Detained pro-democracy protester Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak, who has been on a fast for over a month, was tired and in need of help for walking, the Department of Corrections said on Saturday morning.
The protest leader had announced on March 15 that he would go on a hunger strike until he and others accused of insulting the monarchy were granted bail.
The official who checked Parit’s condition on Saturday morning found him to be conscious and able to talk. Also, he had no dizziness or angina.
However, Parit’s legs were quite weak and he was in need of help for walking, the official said.
The protester is having only water and electrolytes.
Officials are surveying the risk of collapse of Khao Ta Pu, a natural marine landmark in Phang Nga province, due to corrosion by seawater.
Khao Ta Pu, or Ko Ta Pu (nail island), is a 20-metre tall limestone islet and is a part of Ao Phang Nga National Park. Since 1974, when it was featured in the James Bond movie “The Man with the Golden Gun”, Ko Ta Pu has been popularly called “James Bond islet”.
“The ministry is working with the Department of Mineral Resources and the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation to survey the islet and surrounding areas to find ways to prevent erosion that might cause it to collapse,” Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Varawut Silpa-archa said on Friday, during his visit to Phang Nga.
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“We are adapting the techniques used in surveying damage of limestone at Mu Koh Angthong National Marine Park in Surat Thani province and at the Pun Yod Rock Castle in Satun province,” he added.
“A 3D scanner, marine seismic scanner and echo sounder have been deployed to gather necessary information.
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“Preliminary estimation suggests that we can reinforce the islet’s foundation without jeopardising the scenery,” said Varawut. “Furthermore, we are establishing a monitoring programme with cooperation from local communities to track change of weather and marine conditions in the area that might affect the landmark.”
Thailand’s fruit export in 2020 grew 13.45 per cent year on year despite the pandemic, Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) director-general Somdet Susomboon said on Friday.
“In 2020, total export of fresh, dried and frozen fruit amounted to Bt128.33 billion, increasing from Bt113.11 billion in 2019,” he said.
“This is thanks to the signing of a memorandum of understanding on Covid-19 prevention best practices between the Commerce, Public Health, Agriculture and Cooperatives, and Interior ministries, who have initiated a campaign to promote Thailand’s products as safe and free from Covid-19 among foreign customers.”
Somdet Susomboon
“The DITP also promotes the improvement of manufacturing and packaging process among exporters to help them meet international standards and establish Thai fruit as premium-grade products in the global market,” he added.
Total export volume of fruit in 2020 was 2,138,698 tonnes. Fresh fruit accounted for 1,645,505 tonnes, or Bt104.25 billion, up 15.44 per cent year on year. Dried fruit exports were 448,612 tonnes with total value of Bt16.01 billion, down 0.23 per cent year on year and frozen fruit exports totalled 44,581 tonnes with total value of Bt8.06 billion, up 18.09 per cent year on year.
Thailand’s major fruit export markets are China, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Japan and the United States.
Khon Kaen Hospital has become severely understaffed as more than 100 health professionals must remain in self-isolation for two weeks because they were in a risky group for Covid-19 infection.
“Since the new wave of Covid-19 outbreak had been reported in late March, many people have visited the hospital to get tested. The crowdedness has affected the hospital’s operation as well as the treatment of other patients,” said Dr Rujiraluck Phrommeuang, the hospital’s deputy director.
“We have decided to move the Covid-19 testing unit to the Medical Sciences Institute located in front of Khon Kaen City Hall to reduce crowdedness at the hospital.”
Rujiraluck added that the testing unit will open daily from 9am until noon and would accept only health professionals and those who have had direct contact with confirmed patients.
“Even if the test result is negative, the test subject must remain in self-quarantine for 14 days to make sure that they are free of Covid-19,” she added. “Because of this, more than 100 health professionals at the hospital are now in quarantine, causing understaffing at the hospital.”
“We have already contacted health authorities to send additional staff to the hospital,” she said.
“In the meantime, patients who do not need immediate treatment should postpone their visit to the hospital, or opt to receive their medicines via postal mail.”
Khon Kaen reported 31 new confirmed patients in the province on April 14, with 126 accumulated cases from the recent waves from December 15, 2020 to April 14.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) on Friday announced additional measures in a bid to contain the Covid-19 outbreak, in line with the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration’s decision to place Bangkok and 17 other provinces in red zone, or highest control area.
“In the red zone provinces, tighter measures will be enforced for 14 days from April 18,” said Governor Pol General Aswin Kwanmuang.
They are:
▪︎ Restaurants can serve food until 9pm and provide takeaways until 11pm.
▪︎ No alcohol can be served.
▪︎ Department stores and shopping malls can be open until 9pm.
▪︎ Supermarket, flea markets, fresh markets, convenience stores and similar places of business can be open until 11pm and reopen at 4am.
▪︎ Stadiums and gyms can open until 9pm and competitions can be held without an audience.
▪︎ All schools and educational institutions will only hold online classes.
▪︎ All entertainment venues, including pubs, bars, karaoke outlets, massage parlours, etc, will be closed until further notice.
▪︎ Any gathering exceeding 50 people must seek official approval.
▪︎ All banquets or gatherings must be cancelled or postponed.
▪︎ People should avoid going outdoors, and work from home as much as possible.
BMA spokesman Phongsakorn Kwanmuang added that hospitals in the province have a combined capacity of treating 9,183 Covid-19 patients. Currently up to 4,939 patients are being treated.
“Patients who have none or non-progressive symptoms would be transferred to hospitels, or hotels that have been converted into treatment facilities to reduce crowdedness at hospitals,” he said.
The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Saturday that a moderate high-pressure system from China covers upper Vietnam and the South China Sea, forcing the southerly and southeasterly winds to blow humidity from the South China Sea to the lower Northeast, the Central including Bangkok and its vicinity, and the East regions. Meanwhile, the westerly trough covers the North and the Northeast.
Outbreaks of summer storms are forecast for the North, the Northeast, the East, the Central including Bangkok and its vicinity. Thunderstorms, gusty winds, hail and lightning strikes, as well as isolated heavy rains are possible in some areas.
People should beware of the severe weather conditions, the department said.
The southerly and southwesterly winds blow across the Andaman Sea and the South, bringing isolated heavy rains to the South’s west coast.
The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:
North: Thunderstorms in 60 per cent of the areas; isolated heavy rains, gusty winds and hail are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 23-27 degrees Celsius, highs of 30-33°C.
Northeast: Thunderstorms in 60 per cent of the areas; isolated heavy rains, gusty winds and hail are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 23-26°C, highs of 29-33°C.
Central: Thunderstorms in 40 per cent of the areas; gusty winds and hail are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 24-26°C, highs of 33-35°C.
East: Thunderstorms in 40 per cent of the areas; gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 25-28°C, highs of 32-35°C; waves less than a metre high and over a metre during thundershowers.
South (east coast): Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 23-25°C, highs of 33-36°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
South (west coast): Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 22-26°C, highs of 31-35°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
Bangkok and surrounding areas: Thunderstorms in 30 per cent of the areas; gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 26-28°C, highs of 33-34°C.
A video clip of people in a Covid-19 field hospital eating together and playing cards without wearing masks has sparked a wave of criticism on social media.
The clip, which was posted on TikTok, drew condemnation from netizens, who said it showed that disease-control measures were too lax.
Responding to questions on Friday, the Department of Disease Control (DDC) warned that even people with mild or no symptoms must practise social distancing in field hospitals.
“Crowding together is undesirable because it can increase the spread of the virus,” said DDC acting director for emergency health hazards and disease control, Dr Chawetsan Namwat. “People should stay apart and wear a mask.”
He added that the purpose of field hospitals is to isolate and treat people as fast as possible. Cases are assessed daily and if symptoms such as coughing develop, patients are isolated for more intensive treatment.
Chawetsan also asked the public to trust health officials’ ability to manage the situation.
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul downplayed criticism over the video clip, saying people in field hospitals were isolated from the public and may need ways of relieving stress.
Thailand will begin mass vaccination of the population in June when the country is due to take delivery of 6 million AstraZeneca jabs, a health official announced on Friday.
As of April 15, a total of 586,032 people in priority groups had received vaccine jabs, with 510,456 getting their first dose and 75,576 people getting both doses, said the Department of Disease Control (DDC).
To date, the vaccines have been divided between healthcare workers and related staff (40.41 per cent), people in at-risk areas (40.35 per cent), front-line officials (9.69), seniors aged 60-plus (5.14) and people with underlying medical conditions (4.42 per cent), said DDC acting director for emergency health hazards and disease control, Dr Chawetsan Namwat.
Meanwhile, the 6 million doses set to arrive in June would be followed by another 10 million doses for Thailand in July, Dr Chawetsan said.
He added that though the third wave of Covid-19 was still spreading, cooperation between the public and health authorities should bring good results in one or two weeks.
David Streckfuss, an American scholar and Thai politics expert, says his work permit and visa have been cancelled by the government – a move that will be seen as politically motivated.
Streckfuss, who is based in Khon Kaen, has encouraged debate of the lese majeste law (Section 112) via his writing and the Isaan Record website, which he founded.
The US-born independent scholar told Khaosod English reporter Pravit Rojanaphruk on Friday that his work permit and visa were revoked after Immigration police visited Khon Kaen University recently. Four Immigration officers met with university executives, he said.
Streckfuss has lived in Thailand for the past 35 years and has a Thai wife and two children. He authored the book “Truth on Trial in Thailand: Defamation, Treason, and Lèse-Majesté”.
On Friday, Immigration police reportedly denied Streckfuss’s visa was revoked over his comments on the lese majeste law, adding it was automatically cancelled when Khon Kaen University withdrew his work permit.
Thailand has sufficient hospital beds and medical equipment to handle the surge in Covid-19 cases, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced on Friday.
He said health officials have set a deadline of one month to control Thailand’s third wave of infections, which apparently spread from upscale nightclubs in Bangkok.
Thailand registered a record 1,582 new Covid-19 cases on Friday.
Anutin said the number of new cases would fall quickly now that the government has imposed strict measures including closure orders for entertainment venues. However, health officials must monitor the situation closely in order to prevent new infection clusters, he added.
He also reminded doctors and medical staff that they must remain vigilant, as they are the country’s front-line defence against the epidemic.
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Dr Rujiraluck Phrommeuang
