The baht opened at 31.38 to the US dollar on Thursday, weakening from its close of 31.36 on Wednesday.The Thai currency is likely to move between 31.35 and 31.45 during the day, Krungthai Bank market strategist Poon Panichpibool said.
He mentioned that the new wave of Covid-19 in Thailand was the key problem this time around.
Chulalongkorn University’s virology centre reported on Wednesday that samples collected from entertainment venues in Bangkok’s Thong Lor area carried the British strain, which spreads “1.7 times faster” than the normal strain leading to a “viral load that is far higher” in the patient.
Poon said market players would sell their Thai assets if the government could not deal with this new and more severe wave in the country. However, he predicted that the direction of the Thai stock market would not change sharply or drastically, as there was still an opportunity for investment.
Poon noted that “the baht is still moving in line with the dollar, as well as the new Covid-19 situation in the country”. He said it was possible the baht would weaken more than 31.30 per US dollar.
He also predicted that the baht would move between 31.50 to 31.75 per US dollar during the week following the Songkran festival.
The Covid-19 subcommittee of the WHO Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) has reviewed reports of rare cases of blood clots with low platelets in some people given the AstraZeneca vaccine, the World Health Organisation subcommittee said in a press release, adding that the “causal relationship between the vaccine and the occurrence of blood clots with low platelets is considered plausible but is not confirmed”.
At its most recent meeting on April 7, the subcommittee reviewed the latest information from the European Medicines Agency along with information from the United Kingdom’s Medicines and other Health Products Regulatory Agency as well as member states and noted the following:
“Based on current information, a causal relationship between the vaccine and the occurrence of blood clots with low platelets is considered plausible but is not confirmed. “Specialised studies are needed to fully understand the potential relationship between vaccination and possible risk factors.
“The GACVS subcommittee will continue to gather and review further data, as it has done since the beginning of the vaccination programme.”
It is important to note that while concerning, the events under assessment are very rare, with low numbers reported among the almost 200 million individuals who have received the AstraZeneca vaccine around the world, the subcommittee said.
Rare adverse events following immunisations should be assessed against the risk of deaths from Covid-19 and the potential of the vaccines to prevent infections and reduce deaths due to diseases. In this context, it should be noted that as of today, at least 2.86 million people have died of Covid-19 worldwide, it said.
Side effects within two or three days following vaccination, the majority of which are mild and local in nature, are expected and common. However, individuals who experience any severe symptoms – such as shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling, persistent abdominal pain, neurological symptoms including severe and persistent headaches or blurred vision, tiny blood spots under the skin beyond the site of the injection – from around four to 20 days following vaccination should seek urgent medical attention. Clinicians should be aware of relevant case definitions and clinical guidance for patients presenting thrombosis and thrombocytopaenia following vaccination, the statement said.
To this end, the GACVS subcommittee also suggested that a committee of clinical experts including haematologists and other specialists should be convened for advice on clinical diagnosis and case management.
Active surveillance, including sentinel site/hospital case-based investigations should be considered, to further characterise these rare events, the subcommittee said. WHO has developed template protocols that countries could adapt for such studies. The GACVS will meet again next week to review additional data and will be issuing further recommendations as relevant.
WHO is carefully monitoring the rollout of all Covid-19 vaccines and will continue to work closely with countries to manage potential risks and to use science and data to drive response and recommendations.
In extensive vaccination campaigns, it is normal for countries to identify potential adverse events following immunisation. This does not necessarily mean that the events are linked to the vaccination itself, but they must be investigated to ensure that any safety concerns are addressed quickly. Vaccines, like all medicines, can have side effects. The administration of vaccines is based on a risk versus benefit analysis, the subcommittee statement concluded.
The Transport Ministry published an announcement on Wednesday ordering all departments providing public transport services to grant a full fare refund to those who wish to cancel their tickets purchased before the Songkran holiday.
The move aims to curb the spread of Covid-19 after a new wave was reported earlier this month linked to entertainment venues in Bangkok’s Thong Lo area.
“Customers who are eligible for a full refund must return their tickets at least 24 hours before departure time,” said the announcement, which was signed by deputy Transport permanent secretary Soraphong Phaithoonphong.
The announcement also ordered all related agencies to employ strict Covid-19 preventive measures for public transport, including providing thermal scanning for passengers, increasing the cleaning frequency of public surfaces and toilets, and enforcing the wearing of face masks among staff and passengers.
Meanwhile, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) announced that it would allow customers who bought tickets for the April 9-18 period to get a full refund provided that they cancel their trip at least 24 hours before departure, or one hour before departure in case the destination is suddenly announced as a maximum control area by the government.
“Tickets bought with discount benefits under the state welfare card will be refunded only for cash paid by the card holder, while those who have reserved tickets online must email the digital tickets to: passenger-ser@railway.co.th to get their refund,” the SRT said on its Facebook page. “For more information, contact call centre 1690.”
Bangkok cancels Songkran festivities, shuts entertainment venues on Khaosan Road
NationalApr 08. 2021File Photo of Songkran Festival on Khaosan Road in April 2019
By THE NATION
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has decided to cancel all Songkran activities scheduled in all districts of the province in a bid to curb Covid-19 from spreading further after a new cluster of cases linked to entertainment venues in Thong Lo swiftly spread to other areas, deputy governor Kriangyos Sudlabha said on Wednesday.
“The Songkran activities at Lan Khon Meuang Plaza in Phra Nakhon district will be cancelled. These include an alms-giving ceremony and pouring water on the Buddha image and elders as blessings,” he said.
“Furthermore, activities scheduled to be held in other districts by the district office will also be cancelled,” Kriangyos stated.
“As for public and private organisations which cannot cancel their planned Songkran festivities, the BMA urges them to employ strict measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19,” he said.
The BMA also announced on Wednesday that it would shut all entertainment venues on Khaosan Road from April 7 to 12 and would provide a free Covid-19 test to all merchants in the area.
“During the Songkran festival, we advise people to perform the ceremony of pouring water on Buddha images and elders at home and avoid going out to crowded areas,” Kriangyos said.
“If you have to travel, make sure to wear a face mask at all times, maintain at least a one-metre distance from others and wash your hands regularly with soap and water or alcohol hand sanitiser,” he advised.
Upper Thailand will experience haze and an increase in temperature during the day as a low heat cell covers the region while the lower North, the Northeast, the Central region, including Bangkok and its vicinity, and the East will see thundershowers with gusty winds and isolated heavy rain in some areas as southerly and southeasterly winds bring moisture from the South China Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, the Meteorological Department said on Thursday.
Here’s the weather forecast for the next 24 hours:
Bangkok and surrounding areas: Hot day with haze and thundershowers in 30 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 24-26 degrees, highs of 34-36 degrees Celsius.
North: Hot day with haze and thundershowers in 20 per cent of the areas, gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 20-23 degrees and highs of 33-38 degrees Celsius.
Northeast: Hot day with haze and thundershowers in 20 per cent of the area, gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 20-25 degrees and highs of 33-37 degrees Celsius.
Central: Hot day with haze and thundershowers in 30 per cent of the area, gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 23-24 degrees, highs of 34-37 degrees Celsius.
East: Hot day with haze and thundershowers in 40 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees, highs of 34-37 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
South (east coast): Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees, highs of 33-35 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
South (west coast): Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 22-25 degrees, highs of 33-36 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
Chulalongkorn University’s virology centre conducted genetic tests on the samples collected from Covid-19 cases in Bang Khae and Thong Lor and found the British strain of the virus.
Samples collected from entertainment venues in the Thong Lor area carried the British strain, which spreads 1.7 times faster than the normal strain and the viral load in the patient is far higher.
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul was pictured without a face mask while sitting next to Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob on Tuesday – a day before Saksayam tested positive for Covid-19.
The two ministers were attending a merit-making event for Anutin’s Bhumjaithai Party.
The photo shows Anutin sitting barefaced next to Saksayam, who is seated directly to his left.
Members of the Cabinet began self-isolating on Wednesday after news emerged that Saksayam had contracted Covid-19.
Anutin has been at the forefront of a campaign urging members of the public to cut their risk of infection by wearing face masks.
Demand for Covid-19 tests surged in Sa Kaew on Wednesday after 20 infections in the eastern province were linked to the Bangkok cluster from nightspots in the Thong Lor area.
The 20 locals tested positive after coming into contact with the province’s 6th and 7th patients, a couple who had earlier visited a nightclub in Thong Lor.
Sa Kaew Governor Kiattisak Chanthra said more than 500 locals crowded into Sa Kaew Meeting Hall in Muang district on Wednesday to register for Covid tests at Somdet Phrayuppharat Sa Kaew Hospital.
“The number of people who showed up today was many more than we expected. Many are worried that they might be infected despite having no direct contact with those who have already tested positive. Only people who have been to entertainment venues visited by the patients between March 29 and April 4 should report for testing,” said the governor
“The province will focus on testing people in the high-risk group first. Those not in this group but still concerned they might be infected can visit their nearest hospital for testing,” he added.
The registration unit at the meeting hall is open daily from 8.30am to 4pm
A total of 291 Covid-19 infections had been linked to entertainment venues in and around Bangkok between March 22 and April 6, said the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Wednesday.
Of those infected, 200 were in Bangkok, 23 in Chonburi, 18 in Samut Prakan, 14 in Suphanburi, 13 in Nonthaburi, seven in Nakhon Pathom, five in Pathum Thani, two each in Chiang Mai, Chumphon and Samut Sakhon, and one each in Kanchanaburi, Tak, Lopburi, Sa Kaew and Loei.
Meanwhile, a total of 323, 989 doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been administered so far in Thailand. These consisted of 274,354 first jabs and 49,635 second jabs.
Thailand launched its vaccination programme more than a month ago on February 28.
Health officials in Phuket have confirmed eight people tested positive for Covid-19 – four on Tuesday and four on Wednesday.
One of the eight was linked directly to a pub in Bangkok’s Thong Lor area, where a cluster of infections emerged last week. The case was identified by Phuket health chief Koosak Kookiatkul as a 29-year-old woman who worked as a receptionist at Thong Lor entertainment venue where a customer had tested positive for Covid-19 on April 1.
On April 2, the receptionist took the 1.15pm flight from Don Mueang Airport to Phuket. She later developed symptoms and tested positive this week.
Four other cases contracted the virus from an entertainment venue in Phuket.
The remaining three who tested positive were members of a Phuket family. Health officials are investigating the source of their infection.
Elsewhere, health officials in Chiang Mai on Wednesday sterilised two nightclubs – Warm Up Cafe and Ground – that had been visited by a Covid-positive customer recently.
Both venues were also ordered to closed for 14 days from April 6 to 19.
File Photo of Songkran Festival on Khaosan Road in April 2019
