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Bangkok removes Covid-19 checkpoints for travellers from other provinces

NationalJan 30. 2021(File Photo)

By THE NATION

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has removed from 4pm on Friday 14 checkpoints that had been set up for visitors from other provinces entering Bangkok, as the Covid-19 situation in the province is improving.

The checkpoints had been set up on January 2 on the routes that connected Bangkok to other provinces in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19. Travellers passing through the checkpoints were screened for Covid-19.

“Although the checkpoints have been removed, district officials must continue to monitor venues that have high risk of virus spreading in their responsible areas,” BMA deputy governor Pol Lt-General Sophon Phisutthiwong said.

“If any businesses fail to comply with the authority’s measures, the district office must work with police to pursue legal action immediately.”

BMA also has urged all districts to enforce preventive measures during Chinese New Year festival that will start on February 12.

“All districts must actively advise people to maintain social distancing practices, wear face masks in public places, wash their hands regularly, and check-in and check-out using the Thai Chana platform when shopping for spirit offerings or paying respect at shrines during the festival,” added Sophon.

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Iconsiam finds no infections after testing 238 staff

NationalJan 30. 2021

By THE NATION

Iconsiam shopping complex in Bangkok’s Klong San district tested 238 mall and shop staff and found no cases of Covid-19 infection, Supoj Chaiwatsirikul, the mall’s managing director, said on Friday.

The mall’s initiative came after Bangkok Metropolitan Administration reported on Wednesday that the 645th patient of the province is a restaurant chef who worked at Iconsiam’s CP-Hilai Harbour restaurant from January 5-8 and had shopped at Tesco Lotus in the Phasi Charoen area.

Supoj said that since Wednesday the mall had increased the cleaning period to 13 hours every night after closing to cover all contact surfaces in the premises.

“To ensure the safety of our customers and staff, Iconsiam will hold the ‘Super Big Cleaning Day’ on Sunday, when the mall will be closed to visitors,” he said.

“Iconsiam will reopen on February 1 at 10am.

“We have been employing preventive measures as advised by the authorities, such as installing thermo-scanners and alcohol hand sanitisers, urging customers to wear face mask, checking-in and checking-out via Thai Chana platform, and maintaining social distancing in the mall,” added Supoj.

“We will continue to use aggressive measures to keep everyone safe and overcome this crisis together.”

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Pro-democracy group’s guard, who claimed to have been abducted, arrested

NationalJan 30. 2021

By THE NATION

Samut Prakarn police on Friday arrested Mongkol Santimetakul, 23, a guard of the pro-democracy movement, who had claimed he was abducted by mysterious men on the night of January 16 from his residence in Samut Prakarn.

He was arrested in Lamsonthi district of Lopburi province.

After Mongkol filed a police complaint on January 17 afternoon, police checked CCTV footage in the area and found that he had spent the night, when he claimed to have been abducted, at Ingthan Place, a daily rental lodging in Samut Prakarn’s Muang district, before leaving the place at 11.57am on January 17. Police also found he had used an ATM at the time he claimed he was abducted.

Mongkol also faces an arrest warrant issued by Bangkok Military Court for deserting the military, which he was serving in December 2019.

Mongkol was charged with violating Section 173 of the criminal code, which stipulates that whoever gives information of an offence, knowing well that such an offence was not committed, to the inquiry official or the official having the power to investigate criminal cases, shall be imprisoned for not more than three years and fined not more than Bt6,000.

Muang Samut Prakarn police chief Pol. Colonel Termrat Jindarat said that officials arrested Mongkol while he was visiting a relative in Lopburi province.

“Police have opposed bail for the suspect, as there is a high possibility of him escaping,” he added. “He will be held at Muang Samut Prakarn Police Station for questioning and would later be sent to the Bangkok Military Court.”

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PM orders tough action against Covid-19 patients who hide timeline

NationalJan 30. 2021

By THE NATION

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Friday that persons who test positive for Covid-19 but hide their timeline or travel history would face legal action, while ordering National Police chief Pol General Suwat Jangyodsuk to start investigation immediately.

The PM’s order came after it was revealed that three people whose infection was linked to a celebrity DJ’s birthday party in Bangkok had concealed their timelines from the authorities. The party held by DJ Matoom, aka Techin Ploypetch, on January 9 at Banyan Tree Hotel on Sathorn Road has been dubbed a super-spreader event after it spawned two dozen infections.

Suwat added that concealing one’s travel history after getting infected is a violation of the communicable diseases act, but the complaint must be submitted by responsible agencies, such as the public health office.

“Police is ready to file charges against concealers of their timeline as soon as we receive a complaint,” he added.

When asked about a rumour that a police inspector had helped conceal DJ Matoom’s timeline, Suwat said that police were investigating every person involved, and would pursue legal actions against violators of the law whether a citizen or police officer.

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Morning cool and windy in Upper Thailand, more rain in the South

NationalJan 30. 2021

By THE NATION

The Thailand Meteorological Department forecast on Saturday (January 30) that the moderate high-pressure system covers the Northeast, the Central, the East including Bangkok and vicinity. Cool to cold weather with strong wind are likely over upper Thailand.

Meanwhile, the northeast monsoon prevailing over the Gulf and the South is strengthening, resulting in more rain in the South and waves rising to above 2 meters during thundershowers.

During January 30–31, the westerly trough will move through the Myanmar to cover the upper North of Thailand. Isolated thundershower with gusty wind is likely in the area followed by temperature drop by 2-3°C.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours is as follows:

North: Cool weather with isolated thundershower with gusty wind; temperature lows of 16-21 degrees and highs of 29-35 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 3-13 degrees Celsius.

Northeast: Cool to cold weather with strong wind; temperature lows of 14-18 degrees and highs of 28-32 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 8-12 degrees Celsius.

Central: Cool weather in the morning with strong wind; temperature lows of 19-23 degrees, highs of 32-34 degrees Celsius.

East: Cool weather in the morning with strong wind; temperature lows of 19-22 degrees, highs of 30-33 degrees Celsius; waves a meter high and 1-2 meters offshore.

South (east coast): Partly cloudy with thundershowers in 30 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 21-24 degrees, highs of 29-33 degrees Celsius; waves 2 meters high and over 2 meters during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Partly cloudy with thundershowers in 20 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 21-24 degrees, highs of 32-34 degrees Celsius; waves a meter high and 1-2 meters offshore.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Cool weather in the morning with strong wind; temperature lows of 21-23 degrees, highs of 31-34 degrees Celsius.

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Wild elephants fight to the death on Chanthaburi golf course

NationalJan 30. 2021(Photo: Twitter @DnpReport)

By THE NATION

The genteel surroundings of a Chantaburi golf course were shattered by the thunder of mortal combat between two giants early on Friday.

Local police and officials from Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Sanctuary were alerted of wild elephants fighting at the Chatrium Golf Resort in Pong Nam Ron district of the eastern province in the early hours of the morning.

Rushing to the scene, they found the body of male juvenile tusker, aged around 6-7 years and weighing over 1 tonne, lying in a dry ditch on the golf course. The animal had suffered deeps cuts and stabbing wounds and was bleeding profusely.

(Photo: Twitter @DnpReport)

A security guard for the golf course told officials that he heard the sound of two elephants fighting at around 2am on Friday. He went to investigate and found the juvenile fighting fiercely with a much larger male elephant.

“I have seen the dead elephant before. He was living in a herd of wild elephants in the forest behind the golf course,” said the guard. He added the two male elephants may have been fighting over a female, as this is now the breeding season.

Police have asked the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation to inspect the dead elephant before burying its corpse.

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Thai cops struggling under debt totalling Bt270bn, says police chief

NationalJan 29. 2021Suwat Jangyodsuk

By THE NATION

Thai police officers owe a total of Bt270 billion in debts, national police chief Suwat Jangyodsuk revealed on Friday.

Suwat told Thansettakij newspaper that around 209,000 officers had taken loans to support their family or to purchase large items such as cars or houses.

The police chief said he has asked Krungthai Bank and the Government Savings Bank to suspend debt payments.

He is also seeking ways of generating more revenue for his subordinates. One idea is to set up a market for police spouses to run businesses. Another is to look at assets confiscated by the Anti-Money Laundering Office.

He added that he has contacted corporations to request scholarships for police officers’ children.

Suwat also pledged to give a live internet broadcast explaining the police force’s mission and allow members of the public to question him in real time.

“I will not hide anything and am ready for all questions,” he said.

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Cashless payment on expressways starts today

NationalJan 29. 2021

By The Nation

Motorists got their first chance to try out contactless payment for Bangkok expressways on Friday, as the operator launched a trial at tollbooths.

Bangkok Expressway and Metro (BEM) has installed tap-and-scan points on the Si Rat-Outer Ring Road Expressway and the Udon Ratthaya Expressway (Bang Pa-in-Pak Kret).

Payment can be made with a Visa debit or credit card (PayWave enabled) or a Mastercard (Paypass enabled) from today onwards.

The procedure is simple and convenient: stop at the booth, lower the window and touch the card to WiFi-like symbol on the payment device.

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Kids less likely to spread Covid so schools should stay open, says respiratory disease expert

NationalJan 29. 2021Dr Manoon Leechawengwongs

By The Nation

Closing schools to curb Covid-19 does more damage than good, because it deprives children of education, an expert in respiratory diseases said on Friday.

Dr Manoon Leechawengwongs, a specialist at Bangkok’s Vichaiyut Hospital, said adults were far more likely to spread Covid-19 than children. Writing on Facebook, he added that children rarely show symptoms after infection, while their death rate from Covid-19 is lower than from other common respiratory diseases.

“Closing schools helps stop the virus spreading from children to their families, but it is not worth it when children’s opportunity to study is halted,” he said.

Children were at risk of Covid-19 infection in school, especially young children, who find it hard to follow control measures, said Dr Manoon. He added that many children study in poorly ventilated classrooms, which increases the chance of the disease spreading. But he applauded the move to reopen public schools nationwide – except in Samut Sakhon – from Monday.

“We must recognise that we will have to live with Covid-19 for a long time, so I agree with the government’s move to reopen schools soon,” he said.

He added that teachers should be vaccinated to prevent them from spreading the virus to children in the classroom.

Currently, Thailand’s Covid-19 inoculation programme does not cover children, since more research is needed on the vaccines’ efficacy and safety in kids.

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RaoChana scheme launched without hitch, card considered for non-smartphone users

NationalJan 29. 2021

By The Nation

The RaoChana (WeWin) system did not crash when as many as 6 million people registered as soon as the website was launched on Friday morning, Kulaya Tantitemit, inspector general of the Finance Ministry, said.

Under the RaoChana scheme, people will be paid a Bt3,500 cash handout for two consecutive months.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed officials to come up with a special card that non-smartphone users can use to withdraw the money. He said officials are checking to see how this card can be used without people crowding in one place, he said.

The system is open for registration from 6am to 11pm daily until February 12, after which names of those who are eligible will be published on the RaoChana website. The first payment will be made on February 18.

People who do not have a smartphone can register on February 15 at the nearest branch of the Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives bank, the Government Savings Bank and Krungthai Bank. The Finance Ministry predicts some 31.1 million people will be eligible for the subsidy