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Isolated thundershowers forecast for Bangkok, South; thunderstorms expected in upper Thailand

NationalApr 11. 2021

By The Nation

Hot weather punctuated by thunderstorms and gusty winds are forecast for upper Thailand, the Thailand Meteorological Department said on Sunday.

The agency also forecast a hot day for Bangkok with haze and isolated thundershowers.

Meanwhile, a moderate high-pressure system from China covers the Northeast of Thailand and the South China Sea, bringing the southerly and southeasterly winds to the lower North, the lower Northeast, the Central including Bangkok and its vicinity, and the East regions.

The easterly winds blowing over the Gulf of Thailand and the South are growing stronger and would bring thundershowers to some areas, the department said.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

North: Hot day with haze; isolated thunderstorms with gusty winds mostly in Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Phrae, Uttaradit, Phitsanulok, Phetchabun, Phichit, Sukhothai, Kamphaeng Phet and Tak provinces; minimum temperature 21-24 degrees Celsius, maximum 35-39°C; southwesterly winds 10-20 km/hr.

Northeast: Hot day with haze; isolated thundershowers with gusty winds mostly in Loei, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima and Buri Ram provinces; minimum temperature 22-25°C, maximum 33-37°C; southeasterly winds 10-25 km/hr.

Central: Hot with haze during the day; scattered thunderstorms with gusty winds mostly in Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chainat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Lopburi, Saraburi, Ayutthaya, Nakhon Pathom, Suphanburi and Kanchanaburi provinces; minimum temperature 23-26°C, maximum 35-37°C; southerly winds 10-20 km/hr.

East: Scattered thunderstorms with gusty winds mostly in Nakhon Nayok, Prachinburi, Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat provinces; minimum temperature 23-25°C; maximum 33-36°C; southeasterly winds 10-30 km/hr; waves less than a metre high and above a metre in thundershowers.

South (east coast): Isolated thundershowers mostly in Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung and Songkhla provinces; minimum temperature 22-26°C, maximum 33-34°C; easterly winds 15-30 km/hr; waves about a metre high and 1-2 metres in thundershowers.

South (west coast): Isolated thundershowers mostly in Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket and Krabi provinces; minimum temperature 22-26°C, maximum 33-36°C; easterly winds 15-30 km/hr; waves about a metre high and 1-2 metres in thundershowers.

Bangkok and its vicinity: Hot day with haze; isolated thundershowers; minimum temperature 25-27°C, maximum 35-37°C; southerly winds 10-20 km/hr.

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BTS management takes its debt dispute with BMA to YouTube

NationalApr 10. 2021

By THE NATION

Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTSC) has posted a video on YouTube, asking the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to repay the costs it had incurred running the Green Line extension.

The BTSC has repeatedly demanded from the BMA repayment of the Bt30-billion debt it had incurred from operating the Green Line extension and related expenses since 2018. The payment was due on March 31.

BTSC is a subsidiary of the SET-listed BTS Group Holdings Plc, and owns the Silom Line from National Stadium to the Taksin Bridge station, and the Sukhumvit route from Mor Chit to On Nut. The extensions of those two lines are owned by the BMA, which had hired BTSC to operate the service.

Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang in February had said that the city administration did not have money to repay the debt.

The video released on Friday had voiceover by BTS director Surapong Laoha-Unya.

In thevideo, the Skytrain operator mentions the Bt30-billion debt, which includes over Bt9.6 billion in wages for operating the Green Line extension since 2018 and purchase of a train operating system worth over Bt20 billion.

“The company has tried its best to show responsibility, as well as offer a solution for the problem. But it seems there are problems within problems, which the BTSC cannot tackle,” the director said in the video.

Surapong also told the public that, “there are people who do not want this issue to be resolved so they create reasons to obstruct it, without caring about its effect on the future, especially on the general people.”

In late January, the BTSC had threatened to suspend the train services unless the BMA paid its debt for operating the Green Line extension since 2018.

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Message of Condolences from the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on the Passing of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

NationalApr 10. 2021Prayut Chan-o-cha

By THE NATION

H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, sent a message of condolences to The Right Honourable Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, on the passing of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, on 9 April 2021.

Your Right Honourable,

I was deeply saddened by the passing of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at the Windsor Castle on 9 April 2021.

His lifelong services and unwavering dedication to diverse noble causes, especially the welfare of young people, epitomised his legacy and exceptional leadership. His several visits to Thailand by himself and together with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be fondly remembered and cherished by the Thai people. His Royal Highness touched many hearts and minds with his generosity and compassion.

On behalf of the Royal Thai Government and the people of Thailand, I wish to extend to Your Right Honourable and the British people our deepest condolences and sympathy for this irreparable loss. We join the British people in mourning the loss of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Our thoughts and prayers are with the British people in this time of sadness.

Accept, Your Right Honourable, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.

General Prayut Chan-o-cha (Ret.)
Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand

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Armed Forces on Covid-19 alert after soldier who visited Thong Lor restaurant tests positive

NationalApr 10. 2021

By THE NATION

The Royal Thai Navy has ordered any personnel who had attended a training exercise with Army officers at the Ban Chanthakhlem training centre in Chanthaburi province from April 7 to get tested for Covid-19 and remain in self-quarantine to monitor their symptoms, a source said on Saturday.

The order was issued after a female Army lieutenant, who had gone to a restaurant in the Thong Lor area, tested positive for Covid-19.

“She attended the joint training with the Navy on April 8 and 9, whereas Army officers from her group had attended the training since April 7,” said the source.

“The training was also attended by Admiral Chatchai Sriworakhan, commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Navy, among other high-ranking Navy officers.”

According to the source, the timeline of the infected lieutenant was as follows:

April 2: She went to a restaurant in the Thong Lor area with her civilian friends who had earlier visited entertainment venues in the area.

April 3-4: She stayed at home all day.

April 5: She went to work at Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters in Bangkok from 8am to 4pm.

April 6: She stayed at home all day.

April 7: She went to work at the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters from 8am to 3pm, before traveling to Chanthaburi province where she stayed at Pimdara Hotel.

April 8: She went to Ban Chanthakhlem training centre at 11.30am and learned that her friend, whom she had met on April 2, had contracted Covid-19. She went to Prapokklao Hospital in Chanthaburi to get tested at 4pm before going to a restaurant in the province for dinner and went back to the hotel at 11pm.

April 9: She went to Ban Chanthakhlem training centre at 9.30am and left the centre at 2pm. At 3.40pm the hospital notified her that she had tested positive for Covid-19, prompting her to get admitted to Phramongkutklao Hospital in Bangkok at 6pm.

The source added that colleagues of the lieutenant also had participated in the ceremony to celebrate the 112th anniversary of the Army’s Command and General Staff College in Bangkok’s Dusit district on April 7, which was attended by several senior Army officers, including Military Commander-in-Chief General Chalermpol Srisawat and Army secretary-general General Nath Intharacharoen.

Maj-General Theeraphong Patthamasingh na Ayutthaya, deputy spokesman of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters, said on Saturday that the Army was investigating the timeline of all related personnel and had told four officers who had close contact with the lieutenant to get tested and remain in quarantine.

“General Chalermpol is already aware of the situation and has ordered all related units to submit the timeline of all personnel to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration.

“There is no cover-up of information by the Armed Forces as rumoured on social media,” he insisted.

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Governor visits field hospital in Bangkok to survey preparedness

NationalApr 10. 2021

By THE NATION

Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang on Saturday visited a field hospital, set up in Ratchaphipaht Hospital premises in the capital’s Wattana district.

According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, this field hospital has been in operation since July 2020, with 200 beds. Currently, 28 patients are undergoing treatment at the facility.

Over 5,000 beds have been arranged throughout Bangkok, the governor added.

The field hospital was opened to deal with patients who had mild symptoms. Those with severe symptoms are moved to other hospitals.

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Nearly half a million Thais have got first Covid-19 shot

NationalApr 10. 2021

By THE NATION

More than half a million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been given to Thai people across the country, a government official said on Saturday.

Government deputy spokesperson Traisuree Taisaranakul said that 1,038,256 doses of vaccine had been distributed to hospitals and medical places in the country. Of these, 952,205 doses were of AstraZeneca and the rest 86,060 Sinovac.

From February 28 to April 9, a total of 537,380 doses were administered in 77 provinces.

Of the 537,380, 470,301 people have received the first dose, while 67,079 people have got both doses. Most of the inoculated people were medical personnel.

Provinces with the most inoculations were: Bangkok (113,367), Samut Sakhon (113,111), Phuket (76,704), Surat Thani (26,735), Tak (24,030), Samut Prakan (23,646), Nonthaburi (21,621), Chonburi (14,711), Pathum Thani (14,184) and Rayong (9,288).

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul posted on his Facebook @AnutinC that 1 million doses of Sinovac vaccine had arrived in Thailand on Saturday morning, and the ministry would distribute them to the people as soon as possible.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404747

1 million doses of Sinovac vaccine arrive

NationalApr 10. 2021

By THE NATION

The Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) on Saturday morning received 1 million doses of Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine from China.

The consignment arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport via Air China flight CA603 departing from Beijing.

“This vaccine is the third lot from a total of 2 million doses that the GPO has purchased from Sinovac Life Sciences Co Ltd from the People’s Republic of China,” said Dr Withoon Danwiboon, GPO director.

“The first lot of 200,000 doses had arrived on February 24, and the second lot of 800,000 doses on March 22.

“All vaccines have arrived in passive cold cartons, which can keep them viable for up to 96 hours,” he added.

“After they pass the inspection, the vaccines will be transported to a vaccine warehouse of DKSH (Thailand) Ltd, which will store them at a temperature of 2-8 degrees Celsius. Then, the Department of Medical Sciences will test their quality before distributing to hospitals and vaccination units.”

Sinovac vaccine is meant for people aged 18-59 years at two doses each, at an interval of two to four weeks.

“At the end of April another lot of 500,000 doses of Sinovac vaccine will arrive. They are a part of the additional vaccines that the GPO has ordered to complement the Ministry of Public Health’s plan to inoculate target groups who are at high risk of contracting Covid-19,” he added.

As of April 2, more than 200 million doses of Sinovac vaccine have been injected globally including in China, Singapore, Brazil, Turkey, Indonesia, Cambodia, Philippines, Brunei and Thailand.

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Huge increase in new Covid-19 cases, one more death

NationalApr 10. 2021

By THE NATION

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Saturday reported 789 new cases and one death.

Of the new infections, 522 had been contracted locally, 259 were found via proactive testing and eight overseas arrivals tested positive in quarantine.

The returnees included both Thais and foreigners. 3 were from Russia, while others were each one from the US, UK, Oman, Canada and India.

A 68-year-old man in Nakhon Pathom province who was infected with Covid-19 died on April 4. Doctors concluded on Friday that he died from Covid-19 and complications.
Meanwhile, 33 patients have recovered and been discharged.

As of Saturday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 31,658. Of these, 28,463 had been contracted locally, including 17,097 who were found via proactive testing, while 3,195 were returnees.

So far, 28,161 have recovered and been discharged, 2,645 patients are being treated, and 96 have died.

According to Worldometer, as of 10am on Saturday, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 135.29 million (up by 785,896), 108.86 million of whom have recovered, 23.3 million are active cases (102,033 in severe condition) and 2.92 million have died (up by 13,268).

Thailand ranks 113th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 31.8 million, followed by Brazil 13.37 million, India 13.2 million, France 4.98 million and Russia 4.62 million.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404740

New Covid-19 wave dents TAT’s Songkran tourism targets

NationalApr 10. 2021

By THE NATION

The new Covid-19 wave has dampened the travel plans of people across the country during Songkran, dealing a setback to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)’s targets.

TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said that the effect of the new Covid-19 outbreak in the short term was being estimated by his organisation.

The TAT has forecast the following scenarios during Songkran:

▪︎ People decide to return to their hometowns, despite Covid-19, as they had not gone home last year due to the nationwide lockdown.

▪︎ People decide to travel to safer cities or areas; they take their personal cars, instead of public transportation.

▪︎ People decide to stay at home during the festival time, as they are worried about getting infected by Covid-19.

Yuthasak estimated that total travellers during Songkran will not reach his organisation’s target.

Separately, the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) told the press that 10 to 20 per cent of people had already cancelled their room bookings during the festival holidays.

Information on preventive measures of each province was being collected, TCT president Chumnan Srisawat said.

TAT expected hotel occupancy during the Songkran holidays at 31 per cent, with 3.20 million travellers. Spending to circulate in the tourism sector was targeted at Bt12 billion.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404739

Latest Covid-19 wave in Thailand ‘likely caused by Cambodia strain’

NationalApr 10. 2021Dr Yong Poovorawan

By THE NATION

Chulalongkorn University virology specialist Dr Yong Poovorawan said on Saturday that the strain of Covid-19 recently found in Thailand among visitors to entertainment venues in Bangkok has the spike pattern that matches perfectly with the Cambodia strain.

“The latest strain found in Thailand does not match 100 per cent with the British or other strains, but displays a 100 per cent match with the Cambodia strain,” he said in his Facebook post.

Photo: Facebook @yong.poovorawan

“The Cambodia strain had been found spreading in Cambodia about six weeks before it was detected in Thailand.

“From this data, it is conclusive that the latest wave at entertainment venues is related to the Cambodia strain of the virus,” added Yong.

Yong had said on Friday that it was unlikely that the strain had been brought in by people coming via official channels because everybody is tested and quarantined for 14 days, but it could be from migrant workers or Thais sneaking across the border who may have been carriers of this strain, which is 1.7 times more infectious.