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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003505

Foodpanda rider denies lese majeste over burning of royal portrait

A foodpanda delivery rider on Tuesday denied charges of burning royal portrait during an anti-government protest on Sunday, claiming he was attempting to put out the flames.

Pathum Thani police on Monday arrested Sitthichoke Setsawet and charged him with lese majeste, arson, and breaching the Covid-19 emergency decree against public gatherings.

The suspect was interrogated at Nang Loeng Police Station where he admitted to participating in the protest but denied setting fire to the royal portrait, said Deputy Metropolitan Police chief Piya Tawichai.

“However, police have evidence that proves the suspect burned a royal picture,” he said, adding that Sitthichoke will be detained at the Criminal Court on Ratchadapisek Road.

He also revealed that police officers were interrogating the 16 protesters arrested earlier for their role in Sunday’s rally.

“Investigating officers are collecting evidence to issue arrest warrants on other protesters who allegedly took part in the anti-government protest on Sunday,” he added.

Police fired tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets at protesters who tried to break through a barrier guarding Government House. The protesters were demanding the resignation of PM Prayut Chan-o-cha and his government, cuts to the military and monarchy’s budget during the pandemic, and importation of mRNA vaccines to fight the surge in Covid-19 infections.

Meanwhile, Sitthichoke’s girlfriend testified that he was attempting to put out the flames on the royal portrait.

She added that he was at the protest site on Sunday to deliver food to protesters.

She also asked social media users to stop condemning her boyfriend by sharing fake information.

Published : July 20, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003501

Live music, gorgeous views and aerobics – the upside of quarantine in Nakhon Phanom

If there was a competition for the best place to quarantine in Thailand, Nakhon Phanom might just take the gold medal.

People isolating in the Northeast border province are being treated to musical performances and gorgeous views of the Mekong River at a luxury hotel in Muang Nakhon Phanom district.

So far, over 60 people have undergone quarantine at the hotel, which is reserved for travellers returning from provinces at high risk of Covid-19.

Nakhon Phanom’s daily caseload has risen to more than 50 infections over the past week.

Wachirachet Kitpornsirikul, deputy mayor of the municipality, said Nakhon Phanom locals have been instructed not to make trips in or out of the province unless absolute.

Those who return from provinces at risk of Covid-19 infection must undergo 14-day quarantine even if they test negative, he added.

“In response, the operator of this eight-storey hotel decided to convert it into a local quarantine facility to support locals during the Covid-19 crisis,” he said.

Adding to the hotel’s suitability as a quarantine destination were its beautiful vistas of the Mekong River, Wachirachet said. Even better, the accommodation is free, with the municipality picking up the bill of 500 baht per room per night.

“To relieve the stress of quarantine, the hotel is staging a musical play every Wednesday and Saturday,” he added.

Live music, gorgeous views and aerobics – the upside of quarantine in Nakhon Phanom

Pawinee Somnawat, director of the municipality’s public health and environment department, said the department is also organising aerobics activities for people quarantining at the hotel.

Meanwhile, their symptoms are being observed by department officials, who will refer them to Nakhon Phanom Hospital if necessary.

“The hotel will be used as a local quarantine facility until the Covid-19 situation resolves,” she added.

Live music, gorgeous views and aerobics – the upside of quarantine in Nakhon Phanom

Published : July 20, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003500

Resignation letter with news of 30m baht lottery win goes viral

A resignation letter became a social media sensation on Tuesday after the writer explained he was quitting because he had won 30 million baht (US$985,500) in the lottery.

The letter was sent by a worker at the subdistrict administrative organisation (SAO) in Chiang Rai. After being leaked online it was shared and commented on widely across social media. Many netizens fantasised about what they would do with the huge windfall.

However, when the Chiang Rai SAO was asked about the resignation letter, they said the document was not in their system. An SAO official said the social media post could be a prank.

Published : July 20, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003499

Royal College of Paediatricians advises against vaccinating healthy children

Thailand’s Royal College of Paediatricians on Monday advised parents not to vaccinate healthy children against Covid-19 until more is known about the vaccines.

The advice was part of a five-point guideline for treatment of novel coronavirus infections among children issued by the college.

It noted that 13,806 children under 18 years old had contracted Covid-19 from April 1 to June 15, accounting for 7.8 per cent of all infections. Four of those children have died (0.03 per cent of total deaths), said the college’s statement, citing Department of Disease Control figures.

“However, data as of July 13 shows that 33,020 children have tested positive, increasing to 13.2 per cent of total infections. This points to a lack of proper prevention or control of the outbreak among children,” it added.

The only vaccine currently approved for use in children aged over 12 years is Pfizer’s mRNA jab, following endorsement by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 10.

“In Thailand, Pfizer vaccine was approved by the Thai FDA for use in children over 12 on June 24. However, the vaccine is still in the process of being imported and is not yet generally available,” it said.

“Meanwhile, Sinovac vaccine has been used in China among children aged 3 to 17 and found to have boosted their immunity. However, there is still no evidence of efficacy in preventing the virus in children,” it added.

The college offered a five-point guideline for parents on vaccination and how to protect their children against Covid-19.

1. The college does not recommend giving any Covid-19 vaccine to children who are healthy until there is more evidence about vaccine efficacy in children.

2. Children who have underlying health problems such as obesity, chronic respiratory disease, chronic kidney disease, cancer and diabetes should be inoculated with a vaccine approved by the Public Health Ministry to prevent severe symptoms and deaths from Covid-19.

3. All adults who are close to such children should be vaccinated.

4. Build a habit of protecting oneself from Covid-19 among children, including wearing a face mask, washing hands regularly and maintaining social distance.

5. If they can, parents should work from home during the outbreak and limit visits from outsiders.

Published : July 20, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003498

First jab available for expats aged 75+ at Bang Sue Grand Station

Foreigners aged 75 and above can now walk into Bang Sue Grand Station to get a free Covid-19 jab.

To be eligible they must carry their passport and evidence of residence in Thailand, such as visa, residence permit or work permit.

The service from 9am to 4pm is only available to those who have not had any Covid jabs.

For now, this service will be provided until the end of July but may be extended if more people need to be vaccinated.

Currently, some 10,000 seniors and 5,000 general citizens are vaccinated daily at the Bang Sue Grand Station.

Foreigners aged 60 and above can also register for their Covid-19 jab at the Foreign Ministry or their embassy.

First jab available for expats aged 75+ at Bang Sue Grand Station

Published : July 20, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003497

Thailand signs contract for 20 million Pfizer jabs

The Department of Disease Control (DDC) signed a contract with Pfizer-BioNTech to procure 20 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

The event, held at the Public Health Ministry offices in Nonthaburi, saw the contract signed by DDC director-general Dr Opas Karnkawinpong and Deborah Seifert, Pfizer country manager for Thailand and Indonesia.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and other ministry officials were also present.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been registered with Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration since June 24, and deliveries are expected to kick off in the fourth quarter of this year.

Pfizer-BioNTech said on Tuesday that it plans to manufacture up to 3 billion doses of the vaccine for global supply by the end of this year.

Thailand signs contract for 20 million Pfizer jabs

Published : July 20, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003496

Business leaders extend help to Phitsanulok residents

Some members of the Thai business community got together in Phitsanulok province to lend a helping hand to locals suffering from the Covid-19 crisis.

In the event, held along the province’s main thoroughfares like Mittraphap and Thamma Bucha roads, people were handed essentials like bags of rice, processed and cooked food.

Naree Cheewasutthisilp, the owner of Madame Fin perfume brand, reportedly handed out 100 packed meals to passersby on Thamma Bucha Road in Muang district.

Published : July 20, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003494

Three locally produced Covid jabs will be ready next year: govt

The government announced via its Thai Khu Fah Facebook page on Tuesday that three locally produced Covid-19 vaccines will be ready for administration by next year. Details provided about the vaccines are as follows:

• CU-Cov19 (mRNA): Developed in collaboration with Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine and the University of Pennsylvania. Currently at human-trial phase.

• HXP-GPO Vac (inactivated): Developed by the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation in collaboration with Mahidol University and the United States’ PATH Institute. Currently at human-trial phase.

• Baiya SARS-CoV-1 Vax 1: Developed from tobacco leaves by Baiya Phytopharm and Chulalongkorn University. This vaccine has been successfully tested on animals and will soon be tried out on humans.

Published : July 20, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003493

Thammasat is out of beds, AstraZeneca vaccine stocks running very low

Thammasat Field Hospital announced in a Facebook post on Monday that it has reached its capacity both in terms of available beds and vaccine doses.

“Today should have been the day we celebrated our 100th day of operation, but instead we were hit by news of more than 11,000 new patients,” the post said. “So far, 72 of the hospital’s doctors, nurses and supporting staff have contracted Covid-19 and more than 30 others are still in quarantine. All 19 beds in ICU and negative pressure rooms are occupied, while the 32 beds for near-critical patients who require high-flow oxygen therapy are also full.

“We are deeply sorry to say that from tomorrow, the Thammasat Field Hospital will no longer accept new patients or those transferred from other hospitals,” the post read. “Currently we have over 400 patients in our care which has nearly exceeded the capacity of our remaining personnel.

“New patients will have to enter the home isolation programme, which may be the only way of bringing the outbreak in Thailand under control, provided we can procure more vaccines and new infections do not rise beyond the current rate,” the post read.

The hospital also added that its stock of AstraZeneca vaccines, administered at the rate of 2,000 jabs per day, will only last until Friday. There are more than 50,000 people who have registered with the hospital for their jabs from July 24 onwards.

Published : July 20, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003492

11,305 new cases, 80 deaths in Thailand over past 24 hours

Thailand logged 11,305 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, pushing the country’s caseload up to 426,475. Deaths over the past 24-hours stood at 80.

Of the total infections, 8,599 had tested positive in hospitals, 2,097 were found during proactive testing, 595 were found in prisons and 14 were arrivals from overseas.

Meanwhile, 6,557 patients have recovered and been discharged in the last 24 hours.

Of the total 426,475 cases, 296,208 have recovered and been discharged, 126,765 patients are still in hospitals, and 3,502 have died.

Separately, another 217,419 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, while 31,229 were given their second shot, bringing the total Covid-19 vaccines administered in Thailand to 14,547,244.

According to Worldometer, as of 11am on Tuesday, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 191.71 million, 174.56 million of whom have recovered, 13.04 million are active cases 80,954 in severe condition) and 4.11 million have died (up by 6,840).

Thailand ranks 52nd on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 35.01 million, followed by India with 31.17 million, Brazil with 19.39 million, France with 5.98 million and Russia 5.87 million.

Published : July 20, 2021

By : The Nation