Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was pleased with progress of the operation to vaccinate the country population as it could reach 100 million doses soon, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Thursday.
He explained that another 48,594,537 people were given their first Covid-19 shot from February 28 to December 1, 41,827,020 their second shot and 3,508,044 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 93,929,601.
Of them, 5,836,791 students aged 12-18 years were given their first Covid-19 shot from October 4 to November 30, he added.
“The government planned to administer 100 million vaccine doses by the end of this year,” he said.
Thanakorn said Prayut has appointed Public Health Ministry to follow the vaccine development both domestic and overseas to boost the country’s efficiency to contain the spread of Covid-19, especially the newest Omicron variant.
“Even though the Covid-19 situation in Thailand is likely to improve as the daily number of Covid-19 infections and deaths has declined, the premier has instructed related agencies to monitor the situation to ensure that the country will not face a new wave of Covid-19 outbreak,” he said.
He added that Prayut has also instructed related agencies to track down foreigners from countries at risk of Covid-19 infection, including 783 visitors from the Africa region, to take RT-PCR tests for Covid-19 again.
Restaurants in Bangkok’s Central World and Khaosan areas were full of visitors on Wednesday night after the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) allowed venues to serve alcohol until 11pm.
The atmosphere in both areas was bustling again compared to a few weeks ago when restaurants were instructed to serve alcohol only until 9pm.
Many restaurants have complied with measures to contain the spread of Covid-19, such as setting up checkpoints, providing hand sanitising gels and limiting the number of customers.
Metropolitan Police Division 6 deputy commander Pol Colonel Nitiwat Sansing, who led a team of police and related officials in a survey of restaurants in the Central World area, said 452 visitors tested negative for Covid-19.
He added that the police would continue to create awareness among restaurants in a bid to reduce the risk of Covid-19 spreading.
Meanwhile, a Khaosan restaurant operator said he was glad that the BMA was now allowing them to serve alcohol until 11pm as it would generate additional revenue and attract more customers.
The government will hold activities on December 5 to commemorate the birthday of late King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great and to celebrate National Father’s Day under new normal standards to prevent Covid-19 from spreading, permanent secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office Theerapat Prayoonsit said on Wednesday.
“Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha and his wife will attend a religions ceremony at 7.30am on Sunday at Sanam Luang in Bangkok’s Phra Nakhon district, which includes handing food offerings to 89 Buddhist monks,” Theerapat said.
“At 8.30am the prime minister and Cabinet members will place pedestal trays in front of the portrait of King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great at Sanam Luang to pay respect and express gratitude for his dedication to Thai people,” the permanent secretary said.
“Other provinces have been instructed to hold religious and homage ceremonies at their city halls or suitable locations. Those attending must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, wear face masks and maintain social distancing,” he advised.
“People who cannot attend the ceremony should consider making merit at temples or religious places near your residence, or paying homage to King Rama IX at home.”
Theerapat added that public and private agencies as well as the general public can decorate their buildings and residences with the national flag and photos of King Rama IX based on suitability and moderation from December 1 to 31.
The government will also hold Father’s Day volunteer activities on December 4 and 5 at several locations nationwide. These activities include planting trees at public parks, cleaning public facilities and improving the landscape of government buildings and religious places.
Participants must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and strictly follow disease control measures.
Boat service in Phasi Charoen Canal will be temporarily suspended from January 1 onward as the operator needs to find a new location for its maintenance and refuel centre, said service operator Krungthep Thanakom (KT) on Wednesday.
“From January 1 of next year the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will start building a dam at the location of our current maintenance and refuel centre for the boats, prompting the company to find a new location,” said Kriangphol Phatthanarat, KT’s managing director. “The boat service in Phasi Charoen Canal will therefore be unavailable during this transition period. The company has put up notice boards at all piers as well as notified users via various media channels.”
KT has been operating boat service in Phasi Charoen Canal since 2017 to facilitate commuters in Thonburi areas under BMA’s policy of linking land, rail and boat networks. KT’s boat route in Phasi Charoen Canal is 11.5 km. long and comprises of 15 piers, starting from Phasi Charoen Watergate to Phetkasem Soi 69. The route also connects with BTS Green Line train (Saphan Taksin – Bang Wa section) and MRT Blue Line train (Hua Lamphong – Bang Khae section).
Phuket’s health authorities ordered 130 tourists who entered the province from November 15-27 to go into quarantine for 14 days to prevent the Covid-19 Omicron variant from spreading, the Phuket Information Centre announced on Wednesday.
According to the centre, 126 of these tourists are from South Africa, while four hail from Namibia.
After the 130 complete their quarantine, they must undergo RT-PCR testing to confirm they are completely free of Covid-19.
On Saturday, the Public Health Ministry announced that from December 1 Thailand would ban visitors by air from eight African countries to prevent the new, more easily transmissible Covid-19 variant from spreading after it was reported on November 24 in South Africa. The other seven countries are Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
The centre also reported that from November 1-27, precisely 32,360 foreign passengers landed at Phuket International Airport.
Among these, 16,446 were in the Test & Go group, which saw 23 test positive for Covid-19, or 0.14 per cent.
Some 15,914 people entered under the Phuket Sandbox programme, 39 of whom tested positive, or 0.25 per cent.
Of the 62 infected visitors, none of them hailed from the eight African countries.
Ministry of Public Health reported on Thursday (December 2) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 4,971 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 198 of whom have been found in prisons.
Death toll increased by 33, while 5,402 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.
The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 2,125,729 – 2,031,156 of whom have recovered, 73,726 are still in hospitals and 20,847 have died.
Separately, another 218,111 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 247,226 their second shot and 56,356 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 93,753,156.
According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 263.76 million on Thursday, 238.09 million of whom have recovered, 20.43 million are active cases (87,095 in severe condition) and 5.24 million have died (up by 8,212).
Thailand ranks 24th in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 49.57 million, followed by India with 34.61 million, Brazil with 22.11 million, the UK with 10.28 million and Russia with 9.67 million.
Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha understands the global situation brought on by the Omicron variant and has instructed agencies involved in public health, national security, transportation and tourism to be on their guard and screen travellers to prevent the Covid-19 strain from entering Thailand, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Wednesday.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand confirmed that there were no signs of a slowdown in tourism as foreign tourists continued to visit the country.
Only some European countries have reimposed lockdowns, but this is not related to the Omicron mutant virus.
He said the Thai government would speed up vaccinations for everyone as there are now enough vaccines for all Thais.
“The prime minister understands the mutant virus situation. He has asked people not to panic but keep up their guard high against the virus. The PM has also invited people to get fully vaccinated in order to build up group immunity and for the safety of everyone,” Thanakorn said.
“On the part of the government, we will do our best to prevent Omicron from entering Thailand,” Thanakorn promised.
Nakhon Ratchasima’s provincial communicable disease committee has approved in principle the move to reopen seven districts as tourism pilot areas – Mueang, Pak Chong, Chalermprakiat, Chokchai, Sikhio, Wang Nam Khiao and Phimai – the province’s deputy governor Chusak Chunkoh said on Wednesday after a meeting of the provincial Covid-19 Countermeasures Command Centre.
The seven districts will allow restaurants to serve alcoholic beverages until 10pm, but restaurants need to first obtain permission to pass SHA standards.
Pubs, bars, karaokes, entertainment venues and massage parlours will remain closed.
The Communicable Disease Committee will expedite the proposal by the Nakhon Ratchasima governor to sign the official announcement as soon as possible.
Nakhon Ratchasima found 77 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday and two additional deaths.
The province has seen 32,875 total cases and 256 deaths. Some 1,195 are still undergoing treatment and 31,424 have recovered and returned home.
Precisely 255 people entered Thailand during the November 15-27 period from eight at-risk southern African countries – Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa – with three having left and 252 still in Thailand. Of these, only 11 have been contacted for screening of the worrying Omicron variant, Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) spokesperson Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin said on Wednesday.
The Public Health Ministry would like to inform the remaining 241 – who comprise both Thais and foreigners –to report immediately for a free RT-PCR test.
Those who arrived in Thailand from November 28 will be required to quarantine for 14 days and undergo three additional tests for the virus.
For those who arrived from November 15, a 14-day quarantine is required.
Thailand is closed to travellers from the eight African countries from December 1, except those with Thai nationality.
Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police Pol General Suwat Jangyodsuk reported that as of November 15, there have been 783 foreigners from Africa who entered Thailand.
The police are now trying hard to locate the people on the list so they can be given free RT-PCR tests and quarantined.
SootinClaimon.Com 