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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403769

‘No side effects’: Prayut urges 10m AstraZeneca jabs per month

NationalMar 16. 2021Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha

By The Nation

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha wants the Public Health Ministry to speed up the country’s vaccination drive, after he suffered no side effects from his AstraZeneca jab.

He added that he and the 15 ministers who received the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine at Government House on Tuesday were all fine.

Thailand followed European countries by suspending use of the AstraZeneca vaccine last week over reports of blood clots in some recipients. The reports are being investigated but no link between the vaccine and the blood clots has been found.

“It has been verified that there is no bad reaction from the AstraZeneca vaccine,” said Prayut after getting his jab this morning.

The PM also said private hospitals should be allowed to procure their own vaccines to meet the country’s ambitious monthly target for vaccinations.

“Meanwhile, we urge the Public Health Ministry to allow hospitals to import Covid-19 vaccine without waiting for the government’s approval, as we aim to vaccinate 10 million people per month,” he said.

He added the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) will consider easing Covid-19 preventive measures on Friday (March 19).

“However, this will depend on everyone’s cooperation in obeying measures to contain the spread, such as using the tracking application and wearing face masks, especially in places with high risk of Covid-19 infection,” he added.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403768

Garuda emblem on shoes clear violation of law: Wissanu

NationalMar 16. 2021File photo: Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam

By The Nation

Using the national emblem on shoes is a violation of the Garuda Emblem Act, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam announced on Tuesday.

A post advertising specially made shoes with the Phra Khrut Pha (Garuda) emblem that can be customised recently went viral on social media.

Wissanu said anybody wanting to use the national emblem will first have to seek permission from the Prime Minister’s Office, adding that the manufacturer will be summoned and face legal action in Thailand.

“However, we don’t know for sure if the shoemaker intends to sell these shoes, because we have not seen its brand as yet,” he said, adding that people who wear these shoes will not face criminal charges.

The Garuda is a mythological beast believed to serve as a vehicle for the Hindu god Vishnu. Thailand’s monarchy in ancient times claimed divine kingship, believing to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Hence, the Garuda came to symbolise the king’s divine power and authority.

The Garuda was officially adopted as Thailand’s national emblem by Rama V in 1893 and is displayed in official seals used by the Palace and the government.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403766

Irate woman attempts to evict PM from Govt House

NationalMar 16. 2021

By THE NATION

An irate woman attempted to storm into Government House on Tuesday, saying she wanted to chase out the prime minister for worsening Thais’ quality of life.

The woman arrived by taxi ahead of the Cabinet’s weekly meeting.

She tried to gain entry to Government House but was halted by police officers guarding the facility.

The woman, named as Pawanrat Boonkij, remonstrated with officials, complaining that people were suffering because of the actions of PM Prayut Chan-o-cha. She said the prime minister had refused to listen to the public.

It took police around an hour to calm her down.

She was later taken to Dusit police station before being released.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403765

Bangkok targets 6,000 vaccinations to battle Bang Khae cluster

NationalMar 16. 2021File Photo

By THE NATION

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has targeted vaccination of 6,000 people at risk from last week’s Covid-19 outbreak in Bang Khae district.

BMA spokesperson Pongsakorn Kwanmuang said 500 to 600 people will be vaccinated daily from Wednesday at hospitals and mobile units.

A cluster of 107 infections in Bang Khae has been traced to a 21-year-old egg vendor at the district’s Wonder Market, who tested positive on March 5.

The BMA has urged people who visited Bang Khae’s Sirisetthanont Market, Bang Khae Shopping Centre Market, Kitti Market, Phasom Market, Bang Khae New Market, and Wonder Market between February 20 and March 13 to get a Covid-19 test.

Meanwhile, the BMA expects to receive 240,000 doses of Sinovac vaccine in the next few days. The doses will be used to inoculate 120,000 medical personnel outside the capital’s risk areas.

In related news, Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang said priority vaccination for those with underlying diseases was now available to people aged 18 to 59 and 10 months.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403764

Man gets to trapped hornbill just in time

NationalMar 16. 2021Photo credit: เรารักษ์เกาะยาว (We Love Ko Yao)

By THE NATION

A kind soul in Phang Nga’s Ko Yao island came to the rescue of a hornbill trapped in a muddy swamp in a mangrove forest.

The man said on his “Rao Rak Ko Yao” (We Love Ko Yao) Facebook page that he rushed to the spot after hearing about the stranded bird.

He said the bird could not move and was completely covered in mud. So, he pulled it out and cleaned it before setting it free.

The man said hornbills usually visit the swamp to feed on small fish, and believes this bird got its wings caught in the mud and eventually got pulled into the swamp.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403763

Actor responds to online bullying by filing complaint

NationalMar 16. 2021Kitti Chiewwongkul (Centre)

By The Nation

Well-known actor-writer Kitti “Kleur” Chiewwongkul, who is known for his support for the yellow-shirt People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), filed a complaint with the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) on Tuesday for alleged online bullying.

The actor said politically attacking comments were posted under a photograph on his Instagram account “kleurmastura”.

“I warned the commenter that he may face legal action for violating the law, but he didn’t stop. The bully also sent out a clarion call on Twitter to look for other netizens to attack me,” he said.

The actor, whose Instagram account has more than 173,000 followers, said he never posts messages related to politics or threatens people who have different opinions.

“Everybody has the right to their own opinions, but they must pay respect to others’ right to use social media to maintain peace in society,” he said.

He added that he has filed a complaint because he wants to teach the online bully that every wrongdoing should be punished.

Meanwhile, TCSD sub-inspector Pol Major Ratthanon Kotchanon said she has advised Kitti to file a complaint with the local police station as it is a defamation offence.

“TCSD investigators will cooperate with the police station to check on the so-called bully’s information,” she said.

Kitti had previously been attacked in August last year when a group of netizens demanded he apologise for openly supporting PDRC.

PDRC launched street protests in November 2013, which culminated in the ouster of Yingluck Shinawatra’s government and the May 22, 2014, military takeover.

Netizens have also launched a campaign to ban “Pen Tor”, a Thai sitcom that stars Kitti, though many people have also voiced support for the actor.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403761

Nakhon Ratchasima mulls measures to tackle sweet corn oversupply

NationalMar 16. 2021

By THE NATION

Nakhon Ratchasima Governor Wichian Chantharothai said on Tuesday that the province is looking into measures to help farmers of sweet corn in the province suffering from its price plummeting due to oversupply.

“Normally sweet corn is supplied to canned-corn and corn-juice factories, as well as exported fresh to Cambodia,” he said.

“The Covid-19 outbreak has driven corn-processing factories both domestic and overseas to reduce their orders, which has resulted in an oversupply of sweet corn in the province at an estimated total of 10,000 tonnes.”

The governor added that as an immediate measure, the province is planning to organise a sweet corn fair in front of the city hall on Mahat Thai Road in Muang district on Thursday, where farmers are invited to sell their corn at Bt3 per kilogram.

“We have also prepared two tonnes of boiled sweet corn to give to participants as free sample,” he added.

“Sweet corn is good for your health. It helps improve eyesight as it contains an abundance of vitamin A, and also helps improve the excretory system thanks to its high fibre.

“As for measures to relieve oversupply, the Nakhon Ratchasima trade office is discussing with its Sa Kaeo counterparts to sell sweet corn in the Eastern provinces. We expect the negotiations to be completed within 1-2 days,” said Wichian.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403760

Bang Rak beggar nabbed for using pups to touch kind souls for money

NationalMar 16. 2021

By THE NATION

Officers from Bangkok’s Bang Rak Police Station nabbed a so-called beggar after getting a tip-off of possible animal abuse.

Kamphaengphet-native Prasit Saengpanta, 50, was spotted begging for money outside Hualamphong temple on Rama IV road with two sleeping puppies chained together.

Police said they tracked him down after seeing a Tik Tok video clip of a homeless man seeking money to feed puppies had chained in front of the temple.

The clip was widely shared and slammed by netizens, some of whom alerted the police.

Prasit reportedly said he is unemployed and has been begging at this spot for about 20 years.

“Since fewer people have been dipping in their pockets recently, I decided to buy the puppies from Chatuchak market at Bt500 each and use them to attract people’s attention. I feed them regularly and have not abused them,” he said.

He also reportedly admitted to earning close to Bt1,000 daily since he got the dogs and planned to give them away when they grew up and buy new puppies.

The so-called beggar was charged with animal abuse under the Cruelty Prevention and Welfare of Animal Act as well as for violating the Beggar Control Act. The puppies, meanwhile, were adopted by Watchdog Thailand Foundation.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403759

Clever croc in Chalong Bay continues evading capture

NationalMar 16. 2021Mock-up photo

By THE NATION

A team from Surat Thani’s Department of Fisheries brought in specially to capture a crocodile spotted near Phuket’s Ao Chalong Pier has so far failed in its mission.

The 1.5-metre-long croc was spotted on Saturday near the pier and Phuket’s provincial administrative organisation contacted the fisheries department for help.

The team used a drone on Monday to spot the croc, which kept surfacing in different spots. It was also spotted near the coast three times and was nearly captured but managed to bite its way through the net.

The crocodile has also left a trail of dead fish floating in the sea.

Phuket’s Ao Chalong Pier is popular among tourists who can charter boats to go island hopping or head for diving and snorkelling sites.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403758

FDA okays Thailand’s very own cheaper, faster Covid-19 test kit

NationalMar 16. 2021

By The Nation

Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the “COXY-AMP” Covid-19 test kit developed by researchers from the National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (Biotech) and Mahidol University’s Faculty of Tropical Medicine.

The team has been contacted by the Thai private sector which wants to produce the kit commercially.

This kit is easy to use. The technician simply adds genetic material to the test tube, which is then incubated at 65 degrees Celsius for 75 minutes. If the virus is present, the colour of the tube will turn from purple to yellow, which can be detected with the naked eye and does not require an expert.

The kit was initially tested on 146 samples and showed 92 per cent sensitivity, 100 per cent specificity and 97 per accuracy.

With results produced within 75 minutes, COXY-AMP is twice as fast as the RT-PCR test method. It is also three times cheaper, costing just BT300 per test compared to Bt1,000 per RT-PCR test.