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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004648

Two Kanchanaburi nurses infected after stint in Bangkok

Two nurses from Kanchanaburi province were infected with Covid-19 after working in Bangkok, the Rural Doctors Society posted on Facebook on Friday.

Medics from the countryside have helped treat over 150,000 people and found 15,000 new cases in Bangkok.

Both nurses were from the Dan Makham Tia Hospital in Kanchanaburi and were a part of the third batch sent to Bangkok on deputation.

About 400 medics were tested for Covid-19 after they returned to their original workplace.

One of them thought that she had got infected on August 8 after she helped an old lady who came to test for Covid-19. The old lady reportedly collapsed and the nurse helped her without wearing a PPE suit. The old lady was later found to be infected.

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The nurse went back to her room on Wednesday and tested positive on Thursday, while another nurse who shared the room also tested positive.

They had been inoculated with two doses of the Sinovac vaccine before they went to Bangkok, but had not received a booster dose.

The nurses said that they were saddened by the development, as they could not work for 14 days.

Meanwhile, one of the medics in the second batch from Nan province was also found to be infected.

Published : August 14, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004647

Thailand staring at 70,000 Covid cases a day unless lockdown extended

Daily infections could reach 70,000 unless strict lockdown measures are employed in late August, Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman of the governments Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, warned on Friday.

Taweesilp cited the Ministry of Public Health’s estimate that daily infections in late August to early September could be around 60,000 to 70,000 patients per day after the current lockdown measures end. However, if the lockdown measures were extended to September, daily infections would be at around 45,000 patients per day, which would still be high.

“If we were to maintain daily infections at the current rate of around 20,000 patients per day, strict lockdown measures must be employed for at least two months coupled with vaccinating elderly people and other target groups in wider areas,” said Taweesilp.

“This is the best-case scenario for our public health system. At this infection rate, we will still have adequate hospital beds while the mortality rate will be at a controllable level.

“Lastly, I urge everyone to stay at home as much as you can and follow disease control measures to limit the spread of the virus and make the lockdown as effective as possible,” said Taweesilp.

Published : August 14, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004646

Court to hear case against Prayut for alleged mismanagement of Covid crisis

The Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases on Friday accepted a lawsuit filed by Thai Sang Thai Party and the Lawyers Association of Thailand against Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha for alleged failure in managing the Covid-19 situation.

The lawsuit accuses the PM of damaging the country’s economy and overwhelming the public health system.

The court has scheduled a hearing on August 30.

“The Prayut government’s negligence and ineffective handling of the Covid-19 situation has resulted in four waves of outbreak throughout the country with over 800,000 accumulated patients and over 6,000 deaths,” said Narinphong Jinaphak, president of the lawyers association.

“The rising number of infections has exceeded the capacity of the public health system as can be seen from the many people who have died on the streets or in their homes while waiting to be treated at hospitals.

“We decided to sue Prime Minister Prayut, as he is the head of government and the one who announced the state of emergency,” added Narinphong.

“Prayut’s action could be a violation of Section 47 third paragraph and Section 55 of the Constitution, as well as Section 157 of the Criminal Code, he added.

The third paragraph of Section 47 of the Constitution stipulates that a person shall have the right to the protection and eradication of harmful contagious diseases by the State free of charge as provided by law.

Section 55 stipulates that the state shall ensure the people receive efficient public health services universally, ensure that the public has the basic knowledge in relation to health promotion and disease prevention, and shall promote and support the development of wisdom on Thai traditional medicine to maximise its benefits.

Section 157 of the criminal code stipulates that whoever, being an official, wrongfully exercises or does not exercise any of his functions to the injury of any person, or dishonestly exercises or omits to exercise any of his functions, shall be punished with imprisonment of one to 10 years or a fine of THB2,000 to THB20,000, or both.

Narinphong added that Thai Sang Thai Party’s public campaign to sue the government had attracted around 700,000 signatures from members of the public, which he has also submitted to the court as supporting evidence.

Published : August 14, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004632

Thundershowers forecast for all regions, isolated heavy rains in some areas

The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Saturday that the southwest monsoon prevails over the Andaman Sea, Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand, while a low-pressure area covers upper Vietnam. Meanwhile, the easterly winds blow across the South China Sea and the lower Gulf of Thailand.

Thundershowers are forecast for all regions with isolated heavy rains in some areas.

Waves 1-2 metres high and more than two metres high during thundershowers are expected in the Andaman Sea and upper Gulf of Thailand.

All ships should proceed with caution during thundershowers, the department said.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

North: Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 24-26 degrees Celsius, highs of 30-36°C.

Northeast: Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 23-26°C, highs of 31-35°C.

Central: Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 24-26°C, highs of 33-37°C.

East: Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 24-28°C, highs of 30-35°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

South (east coast): Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 24-25°C, highs of 32-34°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 21-25°C, highs of 29-33°C; waves 1-2 metres high and over two metres during thundershowers.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 26-27°C, highs of 33-36°C.

Source: Thailand Meteorological Department

Published : August 14, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004631

Thailand recorded 22,086 Covid-19 cases and 217 deaths on Saturday.

Ministry of Public Health reported on Saturday (August 14) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 22,086 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 270 of whom have been found in prisons.

Death toll increased by 217, while 23,672 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country are at 885,275 with 7,343 total deaths.

Published : August 14, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004628

Retailers profiteering from rapid test kits face jail, warns Commerce Ministry

The Commerce Ministry says it is working to set a standard price for Covid-19 rapid antigen test kits (ATKs) to prevent retailers cashing in on high demand.

The ministry’s Price of Goods and Services Committee will perform a market survey to compare prices in shops against the manufacturers’ recommended retail prices,” said ministry permanent-secretary Boonyarit Kalayanamit, who also chairs the committee.

“We will post the suitable standard price of ATKs on the Department of Internal Trade’s website as soon as possible,” he said on Friday.

Boonyarit explained that 34 brands of ATK have so far registered with the Public Health Ministry to sell their products in Thailand. However, only 10 manufacturers have submitted information on costs and recommended retail price with the Department of Internal Trade.

The submitted retail prices range from 250 to 350 baht, Boonyarit said.

“If you find any retailers selling at a higher price, contact the Department of Internal Trade hotline at 1569,” he said, warning that retailers who inflate prices face 7 years in prison and/or a 140,000-baht fine.

Friday’s meeting of the Price of Goods and Services Committee reported that 10 online retailers were arrested for selling Fah Talai Jone (Andrographis paniculata) at 345 baht to 450 baht per bottle of 60 tablets – well above the Department of Internal Trade’s suggested price of 80 baht. Meanwhile, the owner of a Bangkok pharmacy was arrested for selling ATKs at 450 baht apiece – 100 baht higher than the manufacturer’s recommended price of 350 baht.

Published : August 13, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004626

Pilot plant to make tobacco-based vaccine launched in Bangkok

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Friday inspected a pilot production facility for a plant-based Covid-19 vaccine at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.

The plant-based vaccine project is a collaboration between Chulalongkorn University and Baiya Phytopharm Ltd. It uses a subunit protein extracted from tobacco leaves to mimic Covid-19 and trigger an immune response in recipients.

The project launched in February 2020 and has since produced successful results in rats and monkeys.

Pilot plant to make tobacco-based vaccine launched in Bangkok

“The Public Health Ministry and National Vaccine Institute have handed a budget of 160 million baht to Chula and Baiya to establish a pilot plant to produce plant-based vaccines and biologics by transforming the 11th floor of Chulaphat 14 building [at Chula] into a 1,200 square metre manufacturing facility,” said Anutin.

“The Food and Drug Administration also helped in improving the vaccine manufacturing process. We expect phase one of human trials to start next month on 100 volunteers.”

Anutin said that if the trial is successful, the plant could start manufacturing Covid-19 vaccine in the third quarter of 2022 at up to 5 million doses per month, or 60 million doses per year.

“The advantage of plant-based vaccine is that it can be modified and improved to tackle new variants of the virus,” he added. “Currently we have researched up to 10 variants of Covid-19. In the future we could improve the formula in the same way as influenza vaccine, to protect against various strains with just one dose.”

Published : August 13, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004625

Covid test kits in shelved deal meet Thai standards, says FDA

The Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed that the Covid-19 rapid antigen test kits (ATKs) in Thailand’s controversially shelved procurement deal meet its own standards.

Adeal for 8.5 million ATKs made by Chinese company Lepu Medical Technology was halted on Friday following news that the US FDA had banned their use over quality concerns.

The Thai FDA said the Lepu Medical Technology ATKs were among 84 antigen test kits it had registered for use in Thailand – 34 for home use and 52 for professional use.

The medical regulator explained that all ATKs were tested at Ramathibodi Hospital, Prince of Songkla University and Chulalongkorn University. Quality was therefore guaranteed, it added.

The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation had been poised this week to buy 8.5 million ATKs from Lepu Medical Technology at 70 baht per kit. However, it was discovered the kits were recalled in the United States on May 28 due to “a high risk of false results when using these tests”, according to the US FDA.

The GPO decided to postpone the purchase of the ATKs indefinitely after “parties expressed concerns about the product quality”, GPO board president Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit said.

Published : August 13, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004623

Police net 100 million baht worth of assets in Chiang Mai raids

Chiang Mai police announced on Thursday that it has seized assets worth about 100 million baht and made an unspecified number of arrests in a couple of raids on Wednesday.

The authorities are scheduled to provide details in a press conference in Bangkok later on Friday.

In cooperation with the Office of Narcotics Control Board and Department of Special Investigation, police raided three establishments in Chiang Mai’s Muang district. Two were offices set up in a luxury housing estate to run a drug-trafficking network and one was an online gambling business.

Police said the raid on the drug-trafficking ring was conducted after a suspect arrested in an earlier crackdown had provided tips.

Meanwhile, police have collected evidence of money laundering at the online betting establishment and arrested one person. Police said one suspect had escaped and they will track down another two or three persons suspected to be involved in this illicit business.

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Police net 100 million baht worth of assets in Chiang Mai raidsPolice net 100 million baht worth of assets in Chiang Mai raidsThe detainee allegedly runs the betting website and uses a Thai League 2 football club and a public lottery system to launder the earnings.

Police net 100 million baht worth of assets in Chiang Mai raids

Published : August 13, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004622

US offers $55 million in aid to Thailand, Myanmar

US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, told the press on Thursday that US$55 million (1.83 billion baht) has been earmarked for humanitarian and pandemic response efforts in Thailand and Myanmar.

“President [Joe] Biden has made clear that we are putting our alliances at the centre of our foreign policy. And so, I also felt it was important to come here to Thailand, to reaffirm and strengthen the longstanding alliance between our nations, and to underscore our enduring commitment to Southeast Asia and the Asean centrality,” the envoy said.

She added that she had met Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and “communicated America’s strong commitment to standing with the Thai people in the fight against Covid-19.

“We are stepping up that commitment with another 1 million vaccine doses [in addition to the 1.5 million doses of Pfizer vaccine donated by the US government previously], which will arrive soon.”

Thomas-Greenfield also said: “The coup in Myanmar and the resulting humanitarian crisis has been compounded by Covid, and Thailand is on the front lines of the response to both challenges.”

She added that the funding will support the pandemic response and alleviate Thailand’s burden. Of the $55 million, $5 million will be added to Thailand’s battle against Covid-19, while the remainder will flow in through international and non-governmental organisation partners.

“This aid will provide life-saving food, water, shelter, healthcare and hygiene services to vulnerable people from Myanmar, including refugees and internally displaced persons,” she clarified.

She added that she has met with international organisations, NGOs and other agencies working in Thailand and Myanmar to discuss the political and humanitarian challenges facing the people of Myanmar.

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“I wanted them to know that we stand with them. The resources we are providing will help these NGOs and international organisations respond to the COVID crisis and meet the needs of vulnerable people, particularly in the Thai-Myanmar border region” she said, adding that “the United States remains deeply concerned about the ongoing crisis in Myanmar”.

Published : August 13, 2021

By : The Nation