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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403201

One killed, 4 injured in gun attack during a funeral in Ratchaburi

NationalMar 02. 2021

By THE NATION

Gunshots were fired at a gathering of people attending a funeral in Ratchaburi province, leaving one dead and four people injured on Monday.

Police from Photharam station were alerted to the shooting at 8pm on Monday at Wat Thamakham in Sam Reun subdistrict.

They found five injured victims as well as several bullet casings of .22 and 11mm handguns in a sermon hall for a funeral. The injured people were rushed to hospitals but one victim, Waraporn Niamraksa, succumbed to injuries.

One of the injured persons was the Don Sai subdistrict chief, who is in a critical condition. The deceased was a candidate running for mayor of Don Sai municipality in Photharam district.

People at the funeral reportedly told officials that they had heard multiple gunshots while the host was lighting candles and joss-sticks, forcing people and monks to dive for cover on the floor. Several witnesses told police the gunshots came from behind the Buddha image in the sermon hall.

Police speculated that the shooting could have been motivated by local political rivalry. They are gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses to track down the suspect.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403200

Thunderstorms, gusty winds and hail forecast for upper Thailand

NationalMar 02. 2021

By THE NATION

The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Tuesday that the moderate high-pressure system has extended to the Northeast and the South China Sea while the heat low remains over the upper Thailand.

In addition, the southerly and southeasterly winds bring humidity from the South China Sea and the Gulf of Thailand to the lower Northeast, the East, and Central regions, including Bangkok and its vicinity.

Thunderstorms as well as gusty winds and hail are forecast for the Northeast, the East, and the Central including Bangkok and its vicinity.

People in upper Thailand should beware of the severe conditions by keeping off unsecured buildings and outdoor places. Farmers should beware of damage to crop, the department said.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

North: Cool to cold in the morning, hot with haze during the day; temperature lows of 15-22 degrees Celsius, highs of 34-39°C.

Northeast: Hot weather with haze during the day, scattered thunderstorms with gusty winds and hail in 40 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 17-24°C, highs of 33-36°C.

Central: Hot weather with haze during the day, isolated thundershowers with gusty winds in 20 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 23-25°C, highs of 34-38°C.

East: Hot weather with haze during the day, scattered thunderstorms with gusty winds in 40 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 23-25°C, highs of 32-36°C; waves less than metre high and a metre offshore.

South (east coast): Isolated thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 22-24°C, highs of 31-35°C; waves a metre high.

South (west coast): Isolated light rain in some areas; temperature lows of 23-25°C, highs of 34-36°C; waves less than a metre high and a metre offshore.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Isolated thundershowers and gusty winds in 20 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 24-25°C, highs of 33-36°C.

Source: Thailand Meteorological Department

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403182

Thailand poised to adopt vaccine passports to kick-start tourism

NationalMar 01. 2021

By The Nation

The tourism minister has asked the Public Health Ministry for approval to launch a vaccine passport system in a bid to kick-start the tourism industry this year.

Tourism and Sports Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn said on Monday that the government was waiting for a World Health Organisation announcement on vaccine passports before issuing the measure.

He said that adopting a vaccine passport or a similar method of enabling foreign tourists to skip quarantine would guarantee at least 5 million foreign visitors to Thailand this year.

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) was also discussing a 14-day quarantine that would allow foreign tourists to leave their hotel rooms after just three days of self-isolation, he added. Russian tourists in Phuket will likely be the first to experience the eased quarantine restrictions. Tour agents in Russia say demand is high enough for regular Phuket flights of 300-400 Russian tourists.

The Tourism Ministry has also submitted a plan to deliver vaccines to five tourism-dependent provinces – Phuket, Surat Thani, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai and Krabi. The vaccines will be administered to staff at alternative quarantine hotels. The five provinces have a total of 58 alternative quarantine hotels, with more than 6,700 rooms and 13,000 staff.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403179

Vets tranquilise elephant guarding its sick mother

NationalMar 01. 2021

By THE NATION

Veterinarians called to treat a sick wild female elephant in Chantaburi province on Sunday found their patient being guarded by a younger elephant, thought to be its offspring.

The ailing mother elephant, aged around 20 years old, was discovered lying on the ground in a rubber plantation, being protected by a 2-3-year-old tusker who was chasing away people who came near.

The veterinarians and forestry officials first administered a tranquiliser to the smaller elephant before treating the sick mother with injections of glucose, vitamins and drugs.

The elephant was left to recover overnight. If the creature is still unable to move on Monday, the veterinarians plan to help it to its feet using a winch from Nern Plub Wan Animal Hospital in Pattaya.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403178

More Covid-19 vaccine makers eye Thailand, Johnson&Johnson files papers for FDA consideration

NationalMar 01. 2021Dr Paisan Dankhum

By The Nation

Johnson&Johnson has submitted all the documents required for the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to consider its adenovirus vaccine, FDA’s secretary-general Dr Paisan Dankhum said on Monday.

He added that Bharat Biotech, which produces inactivated vaccines, has also asked to submit registration documents, while Moderna may file for registration in the second week of March. Modern produces an mRNA Covid-19 vaccine.

Paisan said more manufacturers are expected to gradually apply to register vaccines in Thailand.

Meanwhile, he said, the vaccines from China’s Sinovac and British-Swedish firm AstraZeneca have been registered as emergency inoculations.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403177

Phuket launches vaccine drive with first 4,000 doses

NationalMar 01. 2021

By The Nation

Four-thousand doses of China’s Sinovac vaccine have arrived in Phuket, where the first jabs were administered on Monday afternoon (March 1).

Vachira Phuket Hospital director Dr Chalermpong Sukontapol said a group of 2,000 people had been prioritised for vaccination – 1,500 medical and public health staff and 500 government officials exposed to Covid-19 patients or at risk of infection.

Another 16,000 doses will arrive soon in tourism-dependent Phuket, which has been prioritised for vaccination as an economically significant province.

A further 48,000 doses will arrive in April or May, bringing Phuket’s total number of shots to 68,000. These will be administered to frontline health staff, tourism workers and people aged 60 and over.

Phuket pulled in around 10 million foreign tourists in 2019, but 80 per cent of its tourism businesses have gone bust during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the local tourism association.

Vachira Phuket Hospital has capacity to vaccinate around 400 people per day, but shots are being distributed to nearby hospitals to ensure vaccinations in Phuket reach 1,000-1,500 per day.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403176

Haze shrouds northern Thailand as PM2.5 reaches unhealthy levels

NationalMar 01. 2021

By The Nation

Residents of Phayao woke up to find their province shrouded by PM2.5 air pollution on Monday, as haze spread across northern Thailand and Bangkok.

PM2.5 levels in the northern province hit 80 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m3), higher than Thailand’s safe limit of 50 μg/m3.

Forest fires and cool morning temperatures were blamed for the toxic haze.

Residents of Phayao were advised to avoid outdoor activities and use personal protective equipment if necessary while keeping a close watch for respiratory symptoms.

Those who develop symptoms such as coughing, difficulty breathing, inflamed eyes, chest tightness, headache, irregular heartbeat, nausea or fatigue were advised to see a doctor.

Air pollution reached hazardous levels across much of the country on Monday. According to the Quality and Noise Management Bureau, PM2.5 was at unhealthy levels in Bangkok, Saraburi, Chiang Mai, Lampang, Phuket, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Lamphun, Phrae, Phayao, Loei, Tak, Nong Khai, Ubon Ratchathani, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Phanom, Sakon Nakhon, Roi Et, Kamphaeng Phet, Chaiyaphum, Kalasin, Uthai Thani, Phichit, Sukhothai, Uttaradit and Petchabun.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403175

Samut Sakhon market that spawned second virus wave reopens

NationalMar 01. 2021

By The Nation

The Samut Sakhon seafood market at the centre of Thailand’s second wave of Covid-19 infections reopened on Monday after closing for two months.

The Central Shrimp Market in Muang district was busy with vendors, shoppers and Thai and migrant workers for the first time since mid-December when the outbreak was discovered.

On Monday, Samut Sakhon has recorded a total of 16,377 cases, with 255 still under treatment.

Health authorities gave the green light for the market to begin operating again under strict disease-control measures.

The measures include screening checkpoints for deliveries, temperature checks, personal protective equipment, social distancing and regular disinfection.

A shrimp pond owner said he was relieved at the move since during the market’s closure he had to sell his produce at a lower price.

“The central shrimp market is very important because it is willing to buy all the shrimp we can produce,” he said.

He was also confident that the economy would improve soon.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403174

Medical staff in 16 Bangkok hospitals get their first jab

NationalMar 01. 2021

By The NationMedical personnel began getting their CoronaVac shots that were administered in three Bangkok hospitals on Monday, governor Aswin Kwanmuang said.

The governor was present at the Bang Khun Thian Geriatric Hospital to offer moral support, while shots were also administered at the Luang Por Thaweesak Chutinatharo Uthit and Ratchaphipat hospitals. So far, 130 medics from 16 hospitals, including the three administering the shots, have been inoculated, though hospitals are on standby for severe reactions.

Within this week, 3,700 healthcare workers in six Samut Sakhon districts will be inoculated. The week after that health volunteers and other medics exposed to the virus in Bangkok will be vaccinated. In the third week, vaccines will be administered to patients who are suffering from severe chronic diseases, such as respiratory disorder, cardiovascular disease, stroke victims, chronic kidney disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity.

In the fourth week, people who have registered on the “MorPrompt” application will be considered for shots.

The government initially allocated 66,000 doses of the CoronaVac shots for Bangkok, which should be administered by the third week of March.

In the last week of March, Thailand is expected to receive another shipment of 800,000 doses of CoronaVac, which is produced by Chinese manufacturer Sinovac. Of the new shipment, 30 per cent will be allocated to Bangkok.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403170

Forest fires erupt in Chiang Mai, Lamphun

NationalMar 01. 2021

By THE NATION

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) said on Monday morning that 1,404 hotspots had been found in Chiang Mai and Lamphun provinces. This was 48.62 per cent fewer than the 2,379 hotspots found during the same period last year.

DNP’s Protected Areas Regional Office 16, which oversees Chiang Mai and Lamphun, has built firebreaks and put out fires with help from local volunteers.

It has also held fire-protection operations on 230,946 of the 541,765 rai it is responsible for.

The office has also closed 15 national parks under its jurisdiction until April 30 to prevent forest fires that usually occur during the dry season between February and May.

As of 7.17am, Chiang Mai was given the score of 191 in the global air quality index one the IQAir website. Scores must be 50 or lower to be acceptable.