The Bangkok governor led a teleconference on Thursday with relevant city authorities to prepare for this year’s rainy season, which is forecast to start in the second week of May and will last until mid-October.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Department of Drainage and Sewerage has, so far, repaired flood protection barriers along the Chao Phraya River as well as Bangkok Noi and Maha Sawat canals. It has also placed sandbags in areas where barriers have not been constructed and is cooperating with the Royal Irrigation Department and National Water Command Centre on monitoring the water situation.
The readiness of drainage tunnels and pumping stations in all 50 districts of Bangkok has been checked, the water level in canals reduced, pumps set up in flood-prone areas and sewers and canals dredged to ensure efficient drainage.
Bangkok braces for rainy seasonBangkok braces for rainy season
Officials are on standby and equipment has been readied to deal with floods.
Bangkok braces for rainy seasonBangkok braces for rainy season
Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang has also urged the Department of Drainage and Sewerage as well as district offices to remove sandbags after the rainy season as they will obstruct water flow.
Pro-democracy leader Panusaya taken for medical treatment as court grants bail
Pro-democracy protest leader Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul was released from Klong Prem Central Prison after being granted bail by the Criminal Court on Thursday evening.
Panusaya was detained on charges of sedition and illegal gathering among others for her alleged role in the anti-establishment rally on September 19 last year.
Her mother had on Thursday morning presented a guarantee of Bt200,000 to seek her release for medical treatment, after Rung reportedly became weaker following several days of fasting.
Panusaya reportedly started skipping dinner since March 30 after she was been denied bail.
Pro-democracy leader Panusaya taken for medical treatment as court grants bail
The court has granted her temporary release on the condition that she must not repeat the offences for which she has been charged, she must not participate in any activities that could cause disorder in society, she must not leave the country without the court’s permission, and she must be present along with her lawyer every time the court summons her.
Panusaya was seen leaving the prison in a personal car at 5pm, without speaking to the media. Her family reportedly said that they would take her to a hospital for treatment immediately.
Pro-democracy leader Panusaya taken for medical treatment as court grants bail
Third phase of shopping subsidy scheme to cover 16 million people
The government’s shopping subsidy scheme, “Kon La Kreung” (Lets Go Halves) will open soon for the third phase, covering 16 million people, Fiscal Policy Office director-general Kulaya Tantitemit said on Thursday.
“Those who had already registered in the first and second phases of the campaign totalling 15 million people need not register again,” said Kulaya, who is also Ministry of Finance spokeswoman.
“The starting date of registration will be announced soon.”
Under the scheme, registered users will get 50 per cent discount on their daily purchases at up to Bt150 per day, capped at Bt3,500 per month.
Kulaya added that “Let’s Go Halves” is part of measures aimed at stimulating the economy and helping alleviate people’s financial burden during the latest Covid-19 outbreak.
Other measures include granting more allowances and benefits to holders of state welfare cards at 13.65 million people, providing cash handouts at Bt200 per month for six months to people in vulnerable groups, and the latest campaign “Ying Chai Ying Dai” (Spend More, Get More).
Under Ying Chai Ying Dai, the government will grant an e-voucher worth up to Bt7,000 to eligible registrants — up to 4 million people — to be used via Pao Tang applications at participating shops. The campaign is expected to start in July and will last until December.
“Each person can choose to register for one of these campaigns only,” she added.
UNICEF ramps up support to curb COVID-19 outbreak in Bangkok’s Klongtoey community
BANGKOK, 6 May 2021 – UNICEF is ramping up support to help curb the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Bangkok’s Klongtoey community through distributing ultra-heat treated (UHT) milk and hygiene supplies, providing critical information and guidelines as well as mobilizing community workers and volunteers to protect the most vulnerable children and families.
UNICEF is supporting Klongtoey D Jung Group of Komol Keemthong Foundation, a non-governmental organization, and other partners on the ground to establish a community response system to fight the recent outbreak in the community and help children and families access health services, child protection such as psychosocial support and counselling and other critical assistance as soon as possible. UNICEF is also mobilizing trained volunteers and hiring additional full-time community workers to help track new cases, facilitate referrals to health and child protection services and ensure timely support for affected households.
The Klongtoey community is Thailand’s largest low-income community located in central Bangkok. Comprising 43 sub-communities, it is home to some 100,000 people, most of whom work in the informal sector and lack access to hygiene and other critical supplies.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic could pose lifelong consequences for children, especially the most vulnerable. Infections among children are on the rise; restriction measures are disrupting their access to health, education, welfare and protection services; family separation measures between children and caretakers infected with COVID-19 could create tension and fear and put the well-being of children at risk; and the economic impact on household incomes may severely affect children’s well-being and futures.
UNICEF will deliver more than 100,000 items of hygiene supplies including soaps, hand sanitizers, alcohol sprays, disinfectants and face masks to protect children and families as well as community workers and volunteers against COVID-19. UHT milk along with books, toys and learning materials will also be delivered to the Klongtoey community to keep young children healthy and learning during the pandemic.
Through the network of I Am UNICEF volunteer platform, UNICEF is mobilizing student volunteers to develop a series of infographics, posters, pamphlets and a community radio programme featuring self-care tips, guidelines for parents and communities as well as updates on the latest government measures to keep the Klongtoey community informed while living under COVID-19 restriction measures.
A hotline will also be set up to provide critical information to the community, such as quarantine recommendations, how to get tested for COVID-19, what to do if a person or their family member is infected and which groups are at risk of infection.
NHSO speeds up payments as healthcare sector struggles with rising Covid cases
The Covid-19 outbreak continues to strain healthcare providers physically and financially as they have to cope with the increased workload of screening patients and treating the infected. Extra work always comes with extra costs.
Even though these costs will eventually be repaid, the reimbursement process may not be fast enough for many healthcare facilities to keep up with the rapid increase in operating costs.
The National Health Security Office (NHSO) is well aware of this problem and is trying to adjust its financial reimbursement system to better cope with the changing situation of Covid-19 and the financial impact on these healthcare providers.
The NHSO’s ultimate goal is to make it possible to pay all financial reimbursement to service providers instantly after claims are submitted, said NHSO secretary-general Dr Jadej Thammatach-aree.
To achieve that goal, the NHSO continues improving its information technology system, a task that needs more time to achieve as it deals with a substantial database system, he said.
Previously, the NHSO allowed healthcare providers under the Universal Coverage Scheme to submit claims for reimbursement once a month. This has now changed to every 15 days, Dr Jadej said.
“We hope this change will help improve hospitals’ liquidity and their ability to cope better with the changing outbreak situation that requires both work efficiency and flexibility,” he said.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has also been adopted to make the compensation process more efficient, he said.
From the beginning of this year until the end of March, a total of 781,625 Covid-19 tests have been carried out, which cost the NHSO THB1.86 billion and THB1.49 billion was spent on treating 31,488 Covid-19 patents at the same time.
Screening is a crucial mechanism for containing the outbreak. The National Health Security Fund had initially started offering Covid-19 screening and laboratory testing to people who meet the patient under investigation (PUI) criteria set by the Department of Disease Control for deciding as to who should be given a free Covid-19 test.
Most recently, the NHSO has announced that physicians will decide on a case-to-case basis as to who else should be screened for Covid-19 and the cost of testing will be covered by the NHSO.
Along with this change in the Covid-19 screening policy, the NHSO has also encouraged private hospitals that aren’t contracted under the Universal Coverage Scheme to become part of the same Covid-19 screening network.
The NHSO covers four types of Covid-19 tests, namely reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests via nasal and throat swaps, RT-PCR testing of pooled saliva samples combined with pooled nasal and throat swab samples, antibody testing and antigen testing.
The NHSO has already reached an agreement with private hospitals that they must not charge any new confirmed Covid-19 patient who needs to be admitted for treatment, Dr Jadej said.
Reimbursement for such providers will be made under the Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients (UCEP) unless the service is already covered by the patients’ own health insurance policies.
“Since Covid-19 is considered a health emergency that comes as a heavy financial burden to many people, we would like to assure all of you that if you strictly follow advice by doctors at the healthcare facility you are receiving [Covid-19 treatment] services, you won’t have to pay any extra costs,” he said.
In a bid to help everyone find Covid-19 screening test at a healthcare facility closest to his or her home, the NHSO has on its website provided information detailing what people are entitled to and which healthcare facilities they should consider visiting.
The National Health Security Board has also approved a proposal about regulations governing the spending of THB3.75 billion baht received from the government.
The fund was allocated to the NHSO under a Cabinet resolution reached on March 30.
Of the THB3.75 billion, THB3.65 billion will go to healthcare services associated with Covid-19 and the remainder will be spent on other related costs.
The Cabinet wants this amount to be spent separately from the UCS payment.
This is how the NHSO has been working to boost public confidence in access to healthcare services necessary for saving lives and curbing the spread of Covid-19 since it emerged early last year.
Bangkok generates 16 tonnes of infectious waste per day
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has collected a total of 547.93 tonnes of infectious wastes from April 1 to May 5.
The wastes were collected from state quarantine facilities, alternative state quarantine hotels, field hospitals and “hospitels” in the province, averaging about 16.12 tonnes per day on average.
“The BMA has hired Krungthep Thanakom Ltd to handle the disposal of infectious wastes through incineration at infectious waste management centres in On Nut and Nong Khaem districts,” said BMA permanent secretary Silapasuay Raweesangsoon. “Krungthep Thanakom is also responsible for disposal of used face masks that people separate from their general household wastes.”
Bangkok generates 16 tonnes of infectious waste per day
Silapasuay added that the BMA had instructed all waste collection staff to employ strict preventive measures to protect themselves against Covid-19.
“All staff must use tongs and wear appropriate protective gears while working. Most importantly, they must never touch the waste by hand directly,” she said.
“After working they need to clean their body properly to prevent infectious wastes spreading virus and other germs.”
Bangkok generates 16 tonnes of infectious waste per day
To tackle the increasing infectious wastes in the province amid the pandemic, the BMA has deployed another 1,000 biohazard garbage bins across the city for people to dispose of their used face masks and other medical waste separate from household garbage.
“The bins for used face masks will be coloured orange while the garbage bags for medical waste are red to indicate it needs to be disposed of properly,” said Silapasuay.
“Extra bins have been placed at district offices, health service centres, hospitals, city halls, schools, sport centres, youth centres, fire stations, public parks, markets and in front of shopping malls.”
Thundershowers forecast for most of Thailand with gusty winds and heavy rains
A high-pressure system from China covers upper Thailand and the South China Sea while the southerly and the southeasterly winds bring moisture from the South China Sea and the Gulf of Thailand to the upper regions of the country.
Hot weather is forecast for upper Thailand with thunderstorms, gusty winds, hail and isolated heavy rains in some areas, the Thailand Meteorological Department said on Friday.
People in upper Thailand should beware of the severe conditions by avoiding outdoor places, big trees, unsecured buildings and billboards, the department said. Farmers were warned of damage to crops.
Meanwhile, the southeasterly and easterly winds prevail across the Gulf of Thailand, the South and the Andaman Sea, bringing scattered thundershowers to the South with isolated heavy rains in some areas.
The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:
North: Hot day with thunderstorms in 60 per cent of the region; heavy rains, gusty winds and hail are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 21-25 degrees, highs of 32-36°C.
Northeast: Hot day with thunderstorms in 40 per cent of the region; gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 23-25°C, and highs of 33-36°C.
Central: Thunderstorms in 70 per cent of the region; gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 20-27°C, highs of 32-33°C.
East: Thunderstorms in 70 per cent of the region; heavy rains and gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 22-24°C, highs of 32-34°C; waves a metre high and over two metres during thundershowers.
South (east coast): Thundershowers in 70 per cent of the areas with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 23-25°C, highs of 30-31°C; waves a metre high and over two metres during thundershowers.
South (west coast): Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 23-25°C, highs of 31-32°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
Bangkok and surrounding areas: Thundershowers in 70 per cent of the region; gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 23-24°C, highs of 31-35°C.
Private sector prepping 372 jab sites in nationwide vaccine push
The private sector is preparing 372 Covid-19 vaccination points, including 82 in Bangkok, to support the government’s mission to inoculate 50 million people this year, the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) said on Thursday.
Factories and offices around the country were being equipped with mobile vaccination units, computer systems, IT equipment, printers, volunteers, card readers, food and drinking water to support the mission, said TCC chairman Sanan Angubolkul. The aim is to provide local vaccination services to reduce the risk from people travelling and spreading the virus.
Sanan spoke after meeting with Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda to discuss public-private cooperation to boost economic recovery from Covid-19, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Both agreed that the urgent most mission was to accelerate vaccination of people so that the country could open to travellers.
A model private vaccination site in collaboration with Bangkok City Hall will launch soon to provide a model for chambers of commerce, governors and health authorities nationwide.
All Bangkok adults to be vaccinated by August: NSC
All 6 million adult residents of Bangkok should be vaccinated by the end of August, National Security Council chief General Nattaphon Narkphanit said on Thursday.
Nattaphon cited the government’s plan to vaccinate 50 million people by the end of the year, a span of only eight months.
This meant 60,000 people per day would have to be jabbed in Bangkok from May to August, he added. Officials were preparing vaccination sites in 50 districts across the capital to meet that goal, Nattaphon said.
Bangkok is in the dark-red zone (maximum restriction) that has been prioritised for vaccinations.
“The PM has ordered the Public Health Minister to hasten vaccine procurement and jab as many people as soon as possible. Many vaccine doses will arrive by the end of May and be quickly administered in the dark-red zone,” said Nattaphon.
Almost 50% of Thais aim to avoid using cash after pandemic ends: Visa
Nearly half of all Thai consumers – 45 per cent – are likely to avoid using money after the Covid-19 pandemic ends, Visas Consumer Payment Attitudes study showed on Wednesday.
The study also delved into which activities Thais are looking forward to spending on when recovery is underway. The top three are travelling within Thailand (35 per cent), travelling abroad to Covid-safe destinations (29 per cent) and making short getaways in their own cities (19 per cent).
“The pandemic has had a massive impact on how people live, work and shop both in Thailand and globally,” Visa Thailand country manager Suripong Tantiyanon said. “As we have crossed the one-year mark since the pandemic hit, we are taking a look at how events in the past are shaping our future.”
According to the study, other behaviours that are likely to become a new normal post-Covid are wearing a mask (62 per cent) and avoiding crowds (43 per cent).
The situation also prompted many Thais to explore different shopping channels in the present crisis, the most popular being apps and websites (65 per cent), direct delivery at home after orders via phone from local stores (47 per cent), and shopping on social media channels (44 per cent).
Thai consumers have been forced to rethink their spending priorities.
According to the respondents, spending categories that experienced the largest reduction are international trips (63 per cent), going to cinemas or public events (60 per cent), buying luxury items such as bags, watches and jewellery (60 per cent), fine-dining (58 per cent), well-being treatment (57 per cent) and buying new clothes (54 per cent).
Looking ahead, in addition to domestic, international and short getaways, Thais are preparing to resume spending on gadgets (16 per cent), groceries and personal care items (15 per cent), and going out to enjoy fine-dining and out of home entertainment (10 per cent). Less than one in ten plans to upgrade home appliances (9 per cent) and spend on fashion and clothing (8 per cent).
“We strongly believe some of the behaviour shifts will become permanent rather than a temporary swing. This includes a preference for using touchless payments such as contactless cards or smartphones, which offer better experience and are safer for both buyers and sellers,” Suripong said.
“While we are hoping for a speedy return to normalcy, Visa is working with others across the payments industry and beyond to prepare for a future that has arrived sooner than we expected,” he added.
Bangkok braces for rainy season
Bangkok braces for rainy season
Bangkok braces for rainy season
Bangkok braces for rainy season
Bangkok braces for rainy season
Pro-democracy leader Panusaya taken for medical treatment as court grants bail
Pro-democracy leader Panusaya taken for medical treatment as court grants bail
Bangkok generates 16 tonnes of infectious waste per day
Bangkok generates 16 tonnes of infectious waste per day
