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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000028

All Covid-19 patients must be hospitalised: Public Health Minister

No Covid-19 patient is allowed to isolate at home or treat themselves with over-the-counter drugs, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced on Tuesday. He made the comment after taking delivery of mattresses, UV sterilisers, refrigerators and beverages for field hospitals.

He said his ministry has made provisions, so Covid-19 patients do not have to wait to be treated. “Patients do not have to go into self-isolation or try to treat themselves as there are plenty of beds available at hospitals and field hospitals,” he said.

“All patients can be treated and medical staff can monitor their symptoms.”

He also confirmed that there is enough Favipiravir to treat Covid-19 patients, refuting a Facebook post from the Maharaj Nakhon Chiang Mai Hospital’s director saying Thailand had run out of Favipiravir pills. Anutin said there were enough test kits for Covid-19 as well.

“The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation has placed an order for Favipiravir pills and Covid-19 test solutions as well,” he added.

Meanwhile, Department of Medical Services director-general Somsak Akksilp said there will be enough beds available for Covid-19 patients in a couple of days, adding that isolating at home may be a solution if there is a fourth wave and the number of cases rises beyond 10,000 daily.

Published : April 20, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000027

New international driving permit issued from May 1, said government

The Department of Land Transport will issue the new international driving permit from May 1. The new permit covers 84 countries under the Vienna Convention, including the US, UK, Russia, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Bahrain and Brazil.

It expires after three years.

Thai applicants for an international permit must include their current driving licence, a copy of their passport, ID card, and two passport-style photos. Applicants must also mention the country or countries they plan to drive in.

Foreign applicants must present their passport, work permit (paper or digital), or smart visa to department officials.

Thai applicants for an international permit must include their current driving licence, a copy of their passport, ID card, and two passport-style photos. Applicants must also mention the country or countries they plan to drive in.

Foreign applicants must present their passport, work permit (paper or digital), or smart visa to department officials.

However, those who already have a foreign licence under the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic 1968 can use it in Thailand from May 1.

Published : April 20, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000024

2.4 million more people to be eligible for RaoChana cash-handout scheme

The Cabinet on Tuesday agreed to allow another 2.4 million people to register for the government’s cash-handout “RaoChana” (We Win) scheme and agreed to give beneficiaries until June 30 to use up their subsidy, a source said.

The proposal had been put forward by the Fiscal Policy Office in a bid to help alleviate the financial burden on a wider group of people.

Under the RaoChana scheme, each registrant is given Bt3,500 for two consecutive months. However, the subsidy does not apply to members of the Social Security System, government or state enterprise employees or those who have more than Bt500,000 in their savings bank account.

With the additional 2.4 million registrants, the number of beneficiaries of the scheme will rise to 33.5 million people and the estimated budget will expand from Bt210.2 billion to Bt213.24 billion.

Published : April 20, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000025

Don’t respond to offers that sound too good to be true, police warn

People should beware of phishing SMS messages and avoid revealing sensitive information as it may end up costing them far too much, the Royal Thai Police spokesman said recently.

Pol Colonel Siriwat Deepor, deputy chief of the Police Technology Crime Suppression Division, said many people have filed police complaints or told the press about how they were deceived by offers of cash handouts and free Covid-19 vaccines.

Phishing is a fraudulent move to obtain sensitive information or data such as username, passwords, credit card numbers or other sensitive details by pretending to be a trustworthy entity. It is typically carried out via spoof emails, instant messages or text messages, which direct users to enter personal information at a fake website that matches the look and feel of a legitimate website.

Phishing is derived from the word “fishing”, in this case, wrongfully fishing for sensitive information.

“Since banks and financial institutions have a security system that effectively keeps out hackers, criminals usually claim knowledge of account-related issues in a bid to get sensitive information. Once they have such information, they can withdraw cash from victims’ accounts,” Siriwat explained, adding that police have launched a manhunt for such criminals.

He advised people to closely study the link or URL in the SMS as it usually sounds weird and does not match the name of the institution the phishers claim they are from. Don’t press the link and call the related agency’s call centre if possible, he said.

“You should also opt for passwords that are difficult to guess and set up a two-step verification procedure,” Siriwat added.

He went on to say that anyone caught phishing will face punishment under the Computer Crime Act, Gambling Act and Excessive Interest Rate Prohibition Act.

Published : April 20, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000023

Prayut lists Thailand’s vaccine procurement plan

Another 500,000 doses of the Sinovac vaccine will be delivered to Thailand on Saturday, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha announced on Tuesday after the weekly Cabinet meeting.

He added that an additional 1 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine will be delivered in May, though that depends on the Chinese government’s decision.

“Also, up to 6 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine will be delivered in June and more batches delivered gradually until the end of the year,” he said.

The prime minister added that the government is currently negotiating the price of the Pfizer vaccine and that it should be delivered in July.

Published : April 20, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000021

Thai FDA gives 3 private companies right to import Covid-19 vaccines

Three private firms have been given the okay to import and register for the administration of Covid-19 vaccines, while another company is under consideration, Dr Paisan Dankhum, secretary-general of the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA), said on Monday.

“So far, 14 companies have applied for permission to import the vaccine but only four have submitted the necessary documents. The FDA has been carefully considering all candidates with a focus on public safety and health,” he said.

Paisan added that the FDA has never blocked any private party from importing vaccines as claimed on some media channels. “Up until now, the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation has been the sole importer of Covid-19 vaccines and the FDA has been inviting qualified private firms to register as importers,” he said. “We will hold a meeting with the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Thai Industries and representatives from private hospitals to address procedures that importers need to follow.

“The FDA has also launched an online platform for companies to register their health products with speed, convenience and transparency,” added Paisan. “We have been strictly following the law in registration procedures with no special treatment being given to any particular applicant to ensure people are safe and can benefit from the products.”

Published : April 20, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000019

Health warning after people rush to buy fah talai jone as ‘Covid cure’

A hospital in Prachin Buri province has warned people that consuming fah talai jone (green chiretta) in huge amounts can damage the kidney and liver.

Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital issued the warning after seeing soaring demand for the herbal extract from people who believe it can protect them from Covid-19.

People are rushing to buy fah talai jone after the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine recently announced that the Thai herb had cured more than 300 Covid-19 patients of mild symptoms.

Since the first wave of Covid-19 emerged in Thailand, certain hospitals including Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr have been using fah talai jone together with other medicines to treat Covid-19 patients. The patients have reportedly recovered without side effects.

Last December, the Public Health Ministry approved the use of fah talai jone to treat early-stage Covid-19.

However, Thai experts warn there is no solid scientific evidence that fah talai jone can boost immunity or relieve the symptoms of Covid-19.

The herbal extract has been used for centuries in Asia to combat flu and related diseases.

Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital added that research indicated the herb can help prevent flu if consumed in low amounts continually for three months.

A medic at the hospital said fah talai jone boosted immunity.

Published : April 20, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000017

Third Covid wave worse, as new variant more aggressive, warns expert

Thailand’s third wave of Covid-19 infections is more dangerous because the new strain of the virus can live in the body longer than the previous strain, warned Asst Prof Opass Putcharoen, chief of Chulalongkorn Hospital’s Centre of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Opass cited studies on more than 200 Covid-19 patients which showed that the new version of the virus can now live in the human body for more than 10 days compared to the previous strain which could only survive for seven days.

He said the number of young people hit by pneumonitis has also risen compared to the last wave, adding that the latest version of the virus is likely to spread easier and faster than before.

“This time, patients develop severe symptoms less than a week after being infected, so doctors must be ready to treat them as soon as possible,” he said.

He also predicted that hospital ICUs will start filling up with Covid-19 patients from this week, adding that the situation now is similar to the spread of the coronavirus B117 variant in the UK.

“Hence, measures to contain transmissions in communities and vaccine rollout are necessary to tackle the third wave,” he added.

Published : April 20, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000018

Four new deaths, 1,443 Covid-19 cases confirmed

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Tuesday reported 1,443 new cases and four deaths, bringing the total Covid-related fatalities in Thailand up to 108.

Of the deaths, three were Thai nationals, namely a 78-year-old woman and two men, aged 78 and 30. The fourth death was that of an 84-year-old Indian woman.

The Thai woman, a Bangkok resident, was already bedridden with high blood pressure and thyroid problems. Her infection was confirmed on April 3 and she succumbed to the virus on Sunday.

The 78-year-old man ran a business in Bangkok and suffered from high blood pressure and diabetes. He tested positive for Covid-19 on April 15 and died on Monday.

The 30-year-old Bangkok resident had been suffering from obesity. He tested positive for Covid-19 on April 15 and succumbed on Monday.

The 84-year-old Indian woman had been bedridden with thyroid problems and tested positive on Sunday. She died the same day.

Of the 1,443 cases confirmed, the highest number or 350 were in Bangkok, 116 in Chiang Mai, 82 in Chonburi and 60 in Samut Prakan.

Also, two had flown in from overseas, including a Thai woman from Denmark and an Indian man from his own country.

Meanwhile, 171 cases have recovered and discharged from the hospital.

As of Tuesday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 45,185. Of these, 41,943 had been contracted locally, including 20,707 who were found via proactive testing, while 3,242 were returnees.

So far, 28,958 have recovered and been discharged, 16,119 are still in hospitals and 108 have died.

According to Worldometer, as of 11am on Tuesday, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 142.72 million (up by 657,827), 121.24 million of whom have recovered, 18.44 million are active cases (108,184 in severe condition) and 3.04 million have died (up by 9,813).

Thailand ranks 107th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 32.47 million, followed by India 15.31 million, Brazil 13.97 million, France 5.29 million and Russia 4.71 million.

In the last 24 hours, 35,900 people in Thailand received their first shot of the Covid-19 vaccine, while 11,727 got their second shot, bringing the total number of doses administered up to 666,210.

Published : April 20, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000016

PM optimistic on containing Covid-19, economic expansion in 2021

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is confident that the Covid-19 situation in Thailand will be under control

The spokesperson at the Office of the Prime Minister, Anucha Burapachaisri, reported that the PM was confident the virus would be under control soon, as serious measures have been implemented in the country.

Anucha added that the government had avoided lockdown measures, or even

a curfew, as both measures would affect the whole country in a negative way.

He said the PM believed the Thai economy would expand in 2021, despite the Covid-19 outbreak, as Thai people are being inoculated.

Anucha added that the government had ordered at least 63 million doses of vaccine for use in 2021. Besides, the PM has set up a working team for procuring another 10 million doses of alternative vaccines.

Therefore, at least 35 million people will be immunised within 2021, he said.

In addition, according to the PM, the government had spent almost THB380 million for supporting and helping the damaged economy of the country.

Published : April 20, 2021

By : The Nation