Former Bangkok police chief Lt-General Kamronwit Toopkrajang has won the top job at Pathum Thani’s provincial administration organisation (PAO) with 252,499 votes.
He beat former chairman Chan Puangpetch, who came in a close second with 222,211 votes.
Pathum Thani residents chose Kamronwit because he has promised to solve traffic problems and help develop the province’s infrastructure.
The Government Housing Bank (GHB) has closed its branch on Setthakitj 1 Road in Samut Sakhon’s Muang district from Monday to January 4 in a bid to ensure people’s safety following the recent outbreak of Covid-19 infections.
Customers can still conduct financial transactions via its online channel and mobile banking application, the bank said in a press release on Monday.
Thailand Post has announced that its branches nationwide have been reminded to strictly adhere to public health guidelines in preventing Covid-19 infections following the latest outbreak in Samut Sakhon province.
All surfaces at post offices are sanitised every 20 minutes, especially areas frequently touched such as door knobs, seats and service counters.
The parcel distribution centres also spray parcels with disinfectant, especially those coming from high-risk areas.
Postmen working in high-risk areas are also required to wear face masks and keep their hands sanitised.
The Labour Ministry has issued orders prohibiting migrant workers from leaving high-risk areas as of Sunday in a bid to control the second wave of Covid-19 infections.
Those who violate this order will be charged for violating the Communicable Disease Act and emergency decree.
The ministry has also ordered employers to screen all migrant workers and ensure all protection measures like social distancing, temperature checking and provision of hand sanitising gel are observed.
Employers are also required to inform public health personnel immediately in case any employee shows symptoms of the virus.
Pheu Thai Party’s Pichai Lertpongadisorn thanked Chiang Mai voters for choosing him as chief of the provincial administration organisation (PAO) after unofficial results were released in the wee hours of Monday morning.
In a Facebook post at 1am, Pichai said he was grateful that people had confidence in him and vowed to make his campaign promises come true.
He said the Bt2 billion annual PAO budget belonged to everyone and should be used effectively.
Pichai won 421,426 votes, beating fellow Pheu Thai member Boonlert Buranupakorn who got 353,010 votes.
The Samut Sakhon branch of food delivery service Line Man Wongnai has put in place strict measures to control the spread of Covid-19 among its delivery personnel.
Yod Chinsupakul, Line Man Wongnai’s chief executive officer, said more delivery personnel are required in Samut Sakhon because the province is going under lockdown due to a new wave of Covid-19.
The company is also getting more restaurants registered in its app to accommodate an increase in orders now that most people will be working from home, he added.
All Line Man Wongnai delivery personnel are now required to wear medical masks and gloves during their shift, he said, adding that they are also required to check for symptoms before starting their day.
The CEO added that customers can ask delivery people to leave the food outside their homes to avoid the risk of infection.
Inter-provincial bus company Transport Co has said it is strictly implementing measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 in a bid to gain confidence among travellers.
Manote Saichuto, acting president of Transport Co, said every step is being taken to monitor the Covid-19 situation closely.
“In line with Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob’s policy, the company has instructed officials at all bus terminals nationwide to strictly implement measures to contain the spread of disease,” he said.
He added that the company has taken the following steps:
• Frequently touched surfaces at bus terminals such as counters, handrails and lift buttons are regularly disinfected.
• Several hand sanitising points have been set up inside terminals and offices.
• Officials are required to wear facemasks at all times and check their symptoms regularly. They are required to inform their supervisor and see the doctor immediately if they develop any symptoms.
• All affiliated operators are required to clean vans and buses as well as ensure the health of all personnel.
• Provide daily reports to the Transport Ministry.
• Ensure passengers wear facemasks, maintain social distancing and check in and out use the Thai Chana application.
He said the company will temporarily refrain from selling tickets to migrant workers.
“If passengers have respiratory symptoms or have visited high-risk areas, they are required to inform officials or public health personnel in their area immediately,” he added.
Former singer Nantida Kaewbuasai, who represents the Progressing Samut Prakan political group, has been unofficially named chief of Samut Prakan’s Provincial Administrative Organisation.
She is the first woman to hold this position.
Election results showed she had won 341,504 votes, over 260,000 more than independent candidate Ratchanon Thong-aram, who won 77,057 votes and Tatchai Metto from the Progressive Movement, who won 74,531 votes.
Nantida had the support of the influential Asavahame family, which has clout in the province.
There were 382 new Covid-19 cases following active testing of migrant workers in Samut Sakhon province, and in quarantine facilities, over a 24-hour period, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) reported on Monday.
Most of the cases (360) were migrant workers in Samut Sakhon, there were 14 domestic cases in Ayutthaya, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Prakan, Bangkok and Tak provinces, while seven Thais and a foreigner tested positive in quarantine.
The new cases in quarantine facilities included one Thai, who had returned from the United Kingdom, three from the United States, one from United Arab Emirates, one from Ukraine, one from Kuwait, and a Sudanedese woman had travelled from her country.
Most of the domestic cases reported on Monday were linked to the Samut Sakhon outbreak in a shrimp market, except an asymptomatic beautician, 29, in Ayutthaya and a Myanmar cashier, 42, in Mae Sot district of Tak province.
Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, the spokesperson for the CCSA, revealed that more than 2,600 people were awaiting results of their tests and many more were waiting to be tested. A field hospital will be opened in Samut Sakhon with 100 beds for patients with severe symptoms to facilitate and treat workers, including providing food and necessities. The idea was inspired by Singapore which faced rising number of cases involving migrant workers.
A health officer reportedly said more than a thousand customers of the seafood markets in Samut Sakhon were to be tested.
He also asked for cooperation from Myanmar to tell their people to take a virus test for free and remain confined in specific areas to stop the spread of the virus.
Meanwhile, 12 patients have recovered and been discharged.
The total number of confirmed cases in Thailand increased to 5,289 (1,373 in state quarantine), 1,176 are undergoing treatment in hospitals, 4,053 have recovered and been discharged and 60 have died.
According to Worldometer, as of 10am on Monday, the total number of confirmed cases had increased to 77.14 million (up by 532,471), 55 million have recovered, 21.38 million are active cases (106,202 in severe condition) and 1.7 million have died (up by 7,832).
Thailand ranks 150th for most cases in the world, while the US has the most number with 18.26 million, followed by India 10.05 million, Brazil 7.24 million, Russia 2.85 million and France 2.47 million.
Dr Taweesin said that a meeting between officers from the Public Health Ministry and the prime minister on Monday morning discussed new criteria for ordering of lockdowns for provincial governors to use when required.
Dr Vicharn Pawan, a specialist at the Disease Control Department, reported at the CCSA daily conference on the lastest situation in Samut Sakhon where the Central Shrimp Market and nearby areas have emerged as the source of the outbreak.
So far 821 positive cases have been found with links to Samut Sakhon. In other provinces, there are three cases in Samut Prakan, three in Saraburi, two in Bangkok and two in Nakhon Pathom (2).
Of the total, 788 active cases have been found in the Myanmar community and nearby areas. The operation has tested 4,688 people both Thais and foreigners and results have been available of 1,861.
There were 33 more cases of patients who had travelled to the market and had close contact with recently reported cases. This group went to hospitals on their own to be tested.
He urged people who had visited the Central Shrimp Market or risk areas in Samut Sakhon since December 1 to take a test for free or call DDC 1422 for advice.
He urged people to stay vigilant and not panic due to the high numbers. He said Thailand’s health response systems are doing their jobs well.
Nantida Kaewbuasai 
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