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Public gatherings banned in controlled zones

NationalDec 30. 2020

By The Nation

The government on Wednesday banned all gatherings in Covid-hit areas, except for household parties and government activities.

The ban covers the controlled zone (more than 10 cases) and maximum controlled zone (more than 50), said the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

Governors of all provinces have also been authorised to ban any events that risk spreading the disease, said CCSA spokesman Taweesin Visanuyothin.

Meanwhile, events in Bangkok and provinces with less than 10 cases must be authorised before they can go ahead, except for household gatherings and government activities.

Taweesin said provincial governors and local Communicable Disease Committees were monitoring cases daily to calculate whether they were in the maximum control zone (red), control zone (orange), high surveillance zone (yellow) or surveillance zone (green).

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Medical expert urges Thais to stay home on New Year’s Eve

NationalDec 30. 2020Prasit Watanapa

By The Nation

The dean of Mahidol University’s Faculty of Medicine has urged people to celebrate the New Year countdown at home, to halt the surge of Covid-19 in Thailand.

Professor Prasit Watanapa said a second wave of the virus had spread to 75 countries around the world. And in 88 per cent of those countries it was more severe than the first wave, he said, quoting Thira Woratanarat, an assistant professor at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine.

“To avoid risk of infection and contain the spread of Covid-19, I would like to advise people to celebrate the countdown with their relatives at home,” Prasit said. “People can use teleconferencing applications to celebrate the festivities with their relatives and friends as well,” he added.

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Fresh outbreak closes schools in 42 provinces

NationalDec 30. 2020

By The Nation

State schools in provinces hit by the fresh Covid-19 outbreak were closed on Wednesday to stop the virus from spreading. A total of 2,797 schools in 42 provinces have temporarily shut – 2,302 primary schools and 495 secondary schools, said the Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec).

The 42 provinces are Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, Kamphaeng Phet, Khon Kaen, Chachoengsao, Chaiyaphum, Chiang Mai, Chonburi, Trat, Buri Ram, Pathum Thani, Prachin Buri, Phetchaburi, Phitsanulok, Phichit, Phetchabun, Ayutthaya, Phuket, Nan, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Lamphun, Sakon Nakhon, Saraburi, Suphan Buri, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Satun, Surin, Nong Bua Lam Phu, Udon Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Ang Thong, Uthai Thani and Uttaradit.

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Thai jasmine rice exports up 1.57% from last year

NationalDec 30. 2020

By THE NATION

Thai jasmine rice exports in the first 11 months of 2020 grew 1.57 per cent from a year earlier, the Commerce Ministry revealed on Wednesday.

Jasmine rice exported from January to November totalled 1.29 million tonnes, or $1.312 billion in value, said the Department of Foreign Trade.

The export rate remained stable despite its high price and the Covid-19 crisis, especially in the four major markets of the United States, Canada, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Jasmine rice exports to these markets rose by 10.46 per cent in quantity and 4.69 per cent in value during the first 11 months.
The Thai rice market in Canada also grew, reaching over 100,000 tonnes for the first time this year.

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Number of train passengers halved since fresh outbreak

NationalDec 30. 2020

By The Nation

The volume of rail passengers has almost halved since the fresh outbreak of Covid-19, the Department of Rail Transport (DRT) said on Wednesday.

On Tuesday (December 29), 703,489 passengers rode trains nationwide and in Bangkok, compared to 1,287,763 passengers on December 18 just before the outbreak emerged in Samut Sakhon.

DRT deputy director-general Pichet Kunathamaraks said rail transport operators had been instructed to impose measures to prevent the virus from spreading, such as cleaning trains and stations regularly.

“Meanwhile, the DRT asks passengers to wear face masks, refrain from talking and use hand sanitising gels,” he said.

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Fisheries dept to endorse operators using extra measures in bid to boost confidence in seafood

NationalDec 30. 2020

By The Nation

The Department of Fisheries is issuing certificates to stores that comply with additional measures to curb Covid-19 contamination, with the first going to Siam Makro.

Meesak Pakdeekong, director-general of the Department of Fisheries, said the certificate of compliance was presented at the Makro Nakhon-In branch during the launch of a special programme to promote shrimp consumption. Also present at the ceremony were Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit and Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chalermchai Sri-on.

People cut their consumption of seafood after a main shrimp market in Samut Sakhon was found to be the source of new Covid-19 infections. As a result, the fishing community has been suffering both economically and socially.

In a move to build confidence among consumers, the Department of Fisheries has come up with guidelines to ensure seafood is safe to consume. The new measures will be applicable to:

• Businessmen and manufacturers like aquaculture farms, fishermen and fishing boat;

• Delivery personnel;

• Fish market operators;

• Vendors;

• Exporters.

Businesses and operators that comply with the general measures set by the Public Health Ministry as well as the additional measures set by the Department of Fisheries will get a certificate of good practice.

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Foreign Ministry offering free translation, certification of docs

NationalDec 30. 2020

By THE NATION

The Foreign Ministry is offering a free translation service and also waiving certification fees for 19 types of documents, in what it calls a “New Year gift” for customers.

“The free translation service is available from December 21 until January 20, while the Bt200 document certification fee will be waived for the first two weeks, or 10 working days, of 2021,” he said.

Documents covered are ID card, civil registration particulars, house registration, birth certificate, death certificate, marriage certificate, registration of marriage, divorce certificate, registration of divorce, registration of family status, record of family status, certificate of personal title, certificate of surname change, certificate of name change, certificate of surname joint usage, certificate of surname registration, certificate of marital status, certificate of child custody, and letter of consent for child’s foreign travel.

“The services will be available at the Department of Consular Affairs in Bangkok’s Lak Si district and at the Office of Legalisation Division in four locations, namely MRT Khlong Toei station, and Temporary Passport Offices in Chiang Mai, Ubon Ratchathani and Songkhla,” he added.

The Foreign Ministry will also install the country’s first automated passport application kiosk at the Pathumwan Temporary Passport Office in Bangkok’s MBK shopping centre. The kiosk will open on January 29 and operate daily, from 10am to 6pm.

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Traditional cold medicine, Fah Talai Jone, to be used on Covid patients in five hospitals

NationalDec 30. 2020

By The Nation

The Department of Thai Traditional Medicine is joining up with five state hospitals to start using Fah Talai Jone (Andrographis Paniculata) as a treatment option for early stage Covid-19 patients.

Dr Amporn Benjaponpitak, director-general of the department, said on Wednesday that finding an alternative was necessary now that there are so many new Covid-19 infections.

Tests on animals show that the herb contains substances that can reduce inflammation and may inhibit the replication of the virus. Tests on Covid-19 patients whose symptoms were not very severe showed them improving in three days without any side-effects.

The five state hospitals the department is cooperating with are Nakhon Pathom Hospital, Samut Sakhon Hospital, Ratchaburi Hospital, Ban Pong Hospital in Ratchaburi and Somdej Phra Phutthlertla Hospital in Samut Songkhram.

The herb can be used for patients aged between 18 and 60, who have mild respiratory symptoms such as cough, runny nose, sore throat. Patients can consume 180mg of Fah Talai Jone for five days in combination with modern drugs.

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Many Bangkokians brave new Covid wave to return home for holidays

NationalDec 30. 2020

By THE NATION

Despite the new wave of Covid-19 infections, many people were seen taking interprovincial buses from Bangkok to their hometowns for the holiday period.

Bus operators were also seen strictly complying with mandatory health measures to secure passengers’ safety.

Before the new wave of infections, the Tourism Authority of Thailand had said it expected some 2.75 million people to go on trips over the December 31 to January 3 long weekend.

It also said that tourism during the holiday period would inject more than Bt10.74 billion into the economy and result in 37 per cent hotel occupancy.

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25 tourist attractions temporarily closed in bid to curb Covid-19

NationalDec 30. 2020

By The Nation

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) on Wednesday released a list of tourist attractions that will be temporarily closed to contain the spread of Covid-19.

The 25 attractions in 10 provinces to be closed are:

• Doi Phui Kho, Mae Hong Son

• Thung Non Son flower field, Phitsanulok

• Pao Tung farm, Nakhon Sawan

• Wat Boromracha Kanchanapisek Anusorn (Wat Leng Noei Yi 2), Nonthaburi (closed until January 8)

• Pong Leuk-Bang Kloy village, Phetchaburi

• Phra Ram Ratchaniwet (Ban Puen Palace), Phetchaburi

• Laem Phak Bia royal project, Phetchaburi

• Tham Khao Luang cave, Phetchaburi

• Guangzhou floating market, Phetchaburi

• Sirinart Rajini Mangrove Ecosystem Learning Centre, Prachuap Khiri Khan

• Kham Chanot, Udon Thani

• Wat Pa Phu Kon, Udon Thani

• Walking street, Udon Thani

• Sai Kaew beach, Chonburi

• Toei Ngam beach, Chonburi

• Nang Ram and Nang Rong beaches Chonburi

• Sor beach, Chonburi

• Wat Khao Tabaek skywalk, Chonburi

• Thai Island and Sea Natural History Museum and Samae San island, Chonburi (Closed until January 3)

• Wang Chan Forest Learning Centre, Rayong

• King Taksin the Great Knowledge Park, Rayong

• Rayong Museum, Rayong

• Phra Chedi Klang Nam mangrove forest and sky view tower, Rayong

• Ban Nam Chiao community, Trat

• Thai Red Cross Society’s Rachakaroon Centre, Trat