Monks of central Bangkok’s famed Wat Traimit Withayaram Worawihan (Traimit Temple) and temples nearby were vaccinated against Covid-19 by a Public Health Ministry mobile vaccination unit on Wednesday.
The first jab was received by the temple’s abbot, Thongchai Thammachayo, who is also a member of the Sangha Supreme Council of Thailand.
A total of 151 monks from Traimit Temple in Samphanthawong district and temples nearby were inoculated on Wednesday. Monks aged over 60 years old will receive the AstraZeneca jab while those aged 18 to 59 years will get the Sinovac jab.
After vaccination, they had to rest for 30 minutes to check for side effects from the vaccine. So far, no monks have reported side effects.
Deputy Public Health Minister Satit Pituthecha said that after being vaccinated monks must still maintain social distancing while conducting religious rites, and also continue to wear facemasks and wash their hands regularly.
Traimit Temple is home to Phra Phuttha Maha Suwanna Patimakon, a 3-metre-tall gold Buddha image commonly known as Phra Sukhothai Traimit. The seated Sukhothai-era-style statue weighs 5.5 tonnes (5,500 kilograms) and was covered with stucco for two centuries to conceal its true value before being “rediscovered” in the 1950s.
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Wednesday reported 26 new cases, with 21 infections contracted locally and five brought in from overseas.
Of the 21 local cases, 11 are in Samut Sakhon, followed by seven in Bangkok and three in Samut Prakan.
The five cases from overseas include four Thais returning from Myanmar, Sweden, Lebanon and Norway, and a Qatari national from their own country.
Meanwhile, 112 patients have recovered and been discharged.
As of Thursday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 28,889. Of them, 25,787 had been contracted locally, including 16,070 found via proactive testing, while 3,102 were returnees.
So far, 27,548 people have recovered and been discharged, 1,247 are still being treated, and the death toll remains unchanged at 94.
According to Worldometer, as of 10am, the number of confirmed cases globally has risen to 129.43 million (up by 639,599), of whom 104.38 million have recovered, 22.23 million are active cases (96,368 in severe condition) and 2.82 million have died (up by 12,249).
Thailand ranks 116th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 31.16 million, followed by Brazil at 12.75 million, India at 12.22 million, France at 4.64 million and Russia at 4.54 million.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has asked the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration to allocate 40,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine so that aviation staff can be inoculated by July.
“The vaccine will be given to approximately 20,000 aviation personnel, who are expected to come into close contact with foreign tourists when selected provinces reopen starting this July,” CAAT chairman Suttipong Kongpool said on Thursday.
The Centre for Economic Situation Administration last week approved the Phuket “tourism sandbox” programme proposed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
From July 1, foreign tourists who can verify they have been inoculated against Covid-19 and test negative for the virus can fly into Phuket and move around freely without having to quarantine. The tourists, however, have to stay in Phuket for at least 7 days before leaving the province and must use a mobile application for location tracking.
“Targeted aviation personnel to receive the vaccine include pilots, flight crews and ground service staff who are employees of either CAAT or domestic airlines,” Suttipong said.
“The vaccinations will help reduce the risk of our staff contracting Covid-19, and also strengthen tourists’ confidence in safety from the virus while they travel in Thailand,” he added.
CAAT estimates that the first group of foreign tourists to visit Phuket this July will be from China, as the country has demonstrated “effective control” over the Covid-19 situation.
Trisara Phuket, the luxurious private pool villa beach resort, is once again raising the bar for gastronomy in Phuket, with another spectacular culinary festival that features five of Thailand’s finest chefs and a series of exciting epicurean events.
Running from 2nd to 4th April 2021, the “Gastronomic Getaway Weekend” at Trisara Phuket will champion local, seasonal and sustainable produce under the resort’s responsible philosophy: “Dine Good, Do Good”. Three days of dining experiences will be staged across various venues, allowing guests and Thai residents to book seats for individual occasions or combine their chosen culinary event with a sensational stay at the award-winning Trisara Phuket.
The five highly-acclaimed chefs headlining the “Gastronomic Getaway Weekend” are:
Sujira “Aom” Pongmorn, Chef de Cuisine at Sawaan, the Michelin-starred restaurant in Bangkok. Michelin’s Young Chef for 2021, Khun Aom specialises in innovative dishes that pay homage to Thailand’s cultural heritage and native produce. o Arisara “Paper” Chongphanitkul, Pastry Chef at Sawaan, the Michelin-starred restaurant in Bangkok. A rising star in the world of pâtisserie, Khun Paper is also the owner of ICI, the popular dessert bar in Bangkok.
Jim Ophorst, Chef de Cuisine at PRU, the Michelin-starred restaurant at Trisara Phuket and Thailand’s first and only Michelin Green star restaurant. A Dutch national, Chef Jim is a leading voice in the farm-to-table movement.
Kla Prakobkit, Executive Chef at Seafood @ Trisara, the Michelin Plate awarded restaurant that specialises in authentic Thai seafood, inspired by time-honoured recipes passed down through generations.
Chandler Schultz, Head Chef of South Philly and formerly of Le Cochon Blanc, the celebrated restaurant in Bangkok that takes pride in its wood-fired cooking and a commitment to sourcing directly from local farmers.
These five culinary leaders will take it in turns to host a series of enticing events over the course of three days at Trisara Phuket, commencing on Friday 2nd April and concluding on Sunday 4th April.
The Gastronomic Getaway Weekend will get underway on Friday evening (2nd April 2021) at PRU, the first and only restaurant in Thailand to receive the prestigious Michelin Green star, in recognition of its sustainable practices. Chef Jim Ophorst will be serving a five-course menu inspired by the different eco-systems of Thailand. This exclusive event is priced at just THB 5,000++ per person, with an optional THB 3,000++ supplement for a biodynamic wine pairing.
Then on Saturday afternoon (3rd April 2021), Chef Chandler Schultz will showcase his famous wood-fired cooking technique and fresh local ingredients at Hideaway by JAMPA, an intimate and eco-sensitive dining destination at Pru Jampa farm. In an alfresco setting, surrounded by lakes, guests will be able to savour a mouth-watering five-course menu that focuses on natural ingredients. This intimate gathering is priced at THB 1,800++ per person.
Then on Saturday evening, Chef Sujira “Aom” Pongmorn will present a multi-course tasting menu at Seafood @ Trisara, blending the rich heritage of Thai cuisine with contemporary techniques, paired with a fine selection of wines or teas. Guests will have the opportunity to taste why this exciting young chef is considered to be one of the Kingdom’s brightest culinary stars. The menu is priced at THB 1,900++, with a THB 1,800 supplement for wine pairing or THB 600++ for tea pairing.
Finally on Sunday (4th April 2021), the Gastronomic Getaway Weekend concludes with a special Easter version of SUNDAYS, Trisara Phuket’s signature brunch at The Deck. Chef Kla Prakobkit will deliver a delectable selection of local and international delicacies, all presented in a playful style and accompanied with cool beverages. This celebratory afternoon will also see Chef Chandler fire up his wood barbecue to grill premium meats and seafood.
Chef Arisara “Paper” Chongphanitkul will host a pop-up dessert bar, treating diners to some of this acclaimed pâtissier’s most enticing creations. She will be supported by Chef Somboon “Tao” Sakhonjaroean, Trisara’s own Pastry Chef, and Chef Jongkonee “Pun” Wongsinghadacho, who leads the pastry team at PRU, to share their sublime sweet treats, paired with handcrafted cocktails. This Easter brunch experience is available for THB 2,600++ for food only, THB 3,200++ including half a bottle of wine, or THB 3,900++ including half a bottle of Champagne.
For more information about the Gastronomic Getaway Weekend or to make a reservation for any of these events, please contact Trisara Phuket on events@trisara.com or 076-310-300.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index rose by 5.86 points or 0.37 per cent to 1,593.07 points in the morning session on Thursday.
Krungsri Securities predicted that the SET would move between 1,580 and 1,600 points on Thursday, despite positive news of a $2.26-trillion ten-year US stimulus plan.
The factors that would cause the index to fluctuate include the decreased price of crude oil and a rise in the US Ten-Year Treasury yield, Krungsri Securities said.
It suggested investors purchase:
EA, GPSC and BPP shares as these firms will benefit from government support on electric vehicles.
AOT, Mint, Centel, AAV, BA, CPN, CRC, Major, BDMS and BH, which benefit from Covid-19 vaccines in Thailand, as well as the government’s ambitious plan to reopen the country to foreign tourists.
Hana, KCE, TU and CPF, which could gain from a weakened baht.
ICHI, Sappe, RBF, DOD, IP, TACC, Gunkul, Kiss and PTG, which benefit from the use of hemp.
The price of gold dropped by Bt300 per baht weight in morning trade on Thursday, the Gold Traders Association reported.
As of 9.26am, the buying price of a gold bar was Bt25,200 per baht weight and selling price Bt25,300 while gold ornaments cost Bt24,741.12 and Bt25,800, respectively.
The spot gold price dropped to US$1,710 (Bt53,506) per ounce on Thursday after rising by $29.60 to $1,715.60 on Wednesday.
The Hong Kong gold price dropped by HK$180 to $15,640 (Bt62,953) per tael, the Chinese Gold and Silver Exchange Society reported.
The baht opened at 31.25 to the US dollar on Thursday, strengthening from its close of 31.27 on Wednesday.
The Thai currency is likely to move between 31.20 and 31.30 during the day, Krungthai Bank market strategist Poon Panichpibool said.
He predicted that the baht would strengthen due to a weakened dollar and the increased price of gold.
However, the dollar would still influence the baht in the short term, he said.
Poon also predicted that several foreign currencies would be purchased in the next few months for the purpose of paying dividends, and the baht would weaken more from this financial activity.
He said that during April and May, dividend payments would total more than Bt54 billion, believing that the second quarter would see the baht weakening the most.
The Department of Land Transport (DLT) has extended the period in which people can apply to renew their driver’s licence, from three months before it expires to six months, director-general Jirut Wisanjit said.
“This extension will cover a driver’s licence for personal vehicles, tractors, steam rollers and public vehicles,” he said. “The move aims to reduce crowding at branch offices as the number of people wanting to renew their licences has been climbing.”
The department will also extend the validity period of the online training course via www.dlt-elearning.com from 90 days to six months since the day the candidate finishes the course.
“People can register for the e-learning course via the website, which is available 24/7 and complete it anywhere at their convenience. This will greatly help reduce unnecessary travelling and crowding at the DLT’s branch offices, especially in this Covid-19 situation when social distancing must be maintained,” he added.
The DLT also offers a Smart Queue service for licence renewal via a mobile application, which can be downloaded for free at https://apple.co/2GIHARd (iOS) or http://bit.ly/2IkLpyO (Android).
People should refrain from posting or sharing fake news over the Internet even on April 1, also known as April Fool’s Day, when it’s a global tradition to tell harmless lies for fun, Crime Suppression Division deputy chief of technology Pol Col Siriwat Deephor said.
“We are living in a pandemic situation where people have easy access to online information, so posting or sharing falsified information especially about Covid-19 could cause panic and is therefore against the law,” he made clear.
“Furthermore, posting or sharing fake news that could cause damage or defame other persons also violates the Computer Crime Act,” he warned.
Section 14 (1) and (2) of the Computer Crime Act 2007 stipulates that if any person imports/uploads forged data, either in whole or in part, to a computer system in a manner that is likely to cause damage to a third party or the public, damage the country’s security or cause public panic, that person will be subject to imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of up to Bt100,000 or both.
Section 14 (5) also stipulates that the dissemination or forwarding of computer data already known to be computer data under (1), (2) will receive the same punishment.
“Please use your discretion and verify the source before posting or sharing any news on the Internet, especially the ones that could cause confusion or public panic,” he added.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) broadcast its latest TV commercial “Wait No More” in foreign countries under the concept of “Amazing Moments, Amazing Thailand”.
The 30-second video aims to promote Thailand as a top travel destination for foreign tourists who have been waiting to escape the stressful health situation in their home countries due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The video portrays Thailand’s “amazingness” from dawn till dusk, from underwater to the sky, from the calmest moments to the most exciting ones, and the range of delicious Thai cuisine from street food to local Michelin Star restaurants.
