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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000284

Signature campaign demanding Anutin’s resignation expands further

The campaign calling for Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s resignation launched via Change.org had exceeded its target of 200,000 signatures on Tuesday afternoon.

However, the online group “MorJaMaiThon” (Doctors Won’t Bear It Anymore), which launched the campaign at midnight on Friday, has raised the target to 300,000 signatures. As of 2.54pm on Tuesday, the campaign had collected 203,882 signatures.

The group said the Covid-19 situation in Thailand proves that Anutin does not have the capacity to control the outbreak through proper policy-making, resource management, vaccine procurement or boosting confidence among medical personnel.

Citing comments Anutin made in interviews, the group said it was clear he had no proper vision when it came to controlling the outbreak, especially now that it has gone out of control.

The group cited several comments Anutin made, including dismissing the virus initially, saying “it’s just a common cold”, and declaring “doctors who were not careful enough to avoid infection should be scolded” when medical personnel began getting infected.

“Public acknowledgment of all these failures proves that we cannot afford to squander our precious time and must bring an end to management that is not effective enough by calling on Anutin to resign and letting those who have the ability to take over when the country is in a crisis,” the campaign said.

Published : April 27, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000283

Thailand’s Olympic flag relay hits halfway point but Games in doubt

Thailand’s countdown to the Tokyo Olympics reached halfway as the “Flag of Nation” relay runners crossed from Chai Nat to Nakhon Sawan province on Monday, the 30th day of the event.

The relay run bearing the Thai flag through 35 provinces began on March 21 and will stretch for 61 days and 4,606 kilometres – roughly the distance between Bangkok and Tokyo.

Thailand’s Olympic flag relay hits halfway point but Games in doubt

The finish line for Monday’s run was the 2,303km milestone, with Tuesday’s leg winding from Nakhon Sawan Central Stadium to Chumchon Pracha Samakkhi School in Kamphaeng Phet province over a total distance of 68.5km.

The Thai flag will be carried by 4,568 bearers – athletes, celebrities and members of the public – before being delivered to Suvarnabhumi Airport to take off with the Olympic athletes on May 27.

Thailand’s Olympic flag relay hits halfway point but Games in doubt

The Tokyo Olympics are due from July 23 to August 8.

However, the chief of Japan’s ruling party warned earlier this month that the Games could be cancelled if a new outbreak of Covid-19 could not be contained.

“If the situation comes to the point where we cannot take it anymore, we should call off the Games without hesitation,” said Toshihiro Nikai.

“What’s the point of holding the Olympics if it boosts the spread of infection?” he added.

Meanwhile, Kyodo News agency recently carried a poll stating that 72 per cent of Japanese people want the Olympics to be cancelled or postponed.

Published : April 27, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000282

Bangkok deploys food kitchen to feed battle-weary medical staff

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) set up a mobile kitchen next to the Bangkok City Hall in Phra Nakhon district on Tuesday to cook 1,200 boxed meals for medical staff at hospitals and field hospitals.

Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang said the move was designed to boost morale among staff who are working hard during the Covid-19 outbreak and save them time and money.

“All meals are nutritious and cooked fresh in line with food hygiene principles,” he said.

Bangkok deploys food kitchen to feed battle-weary medical staff

He added that BMA will deliver meals to medical staff again on Friday.

“Citizens and agencies have also donated rice, dried foods, seasonings and instant foods to the BMA in a bid to encourage medical staff,” he said.

Bangkok deploys food kitchen to feed battle-weary medical staffBangkok deploys food kitchen to feed battle-weary medical staff

Bangkok recorded 993 new cases of Covid-19 on Tuesday in a third wave of infections that has triggered targeted shutdowns of 31 types of business.

Bangkok deploys food kitchen to feed battle-weary medical staffBangkok deploys food kitchen to feed battle-weary medical staff

Published : April 27, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000281

City bus service cut as Bangkok enters partial lockdown

The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) will cut the number of bus trips on routes with few passengers from Wednesday, in a bid to contain the surge of Covid-19 infections.

BMTA director Surachai Iamwachirasakul explained that the Land Transport Department on April 17 asked transport operators to reduce services in red-zone provinces as much as possible.

A partial lockdown was imposed in Bangkok on Monday, with 31 types of business ordered to shut for two weeks as daily infections in Thailand rose past 2,000.

“Since many government and private agencies have allowed staff to work from home, while many educational institutions have organised online courses, the BMTA will reduce the number of bus services where passenger numbers have dropped,” he said.

He added that BMTA had imposed Covid controls to gain confidence among travellers, including temperature checks on all staff, frequent cleaning of buses, social distancing onboard and use of the ThaiChana and MorChana apps.

“As banknotes and coins may help spread Covid-19, passengers can pay their fare via BMTA electronic tickets, contactless debit or credit cards, state welfare cards, or mobile banking apps,” he added.

Published : April 27, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000280

Egat to make more positive pressure cabinets for Covid testing

As the country struggles with a fresh wave of infections, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) has announced it will make more positive pressure cabinets for conducting Covid-19 tests.

The third wave has driven Thailand’s cumulative cases to nearly 60,000 and Tuesday saw the highest number of deaths at 15.

“Egat has been making the Covid-19 test cabinets since the outbreak started last year,” Egat governor Boonyanit Wongrukmit said. “So far, we have made 500 such cabinets and provided them to hospitals, field hospitals and mobile testing units nationwide to ensure the safety of medical professionals.”

Egat to make more positive pressure cabinets for Covid testing

Boonyarit added that Egat has been working with Dr Anawat Sermsawan, deputy dean of Faculty of Medicine at King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, who helped design the cabinets in such a way that they provide maximum protection and can be cheaply produced.

Egat to make more positive pressure cabinets for Covid testing

“The cabinets, which are almost as big as phone booths, are made from acrylic panels and have sealed holes for gloves,” he said. “Each cabinet is equipped with a high-quality ventilation, disinfection and air-filtration system as well as a microphone and speaker to communicate with patients. The cabinets are strengthened with a stainless-steel frame and are easy to transport.”

He added that Egat has been making the cabinets with the help of its staff and volunteers and providing them to medical units for free.

Hospitals or medical facilities can order theirs at arthit.u@egat.co.th.

Published : April 27, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000279

Covid deaths hit new high with 15, 2,179 new cases confirmed

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Tuesday reported 2,179 new cases and 15 deaths, the highest since the arrival of Covid-19. The new fatalities included nine cases in Bangkok, two in Nakhon Sawan and one each in Saraburi, Chaiyaphum, Phetchaburi and Samut Prakan.

The ages of those who succumbed to the virus ranged between 24 and 88, and all of them reportedly suffered from chronic conditions.

Meanwhile, of the 2,179 new cases, the highest number or 993 were in Bangkok, followed by 149 in Nonthaburi, 93 each in Samut Prakan and Pathum Thani, and 80 in Chonburi.

The new infections also included five arrivals from overseas, including three Thais, two from the UAE and one from Indonesia. The other two arrivals were an Indian from the US and a French national from Switzerland.

Meanwhile, 1,958 patients have recovered and been discharged in the last 24 hours.

As of Tuesday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 59,687. Of these, 56,401 had been contracted locally, including 21,732 who were found via proactive testing, while 3,286 were returnees.

So far, 33,551 have recovered and been discharged, 25,973 patients are still in hospitals, and 163 have died.

Since April 1, 69 people have succumbed to the virus, CCSA said. Thailand’s third wave of Covid-19 infections was sparked by some cluster cases in mid-March.

According to Worldometer, as of 11am on Tuesday, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 148.44 million (up by 649,117), 126.07 million have recovered, 19.24 million are active cases (110,946 in severe condition) and 3.13 million have died (up by 9,923).

Thailand ranks 105th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 32.87 million, followed by India 17.62 million, Brazil 14.37 million, France 5.50 million, and Russia 4.77 million.

Separately, another 40,184 people were given their first shot of vaccine in the last 24 hours, while 37,182 people were given their second shot, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccines administered in Thailand to 1,227,032.

Published : April 27, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000277

Fifty-four 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 announcment at 9.55pm on Tuesday said the following provinces have made it mandatory to wear masks in public: Kanchanaburi, Prachinburi, Phetchaburi, Suphanburi, 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, Surat Thani, Trang, Nakhon Si Thammarat Narathiwat, Pattani, Phang Nga, Phuket, Ranong, Satun, Songkhla, Yala, Sukhothai, Tak, Phetchabun, Uttaradit, Lamphun, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Yasothon, Nong Khai, Ubon Ratchathani, Chaiyaphum, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Si Sa Ket, Surin, Udon Thani, Loei, Amnat Charoen, Buri Ram, Nakhon Phanom, Khon Kaen and Kalasin.

Published : April 27, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000275

Police confess to error in letting maskless vendor off with low fine

Police in Ayutthaya province have admitted to making a mistake by levying a low fine on a vendor for violating the face mask rule. Provincial Police Region 1 clarified on Monday about a fine document issued by Bang Pahan Police Station to a coconut milk vendor who had not worn a face mask.

The document, issued on April 25, and later posted on social media, showed the vendor was fined THB500, instead of at least THB6,000.

Provincial Police Region 1 explained that Bang Pahan officers misunderstood the fine rate under the Communicable Disease Act.

The organisation has revoked the fine and asked the local court to consider and fine the vendor at the proper rate.

Published : April 27, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000274

Wild elephant found dead in Chachoengsao rubber plantation

A wild elephant was found dead in a rubber plantation in Chachoengsao province, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation posted on its Facebook page on Monday.

The cause if death is unknown yet.

“Officials from Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary were alerted to the body of a wild elephant found in a rubber plantation located in Sanam Chaikhet district on Monday morning,” said the post. “They rushed to investigate and found a male elephant aged around 10 years and weighing around 1.3 tonne. The animal was lying face down with a powerline in its mouth.”

Wild elephant found dead in Chachoengsao rubber plantation

Officials speculated that the elephant might have been electrocuted after touching the power line that the plantation owner might have installed from an electricity pole to his house without permission from the authority.

“Officials are working to transport the elephant’s body to the sanctuary head office to perform a detailed autopsy to find out the cause of death,” said the post.

Published : April 27, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000272

Baht opens unchanged, markets wary of Covid-19 situation

The baht opened at 31.43 to the US dollar on Tuesday, unchanged from its close on Monday. The Thai currency is likely to move between 31.35 and 31.50 during the day, Krungthai Bank market strategist Poon Panichpibool said.

Poon said that if the dollar remained stable, the two main factors that could affect the baht were the Covid-19 situation in Thailand and the purchase of foreign currencies by some companies for paying dividends .

The market strategist said that foreign investors were concerned about the virus crisis in Thailand as was evident from the sales of Thai stocks.

In case the Covid-19 situation did not worsen, the baht would tend to move between 31.35 to 31.50 per US dollar.

Published : April 27, 2021

By : The Nation