onsdag 17 mars 2021

Cases of Covid-19 rise after a possible new cluster found at a special Immigration detention center in Bang Kaen, and continued cases at Bangkok markets. The detention center cases however did not have open contact with the community and can be easily controlled says the Thai Government. - The Pattaya News

RECAP: Thailand discovers 242 domestic infections among 248 new Covid-19 daily cases with one additional death in past 24 hours

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Passport to prosperity. The World Health Organization (WHO), however, warned that countries should not adopt them for international travel due to numerous concerns at present, including the fact that coronavirus vaccines are not available on an equitable basis. - Bangkok Post

Passport to prosperity
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. Thana Boonlert

May I see your vaccine passport? You will be asked to demonstrate proof of shots everywhere -- be it airports, shops or events -- until the coronavirus outbreak is kept at bay. If you leaf through history, you will find their predecessors. In the past, travellers carried international certificates of vaccination to show at the port of entry when they visited yellow fever risk areas such as Africa and Latin America.

No sooner had the Covid vaccination campaign begun at the end of last month than Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha ordered officials to look into the future use of vaccine passports. Last week, the national committee on communicable diseases gave the green light to the proposal for travel permits that show vaccination status. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said those who get two doses of Sinovac's jab will be the first to receive vaccine certificates. In case they want to go abroad, they can use them to apply for one-year vaccine passports or yellow cards in print or digital format at a cost of 50 baht. However, whether authorities in other countries will accept them is another matter.

This came on the same day as China rolled out its own vaccine passport for its citizens to travel within and outside the country. It is being launched to promote economic recovery and cross-border travel, but there is no indication that authorities in other countries will accept the passports. The US, the UK and those in the European Union are considering similar permits.

The World Health Organization (WHO), however, warned that countries should not adopt them for international travel due to numerous concerns at present, including the fact that coronavirus vaccines are not available on an equitable basis. It previously issued a caution because there are unknowns about the efficacy of vaccination. In light of this, Life sat down to talk with researchers about its repercussions.

Into the unknown

Assoc Prof Wanrudee Isaranuwatchai, director of the Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Programme (Hitap), the semi-autonomous research unit under the Ministry of Public Health, and lecturer at the University of Toronto's Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, said that while passports are official travel documents, certificates are much broader in that they may or may not have legal effects. They must be verified by relevant authorities before being accepted for travel arrangements.

"When people talk about passports, they should recognise the level of agreement among all the countries that need to be put in place. A certain type of agreement -- be it bilateral or multilateral -- is needed to operationalise them," she said.

Hitap has received funding from the National Research Council of Thailand to work on the project "Establishing Covid-19 Vaccination Policy Research and Decision Support Initiative in Asia (Coresia) and Regional Study on Immunity Passports".

At the time, people started asking questions about the benchmark for vaccine passports due to differences between vaccines in efficacy and changes in efficacy against new variants. Will we accept only some types of vaccines? Will other countries approve ours? Earlier this month, Gen Prayut said no conclusion has been reached that would guarantee the vaccine passport system would be effective when implemented at the international level.

Wanrudee Isaranuwatchai, director of the Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Programme (Hitap). Thana Boonlert

Wanrudee said these are questions for the entire community. She avoided using the term "benchmark" because there are many uncertainties about the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, vaccine research is a work in progress. However, she cited target product profiles published by the WHO in April last year. They highlight minimum and preferred requirements for Covid-19 vaccines. For example, the vaccine's duration of protection should be at least six months, but preferably a lifetime.

"At any given point in time, we can only make the decision based on the amount of information we have. We are working with our partner countries to propose the minimum data set for what passports should contain, for example, vaccine name, number of doses, and date of inoculation. It may not be the final decision. Everything is changing really quickly. If the vaccine is approved by the FDA, I can see why that [criterion] is very helpful," she said.

Sarin KC, the project associate of Hitap, explained that vaccine efficacy breaks down into three parts -- reducing susceptibility, severity and transmission. However, at this stage, researchers need more information, especially on transmission.

"We can't say that having a vaccine passport will actually prevent someone from transmitting Covid-19. Moreover, it is not the job of the vaccine passport, but the vaccine," he said.

Sarin also drew attention to legal and ethical issues because vaccine passports can discriminate against those who are not currently on the priority list of vaccination, including a large proportion of the working population, migrants and informal workers. Moreover, the WHO does not recommend children under 16, pregnant women or those with certain medical conditions for inoculation until further evidence is gathered. It may lead to social stratification between the haves and have-nots.

"If vaccine passports are implemented within each country, will some [unvaccinated] people be denied access to sporting events or temples? These are hypothetical situations. We don't want people to be handicapped or disabled, not in a literal sense, in terms of freedom," he said.

However, the adoption of vaccine passports at the domestic level is now under way. With the world's highest Covid-19 vaccination rate, Israel has been launching green passes for those who have had two doses of vaccine or recovered from coronavirus infection since the country eased restrictions on Feb 21. Shops welcome the general public, but leisure facilities like concerts, gyms, swimming pools and theatres are only open to those who have green passes.

Wanrudee added that despite concerns, we should not dismiss vaccine passports, but the point is the public should be informed of unintended consequences. It comes down to how much risk they are willing to take on the condition that they are informed. She said vaccine and vaccine passports are the "light at the end of the tunnel", but "we don't know how long it [the tunnel] is and nobody knows what is going to jump in before you arrive at the end".

Sarin KC, project associate of Hitap. Thana Boonlert

Vaccine rollout is key

Meanwhile, Somchai Jitsuchon, research director for inclusive development at the Thailand Development Research Institute, said inequalities in vaccine passports are not worrying if the mass vaccination campaign goes according to plan. It will build up 70% of herd immunity in people aged over 18 by the first quarter of next year. Young children will be vaccinated later because they are at lower risk.

"We will see the private sector import vaccines in the next two months, but they will be costly. Those who can't afford private jabs will raise questions. The point is how fast the government can distribute vaccines because private hospitals can import them in small numbers," he said.

The government has sought at least 63 million doses to cover half of Thailand's population by the end of this year. While Sinovac began shipping 2 million doses in February that will conclude in April, AstraZeneca will deliver 26 million doses from June to August and 35 million doses from September to December. The FDA is reviewing applications from Johnson & Johnson and Bharat Biotech Technology. The Ministry of Public Health plans to inject 10 million doses per month from June onwards. A total of 44,409 people in 13 provinces were vaccinated from Feb 28 to March 12.

Somchai, who serves on the board of directors at the National Vaccine Institute, said the import of vaccines by the private sector will speed up herd immunity and free up state-sponsored quotas for others. Even those who are not priority groups because they don't live in at-risk provinces and tourist destinations will enjoy benefits from an overall improvement in economic outlook. Vaccine passports will ease restrictions and help resume normal activities -- especially international travel -- because it will waive or shorten quarantine or remove some requirements for foreign visitors.

"Thailand will benefit tremendously because it is betting on tourism. For instance, Phuket insisted that quarantine should be scrapped, but the government may not agree to its demand for now. If there is no accident, vaccine passports will likely be in use," he said.





tisdag 16 mars 2021

COVID in Thailand – WHO Situation Report - Bangkok Jack

COVID in Thailand – WHO Situation Report

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) WHO Thailand Situation Report – 15 March 2021

• 78 new cases of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 were announced by the Ministry of Public Health of Thailand bringing the total number of cases to date to 27,005. One new death was reported today.

• Of the cases reported in Thailand, 97.2% (26,234) have recovered, 0.3% (87) have died, and 2.5% (684) are receiving treatment or are in isolation (484 are in conventional hospitals and 200 in field hospitals).

• The 78 laboratory-confirmed cases reported today include  4 individuals who arrived recently in Thailand and were diagnosed in quarantine facilities.

  • 15 cases detected through the routine surveillance system linked to occupational risk, visiting crowded places or contact with confirmed cases in Tak (5 Thais, 4 Myanmar nationals), Samut Sakhon (2 Thais, 1 Myanmar national), Bangkok (1 Thai), Samut Prakan (1 Thai), and Suphan Buri (1 Thai).
  • 59 cases identified through active case finding, in Pathum Thani (1 Lao national), Samut Sakhon (4 Thais, 32 Myanmar nationals) and Bangkok (22 under case investigation). This brings the cumulative total in this group to 15,024 cases.

• Of 74 cases acquired in Thailand, 39 were detected in Samut Sakhon, 23 in Bangkok and 12 in other provinces.

• During the new wave (between 15 December 2020 and 15 March 2021), 22,768 confirmed cases have been reported, of which 6,587 were detected through the routine surveillance system, 15,024 through active case finding, and 1,157 are individuals who entered Thailand from other countries. At present, 22,057 have recovered, 684 are receiving treatment, and 27 have died.

No new cases have been reported in 63 provinces in the past week.

• The 14 provinces reporting more than 50 cumulative cases in the new wave are Samut Sakhon (16,727), Bangkok (1,140), Pathum Thani (714), Chonburi (657), Rayong (584), Samut Prakan (367), Chanthaburi (221), Nonthaburi (195), Tak (183), Ang Thong (125), Nakhon Pathom (123), Samut Songkhram (71), Ayutthaya (58), and Phetchaburi (53).




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PM and 15 ministers get vaccinated before Cabinet meeting - The Nation

PM and 15 ministers get vaccinated before Cabinet meeting

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha and 15 ministers received the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine at Santi Maitree Building in the Government House complex before a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

The 15 ministers are:

- Supattanapong Punmeechaow, Deputy PM and Energy Minister

- General Anupong Paochinda, Interior Minister

- Songsak Thongsri, Deputy Interior Minister

- Nipon Boonyamanee, Deputy Interior Minister

- Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, Finance Minister

- Santi Promphat, Deputy Finance Minister

- Saksayam Chidchob, Transport Minister

- Athirath Rattanaseth, Deputy Transport Minister

- Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, Tourism and Sports Minister

- Suchart Chomklin, Labour Minister

- Varavuth Silpa-archa, Natural Resources and Environment Minister

- Anucha Nakasai, Minister at Office of the Prime Minister

- General Chaicharn Changmongkol, Deputy Defence Minister

- Mananya Thaiseth, Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister

- Veerasak Wangsuppakitkoson, Deputy Commerce Minister

To avoid overcrowding, no media were allowed in the Santi Maitree Building during the inoculation, but people can watch it live via Facebook @ThaigovSpokesman from 8.30am.




måndag 15 mars 2021

Thailand to start using AstraZeneca vaccine Tuesday after delay over safety - Reuters

Thailand to start using AstraZeneca vaccine Tuesday after delay over safety

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FILE PHOTO: Vials labelled "Astra Zeneca COVID-19 Coronavirus Vaccine" and a syringe are seen in front of a displayed AstraZeneca logo, in this illustration photo taken March 14, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand will start using the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday after a brief delaydue to concerns over its safety, officials said, with the prime minister and his cabinet due to be the first to receive it.

Natreeya Thaweewong, director of the spokesperson's office of government house, made the announcement about the inoculations, which were delayed from Friday, in a chat group with media on Monday.

Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had earlier on Monday said the AstraZeneca vaccine, over which there have been reports in Europe of sporadic blood clots, would be given to the cabinet on Tuesday if cleared by local health experts.

(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Orathai Sriring; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Ed Davies)

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Thai Airways customers in limbo after refunds put on hold - The Guardian

Thai Airways customers in limbo after refunds put on hold

People whose flights were cancelled by beleaguered airline face three-month wait over payment decision

A beach on Thailand's Andaman coast.
A beach on Thailand's Andaman coast. Photograph: Vitaliy Pakhnyushchyy/Alamy
Sat 13 Mar 2021 07.00 GMT

Thousands of passengers who had flights cancelled last year by Thai Airways will have to wait another three months to discover whether they will be refunded or have lost their money.

The airline has faced financial problems since last spring, leaving a trail of passengers who had flights cancelled waiting for refunds. Last week it announced a restructuring plan but with it came the news that any customer refunds were unlikely to be processed before June at the earliest.

Some passengers have been waiting almost a year to get their money back from the Thai national carrier, which continues to take new bookings.

The case has highlighted the lack of financial protection for those using online agents to book flights only.

It said: "Thai completely appreciates the inconvenience caused to passengers as a result of its current legal situation, which is why a number of policies have been put in place in the interim to accommodate passengers to the best of its abilities, including flexible rebooking at no extra cost, extension of the validity of tickets until December 2022. We are truly sorry about this." 

Tourism reopening: Four phases on the cards - No quarantine at all from October - Thai Visa

Tourism reopening: Four phases on the cards - No quarantine at all from October

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File photo//Reuters

In the clearest indication yet of the likely way forward for the reopening of the country to foreign tourists Thai business media has said that there will be three phases, according to their sources.

Tourism minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan's plan that will be discussed at the end of this week will see tourists from low risk countries like the UK, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea and India able to visit. 

Plans are also afoot to add to the number of countries creating a medium risk category, reported Bangkok Business News. 

BBN said that D-Day for the start of what is known as Area Quarantine - part of what is now being called "Open System" - will be April 1st.

Tourists will still have to quarantine for 7 days from April to September if they have been given two doses of vaccine in their home countries. 

It's ten days for those not vaccinated. 

There are three phases:

Phase 1 - April and May: Tourists will be able to use fitness facilities, swim and go on cycle rides in the grounds (subject to protocols). They can eat food delivered from outside the hotels.

Phase 2 - June to September: would involve the setting up of an exclusive travel area or "seal route" in which tourists could move around while doing Area Quarantine for 10 days. They would be restricted where they could move.

After they have completed their quarantine they can travel anywhere in Thailand. 

The plan is to have Area Quarantine in Phuket, Pattaya, Krabi, Chiang Mai, Surat Thani (Khon Tao, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan), Phangnga and Bangkok. 

Phase 3: is called the "Sand Box" and will be done from October to December in seven specified tourism provinces that are mostly by the sea. This could involve one day in quarantine with a swab test requirement for tourists who have already been vaccinated twice abroad. 

Along with it will be an end to the Certificate of Entry document that will be replaced by a vaccine certificate (perhaps the so-called "vaccine passport).

Phase 4 from January onwardswould see quarantine ended and free movement throughout the country though a one day quarantine with swab test might still be required. Tourists would still need to have been vaccinated twice abroad and have documentation related to that.  

Under the Open System tourists will be able to come for a stay of 45 days (up from the previous 30) or utilize Special Tourist Visas, Yacht Quarantine or Elite cards. 

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Picture: Bangkok Business News

Thaivisa notes that this is all speculation based on Thai media sources at the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and potential visitors to Thailand are advised to await official clarification probably this Friday.

Even then caution is advised as the Thai authorities have been known to flip-flop especially amid the uncertainty of the vaccine rollout and unpredictability of the next stage of the pandemic. 

BBN also indicated that the rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine, halted abruptly amid concerns about clotting, is likely to be resumed following contact with the WHO and other worldwide agencies who are saying that there is no cause for concern. 

 

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