Wild elephant transported from fearful Rayong community to sanctuary

Published : November 17, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40008922

Stargazers are going to be downhearted: the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) took to Facebook to say that the Leonids meteor shower from Wednesday night to dawn on Thursday will unfortunately not be visible because it will be disturbed or obscured by the moonlight.

NARIT revealed the Leonids meteor shower yield about 10 visible meteors each hour. However, it is a nearly full moon this year. The moon will rise early in the evening until 4 am.

The Leonids meteor shower is caused by the debris of the 55P Tempel-Tuttle comet that is left in the orbit. The debris enters the atmosphere and burns like a fireball
 
NARIT added that there will be a Geminid meteor shower from midnight of December 13 to the dawn of December 14 but it will also be disturbed by the moonlight. The moon will set after midnight on December 13. Those who are interested will have to observe from 1.30 am until dawn.

Moonlight to obscure meteor shower: Astronomical Institute

Related News

Geminids meteors light up dark Thai skies

NARIT captures Geminids meteor shower for Facebook slideshow

Public invited to Chiang Mai for clear view of meteor shower on Dec 13

Published : November 17, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40008921

The Covid-19 situation in Bangkok and its vicinity has become better, thanks to the decline in infections and deaths, the Department of Medical Services said on Tuesday.

Department director-general Dr Somsak Akksilp said many hospitels run by government hospitals have been gradually closed, leaving only hospitels operated by private hospitals.

He pointed out that most new infections had recently been discovered in the North and South.

“The operation [to contain the spread of Covid-19] in Bangkok and its vicinity is not worrisome, thanks to cooperation between private hospitals and medical schools,” he said.

“We have deployed medical staff and equipment to other provinces, where a number of Covid-19 clusters have emerged, such as Chiang Mai and Pattani.”

Somsak said the public would have to coexist with Covid-19 as people will not be able to generate income if the government reimposed lockdowns.

“We believe that coexisting with Covid-19 will be possible if the virus does not mutate and people strictly adhere to preventive measures,” he said.

Somsak went on to say that the Comptroller-General’s Department is considering the procurement of Molnupiravir Covid-19 antiviral pills. He expects the consideration process to be wrapped up in 3-4 days.

“Once this is completed, we can place an order immediately and the drug will be delivered at the beginning of next year,” he said.

Somsak added that the Department of Medical Services is preparing to procure the Paxlovid Covid-19 antiviral pill as well.

Related stories:

• Cabinet approves reopening of pubs, bars on January 16
• Thailand recorded 6,524 Covid-19 cases and 56 deaths on Wednesday
• Asean reported over 27,000 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday

Published : November 17, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40008920

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is planning to invest in the construction of a monorail train route from Watcharaphol to Tha Phra – also known as the Grey Line – to create a seamless rail transport system in the province.

“The project has an estimated budget of THB27.5 billion, covering the construction and operation of the 40km route,” BMA permanent secretary Khajit Chatchawanich revealed on Tuesday.

“The route will be divided into three sections: the Watcharaphol-Thonglor section (16.3km) consisting of 15 stations; Phrakhanong-Rama III (12.2km) featuring 16 stations; and Rama III-Tha Phra (11.5km) with 9 stations.”

Once completed, the Grey Line will connect with five other train routes and create a seamless rail transport network capable of transporting 8,000-30,000 passengers per hour. Trains will travel at an average speed of 35 km per hour, with a maximum speed of 80 kph. A round trip on the Grey Line will take around 62 minutes.

Bangkok to invest THB27.5 billion in Grey Line monorail

Khajit said the BMA’s Traffic and Transport Department is conducting an EIA (environmental impact assessment) study on the project for the first section and is expected to finish the assessment by the end of 2022, after which market sounding will start immediately.

“We estimate the construction of the first section could start before 2026 and will take four years to finish. This section should be operational by the year 2030,” he added.

Related Stories

Monorail eyed for Hat Yai

Muang Thong Thani monorail gets green light from govt

BTS kicks off trial runs on its Gold Line monorail

Published : November 17, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40008918

A Cabinet meeting on Tuesday has approved the move to propose six national parks and one mangrove forest along the Andaman Sea as world heritage sites to the World Heritage Centre of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), said deputy government spokeswoman Traisulee Traisoranakul on Tuesday.

The move has been submitted by Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

“The proposed national parks and mangrove forest are located in three Southern provinces of Ranong, Phang Nga and Phuket, with combined areas of 290,800 hectares or 2,908 sq.km,” she said. “Of these, 1,159.55 sq.km. are the actual national park areas while 1,748.45 sq.km. are buffer areas.”

“Three sites are located in Ranong, namely the Ranong Islands National Park, Laem Son National Park and Ranong Mangrove Forest,” said Traisulee. “Three sites are in Phang Nga, namely Surin Islands National Park, Similan Islands National Park and Khao Lampi–Hat Thai Mueang National Park. The last site, Sirinat National Park, is located in Phuket.”

Cabinet greenlights proposing Andaman national parks as world heritage sites

Thailand will have until April 15, 2022 to submit the proposal documents to the Unesco, whereas the consideration for world heritage sites will take place during World Heritage Centre’s 45th general assembly in 2023.
 

Related Stories

Three world heritage sites expected to generate Bt30 billion tourism income

Thailand moves up to 7th rank in 2021 world heritage rankings

Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex finally gets the nod as World Heritage Site

Published : November 17, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40008916

The Cabinet meeting on Tuesday has approved the reopening date for entertainment venues, pubs, bars and karaoke joints across Thailand on January 16, said deputy government spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek on Tuesday.

“The government had announced earlier that it would consider the reopening date for entertainment venues based on the Covid-19 situation, with the timeframe set between December 1 to January next year,” she said. “However, after discussing with Ministry of Public Health and the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), the Cabinet agreed that the suitable reopening date should be January 16, which will yield the highest benefit to the country.”

“December 1 is not the promised date for reopening. It is just the start of the timeframe. Therefore, the approved reopening date on January 16 is not a postponement,” she pointed out.

On October 11 Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said during a national television broadcast that within December 1 the government would consider allowing the serving of alcoholic drinks in restaurants as well as allowing entertainment venues to open under appropriate disease control measures. The PM said the move will help stimulate tourism during the new year festival.

“I realized that this decision is risky, as it is almost certain that the number of new infections will increase after disease control measures are relaxed,” said Prayut. “This is why we will monitor the situation closely. We cannot lose this golden opportunity to promote the economy for two years in a row.”

Related Stories

Bars allowed to open sooner if case count stays low

Opening of pubs, bars postponed to Jan 15, Chanthaburi shifts to “red” zone

Unlocking of bars in Bangkok to be considered on Nov 15

Published : November 17, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40008910

Ministry of Public Health reported on Wednesday (November 17) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 6,524 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 393 of whom have been found in prisons.

Death toll increased by 56, while 7,191 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country are at 2,037,324 with 20,199 total deaths.
 

Published : November 17, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40008896

Heavy flooding in Nakhon Pathom’s Nakhon Chaisi district has left the 150-rai Thailand Circuit Motorsport Complex under about 2 metres of water.

However, unfazed by this setback, organisers are now planning to use the flooded racetrack to stage a mini-regatta with the motto “Racer Life Begins Here”. They say the aim is to build the morale of staff members who have been suffering difficulties caused by the inundation.

The event will be held on Loy Krathong Day on November 19 from 11am to 5pm. Participants can launch their krathong from the island in the middle of the Thailand Circuit’s lake, while boat races will run from 1pm to 3.30pm in the race track area.

Thailand Circuit turns flood crisis into Loy Krathong extravaganzaThailand Circuit turns flood crisis into Loy Krathong extravaganzaThailand Circuit turns flood crisis into Loy Krathong extravaganzaThailand Circuit turns flood crisis into Loy Krathong extravaganza

Published : November 16, 2021

By : THE NATION