Covid-19 fatalities hit a new high, over 2,400 new infections
The Ministry of Public Health on Tuesday morning said that 2,473 people had tested positive for Covid-19 over a 24-hour period, 680 of them in prisons.
The death toll increased by 35, the highest on a single day since the outbreak, while 2,718 patients had been cured and discharged from hospitals.
Cumulative cases in the country rose to 113,555, while the death toll increased to 649.
Australian police confiscate over 300kg crystal meth in cargo ship from Thailand
The Australian Border Force (ABF) on Monday said that it had seized 316 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden in a cargo ship from Thailand that had docked at Port Botany in southeastern Sydney since May 4.
The drug, hidden in cardboard boxes for electric barbeque grills and water heaters, are estimated to be valued at A$100 million or approximately THB2.4 billion.
A joint investigation has been launched by the ABF, Australian Federal Police, New South Wales Police Force’s Organised Crime Squad and New South Wales Commission.
Australian police confiscate over 300kg crystal meth in cargo ship from Thailand
Police officers have urged anyone with information about the consignment to contact Crime Stoppers, but to not report information via police social media pages.
Defence Ministry says not advisable to compare budgets of different ministries, after opposition criticism
The Defence Ministry on Monday said that each ministry has different missions and responsibilities, and therefore the budgets allotted to each of them should not be directly compared.
Ministry spokesman Lt-General Kongcheap Tantrawanich was reacting to an earlier remark by the Opposition questioning why the defence budget for 2022 was higher than that of the Public Health Ministry amid the Covid-19 situation.
“The Defence Ministry has been lowering its budget since 2020, taking into account the current situation,” he said.
“Our 2020 budget was slashed by THB18 billion compared to the previous year, while the 2021 budget dropped further by THB17.2 billion. The trend continues even next year.
“The mission of the Defence Ministry is to defend the country and provide assistance to people in times of crisis, especially during the Covid-19 outbreak where every party must work together,” he added.
“The Army, Navy and Air Force are well aware of the government’s increasing burden because of the pandemic and have cut down unnecessary spending as can be seen from the decreasing budget since 2020,” the spokesman said.
Hot day with isolated thundershowers forecast for upper Thailand, heavy rains in the South
A hot day has been forecast for upper Thailand, with rains and gusty winds expected in the Central, the East and the South’s west coast.
The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Tuesday that the southwest monsoon prevailed over the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand and heavy rains were possible in some areas of the South.
People should beware of severe weather conditions, the department said, while farmers were warned of damage to crops.
The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:
North: Hot to very hot with thundershowers in 20 per cent of the region; gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 23-26 degrees Celsius, highs of 36-39°C.
Northeast: Hot day with thundershowers in 30 per cent of the region; gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 24-26°C, highs of 35-37°C.
Central: Hot day with thundershowers in 30 per cent of the region; gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 24-27°C, highs of 37-39°C.
East: Hot day with thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas; gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 25-28°C, highs of 33-36°C; waves less than a metre high and over a metre during thundershowers.
South (east coast): Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 24-27°C, highs of 33-36°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
South (west coast): Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 24-25°C, highs of 32-35°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
Bangkok and surrounding areas: Hot day with thundershowers in 20 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 26-28°C, highs of 33-37°C.
Covid-sniffing dogs led by volunteers will soon be screening Bangkok communities, as the capital battles record daily cases in Thailand’s third wave of infections.
Juti Krairiksh, Social Development and Human Security Minister, said volunteers were being sent to the sniffer-dog project at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Veterinary Science.
The project team has trained six Labrador retrievers to sniff out Covid-19 in human sweat.
Dr Kewali Chatdarong, Chula’s deputy dean for research and innovation, said the project utilised the dogs’ sense of smell – which is 50 times greater than that of humans – to detect infection in humans. The project was conducted by placing cotton wool and socks into cans for dogs to sniff. The dogs were successfully trained to sit when they detected Covid-19 in sweat on the fabric. The Labradors were found to have an accuracy of 94.8 per cent in detecting asymptomatic patients. The dogs will be used to complement normal screening operations.
Juti said at least two ministry volunteers will be sent to each of Bangkok’s 50 districts, where they will train others to conduct sniffer-dog screening operations. The dogs will offer an alternative, speedy method to testing for Covid-19, especially when it comes to screening bedridden patients.
Amata launches Covid testing centre at massive EEC industrial estate
Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin has visited the recently launched Covid-19 proactive screening centre at the sprawling Amata City Industrial Estate on the border of Rayong and Chonburi. Hundreds of companies operate at the estate, which is considered an industrial powerhouse in the Eastern Economic Corridor.
More than 900 workers from 48 companies have registered for Covid-19 tests at the centre so far, according to Viboon Kromadit, executive director of the estate’s operator, Amata Corporation.
The centre was established by the operator, the ministry, Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand and the nearby Vibharam Amata Nakorn Hospital
“The industrial estate is an important part of the country’s economic system, especially labour, which is the heart of the production line,” Viboon said.
“Therefore, proactive testing points for Covid-19 were established to build confidence in businesses and people surrounding the industrial estate.
“This collaboration to speed up detection of vulnerable and infected people within the industrial estate provides another channel to eliminate risk and forge safety in the industrial estate,” he added.
50,000 inmates set for release as Covid explosion hits Thai prisons
Justice Minister Somsak Thepsutin says about 50,000 prisoners could be released next month as part of urgent plans to tackle the explosion of Covid-19 in Thai prisons.
Somsak was speaking on Monday as overcrowded prisons logged 6,853 new cases, accounting for 71 per cent of Thailand’s daily caseload.
The Department of Corrections is continuing its proactive testing programme in prisons, which have so far recorded a total of 10,384 infections. All prisons will now give weekly reports on the number of inmates infected and recovered from infection, the minister said. The department has also informed the ministry that it needed stocks of Favipiravia and fah talai jone (Andrographis paniculata) to treat infected prisoners.
Meanwhile, a new drugs law before Parliament would enable about 50,000 inmates convicted of non-serious drugs offences to be released wearing electronic monitoring (EM) bracelets, said Somsak.
Thailand has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world, leading to serious prison overcrowding and difficulty in maintaining social distancing necessary to keep Covid-19 from spreading.
Covid jab registration for all Thai adults from May 31; foreigners must wait till Aug
All Thais aged 18-59 can register for a Covid-19 vaccination from May 31, government spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek announced on Monday.
People can register for the jab at the MorPrompt app or Line account, or through public hospitals, health volunteers and other channels. Walk-in registration will also be available as per announcements in each province. Universal registration has been brought forward from July amid record daily numbers of new cases. Registration for the over-60 age group and people with chronic conditions has already opened.
Meanwhile, the Public Health Ministry is also in the process of setting up a vaccination registration system for expats and foreigners working in Thailand. The system is expected to be up and running by August.
Ratchada assured the public that all Covid-19 vaccines registered in Thailand stimulate an effective immune response against the virus.
The country will rely mainly on locally made AstraZeneca vaccine, though it has also approved the Sinovac, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson brands.
Recipients who suffered serious side effects from the vaccination would be compensated by the National Health Security Office (NHSO), Ratchada said.
Data collected for Chiang Mai since April 5 shows only 0.05 per cent of vaccine recipients required hospital treatment for side effects, namely fever.
Covid patient-management centre launched as Bangkok logs record cases
The Erawan Emergency Medical Centre became the headquarters for Covid-19 patient management in Bangkok on Monday, in an upgrade ordered by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).
The upgrade came as Thailand logged a record 9,635 new virus cases on Monday, 6,853 in prisons and 1,843 in Bangkok.
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Permanent Secretary Silapasuay Raweesangsoon said on Monday that three teams were set up to accelerate the patient management:
1. Busarakham Hospital will be responsible for Bangkok’s North and East areas.
2. The reception centre at Nimibutr Stadium will be responsible for Bangkok’s central and southern areas.
3. Bang Khun Thian Geriatric Hospital will be responsible for Thonburi.
“Meanwhile BMA Deputy Permanent Secretary Wanthanee Watthana will propose guidelines to the CCSA,” she said.
Covid patient-management centre launched as Bangkok logs record cases
The BMA will cooperate with relevant authorities to speed up operations so that Covid-19 patients receive medical treatment at hospitals, field hospitals or hospitels as soon as possible, she added.
Covid patient-management centre launched as Bangkok logs record cases
Covid patient-management centre launched as Bangkok logs record cases
Locals in the southern province of Songkhla are training their bulls at the beach while bullfighting rings remain closed as part of Covid-19 restrictions.
Residents of Muang district are getting used to the sight of bulls walking on Chalatat Beach with their owners. Bullfighting is a traditional spectator sport in southern Thailand, but it has none of the blood and gore associated with its Spanish counterpart. Instead of facing matadors armed with cloaks, spears and swords, Thai water buffalo lock horns with each other in a thunderous battle of wills, cheered on by packed stadiums.
However, with the stadiums closed to prevent the spread of Covid-19, some of the bulls and their owners are getting a well-deserved “holiday” at the beach.
Australian police confiscate over 300kg crystal meth in cargo ship from Thailand
Covid patient-management centre launched as Bangkok logs record cases
Covid patient-management centre launched as Bangkok logs record cases
Covid patient-management centre launched as Bangkok logs record cases
