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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40007665

Thailand should reopen on December 15, so the momentum between protecting public health and reviving the economy can be maintained, Dr Chalermchai Boonyaleephan, vice chairman of the Public Health Commission, said on Monday.

In a post on the Blockdit platform, he said every country should strike a balance between the economy and public health, and one key criterion in doing this is to ensure that at least 70 per cent of the population has been vaccinated.

“To reach that point, we need to speed up the vaccine rollout to ensure 70 per cent of the population is double jabbed by November 30,” he said.

“After that, it will take another 14 days before immunity kicks in, so Thailand should be ready to reopen on December 15.”

He added that everyone’s opinion on when Thailand should reopen is different because the impact on each individual is different.

Related stories:

• Molnupiravir will turn Covid-19 into an ordinary complaint: top virologist
• Thailand recorded 10,111 Covid-19 cases and 63 deaths on Monday.
• Most Thais against plan to reopen country on Nov 1

As of Monday, Thailand’s total caseload from Covid-19 stood at 1,793,812 – 1,668,250 of whom have recovered, 107,226 are still in hospitals and 18,336 have died.

Separately, another 238,015 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 217,372 their second shot and 19,666 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 65,677,794.

Published : October 18, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40007664

In an online post on Monday, Dr Chalermchai Boonyaleephan said more than 200 countries have been affected by Covid-19 since it emerged in December 2019.

“And more than half or 110 of these countries have administered inactivated vaccines to their people,” vice-chairman of the Public Health Commission added. “So far, more than 7 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered and roughly half or 3.4 billion have been inactivated vaccines like Sinovac and Sinopharm.”

Chalermchai said that though these inactivated vaccines are believed to be less effective than the mRNA types like Pfizer and Moderna or the viral-vector types like AstraZeneca, they tend to produce fewer side effects and are therefore safer.

“The inactivated technology has been used for decades to produce vaccines against influenza, polio and hepatitis,” he said.

“Studies have shown that the neutralising antibody [NAb] generated by an inactivated Covid-19 vaccine rises slower and falls quicker than that of other types of vaccine,” he added. “However, NAb is just one way of measuring the immune system’s efficiency. Inactivated vaccines have proven that they can stimulate recipients’ immunity in B-cell and T-cell at the same level as other types of vaccines. This means that inactivated vaccines are just as effective as other vaccines in protecting against mutated variants of the virus.

“Furthermore, when looking at the outbreak situation in each country, it is evident that the number of infections in countries that have provided inactivated vaccines is at about the same level as in countries that have provided other vaccines,” Chalermchai added.

Data shows that the most administered Covid-19 vaccine is Sinovac at 1.8 billion doses, followed by Pfizer and Sinopharm at 1.6 billion doses, AstraZeneca at 1.5 billion doses, and Moderna at 400 million doses. Countries that have administered the highest number of inactivated vaccines are Indonesia at 200 million doses, Brazil at 100 million doses, Pakistan at 70 million doses and Turkey at 60 million doses. Thailand has administered more than 21 million Sinovac doses and over 29 million Sinopharm jabs.

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Published : October 18, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40007663

A team of city officials as well representatives from the Department of Public Works checked in on two ongoing tunnel projects in Bangkok’s Phra Nakhon district on Monday morning.

The team found that the tunnel under Na Phra Lan Road is 40 per cent complete and should be ready by March next year, while the one under Maha Rat Road is 42 per cent complete and should be ready by December.

Executives from the public works department had visited the construction sites earlier and told contractors to meet the deadline. The contractors were also told to follow all Covid-19 prevention measures, monitor workers’ camps, check workers’ vaccination history and put in place strict screening systems.

These tunnels will help ease the traffic in and around Bangkok’s Rattanakosin area and make crossing the road easier for people on foot. The construction of these tunnels is also part of the city’s conservation and restoration plans.

Tunnels under Bangkok’s Rattanakosin Island making good progress

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Tunnels under Bangkok’s Rattanakosin Island making good progress

Tunnels under Bangkok’s Rattanakosin Island making good progressTunnels under Bangkok’s Rattanakosin Island making good progress

Published : October 18, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40007662

A stray baby banteng was spotted at Uthai Thani’s Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary on Sunday morning and taken to a mosquito-net-covered shed for protection.

As soon as the calf was spotted on CCTV standing alone in the rain near the Thung Faek area, the chief of the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Breeding Station and his team rushed to rescue it. The two- or three-week-old male calf was in a weak condition and had skin problems in his hindquarters and the belly.

The calf was taken to the breeding station for its safety while rangers continue looking for its mother.

Realated news:

• Kaeng Krachan rangers: Guardians of perfectly tusked Plai Boonchuay
• Songkhla rangers foil poachers’ plans
• Rangers nab two armed men in Prachin Buri national park

Uthai Thani park officials rescue abandoned baby banteng

Published : October 18, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40007661

The prime minister on Sunday ordered relevant agencies to crack down on hackers after an inexplicable transaction showed up in many credit and debit cardholders’ accounts over the weekend.

Deputy police spokesman Pol Colonel Kritsana Pattanacharoen said people should be aware of all transactions because small amounts may be deducted from their accounts by unknown sources.

He said people often complain on social media about their accounts or personal information being hacked.

Some people have also complained their small deductions were made from their debit cards by EDC machines, but not confirmed via an SMS from the bank.

National Police chief Pol General Suwat Jangyodsuk reiterated the PM’s order and urged all related agencies to investigate, arrest and eliminate online threats.

He also advised victims to advise their banks to freeze their cards, refuse online payments and check their statements. He also urged them to collect related information and file police complaints.

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According to the Criminal Code’s Article 269/5, anybody who uses the electronic card of another person wrongly or in a manner that is detrimental to another person or people shall be imprisoned for a maximum of five years and/or hit with a hefty fine.

Kritsana added that the Thai Bankers’ Association is coordinating with banks to investigate this incident. The Royal Thai Police has also said it will cooperate to proceed with legal action.

The deputy spokesman advised people to avoid unreliable online transactions as websites do not just ask for the credit card number but also the confidential CVV number. He also advised against clicking on suspicious links sent via email, SMS or social media, citing a fake Thailand Post link that sought people’s credit card number to purportedly pay tax.

Victims of fake financial transactions can call 191 or 1599 hotlines any time of the day or night.

Published : October 18, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40007656

The Thai Health Promotion Foundation (THPF) and the National Health Security Office (NHSO) have launched “Persona Health” – a mobile phone application that can give people immediate solutions to small health complaints.

The application aims to reach more than 48 million people, NHSO secretary-general Jaded Thammathataree said.

The app, created in cooperation with the Digital Economy and Society Ministry, was launched on Sunday and gives users access to a repository of health-related information.

Users can access the information based on gender, age, health issues, chronic disease, food intake and exercise levels.

Jaded said the application is aimed at more than 48 million NHSO beneficiaries or gold cardholders.

“The Persona Health application will provide health information based on the user’s profile. Having this application on the mobile phone is like having a medic at hand 24 hours a day,” Jaded said.

Related news:

• Department launches scrumptious international project promoting health benefits of Thai food
• Mor Prom app confirmed as Digital Health Pass for Thai air travel
• Thailand and Germany announce the success on improving safety standard for healthcare personnel in Thailand

New app launched to help people solve immediate health problems

Published : October 18, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40007653

The Pharmaceutical Association of Thailand and other related agencies on Sunday voiced opposition to the government’s plan to make e-cigarettes legal.

In a statement, the agencies pointed out that smoke from e-cigarettes contains up to 56 chemicals, 29 of which exceed safety levels.

“Also, some chemicals produced by an e-cigarette are not found in ordinary tobacco cigarettes and may affect people’s health. This will increase the country’s public health burden,” the statement said.

It also pointed out that e-cigarettes are not the only alternative to quitting smoking, smokers who want to quit can also rely on medical treatment, over-the-counter drugs and counselling.

“Research shows that e-cigarettes do not help people stop smoking, and can become another addiction,” the statement said.

Related stories:

• Cigarette tax rises from Oct 1
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• New cigarette tax set to drive up price by 6-8 baht per pack

Also, it said, advertising e-cigarettes may encourage youngsters to smoke and may even spread Covid-19 further.

“The Medical Association of Thailand and other related agencies had voiced opposition to an earlier plan to promote e-cigarettes as well,” the statement pointed out.

Published : October 18, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40007647

The Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) will sell antigen test kits (ATKs) for the new coronavirus at Bt40 each starting from October 18 at 8 of its branches, a news source revealed on Monday.

The supply is limited to only 2 million ATKs, which have been approved to use in Thailand by the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Eight branches of GPO that will sell the ATKs at special price are listed below:

1. Ratchathewi branch (head office), opposite Ramathibodi Hospital (Tel. 0-2203-8847, 0-2203-8849)
2. Yotse branch, next to Hua Chiew Hospital (Tel. 0-2222-5931, 0-2225-6367)
3. Jaran Sanitwong branch (Tel. 0-2412-9377)
4. Deves branch, opposite Bank of Thailand (Tel. 0-2282-0729)
5. Rangsit branch, near Si Mum Mueang Market (Tel. 0-2536-3526, 0-2536-4086)
6. Department of Medical Services branch (Tel. 0-2951-0925, 0-2590-6034)
7. Tropical Medicine branch, near Siam Commercial Bank (Tel. 0-2354-9061)
8. The Government Complex branch (Tel. 0-2143-8768)

“GPO is also planning to add online channel in the future to facilitate people who could not travel to these branches, as well as increase the supply if more people are interested,” said the source.

For more information, contact GPO hotline at 1648.
 

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Published : October 18, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40007646

Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives reported on Sunday that over 5.33 million rai of agricultural areas several regions of Thailand have been affected by floods from September 1 to October 15.

“5.33 million rai of plantation in 48 provinces have been affected by floods, while the total number of affected farmers is estimated at 463,615,” said the ministry’s Centre for Agricultural Disaster Mitigation. “Of these, 3.61 million rai is rice paddy, 1.67 million rai is crops fields, and 39,500 rai is fruit plantations and others. The ministry will provide an initial financial aid of Bt6,700 per affected household.”

Fishery businesses in 38 provinces have also been affected by the floods with total damaged areas of over 57,000 rai, affecting about 40,900 farmers. The ministry will provide an initial financial aid of Bt22,272 per affected household in this group.

5.33 million rai of agricultural areas affected by floods since Sept 1

Livestock businesses in 15 provinces have been affected by the floods covering the areas of 6,938 rai. Over 44,600 farmers who raise 6.74 million animals have been affected. Of these, 6.34 million are poultry, about 195,000 are pigs, 150,000 cattle, and 51,300 goats and sheep. The department is still working on damage estimation and compensation.

Meanwhile, Royal Irrigation Department reported on Sunday (October 17) that flood situation in twenty provinces has yet to subside. These provinces are Nakhon Ratchasima, Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Kalasin, Maha Sarakham, Ubon Ratchathani, Lopburi, Saraburi, Ayutthaya, Singburi, Ang Thong, Phitsanulok, Phichit, Chai Nat, Suphan Buri, Uthai Thani, Roi Et, Trat, Chanthaburi and Prachinburi.
 

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Bangkok issues Oct 1-5 flood alert for riverside residents

Heavy rain will flood Chao Phraya Basin, especially lowland areas in Ayutthaya

Bangkok, Navy work together to prevent flood

Published : October 18, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40007639

Ministry of Public Health reported on Monday (October 18) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 10,111 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 41 of whom have been found in prisons.

Death toll increased by 63, while 10,612 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country are at 1,793,812 with 18,336 total deaths.
 

Published : October 18, 2021

By : THE NATION