Tourism operators in Thailand have hailed the country’s plan to waive quarantine for vaccinated travellers from October as a positive step towards positioning the country for a robust post-pandemic recovery. However, that plan hinges on the success of the Phuket Sandbox programme, which is expected to start in July. Under that plan, vaccinated tourists will be allowed to visit Phuket, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, Krabi and Pattaya without mandatory quarantine. TTG Asia

 Thailand's plan to reopen to vaccinated visitors sparks hope of tourism revival

TTG Asia

Tourism operators in Thailand have hailed the country's plan to waive quarantine for vaccinated travellers from October as a positive step towards positioning the country for a robust post-pandemic recovery.

However, that plan hinges on the success of the Phuket Sandbox programme, which is expected to start in July. Under that plan, vaccinated tourists will be allowed to visit Phuket, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, Krabi and Pattaya without mandatory quarantine.

Thailand may soon lift quarantine requirements for vaccinated visitors to Bangkok; an empty Erawan Shrine amid Bangkok's third Covid-19 wave pictured

If successful, four other cities – Bangkok, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Buriram – will join Phuket in exempting vaccinated tourists from quarantine from October.

To reopen borders to foreign tourists, authorities are aiming to vaccinate more than 70 per cent of the nation's population by the end of this year.

Luzi Matzig, chairman of Asian Trails Group, said that if the plan goes ahead, he is confident of a swift rebound for Thai tourism, as it is expected that the country will see an influx of tourists, especially from Europe.

"Many Europeans have started travelling within the continent, and some are going abroad to places such as the Maldives. Soon, they will travel to Thailand," he said.

That optimistic sentiment is echoed by Udom Srimahachota, executive director at Baan Talay Dao in Hua Hin and vice president of Thai Hotels Association Western Chapter.

He projected that if Thailand reopens borders without quarantine requirements for vaccinated arrivals, four to six million foreigners or even more will return to Thailand during the last quarter this year.

However, the country must also look at the availability of commercial flights flying in and out of the country.

To ensure a safe reopening for the country, digital solutions must be harnessed, such as a digital contact tracing app, said Udom.

He also urged the government to rebuild confidence among international travellers as tourists began to view Thailand as unsafe following the third wave of Covid-19. Also, accommodations, travel agencies, transport providers, shops and restaurants must be prepared for the return of international tourists by putting in place Covid-safe regulations.

According to Thanapon Cheewaratanaporn, managing director of Quality Express, one of the biggest operators in the country servicing the China market, tourists from mainland China yearned to return to Thailand, as do those from Asian countries like Vietnam and Singapore.

However, he projected that travel patterns will change from pre-pandemic days, with tourists opting to travel in smaller groups but on a more frequent basis.

Travel expenses will also increase as tourists are likely to go for only good quality products and services, he said, adding that the number of budget tourists are likely to decrease compared to before the crisis.

Creditors vote Wednesday on THAI rehab plan. If Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) were to go under on decision day, which is Wednesday, creditors would only be paid 12.9% of what is owed to them, a source at the airline warned. Bangkok Post

Creditors vote Wednesday on THAI rehab plan

Some stakeholders reject debt haircuts

Thai Airways aircraft remain grounded at Suvarnabhumi airport as the airline's creditors vote on Wednesday whether to accept its debt rehabilitation plan. (Photo by Apichit Jinakul)

If Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) were to go under on decision day, which is Wednesday, creditors would only be paid 12.9% of what is owed to them, a source at the airline warned.

On Wednesday, 13,000 creditors are voting on whether to accept or reject the debt rehabilitation plan prepared by the company. If they vote it down, the airline will be declared bankrupt and the creditors will walk away with 12.9% of what the airline owes them, the source said.

In the event THAI goes into bankruptcy, the next step involves appraising the airline's assets to determine how much the company is able to repay of its debts. The 12.9% estimation, which is a gauge of the airline's repayment capability, is based on the value of the assets the company currently holds.

In early March, the company submitted its rehabilitation plan to the Legal Execution Department, covering debts amounting to around 410 billion baht, after the proposed debt-restructuring plan had been accepted by the Central Bankruptcy Court. Major shareholders between themselves own about 180 billion baht of the total 410 billion baht's worth of THAI's debt.

But if the rehab plan gets adopted at today's meeting, the airline will probably be given a significant period of time to sort out its affairs and turn its financial woes around.

THAI's rehab plan calls for an extension of the repayment of debt stemming from debentures worth 70 billion baht to a 10-year period, with a debt moratorium allowed in the early stages of repayment, according to the source.

THAI is implementing rigorous cost-cutting measures which so far include shedding several thousand of its employees from its 20,000-strong workforce via early retirement schemes.

The source added the rehab plan does not stipulate that the Finance Ministry must secure a loan to ease the airline's liquidity crunch totaling 50 billion baht.

The plan loosely states that anyone can procure the loan, with the ministry helping during negotiations to obtain cash infusions.

The source said the plan also does not require a haircut to be made as several of the cooperatives form a large group of the creditors who own a combined 40 billion baht's worth of THAI's debentures.

The cooperatives objected to a haircut out of concern the move would mar the cooperatives' financial standing which could spark a panic withdrawal of savings by their members.

The source also said that more than 10 creditors were seeking to revise several areas of the rehab plan. Some have indicated they might opt to defer their vote in today's meeting.

Although the Finance Ministry has the largest chunk of THAI's shares, at 49.9%, it is not the biggest creditor. In fact, its portion of the debt is dwarfed even by the combined value of the airline's bonds held by the cooperatives.



Bangkok Post highlights 12/5

 

Airlines can face penalties for failure to check passengers’ Certificate of Entry – CAAT By Tanutam ThawanTuesday, May 11, 2021. Nation Thailand



  Airlines with routes to Thailand are told to check passengers' Certificate of Entry, a required document to travel to Thailand, prior to departure. Airlines will face penalties if they allow passengers who don't have the required documentation to land in Thailand, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand warns.

If passengers do not have their COE prior to boarding the aircraft, then the airlines must handle the situation. If the passengers have stopped for a layover, then the airlines must send them back to their country of origin, according to the CAAT.

"The authority will punish airlines that allow passengers who do not have a COE to enter the country under measures for permission to fly into the country."

The statement from the CAAT comes after Thailand's Foreign Ministry banned foreign arrivals from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal to prevent the emergence of the mutated Covid-19 variant that was first detected in India. Thai Embassies in those countries have temporarily suspended the issuing of COE. Thais and those with diplomatic passports travelling from countries from the country where the Indian variant has been reported can still enter Thailand.

SOURCE: Nation Thailand

Police chief fed up – most policemen refuse to get vaccinated – WITH just 10,000 policemen out of the total force of 240,000 having opted to be vaccinated against coronavirus, National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Suwat Jangyodsuk today (May 11) instructed commanders at all levels nationwide to convince their men to get the jab, Thai Rath newspaper said. Thai Newsroom

Police chief fed up – most policemen refuse to get vaccinated

May 11, 2021  TNR Staff

WITH just 10,000 policemen out of the total force of 240,000 having opted to be vaccinated against coronavirus, National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Suwat Jangyodsuk today (May 11) instructed commanders at all levels nationwide to convince their men to get the jab, Thai Rath newspaper said.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Yingyot Thepchamnong, a spokesman for the police, said policemen are to get an explanation why vaccination is essential for civil servants. However those who refuse to get the jab will not be punished nor will their decision affect their work in any way.

"To get the shot or not, we confirm we are not forcing this because it is considered a personal right, subject to voluntary action. Policemen have the right to be suspicious about vaccines similar to the general public," he said.

"We accept that in the past there may have been poor communication on the necessity of getting vaccinated. The public has to be confident about coming in for service." 

He added that the 10,000 policemen out of the total 240,000 who have got vaccinated are mostly those who work closely with the public and foreigners.

It was reported that 819 police have been infected with coronavirus with 311 still undergoing treatment.



Half of Thailand’s hotels could be FINISHED in 90 days. Bangkok Jack

Half of Thailand's hotels could be FINISHED in 90 days

Albert JackMay 11, 2021

The BOT said that the survey revealed occupancy rates of 18 percent in April and only 9 percent in May. At that rate, 47 percent of Thailand hotels would go out of business within 3 months.

Eighty percent of operators consider the current third wave more damaging than the second, which ran from Christmas until the end of January.

Because more than 51 percent of reservations were canceled in April, the usually-popular Thailand event of Songkran proved much less successful than anticipated, the joint BOT-Thai Hotels Association survey concluded.

Only 46 percent of the country's hotels currently are open normally, with 13 percent shut temporarily and the others with curtailed hours or capacity.

The joint BOT-Thai Hotels Association survey concluded 51 percent of reservations were canceled in April, making Songkran much less successful than anticipated.

Meanwhile, about 39 percent of hotels still open reported less than 10 percent of normal income and more than 25 percent half normal income.

The THA repeatedly has called for government assistance, including employee wage subsidies, debt moratoriums and tourism stimulus plans to fight the effects of COVID-19.



Så ser det ut idag 11/5. PRD



Chonburi has slight rise in Covid-19 cases today, almost all in Banglamung area Tuesday, 11 May 2021, 9:25. Pattaya News



Chonburi –

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 73 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 this morning (May 11^th), a slight rise from yesterday's 63 cases with one new death.

This makes a total of 3,434 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 1,485 still in medical care, with ten recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April.

Additionally, 1,939 people in total have now been released from medical care and fully recovered since this current wave began. 94 people were released yesterday. 

The district-level new cases were as follows today:

Mueang Chonburi with 3, Si Racha 5, Banglamung (including Pattaya) 49, Phanat Nikhom 1, Sattahip 8, Phan Thong 4, Ko Chan 1, and 2 patients from other provinces transferred to Chonburi for medical care.

The details on today's cases given were:

1. Two confirmed patients from Samut Prakan Province.
2. 28 family members who were close contacts to previous confirmed cases
   2.2 10 workplace close contacts
3. One person who works in a high risk occupation with lots of customer facing
4. Under investigation 32 cases

In the last day, a total of 133 close contacts were tested from contact tracing, and 279 people were tested in proactive testing when medical staff goes out into the community.

All are pending results along with what the health department stated is a number of other results also pending. Wider scale testing at factories and high-risk occupations is set to begin this week in Chonburi.

Details on the new fatality were not given. Chonburi Public Health Department officials stated that almost all of the new cases are being driven by private gatherings, primarily small ones with 2-3 people outside of the household having drinks or food together. They continue to urge people to not participate in any activities with anyone outside of their own household at this time and continue to work from home if possible and avoid public places.



Thailand on Tuesday (May 11) reported 1,919 new COVID-19 cases, and 31 additional deaths. Tuesday’s cases bring the total number of COVID-19 infections in Thailand to 86,924 with 452 deaths. Thai Visa

 

REUTERS FILE PHOTO for reference only

 

Thailand on Tuesday (May 11) reported 1,919 new COVID-19 cases, and 31 additional deaths.
 
Tuesday's cases bring the total number of COVID-19 infections in Thailand to 86,924 with 452 deaths. 

 

Thailand’s vaccine plans and rollout timeline. PBS World

Explainer: Thailand's vaccine plans and rollout timeline

views  1,128

About 1.3 million Thais have been vaccinated by the Thai government so far, with over 510,000 people having received both doses of either Sinovac's CoronaVac or the AstraZenecaversion, mainly the former.

With almost 2% of the local population inoculated and no clear plans yet for non-Thai residents, questions have been raised about the full picture of vaccination in Thailand, both for locals and expatriates alike, especially in light of the third wave,which is seeing about 2,000 new infections a day. 

Here are the latest details about Thailand's vaccination programme, timeline and answers to some other questions.

Q: Who has already been vaccinated?

A: Medical personnel, MPs and senators, some government officials, security officers and high–risk groups, such as members of crowded communities and those with seven underlying Non-Communicable Diseases (chronic respiratory disease, heart and blood vessel disease, chronic kidney disease, cerebrovascular disease or stroke, cancer, obesity and diabetes)

Q: Who will be vaccinated? How many? Are non-Thai citizens covered?

A: The government aims to vaccinate 50 million people living in Thailand, including both Thai citizens and non-citizens. This is approximately 70% of the population, with the aim of developing herd immunity by the end of 2021, and the entire population of 70 million, 67 million Thais and 3 million non-Thais, in the future. 

For non-citizens, only pink card holders (Permanent Residents), who are either 60 or older or have any of the seven health problems mentioned above can register now for vaccination in June or July. Registration results have varied, with many hospitals still not accepting non-Thais.

The vaccination of foreign dignitaries will be on a voluntary basis.

The criteria and plans for future vaccination of other non-Thai citizens remainunclear.

Q: What will be the main vaccine administered in Thailand?

A: The UK's AstraZeneca vaccine (locally produced by Siam Bioscience) will be the main vaccine employed from June this year. Other brands are being considered but have not yet been procured. About 5-10 million doses are targeted from each new brand for import.

Q: How to register for vaccination?

A: Through the Mor Prom App, the Mor Prom Line Official Account, or through hospitals which hold your health records

Q: Will there be paid alternative vaccines at private hospitals? What will the vaccines be?

A: Presently, no private vaccination, where people can pay for their vaccine of choice, is available in Thailand, and such procurement of vaccine will have to be made through the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO), as manufacturers of vaccines approved for emergency use can only deal with governments.

Moderna is likely the first elective paid-for vaccine. After approval from Thailand'sFood and Drug Administration (FDA), expected later in May, the US-made vaccine can be procured by private hospitals through the GPO. According to the Private Hospital Association, the price for a Moderna vaccine package (two doses and service fees) will be no more than 3,000 Baht. However, the timing for the vaccine's delivery remains unclear.

By Hathai Techakitteranun 

Thailand should try its best to curb a fourth wave of Covid-19 infections, especially preventing the spread of the Indian variant which might enter the country via the Myanmar border. Otherwise, additional borrowing to fight the new outbreak and rehabilitate the economy will be inevitable, warned Kobsak Pootrakool, former minister to the Prime Minister's Office. Bangkok Post

Kobsak urges govt to curb a 4th wave

Fourth wave to have drastic effect on GDP

People wait to be inoculated with a Covid-19 vaccine at the Holy Redeemer Catholic church in Bangkok on Monday. AFP

Thailand should try its best to curb a fourth wave of Covid-19 infections, especially preventing the spread of the Indian variant which might enter the country via the Myanmar border. Otherwise, additional borrowing to fight the new outbreak and rehabilitate the economy will be inevitable, warned Kobsak Pootrakool, former minister to the Prime Minister's Office.

The government will have a limited budget to fight a new Covid-19 outbreak as current public debt is getting close to the ceiling set by the state's fiscal sustainability framework, which caps public debt at 60% of GDP, said Mr Kobsak, now senior executive vice-president of Bangkok Bank.

According to Mr Kobsak, a fourth wave will cause a more drastic effect on the Thai economy, forcing the government to borrow more to rehabilitate the economy.

Mr Kobsak said the priority of the government should be to tackle the third wave of infections by speeding up the administration of vaccines, reopening the country for tourism and rolling out measures to stimulate the economy and investments.

"If the government succeeds in tackling the third wave of [Covid-19] infections and vaccinations go ahead as planned, the reopening of the country for tourism starting with Phuket is possible."

He also advised the government to apply its vaccination management plan for Phuket to the rest of the country as well, saying that Phuket can now administer seven million doses in seven days.

Cooperation from the private sector to provide software needed for the vaccination process and public relations will be necessary, he added.

Amid the current economic crisis, government borrowing is instrumental in shoring up the economy. However, the 60% ceiling set as part of the fiscal sustainability framework is based on normal economic conditions, Patricia Mongkhonvanit, the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) chief, admitted recently.

Last year, the government had issued a royal decree to borrow 1 trillion baht in order to revitalise the virus-ravaged economy.

However, even with the decree, Thailand's public debt-to-GDP ratio is expected to stay below the 60% ceiling -- estimated to be 57% at of the end of fiscal 2021 -- in late September this year.

Thailand has managed to keep public debt to GDP figure below the sustainability framework ceiling for decades by leaving space in the fiscal policy for the government to buffer against economic shocks.

The public debt level was around 40% of GDP before the pandemic emerged in early 2020.

A review of the government's fiscal sustainability framework is conducted every three years and a check-up is due this year.

Wanchat Suwankitti, deputy secretary-general to the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), said that as of May 3, the government had already endorsed 762.90 billion baht for 283 projects under the 1-trillion baht loan decree.

With the 237 billion baht that remains, the government will have room to handle the third wave of infections, he said.



While the country battles its menacing third wave of Covid-19, experts have recently come out to warn that if there is a fourth, it is likely to be the result of illegal border crossings. This is a far from groundless speculation with the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) reporting on Sunday that five recent Covid patients were Thais caught illegally sneaking back from Cambodia --where the highly contagious UK variant has run rampant. Bangkok Post

Border control is imperative

While the county battles its menacing third wave of Covid-19, experts have recently come out to warn that if there is a fourth, it is likely to be the result of illegal border crossings.

This is a far from groundless speculation with the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) reporting on Sunday that five recent Covid patients were Thais caught illegally sneaking back from Cambodia --where the highly contagious UK variant has run rampant.

The number of illegal entries this year has certainly been significant enough to justify this hypothesis. From Jan 1-May 9, officials arrested 15,378 illegitimate border crossers -- the majority migrant labourers from Myanmar (6,072), Cambodia (5,114) and Laos (882).

A few days ago, esteemed virologist Dr Yong Poovorawan warned that the South African mutation, which is estimated to be five times more contagious than the variants currently sweeping through Thailand, had been found in Malaysia and posed a risk of entry from the South.

The now-infamous Thong Lor cluster has already demonstrated just how much more dangerous certain strains of Covid-19 can be -- in that case it was found that a Thai national who had visited Cambodia had brought back more than their luggage in the form of the UK variant. A subsequent night out at a number of popular local venues quickly resulted in the severe outbreak.

Yesterday, the CCSA admitted that a returnee from Pakistan had tested positive in quarantine for the variant currently causing heartache and death from New Delhi to Chennai.

With each variant comes a new set of challenges which raise the risk of health services being overwhelmed as cases mount and isolating outbreaks becomes impossible.

There is also the unthinkable possibility that if Covid is not brought under control, variants could emerge that render vaccines ineffective before they have even been widely administered.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, with his gamut of self-given legal powers, must make border control as much of a priority as stockpiling vaccines to achieve the fabled herd immunity that is beginning to seem more like a speck on the horizon than an achievable goal.

One does not need a particularly long memory to recall the outbreak in Samut Sakhon where, despite the diligence and expertise of Thailand's health workers to prevent that cluster taking an even greater toll on lives and livelihoods, not one official has been held to account for the glut of illegal border crossings that swelled the migrant workforce in the province.

The rote response from Immigration Bureau chief Pol Lt Gen Sompong Chingduang to questions on Sunday regarding the state of Thailand's porous borders did not inspire confidence either.

The bureau head simply repeated the well-worn mantra that the borders are sealed and "Those who enter Thailand illegally will be prosecuted under the immigration law, the communicable disease and the emergency decree". Going forward, we can only hope he's right.

It would be a shameful waste of resources and lives if 200 million plus shots of vaccine, and hundreds of thousands of beds, ventilators and doses of favipiravir are wasted on cases caused by the actions of the state itself.

It is imperative that the government pulls itself together to prevent this and subsequent waves of Covid-19 becoming deadly tsunamis of tragic proportions.



Bangkok Post highlights 11/5



The majority of creditors agree with moves to have Thai Airways International (THAI) reinstated as a state-owned enterprise, an adviser to THAI’s rehabilitation plan said on Monday.

Creditors want THAI reinstated as state-owned enterprise

The majority of creditors agree with moves to have Thai Airways International (THAI) reinstated as a state-owned enterprise, an adviser to THAI's rehabilitation plan said on Monday.

THAI lost its status as a state-owned enterprise last year when the Finance Ministry cut its stake to less than 50 per cent as part of the airline's debt-rehabilitation plan.

Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith is thought to support THAI's reinstatement as a state enterprise, but the State Enterprise Policy Office has indicated the debt-laden airline will not be recapitalised by the ministry.

Creditors and their official receiver will hold an online meeting to consider THAI's rehab plan on Wednesday.

The adviser said reinstatement as a state enterprise would mean THAI could boost its liquidity by seeking loans from the Finance Ministry.

"THAI would gain benefits under the Public-Private Partnership Act, such as contracts with Airports of Thailand for public infrastructure," he said.

However, he cautioned that as a state enterprise, THAI would not know how many times the government was willing to inject cash into the company.

"If Covid-19 does not impact THAI's rehabilitation plan, we believe that it will be able to recover its business quickly because this is not the first time the company has faced losses," he said.

He added that the rehab plan had made significant progress, with a plan to reduce expenditure by cutting the number of THAI employees from around 20,000 to 14,000.

Government Savings Bank president Vitai Ratanakorn said the bank is ready to approve THAI's rehab plan. He added that the airline has a plan to inject funds of THB25 billion each to shareholders and creditors.

"We understand that the company will discuss who will get the funds after the rehabilitation plan is approved," he said.

Poramate Intarachumnum, chair of the Cooperative League of Thailand, said 84 cooperatives had agreed to allow THAI to continue in business but insisted that it clarify financial support from the government and other matters.

Published : May 10, 2021 

The Indian variant of Covid-19 has arrived in Thailand. The variant was detected in a Thai woman and her young son arriving from Pakistan, prompting authorities to consider widening the ban on international arrivals to other countries besides India. Government considers widening ban on foreign arrivals throughout subcontinent. Bangkok Post

Indian variant of Covid-19 confirmed in Thailand

Government considers widening ban on foreign arrivals throughout subcontinent

People gather to receive their coronavirus vaccine doses at a vaccination centre in Karachi, Pakistan, on April 28. (Reuters photo)

The Indian variant of Covid-19 has arrived in Thailand.

The variant was detected in a Thai woman and her young son arriving from Pakistan, prompting authorities to consider widening the ban on international arrivals to other countries besides India.

Apisamai Srirangson, the assistant spokeswoman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said on Monday the woman and her three sons, aged four, six and eight, arrived in Thailand from Pakistan via Dubai on April 24.

All were in a state-arranged state quarantine facility after the arrival and the first tests found the mother and her youngest son were positive, while the other children were not infected.

A whole genome sequencing test conducted at Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital on Sunday confirmed the virus detected on them was the variant from India, named B.1.617.1.

"These were the first detections of the Indian variant in the country," Dr Apisamai said.

The B.1.617.1 variant was recorded for the first time in India in October before spreading to other countries. Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh were among the nations on the subcontinent where this virus was found. In Southeast Asia, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia have detected the same variant.

Dr Apisamai said authorities were worried by the arrival of this version of the virus and the new danger it poses. "There is concern about this variant and about the possibility that it could mutate in Thailand," she added.

Thailand has barred foreign arrivals from India since the beginning of this month due to worries about the Indian variant. The Thai embassy in India does not issue certificates of entry (COE) to any non-Thai nationals, effectively meaning they cannot travel to the kingdom.

The assistant spokeswoman said the Foreign Ministry and Department of Disease Control were on Monday holding discussions about halting the issuance of the entry permit in other countries to try to keep the Indian variant of Covid-19 out of Thailand. 

She did not name the countries but said the variant had been recorded in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.

"There is a possibility of delaying COEs in other countries," she added.

Confirmed Covid19 ASEAN countries. The Nation

 



Covid jab maker BioNTech said Monday it would build a southeast Asia headquarters and manufacturing site in Singapore to produce hundreds of millions of mRNA-based vaccines per year. Construction of the site will start this year, and it could become operational by 2023, the German company said in a statement. Bangkok Post

FILE PHOTO: Empty vials of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine are seen at The Michener Institute, in Toronto, Canada Jan 4, 2021. (Reuters)

Covid jab maker BioNTech said Monday it would build a southeast Asia headquarters and manufacturing site in Singapore to produce hundreds of millions of mRNA-based vaccines per year.

Construction of the site will start this year, and it could become operational by 2023, the German company said in a statement.

"With this planned mRNA production facility, we will increase our overall network capacity and expand our ability to manufacture and deliver our mRNA vaccines and therapies to people around the world," said BioNTech chief executive Ugur Sahin.

The vaccine produced by BioNTech jointly with Pfizer of the United States became the first Covid-19 jab to be approved for use in the West late last year.

It is now supplying more than 90 countries worldwide, and is expecting to ramp up its production to up to three billion doses by the end of the year from 2.5 billion doses expected previously.

The pace will further accelerate to more than three billion doses in 2022.

Messenger RNA genetic technology trains the body to reproduce spike proteins, similar to that found on the coronavirus.

When exposed to the real virus later, the body recognises the spike proteins and is able to fight them off.

US pharmaceutical firm Moderna uses the same technology for its vaccine.

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 63 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 this morning (May 10th), a major drop from yesterday with one new death. Pattaya News

Chonburi –

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 63 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 this morning (May 10^th), a major drop from yesterday with one new death.

This makes a total of 3,361 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 1,507 still in medical care, with nine recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April.

Additionally, 1,845 people in total have now been released from medical care and fully recovered since this current wave began. 78 people were released yesterday. Yesterday's 63 cases is the fewest number of cases since April 9th, 2021.

The district-level new cases were as follows today:

Mueang Chonburi with 20, Si Racha 16, Banglamung (including Pattaya) 14, Sattahip 2, Ban Bueng 3, Phan Thong 5, and 3 patients from other provinces transferred to Chonburi for medical care.

The details on today's cases given were:

1. 3 confirmed patients from Samut Prakan Province
2. One person who contacted a confirmed previous Covid-19 patient from Chanthaburi Province.
3. 24 family members of prior Covid-19 patients
4. 6 co-workers of prior Covid-19 patients
5. Under investigation 29 cases

Today, a total of 485 contacts were searched and 660 more proactive (pending results).

In the last day, a total of 485 close contacts were tested from contact tracing, and 660 people were tested in proactive testing when medical staff goes out into the community.

All are pending results. There were no recorded Royal mobile testing results over the past day and although case numbers are lower The Pattaya News notes the number of tests performed is also lower than the average of 2,000 a day over the past several weeks.

Details on the new fatality were not given. Chonburi Public Health Department officials stated that almost all of the new cases are being driven by private gatherings, primarily small ones with 2-3 people outside of the household having drinks or food together. They continue to urge people to not participate in any activities with anyone outside of their own household at this time and continue to work from home if possible and avoid public places.



Thai Airways operations in May



The Finance Ministry will not recapitalise financially troubled Thai Airways (THAI) of which it is the biggest shareholder, the State Enterprise Policy Office (SEPO) chief said. The remark by SEPO director-general Pantip Sripimol comes amid concerns the carrier will regain the status of a state enterprise through the re-acquisition of the ministry's majority stake in THAI. The airline lost its state-owned status last year when the ministry decided to reduce its stake to under 50%, to help ease the debt-rehabilitation process. Bangkok Post



A Thai Airways International jet sits parked on the tarmac of Suvarnabhumi airport. (Photo by Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)

The Finance Ministry will not recapitalise financially troubled Thai Airways (THAI) of which it is the biggest shareholder, the State Enterprise Policy Office (SEPO) chief said.

The remark by SEPO director-general Pantip Sripimol comes amid concerns the carrier will regain the status of a state enterprise through the re-acquisition of the ministry's majority stake in THAI.

The airline lost its state-owned status last year when the ministry decided to reduce its stake to under 50%, to help ease the debt-rehabilitation process.

Several cabinet ministers, however, were concerned the government would need to guarantee a loan worth billions of baht to prop up THAI if it were to come under the state enterprise umbrella again.

Reportedly supporting THAI's reinstatement as a state enterprise were Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith and Deputy Prime Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow, who is also chief of the government's economic team.

They argued the reinstatement, which would require the Finance Ministry returning as a majority shareholder, would boost the airline's financial strength and its bargaining power with creditors.

Creditors are meeting on Wednesday to decide whether to accept the airline's debt restructuring plan.

Meanwhile, Ms Pantip insisted the ministry would not seek to recapitalise the airline and was prepared to see its stake diluted if other shareholders bought more shares.

The ministry holds a 49.9% stake in THAI. She said if the ministry injected more funds into the company, it would be akin to attempting to divert money to "fill up the sea", a move which be hard to justify to taxpayers.

Now that THAI is operating as a private company, it is no longer entitled to state assistance and the Finance Ministry is under no legal obligation to offer help to a private firm despite the vast shares it owns in the airline.

SEPO director-general declined to say whether THAI should be reinstated as a state enterprise, saying it is a matter of policy yet to be considered.