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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001443

Amid continuing surge of Covid-19, Thailand sees over 4,800 new cases

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration on Saturday reported 4,803 new cases, among the highest on a single day since the outbreak, and 34 deaths over a 24-hour period.

The new cases included 2,702 infections found in prisons and 51 overseas travellers in quarantine.

Bangkok led the list with 1,054 cases, followed by 215 in Samut Prakan and 186 in Nonthaburi.

The infected overseas arrivals included 50 Thais – 47 from Cambodia and three from Saudi Arabia. The other case was a Serbian from Serbia.

The Thai capital also led the list of fatalities with 21 deaths, followed by two each in Samut Prakan, Chiang Rai and Pathum Thani, one each in Phetchaburi, Phetchabun, Nonthaburi, Ayutthaya, Ratchaburi, Songkhla and Saraburi provinces.

Meanwhile, 4,434 patients have recovered and been discharged in the last 24 hours.

As of Saturday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 149,779. So far, 102,311 people have recovered and been discharged, 46,480 patients are still in hospitals and 988 have died.

Meanwhile, another 96,599 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, while 60,476 were given their second shot, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in Thailand to 3,504,125.

According to Worldometer, as of 10am on Saturday, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 170.12 million (up by 505,813), 151.95 million of whom have recovered, 14.64 million are active cases (93,398 in severe condition) and 3.53 million have died (up by 11,968).

Thailand ranks 84th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 34.02 million, followed by India 27.71 million, Brazil 16.39 million, France 5.64 million, and Turkey 5.22 million.

Published : May 29, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001440

Green sea phenomenon off Bang Saen baffles observers

A Facebook user has kindled curiosity after he shared on Friday pictures of the greenish seawater at Bang Saen Beach in Chonburi province.

FB user @shopjungbangsaen posted pictures of a greenish sea, saying it looked “exactly like green tea”. The post said that the phenomenon had happened in the last few days.

“This phenomenon is called plankton bloom and is caused by Noctiluca scintillans, a unicellular marine organism of green colour that divides itself faster during this time of year in the Bang Saen sea,” said the post.

Green sea phenomenon off Bang Saen baffles observers

“Besides seeing water that looks like green tea, people visiting Bang Saen will also experience the smell of fish, which will become stronger in the next few days,” the FB post said.

The locals call this phenomenon khee pla wan (whales’ excrement) due to the foul smell.

The post added that the plankton bloom could kill aquatic wildlife in the area, as it also causes a depletion of oxygen levels in the water.

Green sea phenomenon off Bang Saen baffles observers

“Bang Saen sea often experiences this phenomenon during the rainy season. Usually it returns to normal after 3-7 days as the waves will eventually sweep the bloom away,” it said.

Bang Saen Beach is located about 108km east of Bangkok, in Chonburi’s Saen Suk subdistrict, and is highly popular because of its proximity to Bangkok and Pattaya.

Published : May 29, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001439

Bankok among worlds five most overworked cities

Bangkok ranked among the most overworked cities in the world, along with Hong Kong, Buenos Aires, Singapore and Seoul, according to the “Cities with the Best Work-Life Balance 2021” rankings by Kisi.

Tech company Kisi explained that its ranking was organised by “comparing data on work intensity, institutional support, legislation, and livability”.

“The study ranks cities based on their success in promoting work-life balance of their citizens before, during and beyond the pandemic,” Kisi said.

To begin the study, they selected a list of in-demand metropolises worldwide with sufficient, reliable and relevant datasets.

They then finalised a shortlist of 50 cities to include those known for attracting professionals and families for their work opportunities and diverse lifestyle offerings, as well as those which frequently top livability indexes.

Next, Kisi looked into the amount of Covid-related economic support residents received over the last year in each location, as this had an immense impact on their livelihoods.

To determine the extent to which residents receive equal treatment, it also evaluated their access to state-funded health and welfare programmes, as well as institutional support for gender equality and social inclusivity of minorities and the LGBT+ community.

“The study then appraised each city’s livability by examining its affordability as well as its citizens’ overall happiness, safety and access to wellness and leisure venues — allowing us to assess whether its residents can enjoy their environment after office hours under normal circumstances,” Kisi said.

Finally, it looked into the effect of the pandemic on a city’s work-life balance in several key areas — case numbers, the severity of lockdown measures, and economic losses — which were combined to determine an overall “Covid Impact” score.

The result is an index of 18 factors analysing the work-life balance of 50 cities worldwide, recognising those who encourage a healthy balance both directly and indirectly through policies and urban infrastructure, while also bringing attention to those who have been adversely affected by the pandemic, Kisi said.

According to the survey, the five most overworked cities were: Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Buenos Aires and Seoul, in that order.

The top cities in the rankings for best work-life balance were: Helsinki, Oslo, Zurich, Stockholm and Copenhagen.

Published : May 29, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001433

Vaccination begins for vulnerable groups and their caretakers

The Public Health Ministry has started providing Covid-19 vaccine to people in vulnerable groups at Sirindhorn National Medical Rehabilitation Institute in Nonthaburi province.

“In the pilot phase, we expect to vaccinate 500 people who are visually impaired and aged over 60 years or having underlying health problems, along with their caretakers,” Deputy Health Minister Satit Pituthecha said on Friday.

“Sixty registered candidates will be invited to the vaccination unit per day starting from Thursday until the inoculation target is reached.”

Vaccination begins for vulnerable groups and their caretakers

Satit said the ministry had told the Department of Mental Health to provide vaccination to people who have mental issues, such as autism, Down Syndrome, attention deficit disorder, as well as their family members or caretakers who live in the same residence, starting from Saturday.

“The vaccine will be provided at Rajanukul Institute in Bangkok’s Din Daeng district. Eligible people must reside in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan or Pathum Thani provinces and be aged over 18 years,” he added.

Vaccination begins for vulnerable groups and their caretakers

“The ministry will soon provide vaccine to people with other kinds of disabilities who live in other provinces to make sure that people in vulnerable groups are safe from Covid-19,” said Satit.

Statistics from the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security indicated that as of March 31, over 2.09 million people with disabilities had registered with the ministry, or 3.21 per cent of total population. Of these, 49.8 per cent have movement disability, while 18.8 per cent are hearing impaired and 9.1 per cent are visually impaired.

Published : May 29, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001427

Chiang Mai tightens screening measures for travellers from red zone provinces

The Chiang Mai Communicable Disease committee on Friday announced that people travelling from provinces in the red zone — highest control area based on number of Covid-19 infections — must register via CM-Chana application at least 24 hours before entering the province from June 1.

They must present the evidence of registration to officials upon entry.

The red zone provinces are: Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan.

“Visitors from these provinces must strictly follow the guidelines provided by CM-Chana platform via SMS during the entire time of their stay in the province,” the announcement said.

Meanwhile, Chiang Mai locals who return home from these provinces after work, study or delivery must quarantine themselves for 14 days, while those who need to enter Chiang Mai for a brief period or for product delivery will be observed by Chiang Mai disease control officers.

Chiang Mai reported six new infections on Friday, with cumulative cases in the province at 4,082 since the new wave started in April, 3,888 people have been cured and discharged, 171 people are undergoing treatment and 32 people have died.

Published : May 29, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001424

Thundershowers forecast for Bangkok, isolated heavy rains in North, Central and South

Thundershowers are forecast for all regions of the country with isolated heavy rains in the North, the Central and the South, the Thailand Meteorological Department said on Saturday.

The southwest monsoon prevailing across the Andaman Sea, the South and the Gulf of Thailand is weakening, the department said.

Waves 2-3 metres high and above three metres during thundershowers are expected in the Andaman Sea. All ships should proceed with caution, while small boats should keep ashore, the department said.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 30 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 25-27 degrees Celsius, highs of 32-36°C.

North: Cloudy with thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas and isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 24-26°C, highs of 34-37°C.

Northeast: Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 24-26°C, highs of 33-36°C.

Central: Cloudy with thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas and isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 23-26°C, highs of 34-37°C.

East: Cloudy with thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 24-26°C, highs of 32-36°C; waves 1-2 metres high and over two metres during thundershowers.

South (east coast): Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas and isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 24-25°C, highs of 34-35°C; waves 1-2 metres high and two metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Thundershowers in 70 per cent of the areas and isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 22-24°C, highs of 30-33°C; waves 2-3 metres high and over three metres during thundershowers.

Source: Thailand Meteorological Department

Published : May 29, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001421

Royal Academy to import 1 million Sinopharm doses next month

Chulabhorn Royal Academy (CRA) said on Friday it expects to import about 1 million doses of China’s Sinopharm vaccine in June.

The move comes after the FDA approved the vaccine for emergency use in Thailand, with Bio Genetech Ltd registered as the importer. The academy was granted the power to procure alternative vaccines as per an announcement in the Royal Gazette earlier this week.

The first batch of about 1 million doses is expected to be delivered by June, while the CRA will cooperate with the Public Health Ministry on vaccine distribution and insurance.

CRA secretary-general Dr Nithi Mahanonda said government and private organisations had already expressed interest in purchasing vaccine from the academy.

“We are considering offering vaccination to organisations or hotels and enable all sectors to operate their business,” he said.

The CRA will also seek other Covid-19 vaccines for study and research in a bid to contain the spread of virus as soon as possible, he added.

Meanwhile, CRA was negotiating a price for the vaccine based on production, delivery and storage costs.

Nithi insisted the academy would not make any profit from the Covid-19 jabs.

The Sinopharm brand is an inactivated vaccine, like Sinovac and Covaxin.

It is registered for use on people aged 18 and over, with 65 million doses administered so far in China, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan and Hungary.

Sinopharm is the sixth vaccine approved for emergency use by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which says it is 79 per cent effective against symptomatic Covid-19 infection. The vaccine can also be stored in a refrigerator at 2-8 degrees Celsius.

Royal Academy to import 1 million Sinopharm doses next month

Published : May 28, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001420

No such thing as a ‘Thai variant’, says Mahidol scientist

The so-called “Thai variant” of Covid-19 reported in the UK this week did not actually come from Thailand, a leading Thai scientist said on Friday.

The C36.3 Covid-19 variant does not originate from Thailand because it has not spread in the country yet, said Dr Wasan Chantratit, head of Mahidol University’s Centre for Medical Genomics.

He spoke after Public Health England reported 109 cases of the new C36.3 variant from Thailand had been detected in the UK.

Dr Wasan explained that Thailand had found the C36.3 strain in a 33-year-old man on his return from Egypt in January. The man had recovered and C36.3 had been eliminated from Thailand, he added.

A Covid variant must have spread in a country before that country is named as its origin, Wasan explained.

“Also, we don’t know where the returnee travelled after being discharged and visiting Britain.”

Published : May 28, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001419

Three kids left alone in Bangkok flat after mother hospitalised, grandfather dies of Covid

Officials are caring for three children who were left alone in a Bangkok flat after their grandfather died of Covid-19 and their mother was taken to hospital.

On Friday, officials from the Social Development and Human Security Ministry visited the children at their third-floor flat in Building 49 of the National Housing Authority project in Din Daeng district.

They evaluated the mental state of the children and made sure they had necessities including food.

“The children said their grandfather, who had also contracted Covid-19, passed away in the apartment shortly after the ambulance took their mother to hospital,” said Anukul Pidkaew, the ministry’s deputy permanent-secretary.

“We have coordinated with the National Housing Authority to disinfect the areas around the apartment.”

Anukul added that the youngest child, aged 5, also tested positive for the virus and was being admitted to hospital.

“Social workers will come in to check on the other two siblings regularly. We have also given them advice on how to stay safe from Covid-19 as they are in a high-risk group,” he said.

“The children confirmed that they can live by themselves in the apartment,” he added.

“The ministry is preparing shelters for people in vulnerable groups who have been affected by the Covid-19 outbreak, such as seniors, the disabled and homeless people,” said Anukul.

Those who required assistance should contact the ministry’s 24-hour hotline at 1300, he said.

Published : May 28, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001418

Bankruptcy court delays hearing on THAI rehab plan till June 15

The Central Bankruptcy Court on Friday postponed the hearing on Thai Airways International’s rehabilitation plan to June 15.

The delay was to allow further consideration of creditors’ opposition to the plan, the airline said in a statement. Two creditors filed complaints against the plan.

On May 19, creditors holding 91.56 per cent of THAI’s debt accepted the airline’s restructuring plan to be reviewed by the court.

THAI has registered total debt of THB245 billion, much of it racked up in the decade before the Covid-19 crisis grounded international flights and wrecked airlines’ balance sheets.

Published : May 28, 2021

By : THE NATION