#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403757

Animal lovers work on removing furballs from auction block

NationalMar 16. 2021

By The Nation

The Thai Animal Guardians Association and the Voice Foundation on Tuesday offered to look after the six cats that are among the assets seized from a gang of suspected drug traffickers.

On Monday, a team of drug-suppression police raided a house in Rayong’s Klaeng district and arrested the occupant, Tathep Arun, on suspicion of belonging to a drug network run by “Kook Rayong” Soradet Sonsiri.

Police seized all assets including the six cats, which will be checked by the Department of Livestock Development before being auctioned off.

Roger Lohanan, the founder of the Thai Animal Guardians Association, said animal lovers were not happy with the idea of the cats being treated as assets.

“The Voice Foundation is trying to bring the cats into its car,” he said, adding that followers will be informed if there are any updates to this case.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403756

Thailand gets its first pack of dogs to sniff out Covid-19 patients

NationalMar 16. 2021Photo Credit: Chulalongkorn University

By The Nation

Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Veterinary Science has released Thailand’s first-ever pack of Covid-19 sniffing dogs, confirming that they are almost 95 per cent accurate in identifying asymptomatic patients.

Photo Credit: Chulalongkorn University

“Since dogs’ sense of smell is 50 times better than humans, we decided train Labrador Retrievers as they have long snouts, a good sense of smell and are friendly,” Kaywalee Chatdarong, a professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, said.

Kaywalee said the six Covid-19 sniffer dogs were 94.8 per cent accurate in sniffing out asymptomatic patients, adding that dogs were also being used to sniff out virus carriers in Finland, Germany, France and Australia.

“In the future, we will train dogs to detect patients with other diseases, such as diabetes, depression, malaria and Alzheimer’s,” Kaywalee added.

Photo Credit: Chulalongkorn University

Assoc Prof Somporn Techangamsuwan said researchers used Covid-19 patients’ sweat to train dogs, confirming that the entire process was safe.

“The project has three stages – training dogs to identify Covid-19 patients, running the tests at airports, jetties and popular tourist attractions, and developing new Covid-19 screening devices,” she said.

Photo Credit: Chulalongkorn University

This project, a collaboration between the faculties of veterinary science, medicine and science, was sponsored by Chevron Thailand Exploration and Production.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403755

Pee stop for Bangkok drunk turns fatal

NationalMar 16. 2021

By THE NATION

A drunk in Bangkok died from suffocation after getting his head stuck in a fence in the early hours of Tuesday.

Police learned about the man having jammed his head in the fence of the Customs Department in Bangkok’s Kasem Rat Road.

The man was identified as Anuwat Phukongchai, 29, and was wearing a blue shirt, denim jacket and jeans. His pants were unzipped, and he had died standing.

Police detected no wounds on his body, though he smelled very strongly of liquor. His motorcycle was parked nearby.

Officers suspect the man had stopped to urinate along the fence but had lost his balance, fallen forward, got his neck jammed in the fence and suffocated to death.

His body has been taken to the Institute of Forensic Medicine for further examination.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403754

Over two-thirds of 149 new Covid-19 cases found in Bangkok

NationalMar 16. 2021

By The Nation

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Tuesday reported 149 new cases, five of them overseas travellers in quarantine facilities.

Of the 21 exposed to the disease while visiting high-risk areas, 10 were in Bangkok, three each in Samut Sakhon and Nakhon Pathom provinces, two each in Ratchaburi and Pathum Thani provinces and one in Phetchaburi.

Meanwhile, proactive testing led to the discovery of 123 cases, 90 in Bangkok, 31 in Samut Sakhon, and two in Pathum Thani.

Of the overseas travellers found to be infected in quarantine facilities, two Thais, an Italian, a Dutch and a Pakistani had travelled from Switzerland, Germany and the United Arab Emirates.

Meanwhile, 65 patients have recovered and been discharged.

As of Tuesday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 27,154. Of these, 24,218 had been contracted locally, including 15,147 who were found via proactive testing, while 2,936 were returnees. So far, 26,299 have recovered and been discharged, 768 patients are still in hospitals, and 87 have died.

According to Worldometer, as of 10am on Tuesday, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 120.77 million (up by 336,327), 97.42 million have recovered, 20.68 million are active cases (89,312 in severe condition) and 2.67 million have died (up by 6,550).

Thailand ranks 115th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 30.14 million, followed by, Brazil 11.53 million, India 11.4 million, Russia 4.4 million and the United Kingdom 4.26 million.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403753

Cleaning-up operation at six Bangkok markets to contain Covid-19 outbreak

NationalMar 16. 2021

By The Nation

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has launched a major cleaning and disinfecting operation in Bang Khae district after a sudden surge in Covid-19 cases linked to six markets.

Bang Khae district has become the new virus hotspot, especially Wonder Market, after proactive testing of close to 5,000 people found at least 200 positive cases.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403752

Finance Ministry revising criteria for issue of state welfare cards

NationalMar 16. 2021

By THE NATION

The Ministry of Finance estimates that the number of people registering for the state welfare card will rise due to the fallout of the Covid-19 situation.

The ministry is considering revising the criteria to efficiently screen those who are more deserving of the welfare scheme, a source revealed on Tuesday.

“Currently there are 13.7 million state welfare card holders, and the ministry expected the number of applicants to increase when the new round of registration opens soon,” said the source. “Most of the new applicants could be those who had become unemployed recently due to Covid-19. There could be those who had never registered before due to fear of getting audited, but now they may change their minds after seeing that state welfare card holders are entitled to several aid measures.”

The source added that the ministry was considering revising the criteria for state welfare card applicants, from having individual income not exceeding Bt100,000 per year to having average family income not exceeding Bt100,000 per person per year.

“This means that if a family has four members, they will be qualified only if the total income of all members does not exceed Bt400,000 per year,” the source added.

“This will help comb out those who do not truly deserve the benefits. For example, an unemployed wife who lives with a wealthy husband will no longer be qualified based on her individual income, as her husband’s income will be a factor as well.”

The source added that besides income, the ministry will also consider other assets of the applicants, such as savings in all bank accounts must not exceed Bt100,000; a house or townhouse must not exceed 25 square wah or 35 square metres for an apartment; land for agricultural use must not exceed 10 rai (1.6 hectares), or less than 1 rai for non-agricultural use.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403751

Thailand taps Dutch expertise to tackle Bangkok’s flooding problem

NationalMar 16. 2021

By The Nation

Thailand has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Netherlands to help tackle floods and water management.

The secretary-general of the Office of National Water Resources, Somkiat Prajamwong, and Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Kees Pieter Rade, signed the MoU regarding cooperation on integrated water resources management and climate change adaptation.

Somkiat said after the signing ceremony that this cooperation would be valid for three years and be automatically extended by five years if neither party objects.

Netherlands has specialised in flood prevention and water management in urban areas and has the reputation of having one of the best water management systems.

The two sides will exchange know-how on water management, assist experts who dealt with the national floods in 2011, find solutions for flooding problems in Bangkok and its vicinity, and improve the weather forecast system to be more accurate.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403749

Baht expected to see fluctuation in the short term

NationalMar 16. 2021

By THE NATION

The baht opened at 30.74 to the US dollar on Tuesday, unchanged from Monday’s close.

The Thai currency is likely to move between 30.65 and 30.80, Krungthai Bank market strategist Poon Panichpibool said.

He said that the baht this time had moved in line with the market situation, which affected the dollar as well as exporters and importers.

Poon predicted high fluctuation in the baht rate over the short term. The Thai currency was affected by the strengthening dollar, which tends to move in line with the US Ten-Year Treasury.

He predicted that exporters would sell their dollars when it touches Bt30.80 to the dollar, while importers will buy the US currency when it approaches Bt30.60. The baht would tend to move between 30.60 and 30.80 per US dollar before the meeting of Federal Open Market Committee on March 16 and 17, he predicted.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403748

224 found infected after nearly 5,000 tested related to Covid-19 outbreak in Bangkok

NationalMar 16. 2021

By THE NATION

Another 224 cases of Covid-19 related to the Covid-19 outbreak in Bang Khae district have been found, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) reported on Monday following proactive testing from March 11-14.

Out of 4,991 people tested, 224 were found positive for Covid-19, 3,086 were negative and 1,681 results are awaited.

Last week, the BMA found 96 positive cases among 2,335 people tested at Bang Kae’s Wonder Market from March 7-13, prompting it to launch active testing of people living near six markets in Bang Khae district — Sirisetthanont Market, Bang Khae Shopping Centre Market, Kitti Market, Phasom Market, Bang Khae New Market, and Wonder Market.

Local residents and anyone who had visited the markets between February 20 and March 13 have been urged to get a free test until March 26 from the mobile testing units stationed at the public park near The Mall Bang Khae, Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang said on Monday.

The units can test a 1,000 people per day.

A Bang Khae public health officer said: “The registration for testing started at 7.30am. Don’t forget to bring you ID card and mobile phone to scan a QR Code for symptom monitoring application that you should use for 14 days after testing. If you are found to be infected, officials will send an alert to your phone within 1-2 days and will later send an instruction to get treatment.”

The BMA will also clean up and disinfect the six markets on Tuesday from 9am. The markets will remain closed until March 18.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403740

PM and 15 ministers get vaccinated before Cabinet meeting

NationalMar 16. 2021

By THE NATION

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha and 15 ministers received the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine at Santi Maitree Building in the Government House complex before a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

The 15 ministers are:

– Supattanapong Punmeechaow, Deputy PM and Energy Minister

– General Anupong Paochinda, Interior Minister

– Songsak Thongsri, Deputy Interior Minister

– Nipon Boonyamanee, Deputy Interior Minister

– Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, Finance Minister

– Santi Promphat, Deputy Finance Minister

– Saksayam Chidchob, Transport Minister

– Athirath Rattanaseth, Deputy Transport Minister

– Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, Tourism and Sports Minister

– Suchart Chomklin, Labour Minister

– Varavuth Silpa-archa, Natural Resources and Environment Minister

– Anucha Nakasai, Minister at Office of the Prime Minister

– General Chaicharn Changmongkol, Deputy Defence Minister

– Mananya Thaiseth, Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister

– Veerasak Wangsuppakitkoson, Deputy Commerce Minister

To avoid overcrowding, no media were allowed in the Santi Maitree Building during the inoculation, but people can watch it live via Facebook @ThaigovSpokesman from 8.30am.