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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001546

Local Covid vaccine ‘ready for clinical trials’

The locally developed Covid-19 vaccine – ChulaCov19 – will be ready for human trials this month after proving to be effective in lab tests.

In a Facebook post, deputy government spokesperson Traisulee Traisoranakul said the vaccine, developed by Dr Kiat Ruxrungtham from Chulalongkorn University, will be tested on 100 volunteers this month.

The clinical trial also aims to work out the right dosage for immunization. Once the trial is successfully completed, the first lot of vaccines will be produced in the US, before Thailand’s BioNet-Asia begins mass production in September.

Published : June 01, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001542

SRT maintains red signal for suspended train services

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has extended the suspension of 121 long and short train services until the Covid-19 situation is resolved, SRT Governor Nirut Maneephan said on Monday.

He said the decision was in line with the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration’s move to ask people to avoid or delay their travel plans and extend the state of emergency for another two months from June 1 to July 31 in a bid to contain the virus.

“However, 115 long and short train services are still available to meet people’s demand for travel,” he said.

“To gain confidence among passengers throughout the journey, SRT has implemented measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 as well.”

He added that people who had already bought tickets for the suspended train services can request a full refund at train stations nationwide.

For more information, please contact SRT call centre: 1690.

Published : June 01, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001539

Tourist dollars only came from foreign film crew this year

The tourism sector’s only income this year has been from foreign filmmakers and crew, the Department of Tourism said recently.

Anan Wongbenjarat, the department’s director-general, said 1.21 billion baht was generated from 31 foreign films being produced in Thailand from January to April.

Last year, though 123 foreign films were produced in Thailand, they only generated 589.12 million baht.

This year the Tourism Department hopes foreign film production and related businesses will generate 2.5 billion to 3 billion baht.

Anan said foreign film production crew strictly followed the health and safety measures put in place by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration.

He also said that his organisation is planning to launch an incentive programme to draw more filmmakers to Thailand.

Published : June 01, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001534

38 deaths, 2,230 confirmed infections in another day of highs

Thailand logged 2,230 confirmed cases, including 77 inmates and 21 returnees, and 38 deaths.

Bangkok again leads the list with 864 infections, followed by 253 in Samut Prakan, 166 in Phetchaburi, 164 in Trang and 112 in Nonthaburi.

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration provided no details on the returnees.

Meanwhile, 3,390 patients have recovered and been discharged in the last 24 hours.

As of Tuesday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 162,022. So far, 111,735 have recovered and been discharged, 49,218 patients are still in hospitals and 1,069 have died.

Separately, 40,562 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, while 14,415 people were given their second shot, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in Thailand to 3,644,859.

According to Worldometer, as of 11am on Tuesday, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 171.46 million (up by 359,544), 153.73 million of whom have recovered, 14.17 million are active cases (91,751 in severe condition) and 3.56 million have died (up by 7,886).

Thailand ranks 82nd on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 34.11 million, followed by India 28.17 million, Brazil 16.54 million, France 5.66 million and Turkey 5.24 million.

Published : June 01, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001522

A few thundershowers forecast for all regions as monsoon spell weakens

The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Tuesday that the weak southwest monsoon prevailing over the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf of Thailand, would bring less rain all over the country.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

North: Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 20 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 24-27 degrees Celsius, highs of 35-38°C.

Northeast: Partly cloudy with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 25-27°C, highs of 37-38°C.

Central: Partly cloudy with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 24-27°C, highs of 36-38°C.

East: Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 20 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 24-28°C, highs of 34-37°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

South (east coast): Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 30 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 24-26°C, highs of 32-36°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 30 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 22-26°C, highs of 32-35°C; waves 1-2 metres high and two metres during thundershowers.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Partly cloudy with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 27-28°C, highs of 33-38°C.

Source: Thailand Meteorological Department

Published : June 01, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001521

Prayut admits there have been glitches in vaccine rollout

While visiting the vaccine station on the eighth floor of CentralWorld on Monday, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha admitted that there have been problems in the mass rollout.

However, he said, everybody in Thailand has the right to be vaccinated and that his government’s aim is to provide 50 million jabs in the first phase.

He also admitted that there has been a delay in the delivery of doses as the Covid-19 vaccine is in high demand globally. Besides, he said, it takes the authorities three to four days to check each lot of vaccines for efficacy. Prayut said the rollout has to be managed monthly as the doses are delivered in small lots.

Separately, Supakit Sirilak, director-general of the Department of Medical Sciences, said Siam Biotech has sent AstraZeneca vaccine samples from five lots for testing and they have all passed the test. This means there are 14 lots of AstraZeneca jabs ready for use from June 7, he said. Each lot comprises 1 to 2 million doses.

Published : June 01, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001520

Chiang Mai to open jab booking after reservation app suspended

Vaccination booking is opening in Chiang Mai this week ahead of the nationwide jab rollout from next Monday (June 7).

The new booking service will replace the national Mor Prom registration app, which was shut down last week after a series of glitches.

More than 189,000 at-risk people – those over 60 or with chronic conditions – have already registered for jabs in Chiang Mai. City health officials say residents can book vaccinations at their nearest hospital or via health workers.

Meanwhile, Chiang Mai logged an infection rate of only 0.63 per cent during proactive screening of 9,406 residents from April 18 to May 28, according to provincial disease control chief Songyos Khamchai.

He urged residents to keep their guard up despite the drop in cases, warning there was still risk of outbreaks spreading from other provinces.

Published : June 01, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001519

PTT partners with Foxconn to make electric vehicles in Thailand

National oil and gas conglomerate PTT has partnered with Taiwan’s Foxconn in a deal to produce electric vehicles (EVs) in Thailand.

On Monday, the two companies announced they had signed a memorandum of understanding to manufacture EVs and components at an online ceremony overseen by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

The deal is for an “open platform” that provides hardware and software to Thailand-based automakers, though no details of the size of investment were given.

Foxconn said will tap its own MIH industry-wide alliance of EV manufacturers to boost the platform in Thailand.

“This cooperation with PTT and the Thai government to realise the vision of sustainable development of the EV industry, demonstrates that the MIH ecosystem is growing,” said Foxconn chairman Liu Young-way, as quoted by Reuters.

EV is among Thailand’s S-Curve industries being promoted via Board of Investment (BOI) incentives in areas such as the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).

The BOI approved EV projects worth 161 billion baht in 2020, up 9 per cent from 2018.

Thailand’s National Electric Vehicle Policy Committee has targeted production of 603,000 EVs in 2025 and 1.4 million in 2030.

The country is also eyeing production of lithium-ion batteries – in demand for EVs and renewable power.

Solar power generation is projected to grow 13.9 per cent per year, and wind power generation to grow 13.5 per cent from 2020 to 2027, according to Allied Market Research. Both use lithium-ion batteries.

Krungthai Compass research centre expects the semiconductor business to grow along with the lithium-ion battery market, opening the way for Thailand’s diode and transistor sector, which ranks as the world’s 11th largest exporter.

Published : June 01, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001518

School, hospital solar rooftops can sell power to grid from next year

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has announced it will purchase a total of 50 megawatts of electricity next year from solar systems installed at schools, educational institutions and hospitals, and hydro-generators in the agricultural sector.

The Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) and Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) will buy the electricity at a rate of 1 baht per unit, said ERC secretary-general Komkrit Tantravanich.

The MEA will purchase 6MW from schools and 6MW from hospitals while the PEA will buy 14MW from schools, 14MW from hospitals, and 10MW agricultural hydro-generators.

“I expect applications for power-purchase agreements to exceed the 50MW limit because schools and hospital groups are showing a lot of interest,” said Komkrit.

Applications will be granted on a first come, first served basis, with the names of successful applicants finalised by December 30, 2021. Power producers under the agreement must be generating electricity for the grid by December 31, 2021.

Published : June 01, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001517

No businesses in Bangkok opening until June 14: CCSA

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Monday rescinded the order to allow some businesses to reopen, saying all must remain shut until June 14.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) had decided to allow five types of businesses in Bangkok to reopen under strict conditions as of Tuesday. Its aim was to ease the burden on business owners affected by the third wave of the outbreak.

The types of businesses set to reopen on Tuesday were:

• Museums, learning centres, science parks, historic sites and art galleries (no group visits allowed)

• Tattoo parlours and nail salons (must close for 14 days if any Covid-19 cases are discovered) • Beauty/weight loss clinics or parlours

• Spa, massage parlour and healthcare-related venues (no steam baths or facial massage allowed)

• Public parks and botanical gardens (no food or picnicking allowed)

Meanwhile, measures to curb the spread of the virus in communities, markets and workers’ camps are continuing, BMA said.

Published : May 31, 2021

By : The Nation