The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Friday that a heat low covers the lower North and the upper Central regions while the southerly and the southeasterly winds blow over the lower North, the Northeast, the Central and the East.
A hot to very hot day with haze is forecast for the upper country, while isolated thundershowers are expected in some areas. People in upper Thailand should take care of their health due to the hot conditions, the department said.
The department also forecast that from March 21 to 22, another strong high pressure area from China will extend to cover upper Thailand and the South China Sea, bringing hot to very hot weather conditions to the upper portion of the country. Summer storms, thunderstorms with gusty winds and hail are expected in the Northeast, the North, the Central including Bangkok and its vicinity, the East and the upper South regions. People should stay safe from the severe conditions by keeping away from open areas, big trees and unsecured billboards, the department said. Farmers were warned of damage to crop.
The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:
North: Hot to very hot day with haze and isolated thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 19-26 degrees Celsius and highs of 36-41°C.
Northeast: Hot day with haze and isolated thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 23-25°C, highs of 36-38°C.
Central: Hot day with haze and isolated thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 23-26°C, highs of 36-39°C.
East: Hot day with haze and isolated thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 24-27°C, highs of 32-37°C; waves less than a metre high and a metre during thundershowers.
South (east coast): Partly cloudy with isolated light rains; temperature lows of 21-25°C, highs of 32-36°C; waves a metre high.
South (west coast): Hot day with isolated light rains; temperature lows of 21-25°C, highs of 34-37°C; waves less than a metre high and a metre offshore.
Bangkok and surrounding areas: Hot day with haze; temperature lows of 25-27°C, highs of 34-37°C.
Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) is leading the global battle against Covid-19 thanks to its nationwide database, healthcare network and commitment to equality.
This was the conclusion of Thailand’s ambassador to the UK, speaking in a recent interview.
Thai Ambassador Pisanu Suvanajata arrived in London four years ago and promptly registered with the NHS. The publicly funded healthcare system provides universal and free healthcare access to all UK residents – including foreigners.
As a beneficiary of the NHS, he has occasionally visited the local community clinic and consulted with a general practitioner or GP. He found the NHS is an effective health insurance system that makes healthcare services affordable and accessible while standing strong as the UK’s defence against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Founded in 1948, the NHS is a blueprint for countries aiming to achieve Universal Healthcare Coverage. Thailand adopted the NHS model when it introduced its Universal Coverage Scheme in 2002.
The NHS is also the central mechanism of the UK government’s Covid-19 vaccination programme, as Pisanu noted in a recent briefing with Thailand’s National Health Security Office.
The UK government aims to offer vaccination to every resident adult by the end of July. As of March 15, more than 24 million UK residents had received their first jab and over 1.6 million their second.
Data-driven vaccination“When I first arrived here, I had to register with the NHS and have a medical check-up,” recalled Pisanu.
His information – including address, phone number, and health conditions – is kept in the NHS database. The database became crucial for the UK government in running the vaccination programme starting from December 8 last year.
“Because it [the NHS] has the database, it can reach individuals through SMS to notify them of their vaccine appointment,” Pisanu said.
The message says there is no need to reply if you are available on the scheduled appointment date.
“If you are not available, you text back with ‘No’ and someone will reschedule your vaccine appointment and send another SMS,” said Pisanu, who recently received his first vaccine dose.
Vaccination is provided at neighbourhood health units. Those who arrive punctually do not need to wait in a queue.
It takes about 15 seconds to receive the jab and another 15 minutes to monitor for any side effects. Appointments are automatically made for each vaccine recipient to return 10 weeks later to get their second dose.
Around seven million UK residents per month have been vaccinated since the programme was launched.
“The UK can speed up vaccination because it has data and uses appropriate technology such as SMS – which is the simplest but most effective [communication] and very practical.”
A ‘spiderweb’ health network
Covid-19 vaccination is also offered in some hospitals and pharmacies, as well as at local clinics run by GPs and at larger vaccination centres.
“The NHS system builds a spiderweb-like network of health facilities and pharmacies. There are seven centres which distribute vaccines to thousands of community clinics and medical centres across the country,” said Pisanu.
“People are vaccinated at health facilities not more than 10 miles (16 kilometres] from their home. I think this is the right approach. The vaccination programme should take into account convenience for people. This also encourages people to come for vaccination,” the ambassador added.
The vaccine programme benefits from a community health network made up of general practitioners, pharmacists, and the private sector. The NHS established the network to prevent overcrowding at hospitals.
“You can get a prescription from a general practitioner at a community clinic, then go to a pharmacy such as Boots and get your medicine,” Pisanu said.
The medical data of patients are usually shared between clinics and pharmacies.
“You can go straight to the pharmacy and buy drugs at affordable prices too. Postal delivery of medicines is also available.”
“The engagement of the private sector in the health system is based on mutual benefit sharing. [A profit-making] pharmacy such as Boots can sell health products and also dispense drugs covered by the NHS.”
The UK health system also engages trained volunteers who assist in running several health programmes, including Covid-19 vaccination.
‘Glue’ for social unity
“The health system here treats humans with equality. Every resident will get the coronavirus vaccines regardless of their race and nationality as long as they have registered with the NHS. Meanwhile, members of the society cooperate with each other to get through the crisis,” observed Pisanu.
“The UK government also implements an effective communication strategy and educates people to understand the safety and effectiveness of Covid-19 vaccines regardless of their manufacturers.”
The government provides residents with free Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine imported from Belgium and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured in the UK.
Pisanu received the Pfizer-BioNTech jab, while his wife was given Oxford-AstraZeneca.
The vaccination programme also has a role to play in restoring national unity after Britain’s divisive move to leave the European Union.
“The UK government must strengthen social confidence as a result of Brexit,” said the ambassador.
He also noted that the UK will host the G-7 meeting and COP-26 Climate Change Conference in November this year.
But thanks to its clear objective and practical strategy, the UK government has an effective road map to reopen the country, said Pisanu.
“Integral to this road map is a vaccination plan that rests on the principle of free and equal access to vaccines,” he added.
A recent survey found Thais to be the biggest beer drinkers in Asia, while Czechs topped the list in the world.According to this year’s World Beer Index published on expensivity.com, Thais consume 142 bottles of beer per person per year on average, followed by South Koreans who consume 130 bottles per person yearly.In world rankings, Czechs consume an average of 468 bottles of beer per person per year, followed by the Spanish at 417 bottles, while Germany came in third with 411 bottles despite its famous yearly beer festival Oktoberfest.
Worldwide, Germans are the biggest spenders, with per-person spending on beer coming in at US$1,908, followed by Poland at $1,738, Lithuania at $1,586, and Austria and the UK at a tie with $1,554.In Asia, the top five countries where beer is most expensive are China, Japan, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia.
A 15-year-old student from Gainesville International School in Chiang Rai province, Phiyachon “Anthony” Phumwiphat, has caused a stir with his invention of green technology to reduce carbon emissions in the air .
The US$100-million “XPRIZE Carbon Removal” competition aims to tackle the biggest threat facing humanity, by fighting climate change and rebalancing the Earth’s carbon cycle. The competition was launched by co-founder and CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink and The Boring Company Elon Musk.
Anthony had posted a video clip on YouTube on February 3, proposing his invention to Musk on changing carbon dioxide into pure hydrogen and oxygen, which can be used as fuel. (Watch Anthony’s video clip here).
In an interview, he gives insights into his invention.
Q: What inspired you to propose your invention to Elon Musk?
A: I decided to propose the invention because I live in Chiang Rai where air pollution is a serious problem.
Q: Why are you interested in tackling air pollution?
A: Because I really want to solve the problem.
Q: Do you have a plan to further develop your invention?
A: I want to further develop my invention as it is still only a prototype.
Q: Do you have any words of encouragement for those who want to propose inventions to improve our world?
A: I think everyone can do it, so what they need to do is just be brave.
Muay Thai legend Sombat “Buakaw” Banchamek donned his Army uniform this week to teach martial arts to Thai special forces trainees in Lop Buri.
Known as Lt Col Buakaw after joining the Army in 2014, the world-famous warrior taught students how to use punches, knees and kicks to protect themselves against attacks from the enemy.
Trainees daunted at the thought of having to spar with Thailand’s biggest martial arts star were relieved to find he was friendly and helpful. The class went well with fun and laughter, as the next generation of elite troops learned martial arts from the best.
Nakhon Ratchasima opened the doors to a special fair on Thursday to deal with mountains of sweet corn caused by the drop in orders due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Up to 20 tonnes of the 200 tonnes put up for sale were snapped up in 30 minutes and organisers also held workshops to share ideas on manufacturing corn-based products.
Another 100 Kg of corn, plus Bt500, was put up as a prize for a corn eating contest. The winner, 39-year-old Wichayaporn Thip-Utai, walked away with the loot after munching down 1.1 kilos of corn within four minutes.
The northeastern province, which also goes by the name Korat, is blessed with many kinds of cash crops and agriculture is the main occupation there.
Governor Wichien Chantharanotha said all sectors, especially the farming sector, have been affected by the pandemic. Farm products are flooding the market due to a drop in orders and limits in cross-border transportation, he said.
More than 12,000 rai is devoted to sweet corn in Soeng Sang, Khonburi and Nong Bunnak districts. About 3,000 rai of corn with an approximate yield of 9,000 tonnes is waiting to be harvested.
The mother of a Kalasin boy who drowned during a school outing on Tuesday has accused the school director of negligence.
The body of Noppakao Sita, 15, was discovered in a flooded swamp at 8pm on Tuesday. Police investigators believe Noppakao was forced to jump into the swamp even though he did not know how to swim, as part of the course provided by his Ban Na Kor Wittayakom School.
On Wednesday, the boy’s parents and schoolfriends plus representatives of the school were summoned by Huai Mek police for interrogation.
Noppakao’s friends told police the outing had featured a wargame in which students had to jump into the swamp to avoid “bombs” – stones aimed at them by their teachers.
The students added that no life jackets or rubber boats were provided for them in case of accident. Moreover the teachers failed to point out the shallow and deep areas of the swamp, the students said.
The school’s director, Suntara Kullasa, told press that Noppakao probably joined the event in the afternoon session, so his name was not added to the list of participants and teachers failed to notice he was missing.
The director also claimed that teachers did not force the students to join the activity.
Noppakao’s mother, Buachuen Sita, 48, said she contacted the school after he failed to return home on time on Tuesday but staff there had no answers and did not seem interested.
Instead, it was her neighbours and the village chief who began searching for Noppakao. When they failed to find him, they called the police, she added.
As of Wednesday, 705 people at risk of contracting Covid-19 in Bang Khae district have been vaccinated, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) announced on Thursday.
The Public Health Ministry and BMA have launched a drive to inoculate 6,000 people facing the risk of infection due to the Bang Khae cluster. The vaccination drive will run until March 21.
Dr Chawin Sirinak, BMA’s deputy permanent secretary, said 705 of the 744 registrants have been vaccinated. Of them, 258 are Thai nationals and 447 migrant workers.
“The remaining 39 were disqualified due to chronic conditions such as high blood pressure,” he said.
Chawin said the BMA has set up more checkpoints and provided seating and fans for people’s comfort.
“Infectious waste is also disposed of more frequently in a bid to gain confidence among people,” he said. “Meanwhile, a Burmese interpreter from World Vision Foundation will help us communicate with Myanmar migrant workers as well.”
Chawin added that those who have been vaccinated will receive their second jab between April 7 and 11.
Firefighters working on extinguishing flames in Chiang Mai’s Si Lanna National Park on Thursday managed to get to a turtle in time.
Park officials along with local villagers and volunteers spent all Thursday morning putting up fire breaks to contain the fire that broke out inside the park, which covers 260,800 acres of mountainous area in Phrao, Mae Taeng, and Chiang Dao districts.
“We saw wildlife running away from the flames, including this turtle that was trying to escape the fire that was consuming its home,” the national park chief, Phuphichit Chuaybamrung, said.
The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry on Thursday dispatched three helicopters to pick up water from Mae Ngat Somboon Chon Dam in Mae Taeng district to help put out the fire. It took more than 10 flights before the fire was put out.
As of Thursday Chiang Mai reported 48 hot spots caused by forest fires, of which 37 were in protected forest land and nine in conserved forests.
“Please stop setting fire to wooded areas to hunt wild animals because it can cause forest fires and worsen pollution,” Phupichit said.
Once the Social Security Act’s Article 67 is amended, it will become mandatory for employers to pay new mothers 50 per cent of their wages for the 98-day maternity leave.
Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin said that though maternity leave was extended from 90 days to 98 days in 2019, there are still some issues that need to be addressed.
Currently, employers have a choice when it comes to paying wages during maternity leave. The Social Security Fund pays 50 per cent of a woman’s wages during maternity leave, but no more than Bt15,000.
The minister said making it mandatory for employers to pay will take a while, but he will rush the proposal to Cabinet for approval.
Phiyachon “Anthony” Phumwiphat
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