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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001139

Thailand logs 32 deaths, 3,481 new cases on Friday

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Friday reported 32 deaths and 3,481 new cases, including 12 overseas arrivals, over the past 24 hours.

Bangkok led the list again with 1,036 cases, followed by 457 in Samut Prakan, 163 in Nonthaburi, 162 in Pathum Thani and 127 in Chonburi.

Of the fatalities, 15 were in Bangkok, six in Nonthaburi, two in Samut Sakhon, and one each in Nakhon Pathom, Phatthalung, Surin, Yala, Nakhon Ratchasima, Samut Prakan, Roi Et, Phang Nga and Nakhon Si Thammarat.

Meanwhile, 2,868 patients have recovered and been discharged in the last 24 hours.

As of Friday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 123,066. So far, 79,504 patients have recovered and been discharged, 42,827 are still in hospitals and 735 have died.

Separately, 78,560 people have been given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, while 29,580 people were given their second shot, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in Thailand to 2,648,256.

According to Worldometer, as of 11am on Friday, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 165.84 million (up by 651,684), 146.52 million of whom have recovered, 15.88 million are active cases (99,233 in severe condition) and 3.44 million have died (up by 13,032).

Thailand ranks 91 on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 33.83 million, followed by India 25.03 million, Brazil 15.89 million, France 5.56 million, and Turkey 5.16 million.

Published : May 21, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001141

Office of National buddhism launches first online platform for Thais

Office of National buddhism (ONAB) is working with IsWhere.com to allow any Buddhist to make merit online and send prayers to any temples. Consumers select temples and choose the services needed and donate online using their credit card

Due to Covid times, Office of National Buddhism (ONAB) is working with IsWhere.com to allow any Buddhist to make merit online and send prayers to any temples. This new service allows all Thai people to find their favorite temple. Consumers select temples and choose the services needed and donate online using their credit card.

The aim of signing this MOU is to work closely with ONAB to develop many new services to connect the public to the temples. To use these services, consumers can visit iswhere.com Enter the name of temple and select the following services.

• e-Donation: You can make merit to any temples in Thailand

• e-Prayer : You can send a prayer for your wish to your favorite temple

By going online, consumers can make merit without travelling from home and send prayers anytime safely and securely.

Office of National buddhism launches first online platform for Thais

Director of the Office of National Buddhism, Mr. Narong Song-arom, says, “Working with IsWhere allows us to go quickly to market to support digitization of Buddhism. In the near future, Temples themselves can upload content, videos and their own charity campaign and consumers can easily find more information and everything about each temple online. To support this project, IsWhere will be a digital media channel connecting Buddhism. ONAB invites all Thais and corporates to kindly support the digital temple project through donations at iswhere.com/onab. All funds received will be used to administer and support this project and excess funds donated to the Phutthamonthon fund for public usage and to be a center of digital Buddhism”.

Mr.Terence Mak, Founder & CEO of IsWhere, said: “As of today, Thailand has the second largest Buddhist population in the world. IsWhere platform is ready to serve over 60 million Thais. We welcome sponsors to help us roll out the technology to make this historical project a success for ONAB and all the temples across Thailand. IsWhere technology can also be used to support other industries in Thailand. Merchants who wish to join us for this upcoming launch of the Digital Temple, register free at iswhere.com

Interested to support Digital Temple? Please contact K.Metee Veerapat at 098-641-5144 or email: metee@iswhere.com

About IsWhere

IsWhere (www.iswhere.com) is the worlds 1st digital marketing platform that allows any Government Department, Associations and all retail and tourism merchants to launch self-service digital marketing campaigns to quickly and affordably reach online consumers.

About Office of National Buddhism (ONAB)

Office of National Buddhism is a government agency that directly report to the Prime Minister. Established on 3rd October 2002, with a mission to respond to the Sangha and the State. Objective is maintaining and promote Buddhism, provides patronage, protect, and promote the development of Buddhism religion, maintain, manage religious treasures. Develop Phutthamonthon to become the center of Buddhism as well as to support and promote religious personnel development.

Published : May 21, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001137

BTSC’s demand for BMA to pay up goes viral

Images of a message displayed on BTS train calling on the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to pay its 30-billion-baht debt went viral on Thai social media on Thursday.

The message displayed on monitors in Bangkok’s Skytrain system read: “The Bangkok Metropolitan Authority [BMA] and its subordinate Krungthep Thanakom have not paid us the 10 billion baht owed for the operation of the BTS system and another 20 billion baht for the installation of the train line’s electric and mechanical systems. This money is owed for the extension of the Green Line in Bangkok and its vicinity.

“We have tried everything to continue running our service even though we have not been paid for the operation and the other expenses we have been burdened with. We call on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to attend to this problem and find a way of solving it.”

BTSC’s demand for BMA to pay up goes viral

In April, BTS operator Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTSC) had posted a video on YouTube asking the BMA to pay up. In the video, BTSC says it has tried its best to take responsibility as well as offer solutions but said there are problems within problems that it cannot solve.

Later in the month, BTS director Surapong Laoha-Unya announced that BTSC was getting ready to file a lawsuit against the BMA at the Central Administrative Court over the outstanding debt.

Published : May 21, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001136

Buri Ram’s PPE heroes and their ‘super saleng’

Medics from Buri Ram’s Phrakhon Chai hospital beat the heat by driving a “saleng” or sidecar to locals’ homes to test them for Covid-19.

The medics took a sidecar to people’s homes on May 16.

Prasit Paprakon, a medic at the hospital, said he and his colleagues had finished testing 59 locals, but six persons could not leave their homes.

So, he decided to borrow a sidecar to drive to their homes.

He said that was the only way he and other medics in PPE suits could beat the sweltering heat.

Published : May 21, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001134

ONCB joins Australian probe into huge meth haul found on cargo ship from Thailand

Thailand’s Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) will work with Australia Federal Police (AFP) in investigating the syndicate behind the 316kg of methamphetamine found on a cargo ship from Thailand.

ONCB secretary-general Wichai Chaimongkol said the cargo had been loaded on a Chinese vessel, which left Laem Chabang on March 25.

“The cargo was then transferred to a Portuguese vessel in Singapore and arrived in Australia on April 30,” he said.

ONCB joins Australian probe into huge meth haul found on cargo ship from Thailand

The Australian Border Force intercepted the vessel on May 4 when it docked at Port Botany in Sydney. They found 316 kilos of crystalised meth or “ice” hidden in 62 large cardboard boxes labelled as food items and electric barbeque grills. The drug haul is estimated to have a street value of 94.5 million Australian dollars, or about THB2.29 billion.

“The ONCB have contacted related agencies at Thai embassies overseas to submit financial records and statements of those who are involved with the cargo ship,” said Wichai.

“We have also summoned the truck driver who had delivered the cardboard boxes to the ship for questioning. We believe that arrest warrants for those who are behind the operation will be issued very soon.”

ONCB joins Australian probe into huge meth haul found on cargo ship from Thailand

Wichai added that the ONCB and AFP have been exchanging intelligence relating to international drug trafficking, money laundering and other crime syndicates to ensure effective law enforcement in the Asia-Australia regions.

Published : May 21, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001132

Nearly 3,500 new Covid-19 cases and 32 deaths

The Ministry of Public Health on Friday morning reported 3,481 new patients in the past 24 hours, 951 of them in prisons, and 32 deaths.

Meanwhile 2,868 patients were cured and discharged from hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country have risen to 123,066 while 735 people have died.

Published : May 21, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001129

Phuket getting ready for tourism sandbox campaign

Deputy Phuket governor Phichet Panaphong on Thursday held a meeting with the communicable disease committee, provincial public health office and representatives from the private sector at the city hall to discuss preparations and progress of the “Phuket Tourism Sandbox” campaign to be launched on July 1.

Under the sandbox scheme, tourists who can verify they have been inoculated with two doses against Covid-19 and test negative can fly into Phuket and move around freely without having to quarantine.

Similar schemes will be applied to other tourist destinations like Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Phang Nga and Surat Thani later when more people have been vaccinated and more preventive measures have been put in place.

Phuket getting ready for tourism sandbox campaign

“Tourists must provide the test result not later than 72 hours prior to arrival, and they will be tested again at the airport when they land,” said Phichet. “They can move freely in Phuket for seven nights before they can travel to other parts of the country.”

Dr Chaloemphol Sukhanthaphol, director of Vachira Phuket Hospital, added that the province had received 400,000 doses of Sinovac vaccine from the government and had already inoculated about 100,000 people since May 18.

Phuket getting ready for tourism sandbox campaign

“We expect to give 200,000 doses for the first jab from May 18 to 31, while the rest will be given as second jab from June onwards,” he said. “Also in June, another 150,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine will arrive. This will help us achieve the goal of inoculating 70 per cent of the population faster as AstraZeneca vaccine can increase immunity against Covid-19 by up to 70 per cent after the first jab.”

Phichet added that besides inoculating 70 per cent of Phuket locals, the province will also prepare hospitals and medical professionals in case of an unexpected event after the sandbox programme starts.

Phuket getting ready for tourism sandbox campaign

“We will prepare for the new era of tourism, whereas the quality of the tourists is the main focus instead of quantity. From now on Phuket’s tourism will be clean, safe, fair and environmentally friendly,” he said.

The deputy governor then answered inquiries from local entrepreneurs who attended the meeting and promised to use their suggestions in adjusting the framework of the sandbox campaigns before submitting it to the Cabinet and Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration for approval.

Published : May 21, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001130

Public hearings on Universal Coverage Scheme being held online amid pandemic

The National Health Security Office (NHSO) is holding virtual public hearings to improve the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) and answer stakeholders needs, a senior official has said.

The NHSO has not suspended its public hearings despite the Covid-19 third wave in Thailand, said Dr Jedsada Chokdamrongsuk, chairman of NHSO’s subcommittee for communication and public hearing.

“Public hearing is at the heart of UCS’s establishment. The NHSO is committed to engage all stakeholders in its decision-making process as described in Article 18 of the National Health Security Act, which became effective in 2002,” he said.

The NHSO has annually run public hearings to get feedback and hear suggestions from UCS stakeholders, including health providers, patient groups, local administrative organisations, and vulnerable populations.

This year, a series of public hearings from early March to June, are held mainly via Facebook Live and Zoom due to the pandemic. The hearings have been held in four out of 13 NHSO regional areas such as region 13 (Bangkok), region 10 (Ubon Ratchathani), region 9 (Nakhon Ratchasima), and region 8 (Udon Thani), he said.

Public hearings on Universal Coverage Scheme being held online amid pandemic

The NHSO plans to organise virtual public hearings in the rest of the regional areas by the end of May. All opinions will be gathered, analysed, and put in policy recommendations to be discussed during the national-level public hearing on June 25, Dr Jedsada said.

There are seven main issues to be discussed: the scope of public health services provided under UCS, the standard of health services, UCS fund management, NHSO’s operation, Community Health Fund management, stakeholders’ participation, health literacy, and healthcare rights protection, he said.

Public hearings on Universal Coverage Scheme being held online amid pandemic

“Since the introduction of UCS 18 years ago, we have put in consistent efforts to improve the scheme by increasing the benefits package coverage, improving healthcare access, and healthcare rights protection for the beneficiaries,” Dr Jedsada said.

“We are well aware that public hearing gives the UCS ownership to all stakeholders, which make it a crucial element that brings sustainability to the UCS,” he said.

Published : May 21, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001122

Ministry to probe gunfire at helicopter in Phetchaburi national park

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Warawut Silpa-archa on Thursday vowed to investigate the incident of a helicopter of Kaeng Krachan National Park being shot at while surveying the Phetchaburi national park on Wednesday.

Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation chief Thanya Netithamkul said on Thursday that he had reported the matter to the minister.

“The shooting is a serious crime against national park rangers and will be met with swift legal action,” Thanya said.

Ministry to probe gunfire at helicopter in Phetchaburi national park

Six national park officers were in an AS350 helicopter, on a monthly survey of the forest and looking out for any encroachment.

The pilot reportedly saw a man and a woman dashing into a hut that was built in a protected area after they spotted the chopper approaching. The man subsequently ran out with a homemade gun and fired a round towards the rear of the helicopter.

After the incident, the pilot landed the chopper at the Jai Phaen Din ranger base about 7 kilometres away. No officers were injured but the helicopter has a 4-5 cemtimetre long scratch mark on the left side below the window.

Ministry to probe gunfire at helicopter in Phetchaburi national park

Lt-Colonel Thanom Sirimuang who piloted the chopper said that he suspected that the chopper was shot by a shotgun, judging from the gun’s length and smoke that came out of the barrel.

The department has also filed a case at Kaeng Krachan Police Station to track down the shooter and the woman, who were believed to be encroaching on national forest lands.

Published : May 21, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001121

No workers escaped Covid-hit Bangkok camp

Officials have denied a rumour that workers have escaped from a Bangkok construction camp that has been sealed off after an outbreak of Covid-19.

The outbreak was reported last Thursday (May 13) at a camp in Lak Si district run by Italian-Thai Development Plc.

By yesterday, 1,060 of the 1,667 workers in the camp had tested positive for Covid-19. Of those infected, 819 have been sent to hospital while the rest are isolating within the sealed camp. Authorities are delivering three meals a day to the groups of infected and non-infected workers at the camp, who have been separated from each other.

Police and soldiers guarding the workers told reporters that no one had escaped from the camp, despite the rumours. They added that anyone caught escaping faces up to one year in jail and a maximum fine of THB100,000.

Published : May 21, 2021

By : The Nation