måndag 24 maj 2021
Villages in southern Thailand closed off due to cases of South African variant. The Thaiger
Villages in southern Thailand closed off due to cases of South African variant
PHOTO: Flickr/CDC Global
Health officials in the southern province of Narathiwat have sealed off 9 villages after 3 confirmed cases of the Covid-19 variant first detected in South Africa. Opas Karnkawinpong from the Disease Control Department says the villages in the Tak Bai district have been closed off to prevent the virus spreading further in the province. The district sits across the Kolok river from the Malaysian state of Kelantan.
According to a Bangkok Post report, the B.1.351 was imported by a Malaysian woman who crossed the border illegally with her son and mother-in-law to visit her husband, during the period April 12 – May 4. Her 32 year old husband subsequently tested positive for the strain. It's understood his wife has since returned to Malaysia and there has been limited information about the other confirmed cases of the variant.
In February, a Thai citizen recently returned from Tanzania became the first person to test positive for the variant. The 3 cases reported over the weekend in Narathiwat are believed to be the first cases of community transmission of B.1.351. Opas says the variant is concerning, given its apparent resistance to vaccines. However, he emphasises that vaccination against the virus remains vital.
"We are paying attention to this strain due to its better resistance to vaccines compared to other strains."
Meanwhile, Taweesilp Visanuyothin from the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration says border officials are stepping up patrols and increasing the number of checkpoints away from the border in order to apprehend illegal migrants as they move further into the country.
THAILANDPhetchaburi factory sees more than 2,000 infections, field hospital on the way. The Thaiger
Phetchaburi factory sees more than 2,000 infections, field hospital on the way
Photo via Cal-Comp Electronics from Cal Comp Facebook
After a Phetchaburi province factory has seen Covid-19 infections go from 682 to more than 2,000, a field hospital is on the way to help treat infected workers. The Cal-Comp Electronics factory in the southern province's Khao Yai district features 781 Thai workers, while the rest are from Myanmar and other countries. Authorities say the 2,111 infections are expected to increase, by as much as 1,000, after over 5,000 factory workers are awaiting for Covid-19 rapid test results.
Now, authorities and executives of the provincial labour department are visiting the factory to help create a Covid containment plan. Part of that plan features drinking water, patient transport vehicles and beds made from recycled paper being given to the new field hospital. The Labour Minister says the government should adopt the Samut Sakhon model to deal with the virus in Phetchaburi, which has seen the factory become a hot spot for the virus' outbreak in the province.
The factory was shut down for 14 days amid the report of Covid infections and workers are not allowed to leave the factory grounds. Authorities say they have set up 14 checkpoints to prevent workers from leaving the district, as the province reported the second highest daily jump in infections at 968 just yesterday.
The cluster has widespread repercussions, as the provincial health chief and communicable disease committee have moved to close off two other sub-districts nearby. The Sra Phang and Bang Khem sub-districts in Khao Yai is the home of many more employees of the Covid-19 infected electronics factory, with foreign migrant workers living in rental homes and dorms in town.
Factories and construction sites have been a major source of new Covid-19 clusters. In Bangkok's Laksi district, a construction site was locked down after more than 1,100 infections were foundincluding the first domestic cases of the highly contagious Indian variant. And today in Chon Buri, 86 Covid-19 infections were found in a factory outbreak and 9 infections were found in a migrant worker camp at a construction site.
The thin line between confusion and confidence. With the mass vaccination programme against Covid-19 to be rolled out soon, confusion is rising among Thais as a deadly third wave spreads across the country. Bangkok Post
With the mass vaccination programme against Covid-19 to be rolled out soon, confusion is rising among Thais as a deadly third wave spreads across the country.
Government and medical officials are trying to boost public confidence in the vaccines while encouraging people to prioritise getting the shot, explaining that the vaccine is one of the best shields against the life-threatening virus. The best vaccines, they say, are those that get in the body the fastest.
Still, confusion is the order of the day as Thailand's vaccine saga remains shrouded by uncertainty. Policies change abruptly and frequently, creating fear and headaches among the public.
What we know is that all Thais in priority groups, especially those aged 60 years and above -- around 11.7 million people -- and approximately 4.5 million Thais with underlying diseases can book their first shot through the Mor Prom application. Vaccination for these people will begin during the first week of June.
In reality, some people outside these high-risk groups were able to book their slots via the application while others found Mor Prom unworkable. Worse, many in the priority groups cannot find a time slot for the jab, even though they need it the most.
While the Mor Prom chaos remains unresolved, Thais between 18 to 59 years old were told they will be able to book their vaccination slot at the end of this month. Without a proper solution though, one could expect trouble and many upset citizens.
Previously, people were told that 20% of all the vaccines available would be accessible via walk-ins, which meant one could get the shot without reserving in advance or untangling the Mor Prom application.
Days after that announcement, Thais woke up to another confusing update when Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha cancelled walk-in services for the Covid-19 vaccine over concerns that large crowds would overwhelm inoculation sites, upsetting those unable to secure a jab.
All this is just authority and system-related fuss with regard to the much-needed Covid-19 vaccination. Further muddying the waters are rumours, perplexing statistics, fake news and myths that are hindering people from obtaining their basic healthcare rights.
While government officials, including the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, and a number of medical experts have stressed that the two vaccines available in Thailand -- Sinovac and AstraZeneca -- are good enough in terms of safety and efficacy, some researchers still point to vaccine-related fatalities and other concerns.
The public has been left bewildered, which can lead to vaccine hesitancy.
With the blanket inoculation programme set to kick off soon, the people of Thailand need not just better management but verified facts from reliable sources so that they can make an informed decision based on truth rather than rumours circulated online.
While the Mor Prom application needs fixing, the entire public announcement system from the authorities needs to be reworked. Instead of having different officials delivering different messages only to be overruled days later, related parties should reach an agreed-upon conclusion first and then address the public as a united front. This way, people can be assured that the country is moving forward together.
With regard to the vaccines themselves, verified facts from all sides should be presented to the public. Vaccine side effects -- both mild and severe as well as recorded fatalities -- should be explained without being downplayed. Vaccine safety and efficacy should not be exaggerated either.
Reliable data is much more likely to win people's hearts and trust rather than photos of celebrities receiving the shot.
Covid-19 is an ongoing pandemic in Thailand with new daily highs in infections and deaths. All efforts must be put together to ensure that the infection is under good control. There is little room for failure because this is a public health crisis. This is a matter of life and death.
Boosting vaccine confidence is one thing but it doesn't come easy.
Arusa Pisuthipan is the editor of the Life section of the Bangkok Post.
Leaky border poses risk. The alarming report of new Covid-19 variants found in a construction worker camp in Bangkok and in the deep South again shed light on the problem of illegal migration. Migrants crossing Thailand's borders illegally is a chronic problem that puts the country at risk of endless Covid-19 outbreaks unless the government takes decisive action. On Friday, at least 36 cases of a new variant first found in India were confirmed testing at a workers' camp in Laksi district. Bangkok Post
The alarming report of new Covid-19 variants found in a construction worker camp in Bangkok and in the deep South again shed light on the problem of illegal migration.
Migrants crossing Thailand's borders illegally is a chronic problem that puts the country at risk of endless Covid-19 outbreaks unless the government takes decisive action.
On Friday, at least 36 cases of a new variant first found in India were confirmed testing at a workers' camp in Laksi district.
Comprising 21 Thais, 10 Myanmar nationals and five Cambodians, they are among dozens of workers at the site who contracted the coronavirus, though mostly the ordinary strain.
Then, on Saturday, Covid variant B.1.351, first found in South Africa, was detected in samples collected from a cluster of undocumented migrants in Tak Bai district of Narathiwat province.
This is the first time the South African strain has been found outside quarantine centres in Thailand. The two variants may have carried into the country by illegal migrants.
Although Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed authorities to ramp up border surveillance to prevent the entry of illegal migrants, the problem of migrants being smuggled across border remains.
New cases are found almost every day. Between Jan 1-May 20, a total of 13,956 foreign migrants were arrested for illegal entry.
Among them, 7,365 were from Myanmar, 5,464 were Cambodian, 1,089 were Lao nationals, and 33 were Malaysians.
Unfortunately, those illegal migrants may be just the tip of the iceberg. Many more are thoght to have made it across the border successfully.
Samut Sakhon governor Verasak Vichitsangsri, a recuperated Covid-19 patient, recently expressed concern that the trafficking of migrant workers would hamper disease control efforts in the province. The prime destination for migrants smuggled into Thailand are Bangkok and Samut Sakhon, he said.
"One thing that makes me feel uncomfortable is that some Thais even 'open the door' for illegal smuggling in exchange for cash without being aware that it will result in big trouble of the country," the governor said.
Of course, with a 5,526 km borderline, it is not easy to prevent migrant smuggling. Yet it is impossible that these migrants can just slip onto Thai soil and travel to workplaces as far away as Bangkok without help.
It is not preposterous to think that traffickers are able to operate, despite the strict Covid checkpoints, because they get help from unscrupulous officials.
In a recent operation that netted 77 illegal Myanmar migrants in Kanchanaburi, the migrants told police they had come from Dawei in Myanmar and walked for four days in forests, waiting for their trafficker to take them to their promised employers in Samut Prakan, about 200km away. They said they had each paid the trafficker 13,000-20,000 baht.
Many illegal migrants were arrested. Again, officials nabbed just the underlings, not the people behind these lucrative trafficking networks.
After the May 2014 coup, several laws have been issued to deal with migrant trafficking but the outcome is disappointing.
This is a challenging time for the government as contagious variants of Covid-19 continue to spread.
If it is to win the war against Covid-19, the government must first win the battle against illegal entry and trafficking.
söndag 23 maj 2021
Bangsaen beach continues to crack down on social groups and drinking alcohol, mayor warns they may entirely close beach if it continues Sunday, 23 May 2021, 16:22. Pattaya News
Bangsaen beach continues to crack down on social groups and drinking alcohol, mayor warns they may entirely close beach if it continues
Bangsaen Beach, Saensuk-
The Mayor of Saensuk, where popular Bangsaen Beach is located, warned on his social media accounts earlier this morning that if police continue to have to break up and arrest people for socializing and drinking on the beach then they may consider closing the beach entirely.
Narongchai Khunplome, the younger brother of Pattaya Mayor Sonthaya Khunplome, made the announcement this morning on his Facebook, along with posting multiple pictures of people allegedly violating current Covid-19 restrictions and measures in the province.
Due to Covid-19, beaches in Chonburi have currently been ordered by the Chonburi Governor, Phakkhrathon Thianchai, to be open only for exercise. This essentially bans eating and drinking in groups, socializing, and other similar activities. The Pattaya News notes that different beaches have their own regulations and measures. Some beaches, such as the Royal Thai Navy Beach, have closed entirely. Some, like Pattaya Beach and Jomtien Beach, do not allow anyone on the sand or to swim and have closed down all umbrella vendors, with people only able to officially walk, bike, or exercise on the sidewalks nearby.
Bangsaen Beach, however, has remained open and has been more "lenient" in terms of the rules, but the Mayor warned today that if people keep using the beach to gather and socialize, especially around alcohol, they may have to take stricter measures and ask the Governor to completely close the beach. Technically, under the Emergency Decree and Communicable Disease Act, all gatherings designed for socializing or mingling outside of direct household members at home are against the law, according to the Thai government.
Alcohol has actually always been banned on local beaches, although rarely enforced due to the beaches being popular tourist destinations. However, due to Covid-19, the drinking of alcohol on beaches has been strictly enforced.
Mayor Khunplome asked for cooperation from local residents, stating he wanted them to enjoy the beach but to stop gathering in large groups and especially stop using the beach to party and drink alcohol.
All photos courtesy Narongchai Khunplome's official Facebook.
IN A warning to the residents of Bangkok the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration’s (CCSA’s) spokesman Dr. Taweesilp Visanuyothin this afternoon (May 23) said the capital’s 31 existing clusters require maximum surveillance while two new clusters had been found with these being construction camps in Bangkapi and Pom Prap Sattru Phai districts, TV Channel 7 reported. Over the past 24 hours 983 new cases appeared in Bangkok, taking the total to 33,745, with there being 15 fatalities. Thai Newsroom
Bangkok's Covid situation still serious with 2 more clusters found
IN A warning to the residents of Bangkok the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration's (CCSA's) spokesman Dr. Taweesilp Visanuyothin this afternoon (May 23) said the capital's 31 existing clusters require maximum surveillance while two new clusters had been found with these being construction camps in Bangkapi and Pom Prap Sattru Phai districts, TV Channel 7 reported.
Over the past 24 hours 983 new cases appeared in Bangkok, taking the total to 33,745, with there being 15 fatalities.
Meanwhile clusters have also cropped up in adjacent Samut Prakan province at a new housing community in Bang Sao Thong district and four factories. In another neighbouring province, Pathum Thani, there is a cluster at See Mum Muang market.
In Phetchaburi province as many as 968 cases emerged at an electronic components manufacturing plant in Khao Yoi area, with the total here being the second highest after Bangkok. It was found that workers at this factory went back and forth and residents in the high-risk group have been called in to be tested with the goal being to control this cluster of infection in one to two weeks' time.
Another 103 cases emerged in Chachoengsao province, mainly at slaughterhouses, while an additional 91 cases appeared in Chonburi province.
Comparatively, today's tally of cases in the provinces, reaching 1,516, is higher than the total of 1,401 in Bangkok and its neighbouring provinces.
Dr Taweesilp said Bangkok continues to see new cases among migrant workers but the total is staying steady. Aside from the two new clusters at a workers' camp in Soi Soi Ramkhamhaeng 8, Bangkapi, and another one at Pom Prap Sattru Phai district, new cases have also appeared at a cluster that had been closed in the Sampeng area. There are now a total of 33 clusters in the metropolis.
"People must not let their guard down, we will go through this situation together.
"If you ask how long it will stay like this in Bangkok, while in Petchaburi it is coming under control in one to two weeks' time, where Bangkok is concerned, it has many districts and the distribution of the infection is different with the society also being complex.
"Infection has been found in migrant workers' camps belonging to many companies. We ask the entrepreneurs to take care of their people, there must be a bubble and seal (approach)," he said.
Thailand, with 129,500 cases, has now risen to number 88th in the coronavirus world map behind South Korea which ranks 84th with 135,929 cases but had 666 cases today while Thailand had 3,382. Malaysia is higher up, ranking 42nd in the world, with 505,115 total cases and had 6,320 new infections over the past 24 hours and 50 fatalities.
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