Pattaya Deputy Mayor Manote Nongyai said Dec. 24, the ban on large public events will stretch into mid-January.
Two Thais delivering seafood to Jomtien Beach and Chonburi markets tested positive for the coronavirus, giving Pattaya officials more justification for canceling more large events.
Pattaya Deputy Mayor Manote Nongyai said Dec. 24, the ban on large public events will stretch into mid-January, including the cancellation of Jan. 9 Children's Day and Jan. 16 Teacher's Day. All New Year's events already had been axed and the Naklua Walk & Eat weekend market suspended.
At a meeting with the Disease Control Operation Center for Readiness to handle the situation, Manote said people have to accept the situation is more serious than first thought, and serious follow-up and planning is needed.
Manote said the positive Covid-19 tests by the two delivery workers, who visited an undisclosed location in Jomtien Beach and Chonburi's Ang Sila Old Market, were preliminary and being redone by the Department of Medical Sciences.
He said Pattaya has launched a Covid-19 operations center and has disease-control teams working daily on virus investigation and surveillance, focusing mostly on migrant workers in 15 areas. The city also is preparing quarantine and treatment locations.
Manote said people have to accept the situation is more serious than first thought, and serious follow-up and planning are needed.
Officials have now canceled the Naklua Walk & Eat weekend fair.National Children's Day on January 9 has also been canceled.
Foreigners must pay for their own COVID treatment if infected in Thailand
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. – Siam Rath
A series of maps showing the spread of #COVID19 in just one week from Samut Sakhon to 33 provinces. Imagine what *could* happen next after 3 million people leave Bangkok over the new year holiday to go to the provinces. Hopefully nothing. But let's see. #Thailand
Idioter !!! Varför gå ut med detta till allmänheten och bjuda in till att dricka och köra ohämmat??😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡
Breath alcohol tests for drunk drivers to be reduced at police checkpoints nationwide due to public concerns over Covid-19 Coronavirus
National –
National police chief Suwat Jangyodsuk announced today, December 25th, that breath alcohol tests will be less performed at police checkpoints nationwide during the upcoming holiday season to prevent the possible spread of the Covid-19 Coronavirus.
However, Suwat added, suspected drunk drivers would be asked to stop by the police authorities and might be taken to a nearby police station for different alcohol tests if found having obvious behaviors of intoxication.
The chief told the press: "Though all types of equipment are hygienic and safe, some drivers might not be comfortable to blow a breathalyzer due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, we believed that the reduction of breath testing would not significantly affect the police's duty to prevent road accidents during the New Year's."
Additionally, in the middle of 2021, a point cutting measure will be applied to drivers who break the traffic laws instead of a warning at the scene.
More than 9,000 surveillance cameras will be installed in 5,000 risk areas of Bangkok. Currently, about 2,000 surveillance cameras were already deployed in order to potentially support police investigations to track down criminals and other crimes.
The government is poised to allocate long holidays every month next year to stimulate local tourism demand, while pledging to commence travel bubbles after April.
Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said domestic travellers will continue to be a major market for at least the first four months of 2021, with frequent holidays helping to increase the number of domestic trips while the international market remains unpredictable.
He said on Dec 28 the Tourism Authority of Thailand plans to announce the extension of 1 million room nights as part of the subsidy scheme for local travellers, despite the ongoing probe into fraud.
In the cabinet meeting scheduled for Dec 29, the ministry is to propose a 5-billion-baht stimulus campaign for senior travellers aged 55 and above that could help increase liquidity for tour operators because the scheme will require eligible tourists to buy tour packages only from operators, said Mr Phiphat.
Moreover, if there is budget left over after the stimulus programmes expire in April, the ministry will work with the private sector, finding new stimulus projects or activities to maintain the momentum of the domestic market.
Speaking at the Tourism Council of Thailand meeting on Friday, Mr Phiphat insisted tourism operators should not stop thinking about plans to attract the foreign market as it remains a vital source for tourism.
But to mention those plans out loud now may not be appropriate as Thailand is still struggling with a new wave of infections.
"The ministry wants the private sector to think about possible plans for foreign tourists that could be implemented next year after Thailand controls the recent outbreak," he said. "I believe we still have a chance to see a beautiful year ahead."
Mr Phiphat said the summer season next year could be a good time to revive negotiations on travel bubbles with other countries as the pandemic is believed to be more controllable with warmer weather. Different countries have learned various methods to curb the outbreak while balancing their economic priorities, he said.
Thailand already offers visa exemptions for 56 countries this month, which can facilitate tourists who intend to visit the country, but the mandatory 14-day quarantine remains an obstacle for most of them.
Mr Phiphat said after the New Year holiday he will propose to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration to consider an "area quarantine" at the behest of hotel operators in many parts of Thailand.
New Year spending to stay below B100bn due to fear
Festive decorations at Bangkok malls ahead of New Year festivities.
Spending during the New Year holiday is expected to stay below 100 billion baht for the first time in 10 years, attributed to the fresh surge of Covid-19 infections.
According to the latest survey by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), spending during the New Year festive season is estimated at 91.5 billion baht, a significant drop of 33.6% from 138 billion last year.
"With the fresh round of infections, people are very concerned about the pandemic," said Thanavath Phonvichai, president of UTCC. "The majority of people surveyed during Dec 14-23 prefer to stay home."
According to Mr Thanavath, average spending is 9,876 baht per person, a fall from 15,615 baht per person year-on-year.
"In 2021, people would like the government to contain the Covid-19 spread, ensure political stability and take care of the cost of living," he said. "The government should not apply rigid national lockdown measures to curb the impact on the overall economy."
The university estimated an economic loss of about 7 billion baht per day or 200 billion a month if the government reintroduces lockdown measures across the country for one month. This would result in a decrease in economic growth by 1.5 percentage points, said Mr Thanavath.
The economy is likely to recover in the second quarter if the government succeeds in containing the outbreak, he said.
Yet the government needs to continue with stimulus measures to raise domestic spending and extend the "We Travel Together" scheme until the first quarter, said Mr Thanavath.
"If the stimulus measures fail to boost the economy in the first quarter, the government needs to inject more than 60 billion baht worth of additional budget in the first quarter to shore up the economy, especially for a tourism sector hard hit by a fresh surge of Covid-19," he said.
The UTCC forecast the economy to recover and post growth of 2.8% next year from a 6.3% contraction this year, driven by the availability of a Covid-19 vaccine, an export recovery and a return of foreign tourists.
The forecast assumes a foreign exchange rate of 30.40 baht per dollar, and a Dubai crude oil price averaging US$44.2 per barrel.
Next year's economy would also be helped by consumption stimulus measures, including the extension of the popular co-payment scheme, said Mr Thanavath.
A nurse wears a silicone N99 mask produced by Navamindradhiraj University after it received funding from the National Research of Thailand for the fight against Covid-19. The masks were handed over to the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. Pattarapong Chatpattarasill
Rapid-result testing will be used to detect Covid-19 infections in Samut Sakhon while more beds will be arranged at a field hospital which is providing treatment to infected patients.
Samut Sakhon governor Veerasak Vijitsaengsri said on Friday that he has ordered the testing method to be changed to ensure quick results and cover all at-risk groups of Thais and migrants in the province.
The current method of inserting a swab into the nose to get a fluid sample will be replaced by taking blood samples from people, the governor said, adding that results from the new method come back in 30 minutes and costs are cheaper.
He went on to say that the field hospital currently has 30 beds and the number will be increased to 100 to accommodate the rising number of patients.
The hospital has been opened at the now-infamous shrimp market in Samut Sakhon, despite strong objections from locals.
The Central Shrimp Market has become a hotspot of new infections among mostly migrant workers.
The field hospital is treating Covid-19 patients with mild symptoms, while those who are more seriously will be sent to regular hospitals.
The field hospital is divided into three main zones: wards, a waiting and screening area, and a treatment area.
Immigration authorities have set up a centre at the field hospital to compile information about migrant workers, each of whom is required to register via the police's biometric system.
Even though the field hospital has already started providing treatment, people in three Samut Sakhon sub-districts have strongly opposed it.
More than 100 people from Bang Ya Phraek, Krok Krak and Wat Tuek gathered on Thursday shortly after the field hospital was set up and tried to stop military vehicles entering the site to complete its facilities.
Representatives of the protesters said they were not confident in the hospital's security and feared that people in the neighbourhood might contract the virus. The protesters proposed that a field hospital be set up at a fishing pier instead.
Responding to local opposition to the hospital, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Friday urged Thais to show compassion for migrant workers who received treatment at the field hospital.
He said that migrant workers deserved credit for their role in Thailand's development.
He tried to allay people's fears, saying Samut Sakhon has been designated as a maximum control zone, with special measures to contain the virus.
In another development, the 14 Myanmar workers who were abandoned in Samut Prakan on Tuesday tested negative for Covid-19 on Friday. However, they will remain in quarantine for 14 days.
The workers were taken from a factory in neighbouring Samut Sakhon province, where hundreds have tested positive for Covid-19.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha speaks behind a transparent partition during a press conference at Government House on Thursday after officials stepped up disease control measures following the new Covid-19 outbreak. Government House
The authority handling the Covid-19 pandemic in Thailand issued a stark warning on Friday: cooperate with our guidelines or there will be a nationwide lockdown by March.
Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), said the ultimate measure would be taken if there was not "proper cooperation from the people" and if the situation spiralled out of control.
Dr Taweesilp was addressing widespread concerns following the latest outbreak of infections originating at a shrimp market in Samut Sakhon, affecting mostly migrant workers.
Meanwhile, there was relief in government circles last night after six officials who initially tested positive for Covid-19 were found not to be infected after all.
Sources said King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital randomly tested 350 at-risk staff members with rapid tests.
Six tested positive, were allowed to go home and were later given swab tests to confirm whether they indeed had the virus. Director of the Government Spokesman Bureau Natthriya Thaweevong said the second tests showed that the original rapid results test had returned false positives.
Nevertheless, the sources said Government House would still be disinfected today, including its three media rooms.
This isn't the first time government staff have been at the centre of a false alarm. During the country's first coronavirus wave, Government House tested staff at the CCSA and detected some infections.
However, further tests showed they did not have the virus after all.
As of Friday, Bangkok had six new cases, taking its current total to 40.
Four new cases were found in Samut Songkhram, raising the province's total to 11.
All four had travelled to Samut Sakhon, the epicentre of the latest outbreak, which remained in the highest-risk red zone with 87 new cases.
Nakhon Pathom reported two more new cases, lifting its total number of recent infections to 17.
The country's tally now stands at 1,443 -- more than 1,200 of them are migrant workers.
The CCSA on Thursday announced a colour-coding system to identify provinces most at risk of a Covid-19 outbreak.
The red zone means maximum control and a high number of infections.
The only province given this highest at-risk category was Samut Sakhon.
The second-highest control zone (orange) covers those provinces surrounding Samut Sakhon -- Bangkok, Samut Songkhram, Ratchaburi and Nakhon Pathom.
The high surveillance zone (yellow) comprises 25 provinces, while the surveillance zone (green) applies to provinces without infection.
In Nonthaburi, all public and private schools, nurseries and tutoring schools were on Friday ordered by the provincial authorities to close temporarily.
Outdoor New Year celebrations and Children's Day activities are strictly prohibited.
All entertainment venues and restaurants in the province must shut from midnight-5am and no live music can be played or food served after 10pm. Migrant workers cannot enter or exit the province.
Nonthaburi's Covid-19 preventive measures became effective on Friday and will be in place until Jan 6.
Villagers in Bo Nok subdistrict, Prachuap Khiri Khan, resolved to prohibit non-locals from travelling and staying overnight in the area, which has many tourist sites and aquatic animal farms.
All outsiders who have entered the area will be quarantined immediately by subdistrict officers.
Provincial public health authorities said one person had contracted Covid-19 from the Central Shrimp Market in Samut Sakhon.
In Songkhla, the Prince of Songkla University's Hat Yai campus has cancelled face-to-face lessons after a lecturer was found to have the virus.
Khunnatham Wittaya School in Hat Yai district immediately closed on Friday after it found that a student was in close contact with an infected person who had been to a big bike event on Koh Lanta, Krabi province.
Parents were told to urgently pick their children up at the school. The school was on Friday closed until Jan 3 so it can be disinfected.
One local case was also reported. The infected person is a lecturer at Prince of Songkla University.
More traders who visited the Central Shrimp Market in Samut Sakhon Province have been found with Covid-19, the Thai-language daily Thai Rath reported today (Dec 25, 2020).
Dr. Taweesin Witsanuyotin, the spokesman of the Center for the Administration of the Spread of Covid-19, said the Center has observed and is ready to prevent a new spread of the disease.
Four areas have been set aside to control the problem. These are:
Maximum control. This is where there are a large number of people with Covid-19 in more than one area, such as Samut Sakhon
High control. This is the area where there are more than 10 patients, with the possibility of more spread of disease.
Ordinary control. This is the area where there are no more than 10 patients, and the situation is under control.
Observation. This is the area where there is no patient and the situation is normal. Provincial governors will announce what kind of situation is progressing.
As of 8.25 a.m., there was a report on the provinces where their citizens had contracted Covid-19 after visiting the Central Shrimp Market. These provinces are:
Chonburi announces two new local transmission cases of Covid – 19, both had been to Samut Sakhon
Chonburi-
Chonburi has announced two new confirmed cases of local transmission of Covid–19 this morning (December 25th).
The Chonburi Governor Mr. Pakarathorn Thienchai has announced two confirmed cases. He had the following to say to the press below.
"These two cases are the two we had previously mentioned were suspected and had tested positive on a first case Wednesday (December 23rd)."
"They had come back on December 2nd from purchasing ingredients at a sea food market in Samut Sakhon that is the center of the current cluster of infections in Thailand." The governor continued.
"They presented themselves to test for COVID -19 and both were positive with two tests. They are both asymptomatic with no signs of illness externally."
"They are in Mueang Chonbui and Banglamung District."
"This has changed Chonburi's numbers. We are not in the under surveillance zone anymore with no cases. We have to start counting again after more than 200 days of no new cases." Pakarathorn concluded.
The Pattaya News noted our zone is now considered as 'Under High Surveillance' – An area where not more than 10 people are infected and are likely to be able to control the situation. This does not, however, bring more restrictions at this time.
"There are 21 people who had close contact with the confirmed cases in Mueang District and nine people who had close contact with the confirmed case in Banglamung." Pakarathorn said in regards to the timelines of the individuals.
"All close contact people have been traced, tested and quarantined and their results show all of them are not infected. These two individuals did not have a wide exposure to the public."
"In addition all migrant workers that were people of interest in Chonburi were tested, all results show not infected."
"There is no lockdown or closure of entertainment venues in Chonburi as the situation in still under control and we feel the area is safe." Mr Phakkhrathon noted.
