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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404840

Statement by Antony J. Blinken, US Secretary of State on Thailand Songkran 2021

NationalApr 13. 2021Image: https://th.usembassy.gov/

By THE NATION

ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE, APRIL 12, 2021

Thailand Songkran 2021

On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I wish the people of the Kingdom of Thailand good health and happiness on the occasion of Songkran, the Thai New Year.

As we have faced unprecedented global challenges over the past year, both our friendship and our commitment to expanding trade and investment, countering transnational crime, and addressing regional challenges in the Indo-Pacific region has continued to grow. Our increased cooperation on health, particularly in response to COVID-19, is a testament to our collaboration for the well-being of our nations. For more than 60 years, U.S. agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, and the U.S. Agency for International Development have partnered with their Thai counterparts to safeguard the health of American, Thai, and international communities. This collaboration has never been more important.

The United States of America is proud to recognize Thailand as one of our strongest and most enduring allies. Building on our alliance, our nations have achieved notable progress on shared goals including the advancement of regional security, the expansion of trade and investment, and the maintenance of our robust people-to-people ties. We look forward to deepening our friendship with the Kingdom of Thailand even further.

Please accept our best wishes for the people of the Kingdom of Thailand in the coming year.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404839

Free Covid-19 tests to be provided under social security scheme

NationalApr 13. 2021

By THE NATION

The Ministry of Labour will provide free Covid-19 tests to members of the social security scheme.

The initiative covers members under Sections 33, 39 and 40 of the Social Security Act.

Section 33 covers current employees, Section 39 covers former employees who wish to preserve their insured status by continuing to contribute to the fund, and Section 40 covers self-employed people.

“The programme will kick off on April 17 at Bangkok Youth Centre (Thai – Japan) in Bangkok’s Din Daeng district, whereas those insured under the social security scheme, who are in risky groups, can receive Covid-19 tests for free,” Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin said on Monday.

“We expect to provide testing to 300 people per hour, while the test results would be received within 24 to 48 hours.”

Suchart added that this programme was a joint initiative of the ministries of Labour and Interior to curb the spread of Covid-19 in Bangkok areas, especially among those who have just returned from a trip to their hometowns during the Songkran holidays.

“If anyone insured is found to be infected, they would be sent to hospitals under the social security scheme for free treatment. Currently there are 81 hospitals registered with the ministry, with total capacity of over 1,000 beds,” added Suchart.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404838

K-Research slashes tourism revenue estimates for first half of 2021 by Bt130 billion

NationalApr 13. 2021

By THE NATION

The latest wave of Covid-19 reported in Thailand since late March would affect people’s travel plans during Songkran Festival and cost the tourism industry around Bt10 billion in revenue in the second quarter of 2021, Kasikorn Research Centre (K-Research) said on Tuesday.

“During the third wave, there are a higher number of cluster cases found in Bangkok and the outbreak has spread to several provinces faster than the previous waves,” said the centre. “This has resulted in many people cancelling their domestic trips during the Songkran holidays between April 10 to 18, affecting the projected revenue of the hospitality and guided tour industry, as well as other tourism-related businesses.”

K-Research also slashed its estimate of total tourism revenue in the first half of the year by Bt130 billion — to Bt137 billion — after forecasting Bt267 billion in January, due to the second and third Covid-19 waves in late December and late March.

“The third wave could last longer than the previous ones due to the higher number of infections and the discovery that the mutated strain of the virus can spread faster,” added the centre.

“Furthermore, the economic fallout will be more serious than the previous waves as the third wave has a central hotspot in Bangkok, the province with highest value of economic activities.”

K-Research advised the government to accelerate vaccination to cover as many citizens as possible, as well as seek alternatives in vaccine procurement from other parties.

“Both the public and private sectors must continue to employ strict preventive measures against the virus to contain the outbreak as soon as possible in order to minimise the economic impact,” K-Research said.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404837

SRT receives royal face masks, alcohol santising gels

NationalApr 13. 2021

By THE NATIONA representative of the Royal Thai Volunteers Centre on Monday provided 10,000 sets of face masks and alcohol-based sanitising gels to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT).

“The items were granted by His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Her Majesty Queen Suthida to help people protect themselves from the Covid-19 pandemic,” SRT said in a post on its Facebook page.

The items were handed over to the SRT by the representative of the volunteers centre, Pol Lt-Colonel Kraiboon Suadsong.

“SRT will hand them out to passengers travelling by trains during the Songkran holidays at Hua Lamphong and other stations nationwide to promote safe travel amid the outbreak.”

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404831

Hot day with thundershowers and gusty winds forecast for upper Thailand

NationalApr 13. 2021

By THE NATION

A hot day with haze is forecast for upper Thailand due to a thermal low cell covering the area, the Thailand Meteorological Department said on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the southerly and southeasterly winds bring moisture from the South China Sea and the Gulf of Thailand to the lower North, the lower Northeast, the Central including Bangkok and its vicinity, and the East regions. Thundershowers and gusty winds are forecast for these areas.

The easterly winds across the Gulf of Thailand and the South bring thundershowers to the South.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

North: Hot day with haze and thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas, gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 22-25 degrees Celsius, highs of 34-39°C.

Northeast: Hot day with haze and thundershowers in 30 per cent of the areas, gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 23-26°C, highs of 35-37°C.

Central: Hot day with haze and thundershowers in 30 per cent of the areas, gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 24-26°C, highs of 35-36°C.

East: Hot day with haze and thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas, gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 23-25°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 22-25°C, highs of 31-34°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 23-26°C, highs of 31-34°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Hot day with haze and thundershowers in 30 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 25-26°C, highs of 33-35°C.

Source: Thailand Meteorological Department

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404819

New 200-bed field hospital in Bangkok’s Bang Bon district to open on Tuesday

NationalApr 12. 2021

By The Nation

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) permanent secretary Silapasuay Raweesangsoon and Department of Health officials checked out the 200-bed field hospital set up at the Chaloem Phra Kiat 84 Phansa Sports Centre in Bang Bon district on Monday.

The field hospital will go into operation from Tuesday.

BMA set up two other field hospitals earlier – the 500-bed Bang Khun Thian Geriatric Hospital and the 200-bed Ratchaphiphat Hospital.

Meanwhile, preparations are being made to accommodate up to 350 patients at the Bangkok Arena sports complex in Nong Chok district.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404818

Bang Khae cluster targeted with more jabs next week

NationalApr 12. 2021

By The Nation

Residents of Bangkok’s Bang Khae district who have not been fully inoculated will receive their second dose of Covid-19 vaccine after the Songkran holiday, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) announced on Monday.

The final round of second jabs will be given on April 19 to 21, said BMA permanent secretary Silapasuay Raweesangsoon.

A total of 12,000 doses of vaccine have been reserved to tackle the outbreak in the western Bangkok district, which emerged at Bang Khae market last month.

All 6,000 first doses have already been administered to residents, said Silapasuay, who was overseeing a vaccination drive at Wat Nimmanoradee School in neighbouring Phasi Charoen district on Monday.

“The remaining people, who are away during Songkran, can receive their second jab from April 19 to 21,” she said, adding that a Covid-19 certificate will be delivered to those who have already had their second jab.

She said people must continue to practise virus-control measures because fully inoculated individuals can still spread the virus to others.

She added that district officials were monitoring entertainment venues to ensure they obeyed Covid rules.

“So far, officials have ordered many venues to close for violating Covid-19 preventive measures,” she said.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404817

Siriraj closed to non-emergency cases after staff member tests positive

NationalApr 12. 2021

By The Nation

Siriraj Hospital announced on Monday that patients not requiring emergency treatment postpone their visit or opt for telemedicine service until April 23.

This is after a medic at the hospital tested positive for Covid-19 after coming in contact with an infected person outside the hospital.

Siriraj said some medical staff are under self-isolation and that there are not enough beds available for patients.

“To protect the rest of the medical staff, the hospital urges patients who do not need emergency treatment to postpone their visits until April 23,” the hospital said.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404815

Thong Lor police chief, deputy transferred pending probe into Covid hotspots

NationalApr 12. 2021

By THE NATION

The chief of Thong Lor Police Station and his deputy have been transferred to inactive posts as of Monday, a news source said.

The transfer orders for Pol Colonel Duangchot Suwanjaras and his deputy were signed by Pol Maj-General Sophon Saraphat, commander of Metropolitan Police Region 5.

The source believes that Duangchot and his deputy have been transferred pending an investigation into how entertainment venues under their jurisdiction sparked Thailand’s third wave of Covid-19 infections in late March.

“The Metropolitan Police Region 5 appointed a committee on Sunday night to look into the issue,” the source added.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404814

Military deploys 5,000 beds at field hospitals nationwide as 3rd wave hits Thailand

NationalApr 12. 2021

By THE NATION

The Defence Ministry has set up field hospitals with room for more than 5,000 Covid-19 patients as the third wave of the virus rolls across Thailand.

“The ministry has set up field hospitals in Bangkok and its vicinity with total capacity of 3,195 beds, while field hospitals in other provinces have around 2,000 beds,” ministry spokesman Lt General Kongcheep Tantrawanich said on Monday.

Kongcheep added that the Army has set up 12 hospitals with a total 2,200 beds at its training facilities nationwide. Meanwhile, the Navy has set up three hospitals with 726 beds in Chonburi and Chanthaburi provinces, while the Air Force has set up a hospital in Nakhon Pathom province with 100 beds.

“The field hospitals will treat the infected and also help prevent the spread of Covid-19 to nearby communities,” said the spokesman. “The ministry will ensure that strict disease control measures are employed in these hospitals for the safety of the public.”

Health authorities reported 985 new cases of Covid-19 on Monday, the highest number seen in Thailand this year. The latest outbreak emerged in Bangkok late last month and has since spread across the country.