#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40007985

Ministry of Public Health reported on Tuesday (October 26) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 7,706 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 128 of whom have been found in prisons.

Death toll increased by 66, while 9,532 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 1,866,863 – 1,748,848 of whom have recovered, 98,150 are still in hospitals and 18,865 have died.

Separately, another 346,589 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 341,373 their second shot and 43,756 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 71,237,520.

According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 244.84 million on Tuesday, 221.97 million of whom have recovered, 17.9 million are active cases (75,325 in severe condition) and 4.97 million have died (up by 5,093).
 

Thailand ranks 24th in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 46.4 million, followed by India with 34.2 million, Brazil with 21.74 million, the UK with 8.81 million and Russia with 8.28 million.
 

Published : October 26, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40007984

Officials from Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) on Monday visited Suvarnabhumi Airport to check its Covid-19 preventive measures before the province will reopen to vaccinated foreign visitors from November 1 onward.

Bangkok will join other 14 provinces in the pilot phase of reopening Thailand to foreign tourists. Under the plan, visitors travelling by air from countries have that a low level of Covid-19 infections will not have to quarantine, but they must prove they have received both jabs of an approved Covid-19 vaccine as well as produce a negative RT-PCR test result taken no more than 72 hours before flying.

BMA checks Suvarnabhumi’s readiness before reopening

The group, led by deputy governor Pol Lt-General Sophon Phisutthiwong and representatives from Tourism Authority of Thailand, Tourist Police Bureau and related agencies, witnessed the demonstration of Thailand Pass QR Code checkpoints at Concourse C Building, before visited the areas where foreign passengers will meet with staff from alternative quarantine hotels to ensure the efficient and safe transportation of passengers at Gate 9 of the Passenger Terminal.

BMA checks Suvarnabhumi’s readiness before reopening

BMA checks Suvarnabhumi’s readiness before reopening

After inspecting several areas of Suvarnabhumi Airport, officials traveled to Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park Hotel in Khlong Toei district to check the hotel’s readiness in managing guest rooms, public areas, pools, spas and restaurants under Safety & Health Administration Plus (SHA+) standard. The SHA+ standard also requires employees of the business to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 at least 70 per cent of the entire staff.

BMA checks Suvarnabhumi’s readiness before reopening

After the inspection, Sophon told the press that so far Bangkok has vaccinated over 74.9 per cent of its population at two doses, while the number of people who received the first jab has exceeded 100 per cent of the province’s population in the census record.

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Published : October 26, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40007961

The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Tuesday (October 26) that the high-pressure system from China covering upper Thailand is weakening, while the easterly and northeasterly winds prevail over upper Thailand, the South and the Gulf of Thailand. Less rain is forecast over upper part of the country with thundershowers in the South.

The department also mentioned that the active low-pressure cell over the middle South China Sea will likely intensify and make landfall over the lower Vietnam during October 27-28, while the tropical storm MALOU over the Pacific Ocean has no effect on Thailand’s weather.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours is as follows:

North: Partly cloudy with isolated light rain; temperature lows of 21-23 degrees and highs of 30-33 degrees Celsius. 

Northeast: Partly cloudy with isolated light rain; temperature lows of 17-21 degrees and highs of 29-32 degrees Celsius. 

Central: Partly cloudy with isolated light rain; temperature lows of 21-24 degrees, highs of 31-33 degrees Celsius.

East: Partly cloudy with isolated light rain; temperature lows of 22-24 degrees, highs of 30-33 degrees Celsius; waves less than a meter high and 1 meter during thundershowers.

South (east coast): Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees, highs of 31-34 degrees Celsius; waves less than a meter high and 1 meter during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 20-25 degrees, highs of 32-34 degrees Celsius; waves less than a meter high and 1 meter during thundershowers.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Partly cloudy with isolated light rain; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees, highs of 31-34 degrees Celsius.

Source: Thailand Meteorological Department

Published : October 26, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40007959

The Cabinet approved measures amounting to THB131.6 billion to guarantee income for rice farmers and parallel measures to help rice growers during production year 2021/2022, as proposed by the Commerce Ministry after a decision by the National Rice Policy Committee.

The budget is divided into income insurance to the tune of THB89.3 billion for about 4.6 million farmers and other measures worth THB42.3 billion.

Published : October 25, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40007958

Democrat Party spokesman Siripa Intavichein of the Extraordinary Committee for the Draft Prevention of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act recalled the violence in Narathiwat’s Tak Bai district on October 25, 2004, faulting government officials for the deaths in the incident that came because of “suppression” and after the protests “were severely crushed”.

“In addition to this horror, there are also villagers who have been psychologically affected,” she said on the 17th anniversary of the incident. This comes from a failure of law enforcement without restraint leading to violence, and has led to anger and a feeling of injustice by villagers in the area as well as the general public, Siripa said.

The committee will complete review of the law within the time frame because parliament will open on November 1, she said.

There should be legal improvements to meet international human rights principles to prevent such violence from happening again, Siripa said.

Therefore, it should be expedited to rigorously create guarantees for safety of life in order to bring back people’s trust in the state, she added.

Published : October 25, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40007957

The Pollution Control Department said the PM2.5 dust situation is presently at the standard level of 5-27 mcg/cu across Thailand.

The department said that until the end of October, the overall situation is expected to be “good” due to a general air buoyancy ceiling and increasing wind speed. Also, there will be a northeasterly wind that will help better airflow.

However, until October 26, there is still a chance of calm weather and dust accumulation during the night to early morning, leading to higher PM2.5 dust levels, the department said.

Director-general Atthaphon Charoenchansa expects that a high-pressure system from China will spread to cover the north and the Northeast from late October until early December.

From then until January 2022, the system will spread southwards, gaining in strength. When the high pressure weakens or begins to recede, it will result in weak wind and calm weather, he said.

“There is a chance that dust will accumulate in the area, especially during January and February,” Atthaphon added, warning that the dust level may exceed health standards.

Published : October 25, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40007956

Some 94 per cent of Thais are still concerned about the Covid-19 situation once the country reopens from November 1, according to a survey conducted by the Department of Health from October 14 to 20.

The survey showed only 28 per cent are confident in disease control measures and the prevention of further infections.

Meanwhile, 72 per cent said the measures should be increased or intensified to ensure health safety. This includes accelerating vaccinations for everyone across the country to meet the criteria of covering 70 per cent of the population in each province.

Some 60 per cent of the respondents said they would like to see tighter controls on illegal entry along the border, and 55 per cent said they would favour strict monitoring and compliance with Covid-19 preventive measures at workplaces and for the general public.

There was no mention of how many people took part in the survey.

Published : October 25, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40007953

The Foreign Affairs Ministry issued a letter to the rector of Thammasat University (TU) on Friday, refusing the university’s request to coordinate with Polish government agencies in the delivery of Moderna Covid-19 vaccines to Thailand.

The ministry said that it is not a state-to-state donation and suggested the university discuss the matter of imports with the Public Health Ministry and the vaccine manufacturer.

Earlier, Thonburi Healthcare Group (THG) chairman Boon Vanasin had revealed that Poland would donate 3 million Moderna doses to Thammasat Chaloem Phrakiat Hospital, which would be delivered by the end of October.

The announcement by the THG chairman led to the TU sending a letter to the Foreign Affairs Ministry proposing the request for the ministry to facilitate vaccination checks and coordinate with Polish government agencies to deliver such vaccines to Thailand.

On Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent an urgent letter to the rector of TU stating that the ministry is not in a position to cooperate with the vaccine delivery. As the donation was not communicated through official diplomatic channels, therefore, the university is to cooperate directly with the donating organisation in Poland.

The letter suggested that TU should discuss the matter with the Public Health Ministry which is responsible for the importation of the Covid-19 vaccines, including the indemnity. It was also written in the letter that the university is to receive approval from the Moderna vaccine manufacturer to prevent complaints from any party.

Related news:

• Hospitals to receive 760,000 Moderna doses in Nov, Dec
• Statement from Zuellig Pharma Updates on the first shipment of COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna to Thailand
• No refund for Moderna reservation, say private hospitals

Published : October 25, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40007949

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is planning to ask the Cabinet to approve a budget of around Bt100 million to hire celebrities to grace the New Year Countdown 2022 event, Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Monday.

“Among those who will be invited are Lalisa “Lisa” Manoban, the only Thai member of K-pop band BlackPink, and world class opera singer Andrea Bocelli,” said Anutin, who is also the Public Health Minister.

“Details are yet to be discussed with Tourism Minister [Pipat Ratchakitprakarn], but the government will try to use the budget as efficiently and as transparently as possible.”

Earlier this month, Federation of Thai Industries president Suphan Mongkolsutee had suggested that Thailand should cash in on the soft power of stars like Lalisa to promote tourism, after her first solo single won a record-breaking 73.6 million views in 24 hours when it was released on YouTube on September 10.

In a separate topic, Anutin said the Public Health Ministry had increased the number of vaccines provided to Southern provinces in the past two weeks, especially those that reported high infections, such as Nakhon Si Thammarat.

“As more people in the South have been vaccinated, from this week we should see a declining number of daily infections and deaths,” he added.

As of October 23, precisely 39.8 million people, or 55.4 per cent of the Thai population, have been given one dose of Covid-19 vaccine, while 28.2 million, or 39.3 per cent, have been fully jabbed. Meanwhile, 2.9 per cent, or 2.12 million people, have received a third dose as a booster shot to increase their immunity.

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Govt Facebook page says sorry to pop star Lisa after posting controversial cartoon

Published : October 25, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40007948

Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said on Monday that his ministry is ready to investigate the case of filthy, used medical gloves reportedly being made to look like new before being exported from Thailand to the US and other countries.

He vowed the Commerce Ministry would take legal action against companies that are found guilty.

The move came after a CNN investigation report published on Sunday stated that “tens of millions of counterfeit and second-hand nitrile gloves have been imported into the US”, citing import records and distributors who bought the gloves.

The news agency said there were many warehouses in Thailand that made used gloves look new for resale abroad in a bid to cash in on the demand for medical-grade nitrile gloves, sales of which exploded with the coronavirus pandemic.

“They’re boxing up millions of these substandard gloves for export to the United States and countries around the world amid a global shortage that will take years to ease,” the report said.

Related stories:

• PWO resolves to fire 3 officials in rubber gloves case
• Charges filed against 3 PWO officials over alleged unlawful purchase of gloves
• Thai rubber glove makers target 20% share of global market

CNN added that in February and March this year a US company warned two federal agencies – the Customs and Border Protection and the Food and Drug Administration – that it had received shipments filled with substandard and visibly soiled gloves from a company in Thailand.

Published : October 25, 2021

By : THE NATION