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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000597

Impact Muang Thong Thani offers Challenger Hall as field hospital

Nonthaburi’s Impact Muang Thong Thani exhibition centre is offering its Challenger Hall up as a field hospital to help tackle rising Covid-19 infections in Greater Bangkok.

“Challenger Hall covers 100,000 square metres and we are willing to let the [Public Health] Ministry use it for free from May to June,” said Paul Kanjanapas, chief executive officer at Bangkok Land, which oversees the exhibition centre. “If a field hospital is set up here, it will be the largest in Thailand with the capacity of treating up to 5,200 patients.”

Impact Muang Thong Thani offers Challenger Hall as field hospital

He added that Challenger Hall comprises three buildings, which can be used to separate patients with different symptoms. “Patients in green and orange groups who have no or mild symptoms can be treated in buildings 1 and 2, each of which can accommodate 2,000 beds, while patients in the red group with severe symptoms can be treated in building 3, which can accommodate 1,200. It will be equipped with negative pressure rooms and respirators,” he said.

Impact Muang Thong Thani offers Challenger Hall as field hospital

“The buildings have been thoroughly cleaned and our staff has ensured that they are properly ventilated and the waste-water management and CCTV systems are functioning properly. We have also set up an internet connection for the convenience of staff and patients,” Paul added.

“The Public Health Ministry can set up a field hospital here as soon as possible.”

Impact Muang Thong Thani offers Challenger Hall as field hospital

Published : May 06, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000596

Thailand drops 4 places in Covid Resilience Ranking

Thailand has fallen four places in the latest Covid Resilience Ranking published by Bloomberg, reflecting the third wave of infections that emerged last month.

However, Thailand is still ranked 13th among 53 countries listed in Bloomberg’s “Covid Resilience Ranking, The Best and Worst Places to Be as Variants Outrace Vaccinations”, published last month.

Singapore topped the rankings, followed by New Zealand, Australia, Israel and Taiwan.

Singapore has already administered vaccines to 20 per cent of its population”, Bloomberg noted.

By contrast, Thailand had administered vaccines to just 1.65 per cent of its population as of Tuesday (May 4), according to Oxford University’s “Our World in Data” project.

Bloomberg says its Resilience Ranking uses a wide range of data to capture where Covid-19 is handled most effectively, with the least social and economic disruption.

Scoring lowest on resilience among the 53 countries ranked was Brazil.

Published : May 06, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000595

All expats in Thailand eligible for vaccine: Disease Control Dept chief

All foreign nationals living in Thailand can get a Covid-19 vaccine if they want, Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Disease Control Department, said on Thursday (May 6).

He was responding to questions related to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s speech earlier this week. The premier had said everybody in Thailand will get inoculated on a voluntary basis as per international standards.

“The PM was referring to all persons living in Thailand, regardless of whether they are Thai or foreigners,” he said. “If a person wants a vaccine, they will get it no matter what their nationality.”

Opas added that 70 per cent of the population must be inoculated to build herd immunity against the virus.

“Currently, about 70 million people are living in Thailand – 67 million are Thais and 3 million are foreigners,” he said. “That means about 50 million people in Thailand need to be vaccinated for herd immunity, and the government has plans to procure a total of 100 million doses to achieve this.

“Anybody who wants to be vaccinated can register via the provided channels, though people with chronic conditions will be given priority,” he said.

He was referring to the Mor Phrom (Doctors Ready) platform on Line application, which the Public Health Ministry has launched for vaccine registration since May 1.

Priority will be given to those at risk of developing severe symptoms from the virus. They are persons above the age of 60 as of January 1 and those with chronic diseases, such as severe respiratory syndrome, heart and coronary diseases, kidney diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer patients under treatment, and obese patients weighing over 100kg or having a body mass index exceeding 35.

People who do not have a smartphone have the option of booking their vaccine at their hospital or at a local public health office.

Published : May 06, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000592

BMA inoculates 3,000 Klong Toei residents in bid to control cluster

Some 3,000 residents in Bangkok’s Klong Toei communities have been vaccinated against Covid-19 as of Wednesday in a bid to contain the cluster of cases in the crowded areas.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) dispatched two mobile vaccination units to Tesco Lotus Rama IV and Wat Klong Toei School on Tuesday after 304 people residing in or near Klong Toei slums tested positive for Covid-19 recently.

Of them, 193 people are residents in the 12 slums of Klong Toei, while 111 reside in condominiums or apartments near these slums.

Governor Aswin Kwanmuang said on Tuesday that to efficiently contain the cluster of cases in Klong Toei, about 70 per cent or 50,000 of the 80,000 people living in the area should be vaccinated.

Aswin also promised to have the infections in the area under control within two weeks.

BMA inoculates 3,000 Klong Toei residents in bid to control cluster

From Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday evening, 2,802 people had been vaccinated, while 208 had not been given their jabs either because they changed their mind or because they had high blood pressure or fast pulse (tachycardia).

BMA is planning to dispatch more mobile units soon and aims to vaccinate around 2,500 to 3,000 people per day until May 19.

Bangkok is still leading the list with 739 new confirmed cases on Thursday, which brought the total number of Covid-19 cases in the city to 16,048 since the start of the third wave on April 1.

BMA inoculates 3,000 Klong Toei residents in bid to control cluster

Published : May 06, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000591

Shipment of million Sinovac doses lands in Suvarnabhumi

The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) took delivery of 1 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine from China early this morning.

The shipment, which arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport, was transported in envirotainers in which the temperature was maintained at between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius.

So far, 3.5 million doses of the vaccine, also known as Coronavac, have arrived in Thailand. On May 14, another 500,000 doses will land here.

Shipment of million Sinovac doses lands in Suvarnabhumi

Published : May 06, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000590

18 deaths, 1,911 new cases logged on Thursday

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Thursday reported 1,911 new cases and 18 deaths.

Of the deaths, six were in Bangkok, three in Samut Prakan, two each in Chiang Mai, Nonthaburi and Samut Sakhon, and one each in Pathum Thani, Sing Buri and Yala.

The ages of those who succumbed to the virus ranged between 45 and 100, and most suffered from chronic conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and other complications.

Bangkok is again leading the list with 739 confirmed infections, followed by 273 in Nonthaburi and 143 in Samut Prakan.

Also included in the list of confirmed cases were nine returnees, four Thais and five foreigners.

The Thais included returnees from UAE, UK, Malaysia and Cambodia, while the foreigners included two Iran nationals from their country, two Brits from Brazil and Ireland, and a Ukrainian from Bangladesh.

Separately, 2,435 patients have recovered and been discharged in the last 24 hours.

As of Thursday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 76,811. Of these, 73,458 had been contracted locally, including 22,947 who were found via proactive testing, while 3,353 were returnees.

So far, 46,795 have recovered and been discharged, 29,680 patients are still in hospitals, and 336 have died.

Meanwhile, another 17,155 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, while 11,603 people were given their second shot, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in Thailand to 1,601,833.

Separately, according to Worldometer, as of 11am on Thursday, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 155.82 million (up by 837,731), 133.21 million of whom have recovered, 19.36 million are active cases (110,301 in severe condition) and 3.25 million have died (up by 14,278).

Thailand ranks 99th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 33.32 million, followed by India 21.07 million, Brazil 14.93 million, France 5.7 million, and Turkey 4.95 million.

Published : May 06, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000588

Committee given 50 days more to study CPTPP

The Cabinet has granted the Committee of International Economic Policy 50 days more to study whether Thailand should join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) that groups 11 countries so far.

Deputy spokeswoman Ratchada Thanadirek said the additional days were granted after the previous study period ended on April 15.

“Thailand will discuss with other CPTPP members about the advantages of the agreement if the study concludes that we should join the grouping,” she added.

The CPTPP is a free-trade bloc involving Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, New Zealand, Singapore and Vietnam.

Published : May 06, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000586

Nation Group, partners open online clinic to fight Covid-19

NationTV, Spring News and AIS have teamed up with more than 30 volunteer doctors, both domestic and overseas, to set up an online clinic to provide medical advice and diagnostics to people suspected of contracting Covid-19, Nation Multimedia Group Plc announced on Wednesday (May 5).

“The clinic will function like an online call centre, accessible via Facebook/covidcallcenter,” the company said.

“The team of volunteer doctors is led by Dr Suwanna Reungkanjanaset, former deputy dean at the Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, who will work together with more than 30 doctors to diagnose patients based on their symptoms, as well as contact the Public Health Ministry to transfer those who need treatment to hospitals,” the group explained.

“Among the volunteers are Thai doctors who live abroad and have decided to lend their expertise to alleviate the shortage of medical professionals at home,” it added.

Nation Group, partners open online clinic to fight Covid-19

Staff from the AIS Facebook Call Centre will provide answers to basic Covid-19-related questions around the clock via the Facebook page, while volunteer doctors will work in shifts, providing diagnosis to those who have displayed symptoms and classify them according to the Public Health Ministry’s colour-coding guide, and then provide an appropriate course of action for each patient.

The guide divides patients into three groups:

Green: Asymptomatic patients or those having slight symptoms, such as a fever, cough, a runny nose, sore throat, pink eyes, rash, diarrhoea or loss of smell or taste.

Yellow: Patients at risk of developing severe symptoms, such as those above 60 years of age or those suffering from chronic conditions such as heart, kidney, cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, cirrhosis and a weakened immune system.

Red: Patients who are unusually fatigued, have trouble breathing or have developed pneumonia.

Once the patients are diagnosed and classified, staff from NationTV and Spring News will contact related authorities to find suitable treatment facilities as well as forward the patients’ details to doctors there to ensure seamless treatment.

Published : May 06, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000578

Cabinet okays relief on electricity, water bills for May and June: source

A cabinet meeting has approved measures to help alleviate the financial burden of people amid this fresh wave of Covid-19 by reducing electricity and water bills in May and June, a news source said on Wednesday.

“Those who use less than 150 units of electricity per month will see a fee waiver for the first 90 units (for residential users) and 50 units (for small businesses) during May and June,” the source said.

“Meanwhile, water bills for residential and small business users will be reduced by 10 per cent for the two months.”

The cabinet estimates that these two relief measures will cost the government around Bt10 billion.

On Wednesday the cabinet also approved more cash handouts via the Rao Chana (We Win) and Rao Rak Kan (We Love Each Other) Covid-relief schemes. Each person who successfully registers for the schemes will receive a total of THB2,000 before the end of June, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Published : May 06, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000577

1,270 Bangkok slums may be Covid-19 time bombs

Slums, especially in Bangkok, could turn into Covid-19 time bombs that may spread unexpectedly if relevant departments do not control it in time.

The Community Organisations Development Institute (CODI) under the Social Development and Human Security Ministry has identified as many as 1,270 of these slum communities in the same environment as Bangkok’s Khlong Toei slum, where a recent Covid-19 outbreak occurred.

Of concern are also the large Klong Prem Prachakorn community, with more than 10,000 people, slum communities in the heart of Ratchathewi district and Wang Thong Lang district, with over 3,000 residents each, and the Yommarat Railway community with 5,000-10,000 people.

If officials strictly monitor these communities or confine them to their homes, the big problem would be income and food, which would be good enough reasons for them to refuse to stay home. They are already struggling to earn a daily average income of THB120-150 despite fear of Covid-19.

According to a survey, for these communities starvation is more frightening than the virus.

CODI deputy director Panthip Petchmak said that from a May 2 check of slum communities in Bangkok, more than 200 residents in 260 communities of 1,270 were found to have contracted Covid-19, while 700 needed to quarantine.

More may get infected as 90 per cent of people in these communities need to go out for daily jobs to earn a living.

CODI has now coordinated with community-level organisations to provide food, water and supplements to help contain the virus spread, while urging the government to speedily find a solution to stop the virus from spreading to other communities.

Published : May 06, 2021

By : THE NATION