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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002065

New rules to support Covid health insurance for long-stay expats

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved in principle new rules to support health insurance for long-stay foreigners under the Non-Immigrant “O-A” visa.

The old rules required purchasing Thai health insurance through the website Longstay.tgia.org, which has suffered operating problems. The new rules offer a lifeline for expats over the age of 70 who cannot purchase insurance in Thailand and thus face having their applications for extension of stay rejected.

The new rules were set out as follows:

1. The first visa application must include health insurance or government welfare with minimum coverage of $100,000 or 3 million baht for medical expenses and treatment of Covid-19.

2. Applications for extension of stay can use health insurance from abroad or government welfare from abroad. This must be certified by a relevant government agency, such as a foreign embassy in Thailand or the country’s Foreign Ministry.

3. If an insurer refuses coverage due to health risks, visa applicants must submit additional documents including the letter of refusal, plus securities, deposits and other health insurance accounting for at least 3 million baht.

The Cabinet assigned the Immigration Bureau to improve rules and conditions governing applications for short-term visas, while the Foreign Ministry has been tasked with upgrading guidelines for O-A visa applications.

Published : June 16, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002062

Prayut sorry for ‘many problems’ with mass vaccination drive

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday apologised to people whose vaccination appointments had been postponed after numerous hospitals suspended their inoculation drives.

He said the government had distributed 7 million vaccine doses to provinces nationwide, of which 6.5 million had been administrated to people so far.

He said he was closely following news about vaccine allocation and putting his best effort into tackling problems.

Many hospitals and jab stations across the country have postponed appointments after running out of doses soon after nationwide inoculation launched last week on Monday.

“We will find a way to solve the problems to ensure maximum benefit for people, and alleviate their worries,” said Prayut.

He gave the following explanation of how vaccine is allocated:

1. Once vaccines arrive, the Public Health Ministry checks and delivers them to provinces nationwide.

2. The number of vaccines allocated to each province is based on its population, its infection rate, its number of registrants via Mor Phrom (Doctors Ready) or other booking platforms, risks of infection, and economic importance.

3. If the number of vaccines is insufficient, each province must prioritise the elderly and people with chronic diseases who have already registered for vaccination.

4. If it is necessary to postpone the vaccination drive, each province must vaccinate registrants sequentially and not make them register again.

“As director of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, I would like to apologise for the many problems that have occurred so far,” said the PM.

He also insisted that the mass vaccination programme was transparent and free of corruption.

Published : June 15, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002060

Chonburi prepares ‘Pattaya Move On’ sandbox in bid to open by August

Tourism operators in Pattaya are set to propose their very own tourism sandbox scheme, called “Pattaya Move On”, to the government to consider.

Thanet Supornsahatrangsi, acting chair of the Chonburi Tourism Industry Council, said the operators will propose the project to Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn and National Security Council secretary-general General Nattapol Nakpanit next week.

Pattaya Move On will allow vaccinated foreigners to enter Chonburi, provided they spend the first three days isolated in the hotel. After that, they will be allowed to travel to Bang Lamung and Sattahip districts, and go even further within the province after 14 days.

To kick off the project, 900,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines are required for the 450,000 residents of Bang Lamung and Sattahip districts.

Chonburi is one of the 10 provinces the government is planning to open to tourists without requiring mandatory quarantine from October. The other provinces are Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi, Phuket, Krabi, Surat Thani, Phang Nga and Buri Ram.

“We will encourage the government to kick off the project in August, so we can iron out any problems that arise before fully opening the doors,” Thanet said.

He expects about 10,000 to 20,000 foreign tourists to visit Chonburi between August and September.

“The numbers should rise in October when people from Europe come to Thailand to escape winter,” he said.

He added that this project also aims to draw tourists from Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Ukraine.

Chairat Rattanopas, president of the Eastern Spa and Wellness Association, said only 6.97 million people visited Chonburi last year, far fewer than the 18.6 million in 2019.

“Thai and foreign tourists visiting Chonburi last year generated 66.49 billion baht, a lot less than 276.32 billion baht in 2019,” Chairat said

Phisut Sae-khu, president of the Thai Hotels Association – Eastern Chapter President, said only about 100 hotels of the more than 1,000 registered in Pattaya have opened for business.

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Thitipas Siranatsrikul, chief of the Association of Chonburi Attractions, said some 15 tourist attractions are open for service and Nong Nooch Tropical Garden, Ramayana Water Park, Cartoon Network Amazone, the Sanctuary of Truth and Tiffany’s Show Pattaya are ready to join the project.

Published : June 15, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002058

Two ‘shark killers’ nabbed in Krabi

Two men were arrested on Monday for fishing illegally and killing an endangered animal after their TikTok clip of catching a shark went viral and caught the attention of the authorities.

Krabi marine police nabbed Alongkorn Chonlathee, 30, and Prakai Uiwong, 26, for fishing illegally off the coast of Phi Phi Island.

Pol Major Thaweelap Suwannareuk, a Krabi marine police inspector, said Alongkorn was driving the speedboat, while Prakai was doing the killing.

The two have pleaded guilty and admitted to doing what the clip shows, Thaweelap said.

Two ‘shark killers’ nabbed in Krabi

Alongkorn faces a 10,000 baht for using a speedboat without permission, while Prakai will be further investigated before a penalty is decided for him.

Published : June 15, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002057

Woman passenger turns sleuth to trap abusive Bangkok taxi driver

Police have arrested an abusive Bangkok taxi driver after a quick-thinking victim snapped his number plate and used it to link him to other attacks.

On Thursday (June 10), Facebook user Mani Reset (Manita Chitbenjakul, 25) revealed details about her disturbing encounter with a taxi driver the evening before.

She said she had been waiting for a bus under On Nut BTS station on Sukhumvit Road at 7pm. The area was well-lit and there were plenty of other pedestrians around.

A taxi drew up in front of her, but she ignored it because she was waiting for the bus. The cabbie immediately hopped out, approached Manita and pulled her medical mask from her face. She shouted at him and the man began to retreat to his taxi. She demanded an explanation from the driver, he retorted “what is your problem”.

Luckily, the encounter ended there, and a witness urged Manita to take a photo of the taxi number plate.

It turned out that this was not the first violent incident involving the taxi driver.

In the same Facebook post, Manita shared photos captured from chatboxes as evidence that the driver of the same taxi had attacking other people.

In one message, a woman passenger said the taxi driver had tried to take her to a motel. In another, a woman described how she was punched and extorted by the same driver after he stopped the taxi suddenly. She said the driver falsely claimed that her boyfriend had tried to punch him first.

In addition to female victims, Manita on Sunday shared the story of a male victim. Facebook user Songkran Intasurat posted that a taxi with the same plates overtook his car and forced it to stop. He said the driver approached his car with a wooden club and threatened to smash it unless Songkran got out. Luckily, he got support from a passer-by, and the cabbie eventually left.

Manita filed a case against the taxi driver with Prakanong police. On Monday, they traced the driver to Soi Ngamwongwan 53 and named the suspect as Nana Meesomtop, 46.

The man confessed to attacking Manita, and was charged with mild assault. He was fined THB1,500 and sentenced to 15 days in prison.

Other alleged crimes committed by the cabbie will be investigated by the stations with jurisdiction over the areas where they were committed.

Published : June 15, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002055

Lunchtime menu serves up creative learning for kids at Khon Kaen school

Photos of primary school students selecting their lunch from an innovative menu board went viral on Monday.

The “Lunch & Learn Project” has been launched at Ban Non Chai Municipal School in Khon Kaen province as part of the Isan Creative Festival, explained Facebook user Watcharapong Wongsim, who posted the photos.

Lunchtime menu serves up creative learning for kids at Khon Kaen school

“The project’s aim is to let students vote from 10 lunch menus by putting a sticker on the column of their favourite meal,” he said. “Example of choices are Benjarong green curry, teriyaki chicken and rice, tonkatsu (pork cutlet) and rice, Kwantip’s fried chicken, Hainanese chicken rice, and vermicelli pad thai.”

Lunchtime menu serves up creative learning for kids at Khon Kaen school

Kwantip’s fried chicken won the children’s poll by a landslide, with 488 votes from 553 students. The fried chicken is served with mashed potato and coleslaw, with guava for dessert.

Lunchtime menu serves up creative learning for kids at Khon Kaen school

The project is a collaboration with the government’s Creative Economy Agency.

Published : June 15, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002054

No school, no problem: Teachers hailed as heroes in rural Si Sa Ket

Teachers in Si Sa Ket province have become a social media sensation after photos of them at homework centres were shared online.

The Education Ministry allowed most schools in Thailand to run onsite classes from Monday (June 14), after the new term was postponed from May amid the third wave of Covid-19 infections.

However, many schools opted to continue with online learning, as daily infections across the country remain in the thousands.

Bantoom School in Si Sa Ket’s Rattana district has deployed teachers to set up homework centres in local villages. The school building remains closed, but each class is still learning thanks to homework assigned by the teachers.

The teachers’ photos were posted on Radio Sisaket’s Facebook page yesterday, drawing a huge number of likes and shares.

No school, no problem: Teachers hailed as heroes in rural Si Sa KetNo school, no problem: Teachers hailed as heroes in rural Si Sa KetNo school, no problem: Teachers hailed as heroes in rural Si Sa KetNo school, no problem: Teachers hailed as heroes in rural Si Sa Ket

Published : June 15, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002053

Can Covid jabs affect young mothers, mothers to be?

Can pregnant women, those breastfeeding and those planning to get pregnant soon take a Covid-19 vaccine? Here are some answers:

Q:Can women aiming to get pregnant get a Covid jab?

A: Yes, because the vaccine doesn’t affect hormones or fertility.

Q: Can pregnant women get a Covid jab?

A: Women who are more than 12 weeks into their pregnancy can get a jab, while those carrying their baby for less than 12 weeks will have to be checked by a doctor first.

Q: Can women who have taken a Covid jab continue breastfeeding their babies?

A: Yes, they can.

Source: ThaiHealth Promotion Foundation

Can Covid jabs affect young mothers, mothers to be?

Published : June 15, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002052

Bankruptcy court gives THAI rehab plan the go-ahead

The Central Bankruptcy Court has approved the rehabilitation plan for Thai Airways International (THAI), a source said on Tuesday.

Court hearing for the rehab plan had been postponed from May 28 after two of THAI’s creditors filed complaints. The court responded to the complaints by calling on the airline to submit additional information before giving the plan its approval.

THAI has a total debt of 245 billion baht, much of it racked up in the decade before the Covid-19 crisis grounded flights and wrecked airlines’ balance sheets.

The court also okayed the five individuals who will oversee the rehab plan. They are:

• Piyasawas Amaranant, PTT chairman (nominated by THAI)

• Pornchai Theerawet, Finance Ministry deputy permanent secretary (nominated by THAI)

• Siri Jirapongphan, ex-energy minister, Bangkok Bank director (nominated by Bangkok Bank)

• Kraisorn Barameeauychai, Bangkok Bank executive VP, manager of legal department (nominated by Bangkok Bank)

• Chansin Treenuchagron, THAI acting president (nominated by Federation of Savings and Credit Cooperatives of Thailand)

THAI now has five years to rehabilitate in line with the court-approved plan The airline can extend the deadline twice, at no more than one year per time, which means it has to complete the rehab process within seven years.

Published : June 15, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002051

TAT signs pact to make Thai tourism sector more environmentally friendly

In a bid to prepare for the world opening up after Covid-19 has been defeated, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with two agencies to promote low-carbon tourism and build awareness on climate change.

TAT signed the MoU with Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organisation (TGO) and Thai Ecotourism and Adventure Travel Association (TEATA) in a ceremony broadcast on the 7 Greens Facebook page on Monday.

TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said the aim is to build awareness among tourism operators to ensure the tourism industry can run in line with the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economic development model.

“We will also apply technology and innovations to tackle climate change and work on cutting down on greenhouse gases caused by tourism by at least 50 million tonnes,” he said.

TGO executive director Kiatchai Maitriwong said tourism activities contributed 8 per cent of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.

“Therefore, tourism personnel should realise and participate in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in a bid to protect the environment in the long term,” Kiatchai said.

TEATA president Wasumon Netkitcharoen said the association is in the process of creating five carbon-neutral routes: Prachinburi-Nakhon Nayok, Chiang Mai, Phuket-Phang Nga, Kanchanaburi, and Udon Thani-Nong Khai-Bueng Kan.

“The association has realised the importance of building environmental awareness among tourism personnel to enhance the country’s competency in the green economy and promote tourism among quality tourists,” Wasumon said.

Visit www.tourismthailand.org/7greens or TGO’s Facebook page or call TAT at 1672 to learn more about low-carbon tourism.

Published : June 15, 2021

By : The Nation