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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001966

50 per cent of foreigners lose interest in Phuket Sandbox after new 14-day measure

The number of foreign tourists preparing to visit Thailand in July shrank by more than 50 per cent after the Centre for Economic Situation Administration (CESA) decided to hike the minimum stay requirements for the “Phuket Sandbox” starting July 1.

Under the sandbox scheme announced earlier, fully vaccinated foreigners were exempted from quarantine, but had to spend seven days in Phuket before they could visit other provinces. However, the CESA doubled the minimum period of stay on Phuket Island to 14 days.

Minister of Tourism and Sports Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn revealed that over 50 per cent of 29,700 foreigners who had confirmed they would come to Phuket had cancelled their plans after the CESA revised its condition. However, the ministry would ask for a month to evaluate the outcome of the practice, both in terms of infections and the impact on local tourism.

If after a month’s trial there were no infections, the ministry would suggest lowering the minimum stay requirement to seven days in Phuket and then extend it to other provinces.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand said that in July, two confirmed groups of tourists would arrive in Phuket. On July 9, a group will arrive from the United States, and at the end of July a group of 400-500 sailors from England will come to the region and stop by in Phuket for about a week. Tourists from Europe and the Americas will continue to come, the TAT said.

Visitors from countries in South Asia are still not allowed to enter Thailand, as we have to wait for the Covid situation in these countries to stabilise, the TAT said.

Thai tourists must have had two doses of Sinovac vaccine and one dose of AstraZeneca to travel to Phuket. Those who are not vaccinated must be tested for Covid-19 first.

Published : June 13, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001962

Isolated heavy rains forecast for most parts of the country

A monsoon trough lies across the upper North and the upper Laos, while tropical storm “Koguma” builds up over the Tonkin Bay, the Thai Meteorological Department said on Sunday.

Astrong southwest monsoon prevails across the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf of Thailand.

Isolated heavy to very heavy rains are possible in the Northeast, the East and the west coast of the South. People in these areas should beware of the heavy rains and the accumulated rainfall, the department said.

Strong winds are likely in the Andaman Sea and the upper Gulf of Thailand, with waves 2-3 metres high in the Andaman Sea and above three metres high during thundershowers, and about two metres high during thundershowers in the upper gulf. All ships should proceed with caution during thundershowers and small boats in the upper Andaman Sea should keep ashore, the department said.

Tropical storm “Koguma” over the Tonkin Bay in Vietnam is expected to make landfall over upper Vietnam on Sunday morning, triggering the monsoon trough over the upper North and upper Laos with isolated heavy to very heavy rains in the North and the Northeast.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

North: Fairly widespread thundershowers with isolated heavy rains in Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Phrae, Uttaradit, Phitsanulok and Phetchabun provinces; minimum temperature 23-26 degrees Celsius, maximum 29-33°C; southwesterly winds 10-25 km/hr.

Northeast: Fairly widespread thundershowers with isolated heavy to very heavy rains in Loei, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Nong Bua Lamphu, Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Kalasin, Mukdahan, Khon Kaen, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, Yasothon, Amnat Charoen, Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchathani provinces; minimum temperature 23-25°C, maximum 28-32°C; southwesterly winds 10-25 km/hr.

Central: Scattered thundershowers mostly in Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Lopburi, Saraburi, Suphanburi, Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi provinces; minimum temperature 23-26°C, maximum 33-35°C; southwesterly winds 10-25 km/hr.

East: Scattered thundershowers with isolated heavy rains in Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat provinces; minimum temperature 24-28°C, maximum 28-34°C; southwesterly winds 20-35 km/hr; waves about two metres high and above two metres in thundershowers.

South (east coast): Scattered thundershowers mostly in Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla. Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat provinces; minimum temperature 24-26°C, maximum 33-35°C.

From Chumphon northward: southwesterly winds 15-35 km/hr; waves 1-2 metres high and about two metres offshore.

From Surat Thani southward: Southwesterly winds 15-30 km/hr; waves about a metre high and 1-2 metres offshore.

South (west coast): Scattered thundershowers with isolated heavy rains in Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun provinces; minimum temperature 22-26°C; maximum 29-33°C.

From Phuket northward: Southwesterly winds 20-40 km/hr; waves 2-3 metres high and above three metres in thundershowers.

From Krabi southward: Southwesterly winds 20-35 km/hr; waves about two metres high and above two metres in thundershowers.

Bangkok and its vicinity: Scattered rain; minimum temperature 26-28°C, maximum 32-35°C; southwesterly winds 10-25 km/hr.

Published : June 13, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001953

31 arrested for late-night partying at Thong Lor club

Police arrested 31 people on Saturday for allegedly participating in a party held in Bangkok’s Thong Lor area despite Covid-19 restrictions.

At around 1am, Thong Lor police said they heard music during their night patrol. They decide to trace the origin of music and found it was from the Black Club, where 31 people – 18 men and 13 women – were partying.

All of them were arrested and charged with illegal gathering, as it risked spreading the pandemic.

The third Covid-19 wave started in April and has continued since then. All bars and other night venues in Bangkok were ordered to close to contain Covid-19.

Published : June 12, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001951

Online news providers join forces to provide reliable information on Covid-19

The Society for Online News Providers (SONP) announced on Saturday that it has launched a new campaign called “Save Thai 2021”, aiming to use online news channels to provide complete, accurate and reliable information to the public during the pandemic.

The initiative will strive to minimise public confusion and misunderstanding, the SONP said.

Under the campaign, members of the SONP will set up a special page for all Covid-19 related news on their platforms. The page would contain:

1. Latest news and updates relating to Covid-19 from all sources;

2. Daily update of infections in Thailand and Asean as well as other key figures, such as inoculation rate, recovery rate, and death toll;

3. News and updates produced by joint editorial group comprising editors from members of the SONP.

Members of the SONP who will join this campaign are: Thairath Online, PPTV, Spring News, ThaiPBS, Delinews, Songkhla Focus, Siamrath, Mak Khaeng Online Udon Thani, TNN Online, AmarinTV, MGR Online, New Online, Thansetthakij, Issara News, MCOT, SMM Sport, Siam Sport, Matichon, Workpoint Today, Thai Post, Bright Today, Chiang Mai News and Bangkokbiznews.

The members will use their online websites as well as social media such as Facebook pages to maximise coverage.

The news and information will also be accessible via SONP’s website at https://covid19.sonp.or.th

The SONP said that it hopes the “Save Thai 2021” campaign would help Thais overcome this crisis together with reliable information and content beneficial to the public.

Published : June 12, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001950

Plot to smuggle meth hidden in motorcycle parts to New Zealand uncovered

Airport authorities have foiled a plan to smuggle drugs concealed in motorcycle parts to New Zealand.

The Narcotics Control Board announced on Saturday that 580 grams of methamphetamine were confiscated at Suvarnabhumi Airport by the airport interdiction taskforce.

The NCB statement did not specify on which date the narcotic was found.

The meth was found hidden in three motorcycle parts sent by a Thai to a recipient in New Zealand. The authorities are investigating the case.

On June 2, the same taskforce had found packages of seven pulses with 520 grams of methamphetamine inside. That consignment was also destined for New Zealand.

Plot to smuggle meth hidden in motorcycle parts to New Zealand uncovered

Published : June 12, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001949

Transport gets SHA standard in bid to boost tourism

The Transport Company has been guaranteed health safety by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, under the standard called Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration (SHA).

The SHA standard has been implemented since 2020, in order to assure both domestic and foreign tourists about health safety of businesses in the tourism sector.

Published : June 12, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001948

Thailand sees big jump in new Covid-19 cases

Thailand on Saturday reported 29 deaths and 3,277 new Covid-19 cases, the highest in over a week, during a 24-hour period.

Bangkok again led the list with 858 cases, followed by 313 in Samut Prakan, 291 in Nonthaburi and 188 in Samut Sakhon.

Of the 29 overseas arrivals who tested positive, 28 were Thai nationals – 19 from Cambodia, four from Saudi Arabia, three from Oman and one each from Malaysia and Philippines. A Japanese traveller from Japan was the lone foreigner to test positive.

Meanwhile, 5,273 patients have recovered and been discharged in the last 24 hours.

As of Saturday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 193,105, of whom 144,998 have recovered and been discharged, 41,403 patients are still in hospitals, and 1,431 have died.

Meanwhile, another 219,241 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, while 88,771 were given their second shot, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccines administered in Thailand to 5,975,070.

According to Worldometer, as of 11am on Saturday, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 176.04 million (up by 411,614), 159.6 million of whom have recovered, 12.64 million are active cases (84,738 in severe condition) and 3.8 million have died (up by 11,422).

Thailand ranks 79th in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 34.3 million, followed by India 29.35 million, Brazil 17.3 million, France 5.73 million, and Turkey 5.31 million.

Published : June 12, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001947

Deaths of most Covid-19 patients likely caused by non-communicable diseases

Around two-thirds of Covid-19 patients possibly died due to non-communicable diseases and not Covid-19 itself, the Department of Disease Control has said.

Statistics show that patients with high blood pressure have a 2.17 times higher risk of death than other infected persons. Meanwhile, the risk for patients with diabetes is 4.34 times higher.

Deaths of most Covid-19 patients likely caused by non-communicable diseases

Published : June 12, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001946

Delay in supply of AstraZeneca vaccine slows down Bangkok inoculation drive

Supply of the AstraZeneca vaccine will not be enough to serve Bangkokians during the third and fourth weeks of this month, as the Thai manufacturer, Siam Bioscience, has delayed vaccine delivery from June 14 to June 16.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) launched the vaccination drive for the general public on June 7.

Many residents of the capital were given AstraZeneca manufactured by Siam Bioscience and supplied on June 4.

The next lot of AstraZeneca vaccines were scheduled for delivery on June 14. However, the delivery was delayed to June 16, without explanation. This would mean that the stocks available would be less than the doses required for the third and fourth weeks of this month to inoculate Bangkokians.

Published : June 12, 2021

By : The Nation

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Foreign Ministry denies ordering removal of Free Palestine banner in Bangkok

The Foreign Ministry on Friday clarified that the removal of the “Free Palestine” banner near Sathu Pradit Expressway in Bangkok was not done on the orders of the ministry.

Agiant banner with the Palestinian flag along with the message “Free Palestine” was reportedly seen covering a billboard near the expressway on June 3. No group has claimed responsibility for the banner until it was later removed by the billboard owner. Rumours then emerged that the Foreign Ministry had forced the owner to take it down, fearing that it could affect international relations.

“Thailand has been advocating peace talks between Israel and Palestine under the two-state solution approach in which both countries can coexist peacefully and with mutually accepted borders in the Middle East,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Thani Saengrat said. “We also promote a non-violent approach and hope that both countries would start peace negotiations again in an appropriate environment.”

Thani added that Thailand had officially acknowledged Palestine as a state on January 17, 2012 and started diplomatic relations with Palestine since August 1, 2012.

“For nine years, Thailand and Palestine have maintained a positive relationship. The Palestinian president visited Thailand as a government guest in 2016, while Thailand donated US$30,000 to help Palestine fight the Covid-19 outbreak on June 23, 2020,” he said.

Thani added that Thailand had also maintained academic and development cooperation with Palestine at bilateral and multi-lateral levels, including providing academic training through Thailand International Cooperation Agency, hosting the Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development in 2018, and donating to United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East at US$40,000 per year since 1978 under a multi-year pledge.

Published : June 12, 2021

By : THE NATION