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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404604

Restaurants, entertainment venues under close watch

NationalApr 07. 2021

By THE NATION

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is ensuring that entertainment venues and restaurants in the province are strictly following regulations on opening and closing hours to curb Covid-19 from spreading further after a new cluster of cases was found relating to entertainment venues earlier this week.

Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang announced on Monday the closure of all entertainment venues in Khlong Toei, Wattana (Thong Lor and Ekkamai) and Bang Khae districts until April 19, after 118 people who visited entertainment venues in these areas tested positive for the virus.

“We have been dispatching officials to inspect restaurants and entertainment venues such as pubs and bars in other districts to make sure they close at 9pm,” said BMA permanent secretary Silapasuay Raweesangsoon. “Owners must also employ Covid-19 preventive measures, including installing thermal screening checkpoints, enforcing the wearing of face masks, providing hand sanitising gels or a washing station, cleaning public surfaces regularly and maintaining social distancing practices,” she said.

“The BMA inspected 14,166 restaurants, pubs and bars in the province from March 1 to April 1,” Silapasuay said.

“During the Songkran Festival [April 10-15], we will increase the frequency of inspection at bus terminals to ensure that people travelling to and from their hometowns follow Covid-19 preventive measures,” she added.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404603

Thundershowers forecast across Thailand

NationalApr 07. 2021

By THE NATION

Keep your umbrellas handy. Thundershowers with gusty winds and isolated heavy rains are forecast for upper Thailand while the South too will experience isolated thundershowers, the Meteorological Department said on Wednesday, mentioning that a westerly trough covers the upper Northeast while southerly and southeasterly winds bring moisture from the South China Sea and the Gulf of Thailand to the lower North, the Northeast, the Central region including Bangkok and its vicinity, and the East.

Here’s the weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Thundershowers in 30 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 25-26 degrees, highs of 33-34 degrees Celsius.

North: Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the area with gusty wind possible in some areas; temperature lows of 20-25 degrees and highs of 27-34 degrees Celsius.

Northeast: Thundershowers in 30 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 22-26 degrees and highs of 32-36 degrees Celsius.

Central: Thundershowers in 30 per cent of the area, with gusty wind in some areas; temperature lows of 24-26 degrees, highs of 33-36 degrees Celsius.

East: Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees, highs of 31-35 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

South (east coast): Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the area with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 24-26 degrees, highs of 29-34 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 2 metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 23-26 degrees, highs of 33-35 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

Source: Thailand Meteorological Department

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404591

New minister isolates herself after visitor to her Sa Kaew home tests positive

NationalApr 06. 2021

By The Nation

Education Minister Treenuch Thienthong has isolated herself for 14 days after learning on Tuesday that one of the guests who visited her home on Sunday had tested positive for Covid-19.

The guest had shown up at the newly appointed minister’s home in Sa Kaew province to congratulate her.

“Out of social responsibility, I will go into self-quarantine and will perform my duties from Wednesday via the Zoom application,” she said.

Results of her Covid-19 test are yet to be released.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404590

Motorists can use new Korat highway for free during Songkran break

NationalApr 06. 2021

By The Nation

The new Motorway No 6 between Bang Pa-in and Nakhon Ratchasima (Pak Chong to Sikhiu) will be officially opened on Wednesday by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in time for the Songkran holidays.

Motorists will be able to use the outbound part of the motorway for free from April 9 and the inbound direction from April 14 until April 19. The motorway will only be open to four-wheel vehicles.

Meanwhile, government spokesman Anucha Buraphachasri said the Cabinet has earmarked Bt6.63 billion in compensation for people whose land was expropriated for the Bang Pa-in-Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) motorway. Those dissatisfied with their compensation can file an appeal with the Transport Ministry, he added.

So far, there are only 361 people who have not received their compensation worth Bt415 million, which will be handed out in fiscal 2022.

The Department of Highways has confirmed that there has been no problem in expropriating land for the motorway

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404589

No quarantine for people travelling from Bangkok, other red zones: Anutin

NationalApr 06. 2021

By The Nation

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Tuesday confirmed that people can leave red-zone provinces freely to return to their hometowns over the Songkran holidays. However, he warned against socialising or drinking in crowded areas over the holiday period (April 10-15), since Covid-19 is still spreading.

Bangkok and its four surrounding red-zone provinces – Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan – have been hit by new cluster infections linked to entertainment venues in the capital’s Thong Lor area.

Anutin said people must make lifestyle adjustments to prevent the virus from spreading over Songkran, including staying at home with their family and avoiding crowds.

In red-zone areas, restaurants and entertainment venues are banned from serving alcohol, holding performances or parties and must close by 9pm.

Anutin said the situation had not yet reached a point where people travelling from red zones would face mandatory testing before departure or 14-day quarantine on arrival in their home provinces. However, he urged people not to share glasses or plates and warned that using the same ice bucket could result in becoming infected. Anutin added that the cluster of 240 infections linked to nightspots in Thong Lor was unacceptable.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404588

Thai lawmakers pay obeisance to founder of Chakri Dynasty, King Rama I

NationalApr 06. 2021

By The Nation

Parliament president Chuan Leekpai led other lawmakers to place flowers at the feet of the King Rama I statue on Bangkok’s Tri Phet Road to mark Chakri Day on Tuesday.

Chakri Day is marked on April 6 every year to commemorate the founding of the Chakri Dynasty by King Rama I in 1782.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404586

At-risk people in Thong Lor get their jabs

NationalApr 06. 2021Aswin Kwanmuang

By THE NATION

Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang visited the inoculation site in Thong Lor, where 4,200 doses of Covid-19 vaccines are being administered to 2,100 people working in at-risk venues.

Persons between the ages of 18 and 59 will be targeted.

Biosafety units have also been stationed in the area to conduct Covid-19 tests.

In a bid to contain the spread of the virus, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration closed all entertainment venues in Khlong Toei and Wattana (Thong Lor and Ekkamai) districts until April 19.

Also included in the lockdown are entertainment venues in Bang Khae, where several cases were detected.

However, only sites where infections were found in Bangkok’s Huai Khwang, Phra Nakhon, Phasi Charoen and Lat Phrao areas have been ordered shut.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404585

Thailand threatened with 3rd wave of Covid, expert says

NationalApr 06. 2021

By THE NATION

A virologist has warned that Thailand could suffer third and fourth waves of Covid-19 infections following the latest outbreak in and around Bangkok.

On Tuesday, the outbreak centred on entertainment venues in Bangkok’s Thong Lor reached 250 infections. Authorities responded by closing all pubs and nightspots in the area for two weeks.
Dr Yong Poovorawan, a virologist at Chulalongkorn University, predicted that Covid-19 cases will rise sharply in 2021 since “people were becoming careless about the virus risk”.

Covid-19 is thought to spread quickly in the enclosed spaces of entertainment venues, where people often have to huddle close and shout to be heard over loud music. Moreover, party goers often visit more than one venue per night, increasing risk of transmission.

Yong said much money and effort would be spent combating the outbreak over the upcoming Songkran holiday, when millions travel to their hometowns to party and be with their families.

The virologist is an advocate of rapid vaccination to solve the crisis but said at current rates of vaccination it could take Thailand two years to reach herd immunity. In the meantime, the country risked being hit by third and fourth waves of Covid-19, he said.

As of April 2, only 0.3 per cent of Thailand’s population (204,642 people) have been vaccinated since the inoculation programme launched on February 28, according to Bloomberg.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404584

Thailand pushes for promotion in US people-trafficking report

NationalApr 06. 2021

Thailand has laid out its case for promotion to tier 1 in this year’s Trafficking in Persons Report as the government seeks to remove US restrictions on key exports.

The government delivered a report on Thailand’s anti-human trafficking performance (TIP report) for the year 2020 to the US Embassy on February 2, followed by a progress report on April 3.

Thailand has been in tier 2 of the US TIP report for three years in a row, having been promoted from the tier 3 blacklist after tightening measures against human trafficking in its seafood and textile industries. However, seafood, sugarcane and garments remain on the US list of Thai exports suspected of being produced using child or forced labour.

In its latest report in 2019, the United States said Thailand had made a moderate advance in eliminating the worst forms of child labour, but found children were still working in the garment, agricultural and seafood-processing sectors.

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha had given serious attention to solving the human trafficking problem covering all dimensions, government spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek said on Tuesday.

This year’s report shows Thailand has stepped up measures against the problem by using statistics on arrests and legal punishment, and by passing Asia’s first National Plan of Action on Business and Human Rights, said Ratchada.

Meanwhile, human trafficking cases are being prosecuted faster with the investigation timeframe reduced from 118 days in 2015 to 70 days in 2020, she added. Thailand had also worked with civil society networks to establish a centre to help migrant workers who encounter problems at work, Ratchada said.

On Monday, a dozen Thai industry associations signed non-binding pacts to eradicate child and forced labour from their supply chains.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404583

Roving musicians, pub hoppers to blame for nightclub Covid-19 clusters

NationalApr 06. 2021

By The Nation

Bangkok authorities decided on Monday evening to temporarily shut down all night venues in three areas of the capital after several proved to be Covid-19 hotspots as of Saturday.

Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang announced at 8.30pm on Monday that the Communicable Disease Committee had decided to close all entertainment venues in Khlong Toei, Wattana (Thong Lor and Ekkamai) and Bang Khae districts until April 19.

The authorities have been assessing the situation over the past three days and have so far examined 1,177 cases in the Khlong Toei and Wattana (Thong Lor and Ekkamai) areas. Of them, 118 have tested positive, 329 negative and 720 cases are awaiting results. Meanwhile, 27 people were found infected in the Bang Khae area.

Entertainment venues quickly became Covid hotspots because bargoers have been pub hopping and musicians moving from one venue to another.

For instance, on March 13 a university student contracted the virus, but then on March 16, the student went to the Chobdao Prangpraw Na KomKueng pub in Pathum Thani’s Rangsit area, where five more cases were found. On the same night, the student went to Booze Up shop in Pathum Thani, where six cases were found.

Separately, on March 17 eight Covid-19 cases were found at the Moon Bar in Nonthaburi.

A group of five musicians began getting ill on March 22 and tested positive for the virus on March 26. Their movements were tracked as follows:

March 14: Huarannam shop in Bangkok’s Petchkasem 81

March 16: The Lounge, Nakhon Pathom

March 17: Mary Sanambinnam, Nonthaburi

March 18: Lert Lhao, Phutthamonthon Sai 2

March 19: Next 69 in Bua Khwan Market, Nonthaburi

March 20: Next Studio, Khao San Road, Bangkok

Seven Covid-19 cases were detected at The Lounge in Nakhon Pathom, five of whom were visitors, one staff member and one close contact.

Meanwhile, the following venues in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit area and Chatuchak proved to be clusters:

Krystal Club Thonglor25: 21 cases (11 visitors, three close contacts of the visitors and seven members of staff)

Baan Phahol Café & Bar, Chatuchak: Three cases (two visitors and one close contact)

Ekamai Beer House, Sukhumvit Soi 63: Eight cases (two visitors and six close contacts)

BAR BAR BAR and Dollar Bangkok, Thong Lor: Five cases (four visitors and one close contact)

Cassette Music Bar and Pub Dirty, Ekkamai: Three cases, all visitors.