Nakhon Pathom hospital suspends operations after patient, staffer infected
Nakhon Pathom province announced on Wednesday that Sam Pran Hospital has suspended surgeries/operations for 14 days – from April 27 to May 10 – after one of their medical personal contracted Covid-19.
Moreover, an infected patient “with a concealed personal history” had been attended to in the operating room on April 25.
This led to 40 personnel at the room being ordered to quarantine themselves.
The hospital wanted only patients with urgent cases to visit. Those who were scheduled to receive medicine at the hospital will now receive these via post, it added.
Indian Covid-19 variant found in at least 17 countries: WHO
The World Health Organisation said on Tuesday that a variant of Covid-19 feared to be contributing to a surge of coronavirus cases in India has been found in more than a dozen countries.
All other nations, apart from Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific, meanwhile reported a weekly decrease in the number of cases.
The UN health agency said the B.1.617 variant of Covid-19 first found in India had as of Tuesday been detected in more than 1,200 sequences uploaded to the GISAID open-access database “from at least 17 countries”.
“Most sequences were uploaded from India, the United Kingdom, USA and Singapore,” WHO said in its weekly epidemiological update on the pandemic.
WHO recently listed B.1.617 – which counts several sub-lineages with slightly different mutations and characteristics – as a “variant of interest”. But the international agency has stopped short of declaring it a “variant of concern”.
That label would indicate that it is more dangerous than the original version of the virus, for instance being more transmissible, deadly or able to dodge vaccine protections.
Fears are rising that the Indian variant could be contributing to an unfolding catastrophe.
The explosion of infections in that country – 350,000 new cases were recorded there on Tuesday alone – has driven a surge in global cases to 147.7 million.
The virus has now killed more than 3.1 million people worldwide.
WHO acknowledged that its preliminary modelling based on sequences submitted to GISAID indicates “that B.1.617 has a higher growth rate than other circulating variants in India, suggesting a potentially increased transmissibility”.
It stressed that other variants circulating at the same time were also showing increased transmissibility, and that the combination “may be playing a role in the current resurgence in this country”.
WHO highlighted though that “other drivers” could be contributing to the surge in India, including lax adherence to public health measures as well as mass gatherings.
The UN agency also stressed that “further robust studies” into the characteristics of B.1.617 and other variants, including impacts on transmissibility, severity and the risk of reinfection, were “urgently needed”.
Globally, new Covid-19 cases have increased for the ninth consecutive week, with nearly 5.7 million new cases reported last week, surpassing previous peaks.
The number of patients dying increased for the sixth consecutive week, with more than 87,000 new deaths reported.
This week, all regions are reporting a decrease in cases, apart from Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific, WHO said.
For the third consecutive week, Southeast Asia reported the highest relative increases in both case and death incidences.
While a number of countries in the region are reporting upward trends, India accounts for the vast majority of cases from this regional trend and 38 per cent of global cases reported in the past week.
Similarly, all but two regions – Southeast Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean – reported declines in new deaths this week.
Sixty-three provinces fining people for not wearing face mask
In response to the third wave of Covid-19 in Thailand, some provinces have ordered people to wear face masks in public. The penalty for violating this order is a fine of up to THB20,000, according to the Communicable Disease Act.
AMinistry of Interior announcement at 8pm on Tuesday said the following provinces have made it mandatory to wear masks in public:
Central, West and East
Kanchanaburi, Prachinburi, Phetchaburi, Suphanburi, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Samut Sakhon, Lopburi, Samut Prakan, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chonburi, Saraburi, Trat, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Chanthaburi, Bangkok, Chachoengsao, Pathum Thani, Sa Kaew, Ang Thong, Nakhon Nayok and Sing Buri.
South
Surat Thani, Trang, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, Pattani, Phang Nga, Phuket, Ranong, Satun, Songkhla, Yala, Krabi, Phatthalung and Chumphon.
North
Sukhothai, Tak, Phetchabun, Uttaradit, Lamphun, Phitsanulok, Chiang Mai and Nakhon Sawan.
Northeast
Yasothon, Nong Khai, Ubon Ratchathani, Chaiyaphum, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Si Sa Ket, Surin, Udon Thani, Loei, Amnat Charoen, Buri Ram, Nakhon Phanom, Khon Kaen, Kalasin, Nakhon Ratchasima, Bueng Kan, Nong Bua Lamphu and Roi Et.
Anutin shoots down social media rumour on Pfizer vaccine
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul flatly denied a rumour on social media that American pharmaceutical company Pfizer had proposed to sell 13 million doses of its Covid-19 vaccine to Thailand four times but this was rejected by the government.
“This rumour is not true,” he wrote on his Facebook page.
“The 13 million doses is the number Pfizer presented to their head office in preparing sales proposal documents to be submitted to the Thai government. This number came from the government’s plan to buy the Covid-19 vaccines under a bilateral agreement for 10 per cent of the population, or two doses each for 6.7 million people, equal to around 13 million doses,” he wrote.
“The rumour went on to say that Pfizer offered an advancement on payment to Thailand, which is also false,” Anutin stated. “Buying the vaccine from Pfizer still requires a deposit as per the contract, and there will be no delivery of any vaccines before payment,” he wrote.
“It is also not true that Pfizer had proposed the sale to the government four times,” Anutin said. “Pfizer has contacted us periodically to present their research findings and usage reports in other countries, and the government has never rejected a meeting with their representatives. The latest meeting was on April 22, in which a purchase contract was being drafted,” he said.
“Please refrain from sharing false information on the Internet, which might cause public misunderstanding and affect the work of the Public Health Ministry,” Anutin added.
Cabinet ministers’ powers transferred to PM to efficiently tackle virus crisis
The cabinet has approved a draft announcement transferring the power of ministers to the prime minister to ensure efficient handling of the Covid-19 crisis, government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said on Tuesday.
“The temporary transfer of power is limited to efforts to prevent the further transmission of the outbreak, mitigating the impacts and providing assistance to the public,” he said.
The announcement covers 31 pieces of legislation:
1. Communicable Disease Control Act BE 2558
2. Drug Act BE 2510
3. National Vaccine Security Act BE 2561
4. Navigation Act BE 2456
5. Air Navigation Act BE 2497
6. Development of Digitality for Economy and Society Act BE 2560
7. Emergency Medical Act BE 2551
8. National Cyber Security Act BE 2562
9. Public Health Act BE 2535
10. Immigration Act BE 2522
11. Fuel Control Act BE 2542
12. Commodity Control Act BE 2495
13. Armament Control Act BE 2530
14. Medical Device Act BE 2551
15. Land Traffic Act BE 2522
16. Defence Ministry Administration Act BE 2551
17. Pathogens and Animal Toxins Act BE 2558
18. Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act BE 2550
19. Social Security Act BE 2533
20. Automobile Act BE 2522
21. Military Service Act BE 2497
22. Hazardous Substance Act BE 2535
23. Computer-related Crime Act BE 2550
24. Electronic Transaction Act BE 2544
25. Prices of Goods and Services Act BE 2542
26. Place of Entertainment Act BE 2509
27. Health Facilities Act BE 2541
28. Health Establishment Act BE 2559
29. National Health Security Act BE 2545
30. Government Pharmaceutical Organisation Act BE 2509
People in eight provinces are being encouraged to refrain from leaving their residences during the night to keep Covid-19 from spreading further, the Interior Ministry announced on its @prmoithailand Facebook page on Tuesday.
The eight provinces are:
1. Trang, from 10pm to 3am
2. Nonthaburi, 9pm to 4am
3. Beung Kan, 11pm to 4am
4. Pathum Thani, 9pm to 4am
5. Songkhla, 10pm to 4am
6. Samut Prakan, 9pm to 4am
7. Samut Sakhon, 11pm to 4am
8. Surat Thani, 10pm to 4am.
Thailand saw 2,179 new cases and 15 deaths on Tuesday, the highest since the arrival of Covid-19. The number of confirmed cases in the country has shot up to 59,687, with 33,551 persons recovering and being discharged, 25,973 patients still in hospital and 163 dying.
Thunderstorms, gusty winds forecast for upper Thailand, Central region, East
Hot weather with thunderstorms, gusty winds, hail and lightning strikes are likely in the North, the Northeast, the Central region and the East as a high pressure system from China covers the upper Northeast while southeasterly and southwesterly winds prevail across upper Thailand, the Meteorological Department said on Wednesday, advising people to avoid going outdoors or being near big trees, unsecured buildings and billboards. It also asked farmers to prepare for likely crop damage.
Meanwhile, westerly and southwesterly winds prevail across the Andaman Sea, the South and the Gulf of Thailand, bringing scattered thundershowers and isolated heavy rains to these areas.
Here’s the weather forecast for the next 24 hours:
Bangkok and surrounding areas: Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the area; heavy rains and gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees, highs of 33-34 degrees Celsius.
North: Thunderstorms in 70 per cent of the area; heavy rains, gusty winds and hail are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 21-24 degrees and highs of 28-34 degrees Celsius.
Northeast: Thunderstorms in 60 per cent of the area; heavy rains and gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 21-24 degrees and highs of 29-33 degrees Celsius.
Central: Thunderstorms in 70 per cent of the area; heavy rains, gusty winds and hail are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 22-25 degrees, highs of 31-35 degrees Celsius.
East: Thunderstorms in 60 per cent of the area; heavy rains, gusty winds and hail are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 24-26 degrees, highs of 33-34 degrees Celsius; waves less than a metre high and over 1 metre during thundershowers.
South (east coast): Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the area and isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 24-25 degrees, highs of 34-35 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
South (west coast): Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the area and isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 22-25 degrees, highs of 31-34 degrees Celsius; waves 1-2 metres high and 2 metres during thundershowers.
Phuket still scheduled to reopen in July, says deputy PM
Phuket will reopen to foreign tourists as scheduled in July, Deputy Prime Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow confirmed via Facebook on Tuesday.
Under the Phuket sandbox scheme, foreign tourists who have received two doses of Covid-19 vaccine will be allowed to visit the island from July 1 without quarantining.
The scheme will then be expanded to Krabi, Phang Nga, Koh Samui, Pattaya and Chiang Mai in October before the country reopens fully on January 1, 2022.
Supattanapong, who doubles as energy minister, confirmed the schedule for reopening was still on track amid confidence that 50 million of Thailand’s 70-million population will be vaccinated this year.
He also insisted the latest Covid-19 outbreak should be under control in the next two weeks, adding that the government would assess the situation to see whether more economic stimulus measures were needed.
In the meantime, exports are growing well and the government is expediting budget disbursement at all ministries, he said.
Supattanapong admitted the third wave of Covid-19 has rocked the economy’s fragile recovery but said the situation would improve in 1-2 months after the outbreak is controlled and mass vaccination is launched.
Meanwhile, the “Khon La Khrueng” (Let’s Go Halves) shopping subsidy scheme was stimulating the grassroots economy and small businesses.
However, the main economic drivers are people with high income and purchasing power, he added.
“The principle is to motivate people with high incomes and savings to spend more, so more money is injected to support the foundation-level economy and small businesses, which we have accomplished in Khon La Khrueng.”
He said the most important thing was for Thais to work together to halt the latest outbreak as quickly as the previous two virus waves and make this the last wave before mass vaccination launches across the country in June.
On Wednesday the government will meet with private sector representatives to discuss their procurement of vaccines on top of the 63 million doses already ordered by the government, said Supattanapong.
Thailand to order another 500,000 Sinovac doses as 3rd wave rises
The Cabinet on Tuesday approved a budget of just over THB321 million to procure another 500,000 vaccine doses from China’s Sinovac Biotech Co Ltd.
Atotal of THB321.604 million has been set aside for the vaccine shipment as Thailand battles a third wave of infections that has seen daily cases soar beyond 2,000.
The budget will be divided into THB271.25 million to buy the doses, THB18.99 million value-added tax, and THB31.36 million for vaccine management at the regional level, according to government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri.
As of Sunday, only 1.39 per cent of Thailand’s population had received at least one dose of vaccine, according to Oxford University’s “Our World in Data” report. Research suggests 60-70 per cent of the population must have Covid-19 antibodies to reach herd immunity.
First semester will start 11 days later in some schools
Education Minister Treenuch Thienthong announced on Tuesday that the first semester for the 2021 academic year will start from June 1 instead of May 17 to curb the spread of Covid-19.
“Schools, teachers and staff must use the period between May 7 and 31 to prepare school buildings, classrooms and teaching equipment in line with guidelines set up by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration and provincial communicable disease agencies,” the minister said. “Teachers should also communicate with students and parents to prepare them for the changed semester date.
“Schools will have to provide lessons for the 11 school days that will be missed to ensure the curriculum is not affected. The semester will end as scheduled on October 11,” she said.
Treenuch added that the ministry will evaluate the Covid-19 situation regularly and announce measures accordingly but will aim to minimize the impact on students’ schooling, such as providing online classes in high-risk areas.
“Schools outside city areas that are not affected by the outbreak situation will be allowed to continue their classes as per normal,” she said.
