#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40006271

No nod yet from Public Health Ministry on reopening Bangkok to foreign tourists

The Public Health Ministry has yet to greenlight the move to scrap quarantine requirement for foreign visitors even as the proposed date for the reopening of Bangkok looms.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration have planned to accept foreign tourists without quarantine from October 15 to revive tourism in the capital.

However, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Thursday that he had yet to receive the proposal to remove quarantine requirement in Bangkok, adding that the Department of Disease Control (DDC) must first evaluate the outbreak situation in the countries where the tourists are from before such a move could be approved.

“The reopening of Bangkok also depends on the decision of the province’s communicable disease committee, as Bangkok has been managing its own public health system,” he said.

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When asked about the fact that some public health experts have suggested the reopening of the country be postponed for another month from the original October 1 announced by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha on June 16, Anutin said: “No one has said that we will reopen on the said date.”

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Anutin also added that the ministry had yet to decide if more lockdown measures would be eased after October 1, as the decision awaits the DDC’s evaluation of the outbreak situation.

Published : September 17, 2021

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40006269

Thailands Food and Drug Administration Expands Authorisation of COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna for Use in Adolescents 12 to 17 years old

Thailand, 16 September 2021 – ZP Therapeutics, a division of Zuellig Pharma, a leading healthcare services provider in Asia, today announced that Thailand Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the authorisation of the COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna for use in adolescents aged 12 to 17 years old. The vaccination regimen is the same as that for adults – two doses of the vaccine to be administered 28 days apart.

“The approval of COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna for use in adolescents expands the vaccine arsenal that Thailand has to combat the pandemic. We are grateful that the Food and Drug Administration has authorised the use of the COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna for adolescents so that they can be offered protection against the coronavirus, especially in light of the highly contagious Delta variant.

We are working tirelessly to support Thailand’s mass vaccination efforts. The more people we help to get vaccinated against the virus, the quicker we will reach herd immunity, and the faster we will be able to transition towards normalcy. We are very proud to have a role to play in this process,” said Ms. Sunaiyanaa Kidkasetpaisal, General Manager, ZP Therapeutics, Zuellig Pharma Thailand.

In May, Moderna announced that the Phase 2/3 TeenCOVE study of COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna in adolescents met its primary immunogenicity endpoint, successfully bridging immune responses to the adult vaccination. Two-dose primary series of COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna showed 100% efficacy in protecting adolescents aged 12 to 17 from symptomatic infection.

The vaccine was generally well tolerated with a safety and tolerability profile generally consistent with the Phase 3 COVE study in adults. Safety data continues to accrue, and the study continues to be monitored by an independent safety monitoring committee. These data are subject to change based on ongoing data collection.

Published : September 17, 2021

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40006266

More groups to get annual flu jab as inoculation extended to year-end

The National Health Security Board (NHSB) has extended the government’s free flu-vaccination programme until the end of the year to compensate for disruption caused by Covid-19.

Only about 28 per cent of the target population has received the flu vaccine since this year’s programme launched on May 1, said the National Health Security Office (NHSO), which runs the programme.

A total of 6.2 million doses have been set aside this year, but only 1.7 million doses (28.05 per cent) had been administered as of August 6, said Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.

The NHSB, which is chaired by Anutin, also consulted with the Department of Disease Control and resolved that three groups at risk from Covid-19 should also get free flu jabs this year. The three groups are: healthcare workers and others handling Covid-19 patients, people living, working or studying in crowded areas, and other people at risk from flu when the situation changes.

The three groups of people will receive flu jabs from October until the end of December, joining the seven groups encouraged to get vaccinated since May 1.

The seven groups are women from week 16 of their pregnancy, children aged six months to two years, people with any of seven chronic diseases – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, cancer that requires chemotherapy, and diabetes, people aged 65 and over, cerebral palsy requiring full-time assistance, thalassemia and immunodeficiency (including HIV Infected and Aids-related illness), and people weighing more than 100 kilograms or with a body mass index (BMI) of 35kg/m2 or higher.

This year’s flu vaccination programme is aimed at both preventing severe illness or death from influenza and avoiding confusion in diagnoses of flu and Covid-19, said deputy NHSO secretary-general Dr Jakkrit Ngowsiri.

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The NHSO will next step up a public campaign to encourage these target groups to get the flu shot along with the Covid-19 vaccine. People can receive the flu jab before or after their Covid-19 vaccine but they must leave at least two weeks between the jabs.

People can also take the flu vaccine between their first and second shots of Covid-19 vaccine, Jakkrit said.

Free flu jabs are available at all state-run hospitals and healthcare facilities under the universal coverage scheme (UCS), but booking an appointment is highly recommended to avoid overcrowding, he said.

Many people are forgetting they need to get the flu shot as they are focused more on Covid-19 vaccination this year, said NHSB member Assoc Prof Dr Prasopsri Ungthaworn.

As a result, this year’s flu vaccination target has not yet been met, she said.

Now that the Covid-19 vaccination rate has improved significantly, with about half of the elderly population already fully vaccinated, many healthcare providers may now be more prepared for the extended flu vaccination programme, she said.

People who have received Covid-19 two shots and are eligible for the free flu jab are therefore encouraged to take it, she said.

They include front-line healthcare workers fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and people in crowded communities, including students returning to school for the upcoming term.

“We haven’t provided the flu shot to these additional groups before. But since the flu and Covid-19 appear to have similar early symptoms, it will become easier to tell which patients are likely to have Covid-19 if we can prevent them from contracting the flu,” she said.

People eligible for free flu jabs can book them individually or in groups at hospitals and medical clinics under the UCS, she said.

Priority is currently being given to school students because children aged under 12 are not yet eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine and will have to return to school soon for the new term, she said. These children should get the flu vaccine first so they are protected against the disease, she added.

Published : September 17, 2021

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40006258

Thailand recorded 14,555 Covid-19 cases and 171 deaths on Friday.

Ministry of Public Health reported on Friday (September 17) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 14,555 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 790 of whom have been found in prisons.

Death toll increased by 171, while 13,691 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country are at 1,448,792 with 15,124 total deaths.
 

Published : September 17, 2021

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40006256

Rains ease in most of Thailand but isolated heavy showers forecast for the North

The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Friday that the southwest monsoon prevailed over the Andaman Sea, the South and the Gulf of Thailand, while a monsoon trough lay across the North and the upper Northeast regions.

Less rains are likely over most of the country with isolated heavy showers in the North.

People in risky areas should beware of flash floods.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

North: Thundershowers in 70 per cent of the areas with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 23-24 degrees Celsius, highs of 30-33°C.

Northeast: Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 22-26°C, highs of 31-33°C.

Central: Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 24-25°C, highs of 32-35°C.

East: Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 23-26°C, highs of 32-34°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

South (east coast): Thundershowers in 30 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 23-25°C, highs of 32-35°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Thundershowers in 20 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 20-24°C, highs of 32-34°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 25-26°C, highs of 32-35°C.

Source: Thailand Meteorological Department

Published : September 17, 2021

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40006247

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

A government Facebook account on Covid-19 awareness has apologised to pop star Lalisa “Lisa” Manoban after posting a cartoon that fans criticised as creepy and sexist.

Amember of South Korean girl group Blackpink, Lisa delighted her fans in Thailand by releasing her first solo music video last Friday (September 10).

The Buri Ram native wears a spectacular traditional Thai headdress in the video, which has racked up more than 152 million views in less than a week on YouTube.

However, her social media fans were fuming on Wednesday after the government’s “Thai Roo Soo Covid” (Thais know how to deal with Covid-19) Facebook account posted a cartoon of their idol.

It depicted Lisa in her traditional Thai outfit, holding a sign that reads “I have the strictest Covid-19 preventive measure for you”. Next to her is an old man whose thought bubble reads “You are very cute, I like you”.

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Social media users were quick to complain that the cartoon encouraged sexual harassment.

The page administrator finally removed the post, explaining that the intention had been to promote preventive measures against Covid-19.

The page also apologised to Lisa and her family for any offence the cartoon had caused.

Published : September 16, 2021

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40006242

Country must reopen next month to kick-start economy: Anutin

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Thursday insisted that the plan to reopen five provinces including Bangkok on October 1 has been properly assessed and is not premature.

Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Phetchaburi, and Prachuap Khiri Khan are slated to reopen on October 1 with more provinces to follow two weeks later.

Anutin acknowledged medical concerns over the continuing high infection rate but said reopening the country was needed to get the economy moving forward.

The minister also urged people not to panic about the high number of Covid-19 infections, saying most new cases are asymptomatic and the numbers are falling. Thailand’s daily caseload has dipped below 15,000 this month.

Anutin said the ministry was conducting daily Emergency Operation Centre meetings to assess the situation under the guidance of the Department of Disease Control and the Department of Medical Affairs.

“From the perspective of medics, it may not be an appropriate time to open the country due to the high infection rate. But from the business side, it is very essential to resume the businesses in order to move the economy forward. The ministry is taking opinions from both sides into consideration,” said Anutin.

Meanwhile, antigen test kits were now being distributed to volunteers nationwide, he added.

Anutin also confirmed that the government will roll out booster jabs for people who have received two doses of Sinovac vaccine.

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Published : September 16, 2021

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40006240

Grieving Hungarian widow found to have overstayed since 2010 on Samui

Surat Thani immigration police have arrested a Hungarian woman after checks following her husband’s death revealed she had overstayed more than 10 years on the island.

Angelika Edina Balla reportedly admitted that she had entered Thailand on November 30, 2009 to travel before her visa expired in February, 2010.

After her visa expired, she moved with her husband to a beachside rental house in Bo Phut subdistrict and helped him run a business on the island.

However, when her husband died earlier this month, officials checked her passport and found she had been living in Thailand for 4,165 days since the date her visa expired. 

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Balla was arrested on Thursday and now faces a possible lifetime ban from the country she called home for more than a decade.

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She was initially charged with overstaying her visa, which is punishable with up to 2 years in jail and/or a Bt20,000 fine under the Immigration Act.

According to immigration law, anyone who overstays their visa for more than 90 days is barred from re-entering the Kingdom for one year. The blacklist extends to a lifetime if the overstay period exceeds 10 years.

Published : September 16, 2021

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40006235

Something’s brewing inside this Chonburi bus

A college student in Chonburi decided to put her father’s unused tour bus to good use and earn some cash for her family as well.

On Wednesday, a Nation Thailand reporter chanced upon a Chonburi-Pluak Daeng bus parked near the entrance of Wat Pa Thammachart’s meditation centre in Chonburi’s Ban Bung district.

The bus sported a banner reading “This is a shop”.

The reporter saw people walking in and out of the bus and decided to check it out. Inside, the bus had been renovated into a coffee shop selling drinks and snacks. The makeshift coffee shop also offered free wi-fi to customers.

Something’s brewing inside this Chonburi busSomething’s brewing inside this Chonburi bus

Thitima Imsa-ard, 16, told the reporter that her dad had lent her the bus because bus services in the district had been suspended due to Covid-19.

So, she talked her dad into removing the seats inside and help her turn it into a makeshift coffeeshop. Thitima said her novel coffeeshop is attracting a lot more customers than an ordinary one would have.

“People stop by all day to pick up drinks and snacks, and this income is helping our family during the pandemic. Once bus services are allowed, the seats will be reinstalled and the bus will start picking up passengers,” she said.

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Published : September 16, 2021

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40006233

Court grants THB5,000 to Bangkokians affected by lack of BTS lifts

The Administrative Court on Wednesday ordered the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to pay 5,000 baht in compensation to each disabled person affected by the lack of lifts at some BTS stations.

In 2011, a group of disabled persons filed a lawsuit against the BMA for not providing lifts at 23 Skytrain stations. The BMA was ordered to install the lifts and have them ready for use within a year.

However, the installation was not completed in time.

Then in 2014, another group of 429 disabled persons sued the BMA for being late with the installation. They also demanded a compensation of 14 million baht each.

The Administrative Court finally issued a verdict on this case on Wednesday saying the plaintiffs will be given a compensation of 5,000 baht each plus 7.5 per cent interest per year. This will only apply to people whose national ID was issued in Bangkok.

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Published : September 16, 2021