#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Thailand 4th among 98 countries studied for best response in handling pandemic

NationalJan 28. 2021

By The NationAustralian analysis centre, Lowy Institute, has come up with a ranking for countries in terms of managing the Covid-19 pandemic in 36 weeks after the 100th case was confirmed.

It evaluated 98 countries based on the availability of data across six indicators that were used to construct this index.

The country topping the list as the best in controlling the outbreak is New Zealand (94.4 points), followed by Vietnam (90.8), Taiwan (86.4), Thailand (84.2) and Cyprus (83.3). Meanwhile, Brazil (4.3), followed by Mexico (6.5), Colombia (7.7), Iran (15.9) and the United States (17.3) are said to have the worst management among 98 countries.

China, where the first Covid-19 case was found in Wuhan, was excluded from the index due to the unavailability of data.

The scores were calculated from six indicators, namely confirmed cases, confirmed deaths, confirmed cases per million people, confirmed deaths per million people, confirmed cases as a proportion of tests, and tests per 1,000 people.

Lowy Institute said that despite having more resources, high-income countries’ average scores in handling the outbreak is not much higher than developing countries.

https://interactives.lowyinstitute.org/features/covid-performance/

https://interactives.lowyinstitute.org/features/covid-performance/embed/income

Better healthcare systems and financial ability to sustain lockdowns were beneficial to managing the pandemic, research shows. These assets were particularly important at the height of the pandemic, when the ability of governments to support or supplement citizens’ incomes during extensive lockdowns became crucial.

Yet, these factors are not a guarantee of success against Covid-19, as demonstrated by the poor performance of several advanced economies, including the US and UK. Countervailing forces were also at play — advanced economies tend to have older populations, with a greater proportion of the population vulnerable to Covid-19, and many elderly citizens living in old-age care facilities, which were particularly prone to virus outbreaks. The lead established by high-income countries narrowed significantly towards the end of 2020 prior to the unrolling of mass Covid-19 vaccination programmes.

Developing countries that had dealt with the crisis well in early stages, have now hit a wall due to their financial and resource limits. However, compared to advanced countries, the rate of fatality has been quite low even in countries like India, where the pandemic accelerated dramatically.

Despite the data being less reliable, there are possibly other variables affecting these outcomes. One factor may be that many developing countries have younger populations, who may be less prone to the worst effects of the virus.

The Covid-19 disease continues to spread worldwide with more than 100 million confirmed cases across 190 countries and 2 million deaths since January last year, after China announced the first case of “viral pneumonia” in Wuhan.

Read more at at https://interactives.lowyinstitute.org/…/covid…/

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

BMA urged to file lawsuits against Covid-19 patients concealing timelines

NationalJan 28. 2021Dr Opas Karnkawinpong

By The Nation

The Department of Disease Control (DDC) on Thursday called on Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to sue Covid-19 patients who refuse to reveal information of their movements.

This move came after it was learned that three Covid-19 cases linked to a celebrity DJ’s birthday party had concealed their timelines from authorities.

The party held by DJ Matoom, aka Techin Ploypetch, on January 9 has been dubbed a super-spreader event after it spawned two dozen infections.

DDC director-general Dr Opas Karnkawinpong said concealing timelines may be considered an offence under Article 55 of the 2015 Communicable Diseases Act and Article 137 of the Criminal Code.

Article 55 of the Communicable Diseases Act states that a person who obstructs or refuses to assist a communicable disease control officer shall be liable to a fine of up to Bt20,000.

Meanwhile, Article 137 of the Criminal Code says a person who provides false information to officials and is likely to cause injury to a person or the public will face up to six months in prison and/or a fine not exceeding Bt10,000.

Dr Opas added that holding parties can be considered a violation of Article 9 of the 2005 Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations which refrains people from holding or attending activities where an infection may be spread. Those in violation will face two years in prison and/or up to Bt40,000 in fines or both.

Dr Opas has called on people not to conceal their information as it may result in the virus spreading further.

“Also, everyone should strictly adhere to preventive measures such as wearing a mask, maintaining distance, washing hands regularly and checking in via the ThaiChana or MorChana smartphone apps,” he added.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

756 new Covid cases in 24 hours, most found during proactive testing in Samut Sakhon

NationalJan 28. 2021

By The Nation

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Thursday reported 756 new cases in 24 hours, including 10 who arrived from abroad.

Of the new cases, 22 were exposed to the virus while visiting high-risk areas. These include nine in Samut Sakhon, eight from Bangkok and three in Samut Prakan.

Proactive testing led to the discovery of 724 cases in Samut Sakhon – 710 foreigners and 14 Thai workers.

CCSA assistant spokesman Apisamai Srirangsan said such a large number in Samut Sakhon was due to a search for active cases among communities for the fourth consecutive day, aimed at containing the infection rate in the province within this week.

Apisamai said only 15 provinces reported cases in the last four days, lowering the risk of the virus spreading further in the country. A key CCSA meeting on Friday would therefore discuss relaxation of strict anti-Covid measures in each province.

However, the cluster linked to DJ Matoom’s birthday has put more people in Bangkok at risk after some patients earlier concealed details of their movements, leading to late preventive responses to the virus and causing more than 200 people to now be categorised as high-risk close contacts, Apisamai said.

Health officials are preparing to press charges against such patients who failed to reveal all details of their movements since they are an obstacle to preventing the spread of the virus, she added.

Meanwhile, of the infected returnees, five are Thai nationals who flew in from Qatar (1) and the United States (4). Also testing positive are a Portuguese woman who arrived from Brazil, two Russians, an Indonesian, and an American.

Meanwhile, 233 patients have recovered and been discharged.

As of Thursday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand has risen to 16,221. Of these, 13,804 contracted the virus domestically, including 6,972 who were found via proactive testing, and 2,417 are returnees. So far, 11,287 have recovered and been discharged, 4,858 patients are still in hospital and the death toll remains at 76.

According to Worldometer, as of 10 am, the number of confirmed cases globally has increased to 101.43 million (rising by 590,299 in 24 hours), 73.32 million have recovered, 25.92 million are active cases (110,179 in severe condition) and 2.18 million have died (up by 16,846).

Thailand ranks 120th on the global list of most cases. The US tops the list with 26.16 million, followed by India 10.7 million, Brazil 9 million, Russia 3.77 million and the United Kingdom 3.72 million.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Doi Suthep-Pui National Park off limits until April-end to prevent forest fires, air pollution

NationalJan 28. 2021

By THE NATION

The entire Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, which covers the three Chiang Mai districts of Muang, Mae Rim and Hangdong, will be closed until April 30 to prevent forest fires, which have led to air pollution in the North, park chief Suthin Phromplad announced on Thursday.

“Forest fires are prone to occur in park areas during the dry season,” he pointed out.

“Among the causes of forest fires are villagers burning down the bush to hunt wild animals or farmers burning their leftover crops after harvesting and being unable to control the fire, causing it to spread into forest areas,” he said.

During the closure, those who need to enter the park must obtain permission from the park chief, which will be granted on a case-by-case basis.

“Those who enter the park without permission will be fined up to Bt100,000,” Suthin warned, adding that “those who burn their crops near the park and consequentially cause a forest fire will be fined from Bt400,000 to Bt2 million, or imprisoned from four to 20 years, or both”.

Statistics from air quality inspection centres in 14 Northern provinces have shown that particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) in the region currently stands at 32-80 micrograms per cubic metre. The country’s safe standard prescribed by the Pollution Control Department (PCD) is 50 micrograms per cubic metre.

The air quality in the North is classified by the PCD as “moderate quality, but starting to affect people’s health”.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Three updated timelines reveal more details on movements of infected singer, PR manager, govt official

NationalJan 28. 2021

By The Nation

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has updated the timelines of three Covid-19 patients who were reportedly unwilling on Wednesday to provide personal information, raising eyebrows and anger among the public.

According to earlier information from the capital’s 647th patient, a male singer and actor, he took a birthday cake to a friend at a condominium in Lat Phrao district on January 8 and joined a party at Banyan Tree Hotel that night.

New, added information made clear that he was at home on January 12 when he started to develop a fever. He also had a cough, a sore throat, phlegm and mucus. On January 13, his sense of smell disappeared. A test on January 20 showed he was infected, and he was admitted to hospital.

Bangkok’s 657th patient, a male PR manager, originally stated that he went to a friend’s birthday party on January 16 and returned home, where he stayed from January 17-21.

The new, detailed timeline says that on the afternoon of January 9, he visited The Commons shopping complex in Wattana district. On January 10 he went to the Sa-Ti Handcraft coffee shop in Phaya Thai district. On January 11 and 12 he stayed and worked from home. On the evening of January 12 he visited Tops market at Central Rama 9. On January 14-15, he worked from home. On January 16, he attended a friend’s birthday party at the Renaissance Ratchaprasong Hotel and returned home around midnight. From January 17-19, he worked at home. On January 20 he visited the Laze BKK Café in Phaya Thai district. On January 21 he dined at MK restaurant, Central Rama 9, and on January 22 he went for a check and was found to be infected. He was subsequently hospitalised.

The 658th patient, a male government official, originally said he attended a friend’s birthday party at Banyan Tree Hotel. He did not provide any details about where he stayed or which places he visited from January 10-12 and January 14-21.

The new information provides more details: on January 15 he stayed home in Ratchathewi district and was found to have food poisoning at midnight. On January 16, a friend [who was later confirmed to be infected] came to check up on him. On January 17, he went to Chatuchak Weekend Market at around 5pm. He dined at the Factory Moo-katha [Thai-style BBQ] restaurant in Bang Pho from 6.30pm to 8pm that day. On January 18 he worked at a government office in Pathumwan area, and ate som tam at Nong Ree Joy Ratchayothin from 7.30pm-9pm. On January 19 he again worked at the government office, then went to a hospital to get medicine for a friend. He also had a doctor’s appointment at noon that day, then ate som tam at a street stall from 7pm-7.30pm before heading back to his accommodation. On January 21 he stayed home in Ratchathewi and received news that his friend was infected with Covid-19. He went for a test and was admitted to hospital on January 22 after the results showed he too was infected.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Thanathorn’s brother Sakulthorn charged in alleged corruption case

NationalJan 28. 2021

By THE NATION

The Royal Thai Police’s Crime Suppression Division will summon Sakulthorn Juangroongruangkit, the younger brother of Progressive Movement leader Thanathorn, to notify him that he has been charged in a corruption case in which a Crown Property Bureau official was reportedly found guilty of accepting Bt20 million in bribes.

Sakulthorn is the chief executive officer of Real Asset Development Ltd. The company allegedly issued a check to the Crown Property Bureau official, who had allowed the firm to rent land without going through the bidding process.

Sakulthorn has been charged with violation of Section 144 of the Criminal Code.

Section 144 stipulates that “whoever gives, offers or agrees to give the property or any other benefit to an official, member of any State Legislative Assembly, member of any Provincial Assembly or member of any Municipal Assembly so as to induce such a person to carry out or not carry out any act, or to delay the doing of any act contrary to one’s own duty, shall be imprisoned for not more than five years or fined not over Bt10,000, or both”.

Crime Suppression Division deputy chief Pol Colonel Nawat Kesarak said that although only Sakulthorn’s signature appeared on the check, the division is considering filing charges against Somporn Juangroongruangkit, his mother, who is reportedly the company’s authorised director.

“This case involves not only a person who issued the check but also the action of the juristic person, or the company,” Nawat said.

Sakulthorn had previously stated that he was deceived by the official, which made him a victim in the case, to which Nawat responded: “A businessman should already know the procedure in renting land.”

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Baht weakens a tad, forecast to move in line with the dollar

NationalJan 28. 2021

By THE NATION

The baht opened at 30.01 to the US dollar on Thursday, barely weakening from Wednesday’s close of 29.98.

The Thai currency is likely to move between 29.95 and 30.10 and in line with the dollar, Krungthai market strategist Poon Panichpibool said.

On Wednesday night, financial markets fluctuated due to several factors – the Covid-19 situation and registered corporation turnovers, which were worse than market expectations, he said.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq indexes decreased by around 2.6 per cent amid investor disappointment over turnover results announced by Facebook and Tesla.

In the EU, the Stoxx 50 index dropped by 1.6 per cent from concern about the dire virus situation in numerous countries, which have clamped lockdowns.

With the market in a risk-off state, the US Ten-Year Treasury yield decreased by 3 basis points to 1 per cent, while the dollar strengthened. Meanwhile, the euro weakened to 1 per 1.2 dollars.

Poon noted the market would continue monitoring US economic data, with observers expecting to see growth in the last quarter.

He also mentioned that the dollar tended to strengthen amid a demand for safe-haven assets and market fluctuations.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Public, private firms can now apply to grow hemp

NationalJan 28. 2021

By THE NATION

Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will allow government agencies, private companies, farmers and the public to apply to grow hemp from January 29 after the Public Health Ministry removed the plant species from the category V narcotics list in November.

According to ministerial regulations, the import of hemp seeds for growing will be allowed within five years after being removed from the narcotics list.

“People can apply to grow hemp for any purpose – commercial, medical, educational, research or for traditional use,” said FDA vice secretary-general Supattra Boonserm.

“Hemp fibre and its oil extract are also allowed for use as material or ingredients in the textile, food and beverage, food supplementary, and cosmetics industries,” she said.

Supattra said candidates must apply in the area in which they wish to grow hemp. Bangkok residents can apply at the FDA’s head office, while residents in other provinces must apply at their provincial public health offices.

“On February 2, the FDA will run an online training course via Facebook Live @FDAThai on how to apply for growing hemp and how to register health-related products made from hemp. For more information, contact tel 02-590-7771-3,” she added.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Online insurance platform gettgo gets Bt200 million in funding from Muang Thai Group

NationalJan 28. 2021Tanat Jakrawatana, managing director of Muang Thai Broker Co Ltd

By The Nation

The board of directors of Muang Thai Group Holding Co Ltd have approved Bt200 million in funding for Muang Thai Broker Co Ltd, the subsidiary operating as an insurance broker under the name of gettgo, Muang Thai Group President and Chief Executive Officer Sara Lamsam said.

The broker aims to reach Bt1 billion in premiums in the next three years.

Explaining the purpose of this funding, Tanat Jakrawatana, managing director of Muang Thai Broker Co Ltd, said the objective was platform development for utmost popularity. This extended beyond purchases as it included sales and learning of financial products such as insurance. gettgo was also developed to be another distribution channel for online insurance products under Muang Thai Group Holding.

In terms of its progress and performance in 2020, gettgo launched a customisable online comparison platform for health and life insurance products, responding to the need of simplicity in the age when being “personalised” is everything. This online insurance platform is a game changer in the health industry, allowing comparison of health insurance for individual purposes. Those interested can try it out at http://gettgo.com/health-insurance.

Tanat also revealed their three-year plan to achieve the target of Bt1 billion premiums.

They include:

1. Add new products and a number of insurance partners on the health and life insurance platform to become the one with product diversity and the most extensive selection in the market. Currently, gettgo has seven partners — Muang Thai Life Assurance, Muang Thai Insurance, Generali Thailand, Cigna Insurance, Falcon Insurance, Manulife Insurance, and Aetna. In 2021, gettgo also aims to seek leading partners in life and health insurance.

2. Initiate development for a smarter health and life insurance platform through the use of aggregator data for product recommendations that are suitable for customers with different needs and profiles. Also, gettgo aims to be the first platform with data of customers’ interests from the entire market, which will result in a smarter search engine for health insurance products and a search journey that is easy, quick, and simply the best.

3. Launch another online insurance platform for insurance brokers in order to provide a tool and crucial reinforcement that can assist and stay by every broker’s side during the shift from offline insurance sales to the online one and for the basis of stable income further.

Tanat said that over the past three years, “gettgo has rapidly grown in every aspect, achieving success as targeted. The number of website users has increased from ten thousand in the beginning to millions in no time. As a result, we are still committed to our ideology of incessant development of the online insurance comparison platform that is simple and convenient for insurance purchases and sales for Thais”.

“Over the past year, we saw that Thai people did not just become more conscious of their health but also paid attention to mitigation of health risks through purchase of health insurance,” Sara said, adding: “When people become health conscious, along with ceaseless growth of the online world, it is most suitable to invest in the development of the health and life insurance comparison platform. Therefore, gettgo is considered an excellent tool that is ready to answer needs in the age when everyone wants to compare for what is best for them”.

gettgo is an online insurance comparison website founded in 2018 under Muang Thai Broker Co Ltd, with the mission to create a platform to accommodate consumer behaviours in the digital age, with the need to compare products by themselves before deciding to purchase them online. gettgo aims to create the experience of comparison and online insurance purchases that are convenient and quick, with simple language and filtered and essential data, without forcing unnecessary coverage on users.

gettgo offers a selection of online insurance, including motor insurance, travel insurance, home insurance, and Covid insurance. Most recently, in the last quarter of 2020, gettgo added health and life insurance products to respond to the increasing trends of health over the past few years.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Kaeng Krachan National Park shut until Feb 11 over Covid case

NationalJan 28. 2021

By THE NATION

Kaeng Krachan National Park officials in Phetchaburi have closed the park to the public until February 11 after a confirmed Covid-19 patient was found to have previously spent a few nights there.

“The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration revealed on Tuesday that its 369th confirmed patient is a female who visited the park and camped out there with her friends from January 13 to 15,” park chief Mana Permpool said on Wednesday.

“To ensure the safety of its staff and tourists, the park is closed for 16 days, from January 27 until February 11, following orders from the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration,” he said.

“During the closure, the park’s staff will clean and disinfect offices, shops, camping areas, toilets and the tourist service centre,” he added. “All staff working in the park will undergo thermal screening and must strictly follow Covid-19 preventive measures.”

The CCSA classified Phetchaburi province as one of the “highest controlled” areas as it is only 88 kilometres from Samut Sakhon, the hotspot of the new wave of Covid-19.

As of Wednesday, Phetchaburi reported 32 confirmed cases since the new wave was reported in December, with three persons presently undergoing treatment and 29 being cured.