Infected foreigners have to pay for everything themselves, doctor assures Thais
Image: Siam Rath
A doctor at the infectious disease department said that any foreigner found to be infected with Covid-19 while in alternative state quarantine would be taken to a partner hospital in the private sector.
Dr Opas Karnkawinpong said that they would have to pay for everything themselves. They won't be a burden on the Thai health system, he assured Thais.
Dr Opas outlined the strict measures that foreigners must adhere to before they can return to Thailand including the paperwork such as fit to fly and entry certificates, Covid free documentation and insurance and upfront payments for 14 day ASQ.
If infected they would go to a special isolation unit at the hospital partnered with the quarantine hotel.
Non serious cases would be there for ten days, those with serious conditions like lung infections may have to stay for a month.
He outlined three main measures.
Those with no symptoms but who tested positive would have to stay in hospital for ten days after their positive test.
Others would have to be hospitalized for ten days after developing symptoms then a further 24 hour period after symptoms fully abate.
In more severe cases the length of hospitalization would be at the discretion of doctors. People may only be let out after xrays, temperature and breathing rate checks satisfied medical teams.
A list of several measures were also mentioned for people after they go home from hospital. These include recommendations to wear masks, socially distance, wash hands and surfaces, use separate eating utensils to others.
If they get sick again they must take private transport to a hospital. Family members are being advised to monitor their own health closely.
For October, Chonburi had from our coverage 23 dead and 39 injured. Most of this was in outside of Pattaya proper, in Banglamung, Si Racha or Nongprue. Of course, not every single accident gets recorded or reported but as we ride along with local Sawang Boriboon rescue workers we tend to see most of them first hand. The majority of the accidents involved alcohol, were late at night and involved motorbikes. In most of the death related accidents there was a lack of helmet wearing and speed was a factor.
To be fair, police have stepped up checkpoints in Pattaya proper and the number of accidents actually in the city, which includes Jomtien was very, very low. However, once you get out to Banglamung, Si Racha, and rural Chonburi it is a very different story.
We posted yesterday that authorities are creating a video contest in hopes of convincing people to wear helmets but this likely won't be a long term solution.
What is even more astounding about these numbers is that with the lack of foreign tourists due to the Covid-19 pandemic the number of road accidents we have been seeing have actually increased vs. decreased recently. Those of you are regular readers have commented on this as well. Perhaps, as some allude to, it is due to the empty roads in the area and less traffic which inspire some people to drive faster.
Therefore, we want your opinion. How can this problem be better controlled? How can the same level of urgency and importance that Covid-19 has in Thailand also be applied to road accidents? The Pattaya News team wants to help fix this problem that is killing and maiming many of our local residents on a daily, weekly and monthly basis and the only way to do so is to bring further awareness of the issue, not hide it.
Also, although Thailand is introducing new laws for "big bikes" this is, in our experience of going to nearly every accident, a very low number of the actual cases. Most accidents involve low speed bikes being driven fast.
Student protesters put on performance art to highlight what they claim is violence by the state against the people at the Pathumwan skywalk on Thursday. (Photo by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon on Thursday brushed aside a call by a former yellow-shirt protest leader for a coup to pave the way for the establishment of a national unity government to defuse the political conflict.
Gen Prawit's comments followed the proposal by Sondhi Limthongkul, former co-leader of the defunct People's Alliance for Democracy.
The Deputy PM made only one remark -- "There won't be any coup" -- when asked about the matter. The government has repeatedly ruled out a coup in the past.
A Facebook page called "Sondhi Talk'' posted a clip of Mr Sondhi expressing his opinions on the political situation in a show on a satellite television channel "News One'' on Tuesday.
During the show, he said: "For me, a coup is not evil. If the constitution is to be amended, all involved must be allowed a say to make sure the charter is fair. A national unity government must be set up and it must be independent.
"Anyone who might be thinking of staging a coup must not make a mistake like the NCPO [National Council for Peace and Order], which seized power and expanded it.
"They must step in and bring peace to the country by giving power back to His Majesty the King. I believe His Majesty will not exercise this power and he will establish a national government immediately."
The opposition Move Forward Party (MFP), meanwhile, said on Thursday it would join a proposed reconciliation committee -- but only if Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha resigned and monarchy reform was among the topics tabled for discussion.
Anti-government protesters display their arts on Silom Road featuring the three-finger salute and a white ribbon bow, which are symbols of their protest movement. Varuth Hirunyatheb
Prawit: Does not want a coup
The MFP was speaking after Parliament president Chuan Leekpai proposed setting up such a committee, and hiring King Prajadhipok's Institute (KPI) to study its composition as a possible solution to the political conflict.
That idea was raised after an extraordinary two-day session in parliament, which ended on Tuesday, failed to produce any resolution to the deteriorating political situation.
Growing tension has been felt on the streets of Bangkok, where anti-dictatorship protesters have held mass rallies calling for Gen Prayut's resignation, a rewrite of the entire constitution and monarchy reform.
Chaithawat Tulathon, the MFP's secretary-general, said Gen Prayut must resign before any reconciliation committee is set up, because that was a key way forward in defusing the conflict.
Mr Chaithawat also insisted on charter amendment and stressed the committee must be able to discuss monarchy because it would provide a safe space for the delicate issue.
"Without that issue being raised for discussion, the committee should not be formed,'' he said.
Mr Chuan said on Thursday that parliament would play a key role in the formation of the committee, after its formation was agreed by all sides.
However he said that he, as parliament president, would not accept the committee's chairmanship, and there were other capable people who could do the job.
Sondhi: Wants a powerful King
He also shrugged off the absence of the main opposition Pheu Thai Party, which has refused to join the committee.
He said the committee was wanted by all politicians and should involve all stakeholders, not only opposition and government parties.
Meanwhile, the anti-government protesters rallied again on Thursday at three locations in Bangkok.
The first was in front of the Hindu temple on Silom Road, a central business area, where they displayed political artwork.
The second was on the Sky Walk at the Pathumwan junction, arranged by a group of Chulalongkorn University students to mark the 13-day anniversary of the government's crackdown on student protests on Oct 16.
The final one was in front of the office buildings of the Nation Multimedia Group on Bang Na-Trat Road.
Demonstrators show the three-fingered salute during a protest outside the German embassy on Monday. (Reuters photo)
BERLIN/BANGKOK: The German government has cleared Thailand's King of breaching its ban on conducting politics while staying there, according to a parliamentary source.
Thai protesters asked Germany on Monday to look into whether His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn, 68, had conducted state business, such as the signing of royal commands and the annual expenditure act, while staying on German soil.
Germany has said it would be unacceptable for the King to conduct Thai politics there and in response to concerns expressed in parliament, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas had said the European power continued to look into his visits to Bavaria.
Following a meeting of the Bundestag's foreign affairs committee, the source said the government had briefed lawmakers that it believed the King was permitted to make occasional decisions, provided he did not continuously conduct political business from Germany.
"The German government has taken the view that it is not yet of the opinion the Thai king has continuously conducted business," the source said.
Asked about the status of the King, the government told the committee he had a visa that allowed him to stay in Germany for several years as a private person and also enjoyed diplomatic immunity as a head of state.
Thailand's political crisis has made the King's presence a challenge for Germany but revoking the visa of a visiting head of state could cause a major diplomatic incident, the source said.
His Majesty the King travels to Germany from time to time.
Yellow-shirts gathered outside the German embassy to show support for the monarchy on Monday and left before anti-government protesters marched to present the embassy with a petition asking German authorities to look into the matter of His Majesty the King living in Germany. (Vodei by Jetjaras Na Ranong)
Anti-government protesters, co-led by the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration, on Monday staged a mass rally in front of the German embassy in Bangkok.
They submitted a letter questioning His Majesty the King's legal status in the European country and asked the German government to scrutinise whether he had exercised royal authority during his time there in violation of the country's law.
The Bangkok South Criminal Court on Thursday considered a police's request for the issuance of arrest warrants against five protesters who led the rally in front of the German Embassy on Monday.
They are Patsaravalee Tanakitvibulpon, 25, Korakot Saengyenphan, 28, Chanin Wongsri, 20, Cholathit Chote-sawat, 21, and Benja Apan, 21. The court rejected the request and advised them to summons the five people first.
BANGKOK, Oct 29 (TNA) – The National Communicable Disease Committee agreed to reduce travel quarantine to 10 days from 14 days in Thursday's meeting, said Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Ministry Anutin Charnvirakul.
The Disease Control Department will issue strict regulations on the new measures to monitor the quarantinees for another four days after they complete the mandatory 10-day quarantine.
Contact tracing system will be put in place and they must adhere to social distancing rules, avoid crowded places and wear face covering.
The meeting approved the national quarantine draft policy that covers the quarantine system and quarantine facilities to develop a mechanism on quarantine management in the national and provincial levels. Those, who defy the quarantine rules will be punished under the new regulations.
Thailand on Thursday reported four new coronavirus cases in state quarantine, raising the total cases to 3,763. Currently, 134 coronavirus patients are being treated at hospitals. (TNA)
Vet inte riktigt hur man ska tolka detta inför framtiden och övriga som inte kommer över vattnet
Cabinet okays reopening to tourists, yacht crews
The cabinet on Wednesday approved in principle a guideline to reopen the country for foreign tourists and crews of foreign yachts under a special tourist visa (STV) scheme, which was recently approved by the cabinet to restart the pandemic-battered tourism industry.
According to deputy government spokeswoman Traisulee Traisoranakul, the new guideline will become effective within 30 days after an announcement in the Royal Gazette.
It will come into force until Sept 30, next year.
Ms Traisulee said foreign tourists and crew members of foreign yachts who entered Thailand's territorial waters before the declaration of the state emergency decree on March 25 are allowed to apply for the STV scheme at immigration checkpoints within 30 days after the announcement in the Royal Gazette.
They will be allowed to stay in the Kingdom for 90 days, with 2,000 baht worth of visa fees.
The extension will be allowed two times at 90 days each.
Foreign tourists and crew members of foreign yachts are required to stay in quarantine for 14 days on their yachts before travelling.
They are also required to come up with a health insurance policy that covers Covid-19 treatment, with a minimum coverage of US$100,000 throughout the duration of their stay in Thailand.
In a separate development, the cabinet approved four projects worth 111 million baht under the state's 400-billion-baht spending plan slated for social and economic rehabilitation.
Four projects will be implemented between October 2020 and September 2021.
The first project worth 22 million baht belongs to Prince of Songkla University to upgrade palm industry to become integrated oleo-chemical which will increase the value of palm and can be used as raw material in various industries such as cosmetics, food and pharmacy.
The second project worth 66.68 million baht is owned by the Tourism and Sports Ministry. The ministry aims to organise training for 12,000 staff in the tourism and service industry in order to upgrade the capability of human resources in the industry.
The third project worth 19.12 million baht goes to upgrade sand dunes in Pathiu district in Chumphon to become an ecotourism spot, while the fourth project worth 4 million baht owned by the Tourism and Sports Ministry aims to upgrade the quality of services among tourism entrepreneurs in Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon and Ranong.
Phuket police confirm new traffic fines to start Nov 1
PHUKET: The raft of new traffic fines approved by Cabinet earlier this year will come into effect this Sunday* (Nov 1), Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Col Santat Layangkul has confirmed.
The new traffic fines will start this Sunday (Nov 1). Photo: Patong Police
The new traffic penalties were published in the Government Gazette in August, and see the minimum penalties raised for a host of minor traffic infractions, but the penalties for drunk driving remain the same as those brought into law in 2015, said Col Santat, who oversees all Traffic Police throughout the province.
"Phuket police are ready to apply the new traffic fines on Nov 1. I am sure they will work in reducing the number of moving violations, hence making the roads safer," he said.
"Please respect the law, it is the best way to do something good for other drivers," he added.
Among the new fines are:
Driving against the traffic flow or causing difficulty for the traffic (B400)
Driving recklessly which may harm other drivers and properties (B400)
Driving between traffic lanes (B500)
Driving on footpath without necessary reason (B500)
Using a mobile phone while driving (B500)
Overtaking on the left side of a vehicle (B500)
Not allowing faster vehicles to overtake when they indicate intention to do so (B500)
Joining traffic without indicating (B500)
Failing to indicate before turning (B400)
Parking in a no-parking area (B400)
Driving over the speed limit (B500)
Failure to give way to an ambulance (B400)
Riding a bicycle outside of the bicycle lane (B200)
Not wearing a helmet (B400)
Passenger of motorbike not wearing a helmet (B800)
Not wearing a safety belt (seat belt) while driving (B400)
Operating an unregistered vehicle (B500)
Driving without driving licence or unable to present driving licence when asked by police (B200)
Failure to indicate to other drivers before turning, changing lane, stopping or letting them overtake (B400)
Failure to have a red light at the back of the vehicle indicate that the vehicle is about to stop (B400)
Failing to slow down when oncoming vehicles approach on a narrow road (B200)
Ignoring traffic signals and signs installed along the roads (B500)
Ignoring hand signs and whistle sounds made by traffic police (B400)
Causing damage, hiding, removing, painting traffic signs installed along the road (B400)
Driving vehicle without license plate (B500)
Driving vehicle causing a loud noise or dragging something on the road (B400)
Using flashing lights, siren lights as well as strange and loud sounds, inappropriate sound as horn (B500)
Carrying goods longer than the body of vehicle without a red flag at the end of the protruding item (B500)
Carrying human, animals, or items not suited for the type of vehicle as determined by the Ministry of Transport (B400)
* Correction: The new traffic fines will start this Sunday, Nov 1. Not Monday, as orignally stated in the article.
'Tough task in store' for reconciliation committee
Defusing the escalating political tensions through a panel tasked with forging national reconciliation will be a tough challenge given the extremely complex nature of the conflict, says the head of the King Prajadhipok's Institute, the organisation that has been commissioned to study the committee's set-up.
The remark was made by Woothisarn Tanchai, the institute's secretary-general, after Parliament president Chuan Leekpai proposed establishing the reconciliation committee, and to hire the institute to study its composition as a possible solution to the current political conflict.
Mr Chuan's proposal came after the extraordinary two-day session in parliament, which ended on Tuesday, failed to yield any results to find a way out of the deteriorating political situation. Growing tension has been felt on the streets of Bangkok, where anti-dictatorship protesters have held mass rallies to press for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's resignation, a rewrite of the entire constitution and monarchy reform.
Adding to the tensions have been counter-protests by royalist groups. The mass protests by the two opposing camps have raised concerns over confrontations and violence.
Although no solution has been reached, Mr Chuan said the two-day session did agree that parliament should initiate a move to establish a committee to restore national harmony and end the current political conflict.
Mr Chuan said parliament should rely on the institute to provide suggestions on who should sit on the committee and whether representatives of the youth-led, anti-dictatorship protestors should also be invited to join.
Mr Woothisarn told the Bangkok Post that the committee has a very difficult task ahead of it.
"The issues to be thrashed out are far more complex than meets the eye. They are not centred on political discord alone, but involve deeply complex and delicate matters," he said.
The comment is understood to have been referring directly to the protesters' demand for monarchy reform.
Given the complexity of the issues to be addressed, the design and organisation of the committee would also be complicated, and for that reason, Mr Woothisarn said he would need to meet with Mr Chuan to seek clear directions on the objectives and roles of the proposed committee.
He added parliament would need to spell out political points to be covered by the panel.
Mr Woothisarn said the current political climate is unlike any conflicts seen in the past. This time around, the stakeholders and parties in the conflict are split into many groups, some without known leaders and identities.
It is no longer the case that successful talks with the leaders of conflicting groups might put an end to the tensions.
"The question has to do with what is expected of the committee, what it is authorised to do and how conflict resolution will be achieved.
"At this point in time, there's no clarity whatsoever," he said.
Former adviser to the charter drafting assembly Jade Donavanik said he thought it was beyond the institute's power to suggest terms for handling reform of the monarchy, adding that the most it could do involved changes to the constitution.
Thailand has so far welcomed 2 flights with Chinese visitors on the new Special Tourist Visa, a first step after a 7 month ban on international tourists. Now, tourism officials are proposing to bring in more whilst tapping into the vast Chinese market to draw in more visitors.
Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Yuthasak Supasorn says they're planning on 7.45 million Chinese arrivals next year with hopes that travel restrictions ease up (in 2019 there were around 11 million Chinese visitors to Thailand). Tourism officials expect a high season in July during the school break, assuming that international travel restrictions are lifted by then. Next year's overall goal for the Asian market is 11.2 million, a 34% decrease from 2019, before the pandemic.
"Some 7.45 million arrivals from China is in our sight, but it depends on how situation develops."
A marketing strategy is being prepared by TAT's deputy governor of marketing for Asia South Pacific, Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya.
"When the pandemic subsides we will change their focus from business travellers and retirees, to a younger generation that are 'less concerned' with health risks."
He says he's focusing on millennials, those born in the early 1980s to late 1990s. China has 321 million millennials, while Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan altogether have 69 million.
"Millennial travellers have more flexibility as they can actively penetrate technologies and online information — essential tools for post-pandemic tourism."
