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Sale of Covid-19 insurance policies hits the roof after new surge of infections (nationthailand.com)

Sale of Covid-19 insurance policies hits the roof after new surge of infections

NationalDec 22. 2020

By The Nation

The sale of Covid-19 insurance policies has skyrocketed in Thailand since the emergence of new infections.

Insurance company TQM Corporation’s chief executive officer Napassanun Punnipa said over 1,000 customers had bought Covid-19 insurance online after the number of cases spiked on Saturday night.

She added that 70 to 80 per cent of customers who had bought Covid-19 insurance after domestic cases were found in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai decided to extend their policies well before they expire in February next year.

“Based on this, we are confident the company’s performance will rise next year,” she said.

Meanwhile, Muang Thai Insurance senior executive vice president Puntrika Baingern said Thailand’s new round of Covid-19 infections has proved to be beneficial for the insurance business.

She said the company had offered Covid-19 insurance policies three times this year, and the latest policy, which is being sold until December 26, promises insurers Bt100,000 if they test positive.

“Many customers have contacted the company’s call centre and sent requests online asking for details,” she said, adding that the company will carefully consider its business plans in the wake of the new outbreak.

The Office of Insurance Commission said some 9 million Covid-19 insurance policies have been bought and up to Bt4 billion collected in premiums.

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Dozens of developers to join visa-for-property scheme: TPC (nationthailand.com)

Dozens of developers to join visa-for-property scheme: TPC

NationalDec 22. 2020

By The Nation

Thirty real estate developers will offer foreign buyers five-year visas in exchange for investing at least Bt10 million in property, under the “Elite Flexible One” card scheme launched on January 1 next year.

Thailand Privilege Card (TPC), which operates the scheme, said Raimon Land has already signed up three luxury condo projects, expecting sales of about 200 Elite cards. At least 30 more real estate developers have expressed interest in joining, said TPC president Somchai Sungsawang after launching the scheme on Monday.

The move is aimed at lifting a property sector slumping under the impact of Covid-19. “Most are large listed companies, with a lot of suggestions offered to increase customers and encourage more sales. The suggestions will be put to a [TPC] board meeting for further consideration,” said Somchai.

He said that the purchasing power of foreigners is important to the tourism sector and related businesses in Thailand, which normally boasts the second-highest tourist volumes in Asia. Relaxation of the travel ban is expected to see about 1,400 Elite Card members enter Thailand this year. The TPC has set a target of 3,000 Elite Card entries in 2021.

About 70 per cent expressing interest in the scheme said they want to buy Thai property for residential use and long-term investment – with many choosing Thailand as a retirement destination. Most have high enough purchasing power to buy Elite cards priced at Bt500,000 to Bt2 million. To be eligible for an Elite Flexible One membership card, applicants must spend at least Bt10 million on condo-style property under the scheme. Elite Flexible One cards will be issued for a period of two years, from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022.

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Thanathorn hails local poll results as boost for Progressive Movement, despite losses (nationthailand.com)

Thanathorn hails local poll results as boost for Progressive Movement, despite losses

NationalDec 21. 2020Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit 

By The Nation

Progressive Movement co-founder Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit has apologised to supporters after the movement’s candidates all failed to get elected as provincial administration organisation (PAO) chiefs on Sunday.

Thanathorn spoke on Monday, a day after 42 candidates from the Progressive Movement participated in polls to elect PAO chiefs.

He said their campaigns and actions had not reached enough voters to win, but they had nevertheless gained a total of 2,670,798 votes.

However, 55 Progressive Movement members had won seats on provincial councils in 18 provinces, he said.

Sunday’s local vote for the Progressive Movement almost matched the national vote for Thanathorn’s now-defunct Future Forward Party (FFP) in 2019.

The Progressive Movement gained 17 per cent of votes on Sunday, he said, while FFP garnered 17.65 per cent of the vote at the 2019 general election.

Thanathorn said he was proud of the number of votes won and told supporters to keep their heads up as they would move forward together.

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Two more Bangkok cases linked with Samut Sakhon outbreak (nationthailand.com)

Two more Bangkok cases linked with Samut Sakhon outbreak

NationalDec 21. 2020

By The Nation

Two more people have tested positive for Covid-19 in Bangkok, bringing the total number of infections in the capital linked with the outbreak in Samut Sakhon to four.

On Monday, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) said one of the new cases is a male resident of Bang Khun Thian district, 43, who worked in the Central Samut Sakhon Shrimp market at the centre of the outbreak. The other lives in Prachachuen, Bang Sue district.

As of Monday, 821 new cases nationwide have been linked to the market in Samut Sakhon’s Muang district.

Fifty-one close contacts of the infected Bang Sue resident have tested negative and been quarantined.

Four close contacts of the Bang Khun Thian resident are awaiting results of tests.

The BMA and the Public Health Ministry have deployed 80 teams to test between 5,000 and 8,0000 mainly migrant workers at 56 markets linked with the Samut Sakhon shrimp market over the next seven days.

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Monday revealed the following timeline for the Bang Khun Thian case.

December 5-11: Drives from home to work at the shrimp market from 4am-9am, wearing a mask and cleansing hands with alcohol gel regularly.

December 12: After news of outbreak at market, moves to rental house in Bang Khun Thian district, living alone and only going out to buy food to eat in his room.

December 13-17: Drives daily between rental house and shrimp market.

December 18: Takes drive-through test at private hospital and returns to rental house where he self-isolates.

December 19: Receives “positive” test result and travels by taxi to Ramathibodi Hospital for another test. He and the driver wear masks throughout journey. Admitted at Ramathibodi Hospital while awaiting test result.

December 20: Ramathibodi Hospital test result confirms infection.

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PM mulling whether to cancel country’s New Year celebrations (nationthailand.com)

PM mulling whether to cancel country’s New Year celebrations

NationalDec 21. 2020

By The Nation

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Monday said he would need another seven days to assess the Covid-19 situation before deciding whether New Year countdown events around the country could go ahead.

Speaking after a Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) subcommittee meeting on the weekend’s explosion of virus cases, Prayut said health officials and border police have tightened security but there were still gaps in the 2,500-kilometre border with Myanmar.

More than 800 new infections over the weekend have been traced to a shrimp market in Samut Sakhon province’s Muang district where the majority of workers are migrants.

The PM admitted that some migrant workers had left Thailand and then been smuggled back via illegal channels to avoid quarantine rules. He said Thai employers must be jointly responsible for following up on these workers.

He added that the public should cooperate on preventing the virus from spreading so Thailand could avoid the lockdowns seen in other countries.

The Public Health Ministry said the Samut Sakhon outbreak was still controllable.

Prayut confirmed Samut Sakhon had been locked down and thousands of locals were being tested.

“As a result, the number of infections will rise. Don’t panic, the situation will be resolved,” he added.

He asked for public cooperation in catching those who smuggled migrant workers into the country, but said people should provide solid information, not just rumours.

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Private cars to soon be allowed to join taxi fleets run by cab applications (nationthailand.com)

Private cars to soon be allowed to join taxi fleets run by cab applications

NationalDec 21. 2020

By The Nation

The Department of Land Transport (DLT) plans to allow private cars to be registered as alternative taxis via smart phone applications to meet current demands.

Tanee Suebrerk, deputy director-general of DLT, chaired a meeting recently to hear opinions from government agencies, r academics, taxi operators, taxi-service providers and members of the public sector.

DLT explained that private car owners are being allowed to provide taxi services in a bid to meet a rise in demand as many people now prefer booking taxis via smart applications. Tanee pointed out that many taxi apps already allow private cars to provide taxi services, but under the new regulation, all private cars used for taxi services will have to be registered with the DLT to ensure safety of passengers.

According to the new regulation, private cars can carry no more than seven passengers, and only one car can be registered to a person. Owners have to provide details of their vehicle size and proof of employment by a taxi service provider. Every vehicle will be required to have communication equipment and clearly display a logo of the service. Drivers are required to dress properly and prices of services rendered need to be agreed upon and clearly displayed in the application. Only private vehicles certified by DLT can be used for this service.

At the meeting, however, taxi drivers said they found this regulation to be unfair, though service providers welcomed it saying it is compatible with people’s lifestyles as it offers greater convenience and safety.

Academics and government representatives also agree with the idea of alternative taxis, but said the law should set up a criteria for qualifications, responsibility and penalties for the service provider.

DLT has said it will collect all these comments and suggestions to revise the regulations before presenting it to the Transport Ministry for consideration.

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Twelve women voted in as PAO chiefs (nationthailand.com)

Twelve women voted in as PAO chiefs

NationalDec 21. 2020

By The Nation

Twelve female candidates were voted in as provincial administration organisation (PAO) chiefs in Sunday’s local elections. Thais went to the polls to elect a total of 76 PAO chiefs on Sunday.

Prominent among the successful female candidates was former singer Nantida Kaewbuasai, who was named chief of Samut Prakan’s PAO, and Kanokpon Dechdecho who was elected in Nakhon Si Thammarat province.

Bhumjaithai Party candidates Somsong Punchareonworakul and Supphanee Phosu were elected in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya and Nakhon Phanom respectively.

Other Bhumjaithai winners included Orapin Jiraphanvanich from Lopburi, Waen-Fa Thongsri from Bueng Kan, Khomkhai Udonpim from Maha Sarakham, Yonlada Wangsupakitkosol from Nakhon Ratchasima and Wanpen Tangsakul from Amnat Charoen.

The Pheu Thai Party fielded two successful candidates – Athitathon Wanchaithanawong in Chiang Rai and Tuangrat Loh-Sunthorn in Lampang.

Kwanruen Thienthong, the mother of two Palang Pracharat Party MPs, won the election in Sakao province as expected.

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Agency comes up with 3-pronged plan to expand investment in capital market (nationthailand.com)

Agency comes up with 3-pronged plan to expand investment in capital market

NationalDec 21. 2020

By THE NATION

The Federation of Thai Capital Market Organisations (FETCO) has announced a three-pronged plan to boost the country’s capital market next year, namely expanding investor base, increasing long-term investment and helping small and medium-sized businesses.

FETCO chairman Paiboon Nalinthrangkurn said his organisation has discussed this plan with the finance minister and will meet the minister again once the plan takes concrete shape.

He said FETCO aims to boost the number of investors spending in the capital market from around 3 million to 10 million in the near future. It will also review conditions and details of funds to draw more investment.

FETCO also plans to offer short-term investors tax incentives for converting their investments into long-term assets. Paiboon said this model is being used in China, where investors are offered greater tax breaks the longer they invest.

The chairman also said FETCO plans to help SMEs by setting up a closed-end fund. This fund will be raised by getting people to invest in debentures issued by SMEs with a credible history, he said.

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Campfires keep burning to warm villagers as temperatures drop in Si Sa Ket (nationthailand.com)

Campfires keep burning to warm villagers as temperatures drop in Si Sa Ket

NationalDec 21. 2020

By The Nation

Poor villagers in Si Sa Ket province are having to burn fires to keep themselves warm now that temperatures are dropping.

Residents of Ban Tum village in Si Rattana district are suffering the most because they are too poor to afford warm clothes.

One villager said on Monday that temperatures have been dropping over the past three days and they have been doing their best to keep fires burning all day.

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Road accident victim helps keep four people alive (nationthailand.com)

Road accident victim helps keep four people alive

NationalDec 21. 2020

By The Nation

A dying 48-year-old man’s wishes have helped keep four other patients alive in Phetchabun province.

Wichai Thongsukdee said he donated his late brother Wai Thongsukdee’s organs to the Thai Red Cross Society in line with his wishes.

Wai was declared brain dead after a road accident on December 18.

Duangdao Sriyakul, deputy director of Phetchabun Hospital, said the man’s eyeballs and kidneys were used to save four people.