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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003401

Royal College of Physicians backs third booster dose for medics

The Royal College of Physicians of Thailand has backed the use of Covid-19 booster vaccine for greater protection against mutations for high-risk healthcare workers.

“Protecting healthcare workers is critical to prevent the collapse of the healthcare system, and to build the morale of frontline medical personnel who have to work hard and continually in caring for Covid-19 patients,” they said in a letter.

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration has a clear policy that healthcare workers who have received two doses of Sinovac vaccines will receive immunisation boosters, either the AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccine.

The third booster dose is required because it was found that after receiving two doses of the Sinovac vaccine, the efficacy decreases rapidly within 1-2 months after the second dose. The third dose should be more effective, especially in fighting the Delta species, their letter said.

There are reports from a small sample in Thailand showing good immunisation in people who had received two doses of Sinovac vaccine and a third AstraZeneca booster against both the Alpha and Delta strains.

Pfizer booster vaccine has also been reported in a small number of foreign samples to boost immunity.

“It is already used in Turkey but no results have yet been reported. It is also unclear when we will receive the Pfizer vaccine this year. However, there have been no reports of adverse reactions to a third idose of either company’s vaccine,” the Royal College said in the letter.

Published : July 18, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003400

BMA issues guidelines for disposal of antigen Covid-19 test kits

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Environment Department on Sunday issued guidelines for proper disposal of antigen test kits.

As antigen Covid-19 test kits are approved for home use, the guidelines will be similar to disposal of face masks, said BMA deputy permanent secretary Chatree Wattanakajorn.

“The test kits will be collected by infectious-waste trucks and will be destroyed in the infectious solid-waste incinerator in Onnut and Nong Khaem districts.

He said the BMA would coordinate with district offices to collect and dispose of infectious waste properly. He urged citizens to dispose of infectious wastes separately in order to prevent the spread of the disease and ensure safety of citizens and garbage collectors.

“Used antigen self-test kits can be disposed of with used face masks and should be sanitised with alcohol spray or disinfectant solution, strictly separated from general waste, and properly sealed in a garbage bag labelled ‘face mask waste’ or ‘infectious waste’,” he said.

“These garbage bags can be collected by district office garbage trucks or disposed of in ‘Face Masks Only’ [orange coloured] garbage bins.”

BMA issues guidelines for disposal of antigen Covid-19 test kits

He added that orange garbage bins have been placed in more than 1,000 locations in Bangkok, such as health service centres, hospitals, schools, Bangkok City Hall (Sao Chingcha and Din Daeng district), sport centres, youth centres, fire stations, public parks, and other public locations, markets, temples, communities, department stores and residential buildings.

“The BMA is also considering placing additional bins for infectious wastes around Bangkok,” he added.

BMA issues guidelines for disposal of antigen Covid-19 test kits

BMA issues guidelines for disposal of antigen Covid-19 test kits

Published : July 18, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003397

Under-fire insurance company pledges to honour Covid policy commitments

Syn Mun Kong Insurance Plc (SMK), which came under fire for trying to renege on its Covid-19 policy commitments, on Saturday apologised for its actions.

The company also scrapped its announcement on Friday to end the “Covid 2 in 1” policy, also known as “Jer Jai Job”. Under the policy, a policyholder who tests positive for Covid is paid out immediately.

On Friday the company had said that the rapidly escalating Covid-19 situation in Thailand meant it was no longer able to manage the risk.

Syn Mun Kong said the premium for the coverage remaining on the policy would be returned to customers within 15 days of the cancellation.

However, on Saturday the company assured it would continue to provide coverage under the coronavirus insurance policy to customers as usual.

The public outrage following the company’s announcement on Friday led to the Office of the Insurance Commission issuing an order requiring the registrar to stop all non-life insurance companies from cancelling their Covid insurance and warned of action against companies violating them.

According to the law, the company could be fined up to THB300,000.

Published : July 18, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003394

More curbs imposed on dark red provinces from Tuesday

The Royal Gazette announced on Sunday tightening of Covid-19 measures from Tuesday.

The measures are:

▪︎ People living in dark red provinces (maximum and strictly controlled areas) are not allowed to go outdoors unless necessary.

▪︎ Curfew hours are imposed from 9pm to 4am.

▪︎ Restaurants, shopping malls and convenience stores must be closed from 8pm to 4am.

▪︎ Provincial governors must close venues and ban activities that could pose risk of Covid-19 infection for 14 days.

▪︎ Checkpoints will be set up to prevent people living in dark red provinces from inter-province travel.

▪︎ The number of passengers in public transport is limited to 50 per cent (only in dark red provinces).

Meanwhile, the number of dark red provinces has increased to 13. They are: Bangkok, Chachoengsao, Chonburi, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Narathiwat, Pathum Thani, Pattani, Ayutthaya, Yala, Songkhla, Samut Prakan and Samut Sakhon.

Published : July 18, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003384

Thundershowers and isolated heavy rain forecast for most parts of Thailand

More thundershowers and isolated heavy rain are likely in the North, Northeast, the Central and the East, the Thailand Meteorological Department forecast on Sunday.

“Aweak southwest monsoon prevails over the Andaman Sea, Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand,” the department said.

“The monsoon trough will lie across Myanmar and Laos and as a low pressure cell over upper Vietnam.”

Strong winds are expected in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf, with waves about two metres high in the Andaman Sea, 1-2 metres high in the Gulf and above three metres during thundershowers, the department added.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

North: Scattered thundershowers with isolated heavy rains in Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Tak, Kamphaeng Phet, Phichit, Phitsanulok and Phetchabun provinces; minimum temperature 24-25 degrees Celsius, maximum 33-36°C; southwesterly winds 10-20 km/hr.

Northeast: Scattered thundershowers with isolated heavy rains in Loei, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram, Surin, Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchathani provinces; minimum temperature 24-25°C, maximum 33-35°C; southwesterly winds 10-15 km/hr.

Central: Scattered thundershowers with isolated heavy rains in Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Samut Songkhram, Chainat, Uthai Thani, Nakhon Sawan, Lop Buri and Saraburi provinces; minimum temperature 24-26°C, maximum 32-35°C; southwesterly winds 10-20 km/hr.

East: Scattered thundershowers with isolated heavy rains in Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Sa Kaew, Chachoengsao, Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat provinces; minimum temperature 23-26°C, maximum 31-34°C; southwesterly winds 15-35 km/hr; Waves 1-2 metres high and about two metres in thundershowers.

South (east coast): Scattered thundershowers mostly in Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Chumphon provinces; minimum temperature 22-26°C, maximum 31-35°C; southwesterly winds 15-35 km/hr; waves 1-2 metres high and about two metres in thundershowers.

South (west coast): Isolated thundershowers mostly in Ranong and Phang Nga provinces; minimum temperature 21-25°C; maximum 33-35°C; southwesterly winds 20-35 km/hr; waves about two metres high and about three metres during thundershowers.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Scattered thundershowers; minimum temperature 26-28°C, maximum 32-34 °C; southwesterly winds 10-20 km/hr.

Published : July 18, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003383

Thailand reports record 11,397 Covid-19 cases

The number of new Covid-19 cases in Thailand surged to a new high of 11,397 on Sunday and 101 patients died.

It is the second consecutive day the country has recorded over 10,000 cases.

Meanwhile, 5,726 patients have recovered and been discharged in the last 24 hours.

The number of confirmed cases in Thailand rose to 403,386, while 3,341 have died.

Published : July 18, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003372

Germany places Thailand on its Covid-risk list

Germany has categorised Thailand as a risk country for Covid-19 and introduced safety restrictions effective from Sunday.

People travelling from Thailand to Germany must follow these requirements:

•Online registration via https://einreiseanmeldung.de

•Have certificates confirming that the visitors have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, have recovered from the virus, or have not contracted the virus

•10-day quarantine in Germany

Germany has approved the followibg vaccines: Comirnaty (BioNTech-Pfizer), Spikevax (Moderna), Vaxzevria (Oxford0-AstraZeneca) and Janssen Covid-19 Vaccine (Johnson & Johnson).

Published : July 17, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003371

Navy defends its proposal to buy two more submarines

Reacting to opposition criticism, the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) has defended its move to submit a proposal for the purchase of two submarines, saying it had a duty to do so.

The Navy submitted the proposal for buying the second and third submarines to Parliament’s special committee considering the fiscal budget for 2022.

Opposition parties had earlier commented that the Navy’s purchase of submarines would be an inappropriate expenditure amid the worsening pandemic situation.

“We realise that the country is combating the Covid-19 outbreak, but it is our duty to submit the proposal following the Navy’s improvement plan to maintain our level of preparedness,” RTN spokesman Admiral Chettha Jaipiam said on Saturday.

“The buying of additional submarines is a package deal, as we have already purchased the first one, which means we will need the second and third ones for use in rotation in case of repair and maintenance.

“We have negotiated with China to reduce the payment in the first year by one-third, while the budget for this project will all come from the fiscal 2022 budget,” he added.

“RTN is doing its duty in submitting a proposal to use the budget as do other ministries and departments. It is up to the special committee to approve the purchase of the submarines,” said Chettha. “However, in the past two years, the government has cut RTN’s budget and used it to help people who have been affected by the Covid-19 outbreak.”

Published : July 17, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003370

Khon Kaen couple tie the knot after three false starts due to Covid-19

A couple in Khon Kaen province on Saturday held their wedding ceremony at Rachawadee Resort & Hotel in Muang district.

The province’s disease control measures meant that less than 50 guests could attend the wedding, but the event could be viewed online via the Zoom application by their friends and relatives who could not attend the ceremony.

Natcha Kaengthong and Suphan Phromsiri said they had postponed their wedding plans three times due to the Covid-19 situation in Thailand.

Khon Kaen couple tie the knot after three false starts due to Covid-19

“We asked the provincial public health office for permission to organise the wedding at the hotel where strict disease control measures were implemented,” said the newlyweds.

“All the participants at the venue were asked to refrain from traveling to risky areas for at least 14 days before the wedding.”

The organisers broadcast the wedding ceremony via the videoconferencing system of Zoom application to over a hundred friends and relatives of the two families.

Khon Kaen couple tie the knot after three false starts due to Covid-19

“We wanted those who could not be here physically to witness the happiest moment of our lives, so we decided to host a ‘new normal’ wedding with online broadcasting to keep them safe from the outbreak,” they added.

Khon Kaen is classified as medium control area (orange zone). The province reported five new cases on Saturday with cumulative cases since April 1 at 1,515. Of these, 708 people have been cured and discharged while nine have died.

Published : July 17, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003369

How locals in Kalasin are helping a hospital overcome bed shortage

People in a district in Kalasin province have shown their resourcefulness by helping a local hospital deal with shortage of beds.

The Sahatsakhan district locals are reportedly making patient beds from natural materials.

On Saturday, Sahatsakhan chief Waewta Naratat told the press that she was asked by the field hospital to procure more beds, as it had not received additional beds.

In order to solve the problem of bed shortage, Waewta came up with the idea of making the beds, so she urged locals to look for required materials from the woods in their area.

She added that the hospital would open from July 19 with 53 beds.

The report did not mention the number of beds the locals had already finished making.

Published : July 17, 2021

By : The Nation