Phuket announced on Tuesday that all entrances to the island, including the Tha Chat Chai checkpoint, will be open to fully vaccinated people from October onwards.
As for those who have contracted the virus before, they must provide a certificate showing they tested negative in an RT-PCR test or at least an antigen test. The certificate can be no more than seven days old. These certificates will be required at all entrance points.
From the start of 2020 to August 2021, people in Thailand have bought 39.86 million Covid-19 insurance policies, paying premiums totalling 11.25 billion baht, the Office of Insurance Commission (OIC) said on Tuesday.
Dr Suthiphon Thaveechaiyagarn, OIC secretary-general, said Covid-19 insurance claims between April and August rose exponentially, especially in August when the local Covid-19 infection rate had surged.
Insurance companies paid 308.96 million baht as compensation in April, 1.14 billion baht in May, 2.05 billion baht in July and 9.42 billion baht in August, he explained.
“Even though Covid-19 insurance claims are likely to rise, there is no risk in the insurance system as premiums paid between March 2020 and June 2021 stood at more than 1.1 trillion baht, of which 794.50 billion baht accounted for life insurance and 340.23 baht for non-life insurance,” he said.
He said OIC will oversee insurance companies to ensure none of them face liquidity problems and will launch short- and long-term measures to protect insurers.
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People can call the 1186 OIC hotline for more information.
The Department of Land Transport is preparing to launch regulations enabling people to register their personal cars for commercial use.
This move is in line with the Cabinet’s approval on May 25 of draft ministerial regulations to allow people to register their personal cars with a maximum capacity of seven passengers for commercial use.
Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob said on Tuesday that these regulations would help increase people’s income.
He also confirmed that the preparation would be completed this month and registration would hit the road from October.
He added that the Department of Land Transport is expected to launch five regulations:
1. Service fare: fares will be based on distance, time and other charges, such as during rush hour or at night.
2. Application approval: application service providers must be reliable and ready to operate the business. In addition, applicants must pass qualifications, such as having a system to identify drivers, routes and fares.
3. Logo: personal cars must sport a logo to prove that they have been registered for commercial use.
4. Engine power measurement: car engines or electric car drivetrains must be measured in line with certain standards.
5. Registration methods: drivers must have a driving licence, pass a criminal background check and have additional insurance to protect passengers.
Phuket deputy governor Anuphab Rodkwan-Yodrabam on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) to launch a campaign to reduce plastic waste in the province.
“The programme involves collaboration among the province, the Phuket Environmental Foundation and GIZ, a German agency focusing on international development cooperation,” Anuphab said.
“The pilot phase will see 15 restaurants under the ‘Take Pinto’ initiative making use of tiffin carriers [‘pinto’ in Thai], or stacked lunchboxes as containers for their meals instead of plastic packaging,” he said.
“We hope more restaurants in Phuket will join this initiative before we expand it to other provinces,” Anuphab said.
According to the Phuket Environmental Foundation, the province produced up to 970 tonnes of household waste per day before Covid-19 emerged. Now, during the pandemic, the province produces up to 830 tonnes of waste daily, which is an exceptionally high amount for a small island.
The foundation has been working with five municipal offices in the province since November 2020 to manage the amount of household waste by reducing its major source, which is plastic packaging.
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This year the foundation received support from the European Union and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, which has led to the collaboration with GIZ.
GIZ director Alvaro Zurita said the MoU with Phuket will promote and support sustainable consumption in the province and will become a vital factor in the reduction of marine waste, which is an environmental challenge at the national, regional and global levels.
Rayong’s Suan Son Beach is bustling with fishermen catching krill, much to the excitement of tourists. Krill (Euphausiacea) has doubled in price from 2020 as its popularity increases. It is used to cook various types of delicious dishes, including high-quality shrimp paste.
On Tuesday at Suan Son Beach in Mueang Rayong’s Phe subdistrict, both professional and novice fishermen were seen gathering for a “krill siege” along the coast and even far out to sea.
Some fishermen happily brought along their friends and families to help catch the small crustaceans for cooking and making shrimp paste. Others hired a large group of workers with large nets to catch the small shrimp, bringing in more than 100 kilograms per catch. Meanwhile, excited tourists along the seaside captured the events.
Krill are classified as invertebrate small shrimp with no sharp scallops on the head. The body is clear white with black eyes and is approximately 1.5 centimetres long, with a thin, soft shell.
The creatures usually live in flocks near the sea surface and can be found in shin- or chest-deep water along the seashore or in mangrove forest canals.
Rayong beach comes alive with krill fishingRayong beach comes alive with krill fishing
Suan Son fishermen told reporters that the krill season had arrived later than usual this year due to the monsoon. The season normally comes once a year – in August.
The price of krill has doubled to THB60-65 per kilogram.
Locals say shrimp paste made from krill is high quality, possess a good smell and can be stored for a long time.
Besides being used to make shrimp paste, the little crustaceans can also be used to make krill cakes, deep fried with batter, sautéed with salt, or for delectable omelettes.
A meeting of attorney committees at the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) on Tuesday approved the appointment of a special committee to investigate alleged severe disciplinary violations by former deputy attorney-general Nate Naksuk, a news source revealed.
The committees voted 9-0 to launch the investigation against Nate for dropping the final charge of reckless driving against Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya in a 2012 fatal hit-and-run case that killed a motorcycle policeman.
The case made nationwide headlines as Vorayuth is a Red Bull scion and heir to one of Thailand’s richest families. Many including Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha suspected possible corruption among state officials involved in the case, and Prayut ordered an independent inquiry in 2020 led by Vicha Mahakun, a legal expert and former NCAA commissioner.
The case resumed in September 2020 with Vorayuth indicted on two charges – reckless driving causing death and cocaine use.
The committees on Tuesday agreed that Nate allegedly committed severe disciplinary violations by not exercising caution and being “reckless” in handling the case. He faces a maximum punishment of being fired from the service.
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The meeting appointed Thanaphit Moonphreug, former director-general of the Special Litigation Department, to chair the investigation committee.
Thanaphit will appoint two directors and one secretary to join the disciplinary panel.
The panel has been given 60 days to investigate the case with a chance to extend the deadline up to three times.
About 70 per cent of teachers nationwide have already been vaccinated against Covid-19, while 200,000-400,000 have yet to be inoculated, the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) revealed on Wednesday.
“The office estimates that all teachers could be inoculated before schools reopen on November 1,” said OBEC secretary-general Amphon Phinasa.
“Not all students will be forced to go to school on the reopening date. If parents are concerned about their children’s safety they can still continue the learn-from-home measure,” he said.
“Furthermore, schools in red zone provinces may consider opening every other day to reduce the risk of the virus spreading, as well as consider implementing other disease control measures as suggested by the provincial public health office,” Amphon said.
He added that the Public Health Ministry has informed OBEC that more Pfizer vaccines, which have been approved for children aged over 12 in Thailand, will arrive in late September and that it aims to vaccinate students in risky areas from October 4.
Meanwhile, Department of Health deputy director-general Dr Sarawut Boonsuk said some countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and a handful of European nations have approved the use of mRNA vaccines in children aged over 12.
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“Statistics from these countries show that those aged 12-19 have only a 10 per cent chance of contracting the virus compared to adults,” Sarawut said.
“The chance of developing severe symptoms or death among children is only 0.03 per cent, but severe cases have been found among children with underlying health problems.”
Sarawut said the Pfizer vaccine was reported to cause myocarditis, but this was at a very low rate and was therefore safe.
“Statistics show that myocarditis caused by the vaccine was found more often in male patients who receive second doses,” he said.
“In Thailand such cases have been found at a ratio of one in a million, in which the patients have displayed non-severe symptoms that are treatable,” he added.
Ministry of Public Health reported on Wednesday (September 22) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 11,252 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 28 of whom have been found in prisons.
Death toll increased by 141, while 13,695 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.
Cumulative cases in the country are at 1,511,357 with 15,753 total deaths.
Thundershowers are likely over the country with isolated heavy rains in the North, the Northeast, the Central region, including Bangkok and its vicinity, and the South’s west coast as a monsoon trough lies over these areas while the southwest monsoon prevails over the Andaman Sea, the South and the Gulf of Thailand, the Meteorological Department said on Wednesday.
It warned people in risky areas to beware of rain water accumulation that may cause overflows and flash floods.
The department also advised all ships to proceed with caution and keep away from areas with thundershowers as waves in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand are about 1-2 metres high and over 2 metres during heavy rain.
Here’s the weather forecast for the next 24 hours:
Bangkok and surrounding areas: Thundershowers in 80 per cent of the area with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 24-25 degrees, highs of 32-34 degrees Celsius.
North: Thundershowers in 70 per cent of the area with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 22-24 degrees and highs of 31-34 degrees Celsius.
Northeast: Thundershowers in 70 per cent of the area with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees and highs of 30-33 degrees Celsius.
Central: Thundershowers in 80 per cent of the area with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees, highs of 30-34 degrees Celsius.
East: Thundershowers in 80 per cent of the area with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees, highs of 30-33 degrees Celsius; waves 2 metres high and over 2 metres during thundershowers.
South (east coast): Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 23-24 degrees, highs of 31-34 degrees Celsius; waves 1-2 metres high and 2 metres during thundershowers.
South (west coast): Thundershowers in 80 per cent of the area with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 19-25 degrees, highs of 27-32 degrees Celsius; waves 1-2 metres high and over 2 metres during thundershowers.
The Port Authority of Thailand has announced that no services will be provided on Friday (September 24) because it has been declared a public holiday in honour of Prince Mahidol.
The passing of Prince Mahidol, who is considered the father of modern medicine and public health in Thailand, is marked annually by the country’s medical community. However, this year Mahidol Day has been declared a public holiday for all residents.
Shipping firms, agents or cargo owners wishing to load, unload and transport goods or containers between 8.30am on Friday and 8.30am on Monday (September 27) are required to file a special request by 2pm on Thursday.
Once the request has been filed, port officials will arrange staff and equipment to provide services, otherwise, work at the Bangkok Port will come to a halt during that period.
Rayong beach comes alive with krill fishing
Rayong beach comes alive with krill fishing
Rayong beach comes alive with krill fishing
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