#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002321

Woman jumps to her death from Phra Khanong BTS station after catching Covid-19

A woman jumped to her death from the Phra Khanong BTS station in downtown Bangkok on Monday afternoon for allegedly losing her job after contracting Covid-19.

Officers from Klong Tan Police Station and rescuers tried to resuscitate the woman, who had sustained serious head injuries, before taking her to Police General Hospital. However, she succumbed on the way.

The victim was later identified as Nongnuch (last name withheld) aged 38.

Woman jumps to her death from Phra Khanong BTS station after catching Covid-19

Police also reportedly found two notes on the woman’s body. The first one addressed to her parents said: “I don’t know what else to do. Since I contracted Covid, I lost my job. Please forgive me, mom and dad.”

The other note addressed to a police officer who the victim referred to as Phi Muad or Brother Lieutenant, read: “My future is now ruined. Please come and pick up my body. I am surrendering to fate.”

Pol Colonel Somsak Mongkholkunakorn, chief of Klong Tan Police Station, said on Tuesday that officials have contacted the hospital where the victim had been treated and were told she had been cured of Covid-19 and discharged before the incident.

“We are also interviewing the lieutenant mentioned in the note to find out more about their relationship,” he said. “The lieutenant, who is working with the Bangkok Metropolitan Police Bureau, has received two jabs of the Covid-19 vaccine but was ordered to get tested again as a precaution.”

Published : June 22, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002320

Shopping stimulus scheme hit by low registrations on first day

The government’s latest shopping stimulus scheme got off to an underwhelming start on Monday, with only 296,003 people registering for “Ying Chai Ying Dai” (Spend More, Get More).

The scheme is targeting 4 million people with cashback e-vouchers worth 10-15 per cent on spending of up to 60,000 baht.

The cashback is capped at 7,000 baht per person and stored in registrants’ Pao Tang digital wallets to spend at participating shops.

The campaign aims to encourage high-income people to spend more to boost the economy, Finance Ministry permanent secretary Krisada Chinavicharana said on Tuesday.

“However, we understand that some wealthy people may not register because they want to help the government save budget.”

He added that if the scheme failed to hit its registration target, the money saved would not be allotted to other shopping subsidy schemes, such as “Kon La Kreung” (Lets Go Halves), which has more registrants.

Kon La Kreung targets 31 million people and had over 27.7 million registrants as of June 20.

Meanwhile registration for Ying Chai Ying Dai will remain open until the target of 4 million registrants is met. The scheme covers spending from July 1 to September 31. Registrants will get 10 per cent back on the first 40,000 baht they spend, capped at 4,000 baht, and 15 per cent back on spending of 40,001-60,000 baht, capped at 3,000 baht. The e-vouchers can be spent from August 7 to December 31 at participating shops.

Published : June 22, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002319

Phuket partially lifts lockdown, booze ban to prepare for sandbox tourists

Nine types of venues in Phuket are allowed to reopen before its sandbox tourism scheme kicks off on July 1.

The venues allowed to open as of Monday are:

• Schools and tuition centres

• Shopping complexes and community malls (gaming centres, children’s zones remain closed)

• Restaurants and cafes (alcohol can be consumed until 11pm)

• Convenience stores and supermarkets

• Stadiums, fitness centres and badminton courts

• Hair salons and barbers

• Snooker clubs (3pm to 11pm)

• Internet cafes

• Cinemas, theatres and waterparks (6am to 8pm)

Phuket residents are also allowed to consume alcoholic beverages in public areas like the beach or parks, and celebrations or religious gatherings can be held provided there are no more than 200 participants.

However, entertainment venues, boxing stadiums and animal fighting arenas remain closed.

From July 1, Phuket will be the first province to kick off Thailand’s drive to revive its tourism industry by allowing foreigners to arrive under a “sandbox” scheme.

Under the scheme, tourists who can prove they are fully inoculated against Covid-19 and test negative can fly into Phuket and move around freely without having to quarantine.

After 14 days in Phuket, tourists can then travel to other parts of Thailand.

Deputy PM Supattanapong Punmeechaow said recently that Phuket authorities are working hard to ensure the province can reopen without a hitch on July 1.

Published : June 22, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002318

Seven Covid patients forced to camp outside Bangkok apartment block

The plight of seven Covid-19 patients camping outside an apartment block in Bangkok Din Daeng district drew a wave of sympathy from netizens on Monday. Photos of the makeshift quarantine camp posted on the Zendai Facebook page also sparked accusations that authorities had abandoned the patients.

Attached to the patients’ tent was the sarcastic message “People who do not have any connections”.

According to the Facebook post, the seven patients were found during proactive testing but denied medical treatment because no hospital beds were available.

“The page decided to set up tents for the patients as they could spread the virus to others while waiting in the confined apartment,” the post said.

“Hence, we would like to ask the government to prepare a plan to support proactive testing [with medical treatment].”

Seven Covid patients forced to camp outside Bangkok apartment block

The National Housing Authority eventually made two rooms available where the seven patients could isolate while waiting for medical treatment. All seven have now been moved to a hospitel.

Published : June 22, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002317

Thailand’s daily caseload jumps by almost 900 with 35 deaths

Thailand logged 4,059 new Covid-19 cases and 35 deaths over a 24-hour period on Tuesday, rising from 3,175 cases and 29 deaths recorded on Monday.

Of the total cases, 2,257 tested positive in hospitals, 1,706 were found in proactive testing, 75 were found in prisons, and 21 were arrivals from overseas.

Bangkok topped the list with 1,154 cases, followed by Samut Prakan (696), Chonburi (335), Songkhla (293), Samut Sakhon (250), Pathum Thani (211), Nonthaburi (169) and Nakhon Pathom (162).

Meanwhile, 2,047 patients have recovered and been discharged in the last 24 hours.

Thailand’s accumulated infections rose to 225,365 on Tuesday. Of these, 187,836 have recovered, 35,836 are still in hospital, and 1,693 have died.

Meanwhile, the last 24 hours saw another 152,809 people given their first Covid-19 shot, while 74,830 people got their second shot. This brings the total number of doses administered in Thailand to 7,906,696.

According to Worldometer, as of 11am on Tuesday, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 179.54 million (up by 278,182). Of these, 164.23 million have recovered, 11.43 million are active cases (82, 634 in severe condition) and 3.88 million have died (up by 5,836).

Thailand ranks 76th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 34.41 million, followed by India (29.97 million), Brazil (17.96 million), France (5.75 million), and Turkey (5.37 million).

Published : June 22, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002316

Alcohol back on menu in Chiang Mai but pubs stay closed

Chiang Mai’s ban on serving alcohol in restaurants was lifted on Monday, though night venues were not permitted to reopen.

According to the latest order, alcohol can be served until 9pm and tattoo and piercing shops are allowed to reopen. Shopping complexes and community malls can also resume normal operating times.

Venues ordered to remain closed include pubs, bars, nightclubs, massage parlours, snooker and bowling clubs, gaming centres and internet cafés.

Those caught violating will be fined up to THB20,000.

Published : June 22, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002315

Former Miss Siam, now 100, gets AstraZeneca vaccine

A 100-year-old former beauty queen got the AstraZeneca jab at Theptarin Hospital in Bangkok, Dara Papayon (Movie Stars) Facebook page revealed on Monday.

A100-year-old former beauty queen got the AstraZeneca jab at Theptarin Hospital in Bangkok, Dara Papayon (Movie Stars) Facebook page revealed on Monday.

Wanee Somprasong was among elderly citizens receiving inoculation in Bangkok.

She had won the beauty contest “Nangsao Siam” (Miss Siam) in 1935.

Nasao Siam was first held in 1934, after the Siamese Revolution in 1932, as a part of the Constitution celebration in Thailand. In 1939, the name of the contest was changed to “Nangsao Thai” (Miss Thailand) as Siam was renamed Thailand that year.

The contest has been organised annually since then. Wanee was the second winner of the contest.

Kanya Tiansawang won the inaugural event in 1934.

Published : June 22, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002314

Physicians warn of 4th wave risk if country reopened in 120 days

The Royal College of Physicians of Thailand (RCPT) on Monday warned the government that its decision to reopen the country within 120 days may lead to the fourth Covid-19 wave and virus mutation.

The RCPT suggested the following approach to the government:

1. The government must launch measures that lead to effective disease control. They have to cooperate with all sectors in order to bring the situation under control and restore confidence among citizens and tourists. Most importantly, they should not announce long holidays because it may cause the virus to spread, similar to the Songkran holidays.

2. Proactive tests must be conducted nationwide, especially in areas where a Covid-19 cluster emerges, factories, fresh markets and worker camps. They must use area restriction measure once the Covid-19 cases were found, so as to contain the spread as soon as possible.

3. The law must be strictly enforced to contain the spread of the disease, especially on those sneaking into the country, gambling, having gatherings, holding rallies and travelling.

4. The government must procure Covid-19 vaccines to meet demand and prevent the spread of Covid-19 variants that may affect the efficacy of current vaccines. Also, they should have transparency on vaccine distribution.

5. The government must prepare measures for foreign tourists, prioritising disease control than stimulating the economy, so as to ensure that the country’s reopening will not lead to the fourth Covid-19 wave.

6. The government must review the appropriateness before reopening the country based on the situation at home and abroad, the number of vaccinated Thais, the spread of Covid-19 variants and readiness of the public health system.

Published : June 22, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002313

Civil Aviation Authority readies measures for reopening Phuket

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Monday approved measures to prepare the aviation industry for the reopening of Thailand to foreign tourists, starting with Phuket on July 1 under the Phuket Tourism Sandbox scheme.

Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob, who chaired the CAA meeting, said: “If the scheme turns out to be a success, similar schemes would be implemented in nine tourism provinces while the full reopening of the country will start within 120 days.”

“It is estimated that until the end of the year, the aviation industry will see a total of 1.4 million international passengers, up about 10 times the estimate for July.”

To prepare for the increasing number of visitors, the CAA has ordered airports to arrange flight slots accordingly.

“Phuket Airport has finished arranging flight slots for summer 2021 — from July 1 to October 30 — with 134 flights per day being allotted from the total airport capacity of 480 flights per day, or about 28 per cent,” said Saksayam.

“When the country fully opens, we expect to increase the slot to 320 flights per day to welcome foreign visitors, most of whom would be from the Asia-Pacific region and Europe.”

The CAA estimated that total flights (both domestic and international) in July would increase from June’s estimated 5,698 to 13,354, with passengers increasing from 79,226 to 146,448.

The meeting also appointed the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) to inspect flight readiness of all airports nationwide in all aspects to prepare for the sharp increase in flights.

The CAAT was also tasked with safety inspection of airports, airlines, aircraft and pilots using both onsite and remote audit methods depending on the outbreak situation in each area.

“As for measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19, as of June 13 the ministry has provided first jabs of Covid-19 vaccine to frontline staff nationwide, around 48,000 people,” said Saksayam. “Furthermore, we have ordered flight operators to strictly follow the Guidance for Air Travel through the Covid-19 Public Health Crisis provided by International Civil Aviation Organization and guidelines from the World Health Organization.”

The CAA meeting on Monday also considered the adoption of two technologies of international airport to domestic airports to increase their efficiency and enhance security of domestic air travel. They are the API (Advance Passenger Information) system and the Common Use Passenger Processing System, or CUPPS, which are currently used in international airports in Thailand.

Published : June 22, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002312

Baht pressured by foreign investor concerns on Covid situation in Thailand

The baht opened at 31.61 to the US dollar on Tuesday, unchanged from the closing rate on Monday.

The Thai currency is likely to move between 31.55 and 31.70 during the day, Krungthai Bank market strategist Poon Panichpibool said.

Poon explained that the baht had weakened due to concerns among foreign investors about the Covid-19 situation in Thailand. This worry had prompted them to sell their risk assets in the country. He added that this issue was of greater concern to Thailand than the strengthening of the dollar.

However, the baht would not weaken sharply, as exporters aim to sell dollars when the baht reaches around 31.60 to 31.70 to the US currency.

He said it was almost impossible for the baht to hit 32 to the US dollar.

Published : June 22, 2021

By : The Nation