Isolated thundershowers forecast for parts of Bangkok, upper Thailand and the South
The southwesterly and southeasterly winds prevail over the North, the Northeast, the East and the Central regions. A hot day with thundershowers and gusty winds in some areas are forecast, the Thailand Meteorological Department said on Monday.
Meanwhile, the easterly and the southerly winds prevail across the South and the Gulf of Thailand, leading to thundershowers and isolated heavy rain in the South.
The weather forecast for the next 24 hours is as follows:
North: Hot to very hot day with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the region; gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 23-28 degrees Celsius, highs of 36-40°C.
Northeast: Hot day with thundershowers in 40 per cent of the region; gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 24-28°C, highs of 36-38°C.
Central: Hot day with thundershowers in 20 per cent of the region; gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 26-28°C, highs of 37-39°C.
East: Hot day with thundershowers in 30 per cent of the region; gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 25-28°C, highs of 34-38°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
South (east coast): Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 25-27°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 22-27°C, highs of 34-35°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
Bangkok and surrounding areas: Hot day with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 27-29°C, highs of 35-38°C.
Thai fruit and durian exporters explore Dongxing checkpoint to enter Chinese market
Some 275 tons of fruit smoothly crossed the Dongxing checkpoint, offering a new land route option for Thai exporters to enter the Chinese market.
Afleet of 13 trucks transported 275 tons of dragon fruit, jackfruit and Thai durian from Vietnam’s Maung Kai checkpoint to Dongxing checkpoint in southern China. The products went through Dongxing Customs smoothly on Friday.
“The Dongxing checkpoint will become a new option for Thai companies to export fruit to the Chinese market,” said Benjamas Tanvetyanont, Thai consul-general in Nanning, China.
“Economic growth and agriculture between the two countries would benefit,” she said.
Nong Li Ching, a fruit importer, said that when there was news that the Dongxing Highway Checkpoint — the second bridge over the Pei Lun River — was open for importing fruit, they hurriedly arranged for import of durian, which is now in season.
Customs clearance at this checkpoint is fast, allowing them to quickly deliver fruit to consumers.
The Dongxing checkpoint permits the import of nine types of fresh Vietnamese fruit, such as mangosteen and dragon fruit, as well as 22 types of fresh Thai fruit, such as durian and rose apple, with additional fruit types to be imported in the future especially from Asean countries.
Nakhon Ratchasima closes 200-bed field hospital as infections decline
A temporary 200-bed field hospital inside the National Gymnasium Hall, the 80th anniversary of the Chaloem Phra Kiat Stadium, in Nakhon Ratchasima would be closed due to declining Covid-19 cases, provincial Governor Wichian Chantarontai said on Sunday.
The decision was made by the Nakhon Ratchasima Communicable Disease Committee, the governor said. The province has had 799 cumulative infections and 287 patients were still undergoing treatment.
Nakhon Ratchasima closes 200-bed field hospital as infections decline
He said that Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital and hospitals in each district have enough beds to accommodate patients.
The 200-bed field hospital had started accepting mild cases since April 16. After the last nine cases were cured, doctors have been allowed to go home.
“It is only temporarily closed. As for the medical equipment and the beds for patients, they are not being moved at all,” the governor said.
Recently, Nakhon Ratchasima province was placed in the Orange Zone. Restrictions will be eased from May 17. Restaurants can allow dining in, convenience stores can be open 24 hours and stadiums can open for activities, although entertainment venues would remain closed.
The province has arranged 51 service points for people across 32 districts to meet the target of 40,000 vaccinations per day, the governor said.
Bangkok to have 25 vaccination centres by end of May
Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang on Sunday visited Central Plaza Ladprao in Chatuchak district to oversee the inoculation of Covid-19 vaccines to Bangkok Mass Transit Authority public transport drivers.
He was accompanied by officials from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).
The vaccination point on Central Plaza Ladprao’s third floor will operate from 8am-5pm, injecting up to 1,200 people per day.
BMA and the Board of Trade have opened vaccination stations at three locations so far — Central Plaza Ladprao, The Mall Bang Kapi and Samyan Mitrtown. Both authorities aim to open 25 vaccination stations by the end of May.
The jabs are currently being administered to registered medical staff and at-risk frontline workers such as teachers, bus drivers, garbage collectors, delivery and daycare centre staff before being rolled out to the general public in June.
Bangkok to have 25 vaccination centres by end of May
Officials are preparing 25 vaccination stations in Bangkok at the following locations:
1. University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce
2. Bhumirajanagarindra Kidney Institute Hospital
3. SCG Bangsue
4. Central Plaza Ladprao
5. Siam Commercial Bank Head Office
6. Sripatum University
7. Central Festival Eastville
8. Central Plaza Pinklao
9. Iconsiam
10. Tesco Lotus Pinklao
11. PTT Station, Rama II
12. The Mall Bang Khae
13. Big C Bangbon
14. Samyan Mitrtown
15. Thanya Park
16. True Digital Park
17. Asiatique
18. CentralWorld
19. Siam Paragon
20. Tesco Lotus Rama IV
21. Emporium
22. The Mall Bang Kapi
23. Robinson Lifestyle Lat Krabang
24. Tesco Lotus Minburi
25. Big C Romklao
Once up and running, the 25 centres will be able to vaccinate 38,000-50,000 people per day. The vaccination points will operate for seven months in a bid to achieve herd immunity.
Bangkok to have 25 vaccination centres by end of May
The BMA also advised people to register via the Mor Phrom (Doctors Ready) application and prepare their ID card before entering the vaccination station. If they don’t have the app, medical staff will conduct the follow-up.
Bangkok to have 25 vaccination centres by end of May
Thailand crosses 100,000 mark with 2,302 new Covid-19 cases and 24 deaths
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration on Sunday reported 2,302 new cases, including 23 overseas arrivals, and 24 deaths over a 24-hour period.
Bangkok again led the list of most cases with 1,218, followed by 243 in Pathum Thani and 117 in Samut Prakan.
Eight of the deaths were in Bangkok, two each in Chonburi, Pathum Thani, and Kanchanaburi, one each in Chiang Mai, Si Sa Ket, Ratchaburi, Samut Prakan, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Sawan, Phichit, Rayong, Nakhon Nayok and Ayutthaya provinces.
Of the fatalities, 13 were men and 11 women. The ages of those who succumbed to the virus ranged from 39 to 91. All of them reportedly suffered from chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, etc. The source of infection was mostly found in family, contact with a patient, travel to a risk area and contact with co-workers.
Seven overseas travellers from Sweden, United Kingdom, Austria, Germany, Philippines, Cambodia and Myanmar were found positive in quarantine, while 16 crossed the border from Malaysia, and Cambodia.
Dr Apisamai Srirangsan, the spokesperson of the CCSA, told a press conference that most of the illegal border crossers were Thais. The officials are now trying to convince these people to enter the country legally since it might affect virus control measures.
Meanwhile, 2,136 patients have recovered and been discharged in the last 24 hours. So far, 65,803 have recovered and been discharged, 35,055 patients are still in hospitals, and 589 have died.
As of Sunday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 101,447. Of these, 94,089 had been contracted locally while 3,325 were returnees.
According to Worldometer, as of 11am on Sunday, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 163.17 million (up by 627.221), 141.46 million of whom have recovered, there are 18.3 million active cases (102,953 in severe condition) and 3.38 million have died (up by 11,823).
Thailand ranks 92nd on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 33.69 million, followed by India 24.68 million, Brazil 15.59 million, France 5.86 million, and Turkey 5.1 million.
Meanwhile, 17,334 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, while 6,396 people were given their second shot, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in Thailand to 2,242,150.
Siriraj doctor calls for strict monitoring as govt eases lockdown measures
A senior medical expert has expressed concern over relaxation in containment measures coming into effect from Monday despite the high number of daily cases.
Assoc Prof Nithiphat Chiarakun, head of the Department of Respiratory Diseases and Tuberculosis at Siriraj Hospital, shared his opinion on his personal Facebook page.
He said the current situation in Bangkok and its vicinity remained worrisome due to the number of new cases daily, the number of patients seriously ill and using ventilators, as well as fatalities.
He said there was limited availability of primary hospital beds for severe and critical pneumonia patients. There is also a rapid increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in prisons.
He urged all parties to work together to stop these problems by speeding up proactive virus testing in vulnerable areas, then separating the patients from the community; enhancing access to all people without any restrictions on social, ethnic or religious grounds.
Nithiphat said the government sector must strictly monitor and enforce the law when easing measures, while warning that the medical sector was overwhelmed by the workload.
He said the government sector needed to quickly understand the situation and provide rapid and comprehensive vaccination of the population.
There have been concerns after the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration announced relaxation measures, which will come into effect from Monday, as daily cases have remained in four digits.
New regulations allow some relaxation in wearing masks during meetings
The government has allowed conditional relaxation in wearing a face mask during meetings.
The Government Gazette website published the conditions issued under Section 9 of the Public Administration in Emergency Situations 2005.
The announcement says that people are required to wear a mask when out of home or in public places organising events with high numbers of participants and physical proximity.
If a group of persons are required to attend a meeting in a particular location for a long and continuous period of time, wearing a mask can be inconvenient and hinder performance. There is relaxation if the meeting prescribes screening measures based on disease prevention measures, social distance is maintained, the attendees are wearing a mask and show a Covid-19 test certificate of being free from infection. In these situations, the meeting supervisor may waive only during discussions or expressing of opinions at the meeting as appropriate in the circumstances.
Meanwhile, the colour-coded zones reflecting infection risk in different provinces has also been revised.
The number of provinces in the dark red zone, or highest control area, has been reduced to four provinces: Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan. In these provinces, restaurants cannot be open later than 3pm, and the number of customers served at the site, should not exceed 25 per cent of capacity. Takeaway orders can be served until 11pm.
The maximum control area, or red zone, has 17 provinces: Kanchanaburi, Chonburi, Chachoengsao, Tak, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ayutthaya, Phetchaburi, Yala, Ranong, Rayong, Ratchaburi, Samut Sakhon, Songkhla and Surat Thani.
Restaurants in the red zone can open no later than 11 pm and consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in the store.
Regulated area, or orange zone, now includes 56 provinces. People can eat at the restaurant as usual, but consumption of alcoholic beverages in the shop is prohibited.
Vaccination in Phuket to be speeded up ahead of July 1 reopening to foreign tourists
The government would accelerate vaccination in Phuket to create herd immunity before reopening the country to foreign tourists on July 1 this year, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Saturday.
He was speaking after overseeing the operation to administer Covid-19 vaccines to people in the province.
Anutin and government officials also delivered Sinovac vaccines, Fah Talai Jone (Andrographis Paniculata) medicine and personal protective equipment to medical staff at Vachira Phuket Hospital.
Phuket is the first province under the government’s plan to reopen the country to foreign tourists in a bid to boost the country’s economy.
To achieve the goal Anutin said 70 per cent of the province’s population, or 466,587 people aged 18 and above, tourism staff and immigrant workers, must receive their Covid-19 jab.
He added that the government would administer the first jab for them by June and the second jab by August.
“So far, the government has delivered 203,480 doses of vaccines to Phuket; 100,700 people have received their first jab and 93,265 people their second jab,” he said.
He added that about 350,000 doses of vaccines would be delivered to the province this month in a bid to create herd immunity and gain confidence among foreign tourists.
“The government and private agencies have already prepared measures to support the plan to reopen the country in every aspect,” he added.
Asean sees rise in Covid-19 patients, but fewer deaths
The number of new Covid-19 cases in the Asean region on Saturday was higher than on the previous day, but fatalities were lower. Vietnam, meanwhile, reported its first death from Covid-19 since September last year.
Asean on Saturday had 16,990 cases compared to 16,350 on Friday. The number of Covid-19-related fatalities on Saturday was 299 compared to 314 the previous day.
Malaysia reported 4,140 new patients and 44 deaths, bringing cumulative patients and deaths in the country to 466,330 and 1,866 respectively.
The Malaysian government asked people who did not have travel plans to get their Covid-19 jab immediately to prevent risk of the virus spreading after the country saw record number of deaths on a single day.
Asean sees rise in Covid-19 patients, but fewer deaths
Singapore reported 31 new patients, bringing cumulative cases in the country to 61,536, while 61,047 had recovered and been discharged. Changi Airport, meanwhile, launched measures to arrange passengers based on the Covid-19 situation in each country to ensure the safety of passengers.
Vietnam reported 169 new patients, the highest in a day, bringing cumulative cases in the country to 3,985, while 2,668 had recovered and been discharged. The country’s first fatality was an 89-year-old woman who had diabetes and high blood pressure.
Nakhon Ratchasima closes 200-bed field hospital as infections decline
Bangkok to have 25 vaccination centres by end of May
Bangkok to have 25 vaccination centres by end of May
Bangkok to have 25 vaccination centres by end of May
Asean sees rise in Covid-19 patients, but fewer deaths
