By The NationPictures of a straight-edged cloud in Lampang province went viral on social media at noon on Saturday.
The pictures had been taken by netizens in the province, believing that it was a wonderful occurrence before the New Year festival.
A straight-edged cloud, also called cutting phenomenon, occurs as a result of change in climate when a high-pressure system is weakening and a low-pressure system is strengthening.
The current Covid-19 outbreak in Thailand was still in its early stages, a medical expert warned, adding many infected people would have little symptoms or be asymptomatic so they could spread the infection.
Dr Yong Poovorawan, head of the Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology at Chulalongkorn’s Faculty of Medicine, said that the cycle threshold in the outbreak is low, meaning asymptomatic patients or those with little symptoms could spread the virus very well.
All suspects now need to test for the virus with RT-PCR method, including those without symptoms.
The government also needs to hasten proactive search in the outbreak areas as quickly as possible, while private hospitals should lower testing price.
Currently, the vaccine is registered in the country of manufacture, both normal or emergency vaccine. There are already six types, hoping that they will be used soon, Dr Yong said.
Rayong provincial authorities have issued orders to close places at risk of Covid-19 both inside and outside the city after 36 people were infected in the province.
The Rayong Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration announced closure of the following locations:
Boxing stadium;
Boxing training gyms;
Cockfight ring;
Cockfight practice ground;
Snooker and billiards establishments.
In Muang district, the following venues will be closed:
Entertainment venues, pubs, bars, and similar establishments;
Educational institutions, cram school and schools of art, sports and vocational schools both in public and private sector;
Child development centre and early childhood development centre, both public and private sector;
Nurseries, except permanent home service;
Home care for the elderly, except permanent home service;
Learning centre or any other place with the same services;
Public library;
Places engaged in tattooing or piercing of the skin or any part of the body;
Theatre;
Water park;
Playground;
Amusement park;
Department store, shopping centre, community mall, stores selling building materials, and computer and technology distribution centres; Supermarkets, drugstores, shops selling necessities, telecommunication businesses, banks, government offices and state enterprises to remain open;
Restaurants in malls are open only for take-home orders.
Measures for areas outside Muang district:
Pubs, bars, entertainment establishments and service-like establishments open until midnight.
Air pollution in five areas around Bangkok and its vicinity hit dangerous levels on Sunday morning with PM2.5 readings coming in at 21 to 61 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m3), the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) reported.
Thailand’s standard for safe levels of PM2.5 (particles less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter) is 50 μg/m3.
As of 7am, toxic haze hit the following five areas:
1. Ma Charoen-Phetkasem 81 Road (61μg/m3) in Nong Khaem district.
2. The entrance to Thonburi Market (Sanam Luang 2) (57μg/m3) in Thawi Watthana district.
3. Phutthamonthon Sai 1 Road (54μg/m3) in Taling Chan district.
People in areas where PM2.5 pollution is bad have been advised to monitor their health and reduce time spent on outdoor activities, especially the elderly, children, and patients with respiratory problems.
Dr Yong Poovorawan
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