Or, at least, did have until the hospitals started closing down and people were unable to find treatment.
Ruam Phaet Chai Nat Hospital in Chai Nat closed yesterday after a hospital employee was infected. The hospital has been thoroughly cleaned and will reopen on May 12. High-risk employees have been quarantined.
The infected employee, 44, contracted the virus from an infected person in Ta Khli district in Nakhon Sawan. He is the 30th and latest case of Covid-19 in Chai Nat.
In Trang, Ratsada Hospital reported six infected hospital personnel, with 12 others waiting for their test results.
The hospital and Ratsada Public Health Office were declared maximum-control areas. Most of the infected personnel are not in patient-facing roles.
As of yesterday, the hospital closed all departments, except emergency care, in order to test the rest of its personnel and sanitise the premises.
Trang has reported a total number of 96 Covid-19 cases.
In Phangnga, an accident and emergency room staff member of Takua Pa Hospital contracted Covid-19. Twenty-two people, including his colleagues and family members, tested negative for the virus.
The hospital closed its accident and emergency room temporarily for deep cleaning on Tuesday. It will reopen again tomorrow.
Sam Pran Hospital announced it was closing its operating room for 14 days, from Tuesday until May 10 after an operating room employee contracted the virus. Forty medical workers who had been in contact with the infected person have gone into quarantine.
In Lampang, 26 staff members of Maetha Hospital who were at risk of contracting Covid-19 tested negative but one tested positive.
The staff will work from home for 14 days. The infected person contracted the virus from another infected person who had visited the hospital.
Khon Kaen Hospital earlier this month ordered 105 medical staff to quarantine immediately. The hospital was forced to stop receiving patient referrals and to temporarily close two medical wards and one paediatric ward.
Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital in Bangkok announced it would stop receiving new Covid cases until tomorrow after staff came into contact with infected patients.
An airport staff member receives the Covid-19 vaccine at a check-in row in Suvarnabhumi Airport on April 28, 2021.PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Long queues have returned to Thailand's unusually quiet international airport this week, after it converted its check-in area into an immunisation centre as part of efforts to speed up its Covid-19 vaccine rollout.
Cordons and suitcases were replaced with evenly-spaced chairs at check-in counters, where immigration and airport staff and cabin crew lined up to register for the vaccines, of which more than 1,000 will be administered each day.
The inoculations provided a buzz of activity seldom seen this past year at Suvarnabhumi Airport, which has been hit by a dramatic slump in passengers and air traffic from weaker demand and tighter entry curbs.
In 2019, before the pandemic came, Thailand welcomed nearly 40 million tourists, mostly through the main gateway. Thailand had only 6,737 visitors in March.
Staff member Siwaporn Singkhrut, who was among the first of more than 30,000 set to receive vaccines at the airport, said there was plenty of room to expand the service to more people.
"Now, only a portion of the airport is in operation, and it would be even better if it were to fully open to the public so people can come and get vaccinated," she said.
After a year of relatively minor outbreaks, Thailand is experiencing its biggest and fastest spread of the coronavirus, with cases more doubling since the start of April to nearly 61,699, with 178 fatalities.
It recorded 2,012 new cases and 15 more deaths on Wednesday.
Thailand's government has yet to start mass vaccinations and is rushing to secure vaccine supplies to supplement those set to be manufactured locally from June
Så var det dags för långhelg igen. Det lär väl inte bli så upphetsande p.g.a rådande restriktioner. Förmodligen lika lugnt och stilla som det var under Songkran för 2 veckor sedan.
The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 151 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 this morning (April 29th), following a major increase in community testing.
This makes a total of 2,416 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 1,651 still in medical care, with four recorded deaths this week in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April. Two additional deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours.
Additionally, 761 people in total have now been released from medical care and fully recovered since this current wave began. Today's cases marked an overall increase in infections but were driven by a major increase in community testing.
The district-level new cases were as follows today:
Mueang Chonburi with 13, Si Racha 37, Banglamung (Pattaya) 86, Panat Nikhom 1, Sattahip 1, Ban Bueng 2, Pan Thong 6, and five patients from other provinces transferred to Chonburi for medical care.
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The details on today's cases given were:
8 confirmed patients from entertainment venues in Chonburi province, namely 1.1 Flintstones Pub from Mueang Chonburi 2 people 1.2 The Garden 168 Pattaya 1 person 1.3 808 Club Pattaya 1 person 1.4 Insomnia Pattaya 1 person 1.5 Other entertainment venues in Pattaya, 3 cases
13 cases of confirmed close contact patients from house parties and traveling to other provinces, including 2.1 Bangkok 3 2.2 Pathum Thani Province: 2 cases 2.3 Krabi Province: 2 cases 2.4 Sa Kaeo Province: 1 person 2.5 Nonthaburi: 1 person 2.6 Chanthaburi Province: 1 person 2.7 Phitsanulok 1 person 2.8 Rayong Province: 1 person 2.9 Yasothon Province: 1 person
Two confirmed patients from unspecified "other" workplaces
9 confirmed cases of close contact persons in their families.
1 medical personnel
In the process of investigation, 118 cases.
The details on the two additional deaths were not given. These cases were based on approximately 2124 tests conducted in the past day, roughly double what had been being tested recently as increased community testing takes place.
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In the last day, a total of 163 close contacts were being tested from contact tracing, and 1185 people were being tested in proactive testing when medical staff goes out into the community. All are pending results. Additionally another 1,108 people were tested from mobile testing vans and are also waiting for results as officials step up aggressive community testing.
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Chonburi officials are asking people to continue to stay home, socially distance, and follow other Covid-19 related measures to control the situation. Chonburi officially becomes deep red according to a government zoning program based on Covid19 cases after today, which brings additional restrictions for at least two weeks such as closure of dine-in at restaurants.
Channel 7 reported that the Thai government would be working with principal players in the private sector to help deliver the vaccine rollout.
On board are groups such as the Federation of Thai Industries, The Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Thai Bankers Association.
Groups such as these will be working in four key areas including vaccine procurement, public relations, places where vaccine can be administered and use of tech.
Industrial estates, import export companies, malls and gas stations will all be able to play a vital role.
The aim is to vaccinate 50 million people in Thailand or a target of 70% by the end of the year.
This will enable the country to be opened up by the start of next year.
Bangkok will pilot the mass rollout at 14 locations for 20,000 people a day starting in June.
The government is in the process of procuring 100 million doses of vaccine, said the media.
Thai Covid-19 center meeting approves stepped up Covid-19 control measures and readjusts "Dark Red Zones" in six provinces, including Bangkok and Chonburi, effective this Saturday
CCSA spokesperson Taweeslip Visanuyuthin revealed this afternoon, April 29th, that the first proposal was for state quarantine for all arrivals to Thailand to increase from 7-10 days to 14 days again. All visitors, including Thai and foreign nationals, have to stay in their room at all times and must undergo regular Covid-19 testing by the public health authorities. This is regardless of country of origin or if the visitor is fully vaccinated or not.
However, travelers who have obtained their Certificate of Entry (COE) prior to May 1st, 2021, and arrive in the Kingdom before May 6thwill be quarantined for 7 to 10 days, depending on vaccination status.
Secondly, six provinces in Thailand are planned to be categorized as the "highest risk and control zones" or "Dark Red Zones". The provinces are Bangkok, Chonburi, Chiang Mai, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, and Samut Prakan.
The proposed measures for the "Dark Red Zones" include no large gatherings of more than 20 people; no dine-in services at all restaurants and takeaway is only allowed until 9:00 PM.; sports stadiums and facilities, as well as gyms, must be closed; shopping malls and shops can be opened until 9:00 PM.; local residents are asked to refrain from leaving home if unnecessarily. All previously closed venues and orders stand, additionally, governors can implement stricter orders if they choose but cannot loosen the restrictions.
Dine-in services will be allowed until 9:00 PM. in the "Red Zones", and until 11:00 PM. in the "Orange Zones". Similar to the "Dark Red Zones" measures, shopping malls are allowed to open until 9:00 PM. Entertainment venues, school institutions, and sports facilities must stay closed.
Dr. Taweesilp also stated that private business companies, especially in Bangkok, are highly recommended to order their employees to conduct "Work From Home" during the new and stricter measures to curb the Covid-19 local transmission. The measures will last for at least two weeks, or until the situation improves. There was no discussion about financial aid measures for affected employees or businesses.
All expats living in Thailand are eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, according to deputy spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Natapanu Nopakun. He says Thailand plans to roll out a "massive vaccination plan" to vaccinate all people who are living in Thailand, including foreign residents.
"All people residing in Thailand, regardless of nationality, are eligible to receive the vaccine under the plan."
He made the announcement during the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration's daily briefing today. Natapanu says more information on the vaccination plan for foreigners residing in Thailand will be released at a later date.
Health officials in Phuket and Koh Samui, tourist destinations that have been said to be of "economic significance," have already been rolling out mass vaccination campaigns in an effort to reach herd immunity and reopen the islands to foreign tourists by July.
An expat who works as an English teacher at a school in Koh Samui says he received both doses of the Chinese-made Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine this month. He says the school helped with the registration process and both doses of Covid-19 vaccine were free.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand has unveiled "Entry Thailand", an online platform to facilitate vaccinated international visitors to Thailand.
The e-service, which is available at entrythailand.go.th/journey/1, is an integrated effort among 11 agencies including the Tourism and Sports Ministry, the Public Health Ministry and the Interior Ministry. It is the first step-by-step service that covers all the procedures required by the government for Thais and foreigners who want to fly to Thailand.
Step one in the process is to register for a Certificate of Entry (COE). The website will link to an online form by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after clicking on the registration button.
Step two is to book a flight and the website also shows a list of available flights. Step three is to book a quarantine accommodation and again the website has a list of alternative state quarantine, alternative local quarantine and alternative hospital quarantine facilities.
Step four is to purchase and submit proof of Covid-19 health insurance. Step five is to check COE status and prepare additional documents before travelling. The last step is to download the "Thailand Plus" app and register. The app is available on both the Apple Store and Google Play store at thailandplus.in.th/en/download.
Thailand's government, through the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said late Wednesday that the private sector and hospital groups have no need to order vaccines on their own as the government would be able to provide for all vaccine needs.
Thai Enquirer reported on Wednesday that private sector requests for the government to countersign vaccine acquisition orders were being ignored by the public health ministry. (Read more here)
The lack of government action came despite criticisms from opposition and coalition politicians over the lack of movement on vaccines and the government's stonewalling of the private sector's request.
Now, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha appears to be walking back promises made in a public address two weeks ago in which he promised to expedite and allow private hospitals to acquire their own vaccines to supplement the national pool.
The Thai Chamber of Commerce released a statement to private hospitals on Wednesday evening confirming the new direction following meetings it had with the prime minister. The statement, which was shared with the Thai Enquirer, reads as follows.
"The government has informed the Thai Chamber of Commerce that it has sourced enough vaccines to meet the requirement of every citizens, therefore the private sector does not need to buy any additional vaccines."
The news will likely spark outrage among critics of the government and the general public who accuse the Prayut administration of not doing enough to inoculate the people leading to a rapidly worsening third wave of Covid-19.
Among the major criticisms has been that the government has not moved fast enough on its vaccine acquisitions program – rejecting offers from Pfizer and Moderna in favor of Sinovacs and locally produced AstraZeneca variants.
It is unclear why the government has chosen to change directions announced just two weeks prior. Calls to Government House and the Ministry of Public Health were not returned.
AstraZeneca's vaccine production in Thailand has been approved under Siam Bioscience Company Limited by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of Thailand, the company's country president announced today, April 28th.
James Teague, Country President of AstraZeneca (Thailand) Co.Ltd., revealed in a press release that the company's plans to produce its Covid-19 vaccine in Thailand have made significant progress, and the first batch of the vaccine will be ready for delivery to the Thai government in June.
AstraZeneca, together with Siam Bioscience, has also been working as the "regional production hub" to ensure that the distribution will be able to make it to Thailand and another eight countries in Southeast Asia in the same exact month as well.
PHOTO: AstraZeneca
According to AstraZeneca's statement, each batch of the vaccine undergoes more than 60 quality controls during the manufacture-to-vaccination process. Siam Bioscience has been proved for its world-class vaccine product standard, as known as the Good Manufacturing Address (GMA), ensuring that the products are consistently produced and controlled according to quality standards.
Mr. Teague said: "AstraZeneca and our global manufacturing partners, including Siam Bioscience, are committed to maintaining the highest safety and quality standard of our products. Numerous safety tests and quality control measures are carried out at each step. We are working as quickly as possible to supply the vaccine to the Government of Thailand to overcome the ongoing pandemic."
"We all have the same objective, to get effective vaccines to everybody as quickly as possible but safely. At the core of everything we do is the health and the well-being of Thai people." Mr. Teague concluded.
The Chonburi Public Health Office last night (April 27th) has released another warning to inform people who went to a specific BBQ buffet this month to notify health authorities and monitor their health.
KBBQ buffet Bang Saen in Mueang sub-district, Mueang Chonburi district from April 20thto April 25th from 10:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M..
Anyone who visited this place on those days should please take a Covid – 19 test and should not go to work until they get a test result, according to the Chonburi Public Health Office. They can call the number on the poster above if they visited this location, there are people who can speak Thai and English available.
Please inform the hospital that you visited the same place as a Covid-19 confirmed case, they continued.
The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 108 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 this morning (April 28th).
The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 112 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 this morning (April 29th).
This makes a total of 2,265 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 1,584 still in medical care, with two recorded deaths this week in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April.
Additionally, 679 people in total have now been released from medical care and fully recovered since this current wave began. Today's cases marked a very slight increase from yesterday's total of 108 cases, although over a hundred more people were recovered but with one additional recorded fatality.
The district-level new cases were as follows today:
Mueang Chonburi with 24, Si Racha 8, Banglamung (Pattaya) 59, Panat Nikhom 1, Sattahip 7, Ban Bueng 4, Pan Thong 3, and six patients from other provinces transferred to Chonburi for medical care.
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The details on today's cases are: 1.1 808 Club Pattaya 1 person 1.2 One close contact from a confirmed case at Berlin in Bangsaen 1.3 1 close contact from confirmed patient at BONE PUB. 1.4 3 close contacts from confirmed case at Top one, Ratchada, Bangkok, 1.5 4 confirmed patients for other entertainment venues in Mueang Chon Buri District
1 from the KBBQ shop
Snooker table, Ban Bueng night market, 1 case
Four patients from "other" establishments with no name given
5.1 1 confirmed patient from a previous case in Pathum Thani Province 5.2 3 confirmed Bangkok patients from previous case 5.3 1 confirmed patient from previous case in Nonthaburi Province 5.4 1 confirmed patient from previous case in Phuket 5.5 5 confirmed patients from previous case in Rayong Province 5.6 7 confirmed patients from previous case in Samut Prakan 5.7 1 confirmed patient from previous case in Ayutthaya Province 6. Medical personnel one case
An additional 36 close contacts and family members of previously confirmed cases in Chonburi
In the process of investigation currently are 40 cases.
The details on the additional death were not given.
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In the last day, a total of 124 close contacts were being tested from contact tracing, and 956 people were being tested in proactive testing when medical staff goes out into the community. All are pending results. Additionally another 1,044 people were tested from mobile testing vans and are also waiting for results as officials step up aggressive community testing.
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Chonburi officials are asking people to continue to stay home, socially distance, and follow other Covid-19 related measures to control the situation.
