BANGKOK (Reuters) - Vaccine hesitancy has risen sharply in Thailand opinion polls show, just weeks away from the start of a mass inoculation programme and as the country fights its deadliest COVID-19 outbreak.



A person receives China's Sinovac coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine at the Central Vaccination Center, inside the Bang Sue Grand Station, in Bangkok, Thailand, May 24, 2021. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Vaccine hesitancy has risen sharply in Thailand opinion polls show, just weeks away from the start of a mass inoculation programme and as the country fights its deadliest COVID-19 outbreak.

 

Reasons for the rise in vaccine hesitancy were unclear in the polls, but there are widespread complaints at government disorganisation, delays in getting vaccines and reliance on Sinovac and locally made AstraZeneca doses.

 

Thailand has reported 135,439 infections and 832 deaths since the pandemic began last year.

 

In January, 83% of Thais surveyed by polling firm YouGov were willing to be vaccinated, but by May that dropped to 63% in the same poll, lower than Vietnam and the Philippines at 83% and 66% willingness, respectively.

 

Thai-based Suan Dusit Poll on Sunday echoed the YouGov findings of rising vaccine hesitancy, with 64% of respondents willing to be vaccinated, compared with 66% in January.

 

Dissatisfaction with the military-backed government's vaccine strategy has been building for months.

 

"People are worried about the vaccines that the government procured. It's not that we don't want to get shots, but there is hesitancy," Facebook user Than Tongkum wrote under a government announcement encouraging vaccinations.

 

Asked by Suan Dusit poll for their views on Thai vaccinations, only 57% of respondents believed they would help develop immunity and reduce the virus impact, while 59% worried about side-effects.

 

With Thailand's main vaccination drive, which is due to start June 7, relying heavily on AstraZeneca, respondents had 66% confidence in the shot, fourth behind U.S.-developed vaccines, with Pfizer top at 75%.

 

Thailand aims to inoculate 70% of its population by year-end, a level its tourist hotspots must also reach locally before reopening to vaccinated foreign visitors.

 

Registration is ongoing for the first 16 million people including those over 60 or with health conditions.

 

So far, 7.8 million people have registered.

 

Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said he believes the vaccines will be embraced once the inoculation programme starts.

 

"As Thailand receives more doses, there will be more vaccine sites, which will help create awareness among the public after they see large numbers of vaccinations do not lead to serious side effects," he told Reuters.

 

Actress Araya "Chompoo" Hargate sparked controversy after she posted to her 10.5 million followers on Instagram saying she chose Sinovac.

 

"Can't help but think this is government PR," wrote user iloveurdadmaybe.

 

Among the concerns is perception that Sinovac has a low efficacy rate.

 

"Just hearing that it's Sinovac that's only 50% safe and 50% effective," wrote Facebook user Dang Juntawan.

 

"Injections are on chance. If you're unlucky you'll die."

 

 

Kommentarer överflödiga . The Nation

 

Aktuell ställning i ” ligan ”. PRD

 

Chonburi Covid -19 cases plunge to 34 new cases as factory clusters come under control Tuesday, 25 May 2021, 10:32. Pattaya News



Chonburi –

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 34 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 (May 25th), as recent clusters at factories begin to come under control. This is a major drop from over 100 new cases driven by factory clusters over the past few days.

This makes a total of 4,303 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 933 still in medical care, with a total of nineteen recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April.

Additionally, 3,351 people in total have now been released from medical care and fully recovered since this current wave began. 99 people were released yesterday.

The district-level new cases were as follows today: Mueang Chonburi with 13, Si Racha 6, Banglamung (including Pattaya) 3, Phanat Nikhom 1, Sattahip 1, Ban Bueng 6, Pan Thong 3, and one patient was transferred from another province to Chonburi for medical care.

The details on today's cases given were:

1. Cluster at the Celeres company factory in Mueang Chonburi, 1 case
2. Cluster in New Market, 3 cases
3. Contact with previous confirmed cases from the New Market , 1 case
4. Contact from previous confirmed cases from Celeres company in families, 7 cases
5. Contact previous confirmed cases from Okumura factory in families, 3 cases
6. Contact from previous confirmed cases

• In families, 4 cases
• In workplaces, 3 cases

7. Close contact under investigation, 5 cases
8. Being investigated, 7 cases

In the last day, a total of 123 close contacts were tested from contact tracing, and 1,093 people were tested in proactive testing when medical staff goes out into the community. All are pending results.

Today's dramatic drop in cases is, according to Chonburi Public Health Officials, due to them getting clusters at factories in Mueang Chonburi under control.

😡😡😡😡😡😡 Of the 60 partygoers nabbed on Saturday at the Faros Sauna in Bangkok’s Ramkhamhaeng area, one tested positive for Covid-19. The Nation

Police break up party at sauna, one of 60 suspects tests positive for Covid-19

Of the 60 partygoers nabbed on Saturday at the Faros Sauna in Bangkok's Ramkhamhaeng area, one tested positive for Covid-19.

Pol Colonel Ekkaphop Tanprayoon, Wang Thong Lang Police Station's superintendent, said on Monday that the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration will provide details on the case.

"To ensure officers' safety, the police station will be disinfected, and the 30 members of the police raid team will be tested for Covid-19," he said.

He added that all police officers received their second Covid-19 jab on Monday. "We will find out on Tuesday if any of the officers have been infected and if they need to be isolated," he added.

In the raid on Saturday night, police officers arrested some 60 partygoers, including members of staff.

The raid was conducted after people in the area told police that the sauna was allegedly used as a site for drug trafficking and could be a source of Covid-19 infections.

At the raid, officers reportedly found packs of methamphetamine, other drugs, a syringe and used condoms.

The suspects, including party organisers Surat Jitpuengtham, 41, and Nathachpong Saengkaew, 38, and Jinna Kritjinda, 63, who claimed to be the sauna owner. They have been charged with violating the state of emergency, the Communicable Disease Act and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's measures. Those who tested positive for drug usage will face additional charges under the narcotics laws.

However, seven suspects denied the charges and pleaded not guilty.

The suspects stand to face up to 30,000 baht in fines and/or up to seven months in prison based on their wrongdoing.

Published : May 25, 2021 

Pattaya: Thai media and public continue to shame people not following Covid rules. Thai Visa

Posted 45 minutes ago

Picture: Daily News

 

Two examples from the Thai media yesterday showed the continuing propensity for both the press and the public to condemn people not following the mask and gathering rules in Thailand.

 

Both incidents occurred in Pattaya, on the main beach and in Jomtien.

 

Daily News reported on a Facebook post and Twitter video of a Thai woman out exercising in the cool evening breeze.

 

She was out for a walk along the beach front from the central Pattaya area to the Dolphin Roundabout and back when she was confronted by an official who asked her to wear a mask. 

 

She said she had one in her pocket but would solve the issue by not coming back. 

 

She claimed that the official was over the top - the video revealed a very polite request from the person apparently video-ing.

 

"Aunty" didn't let the matter rest on her Facebook page complaining of a "scary" official. She just wanted to "get some ozone" in the cool breeze. 

 

Daily News said the post enraged netizens though Thaivisa notes that it was quite hard to see why exactly. 

 

Aunty was walking which some may claim is a form of exercise and not subject to the mask rules. It was an open area, she said, and there was no report of a fine being levied. 

 

Others may claim that just walking is a breach of the rules that require everyone outside to be masked.

 

 

Meanwhile, media Siam Chon News took an even stronger stance.

 

They reported that both Thais and foreigners were out all along Jomtien Beach at 7.30 pm last night illegally congregating, sipping beer and swimming. 

 

They called on the authorities to act and stop this breach of the rules. 

 



🔴 BREAKING: Thai health ministry reporting 26 deaths and 3,226 cases (*) on Tuesday. Full update at 12:30pm. 21 May: 3,481 - 32 dead 22 May: 3,052 - 24 dead 23 May: 3,382 - 17 dead 24 May: 2,713 - 30 dead 25 May: 3,226 - 26 dead <— TODAY * 882 from prisons. Richard Barrow

 



Bangkok Post highlights 25/5

 

Covid-19 infections at construction sites continue to escalate after a new cluster of 519 infected workers was reported near the parliament complex in Nonthaburi. Bangkok Post

Workers who tested negative for Covid-19 in isolation inside living quarters owned by Sino-Thai Engineering & Construction Plc in Bangkok on Monday. (Photo: Pornprom Satrabhaya)

Covid-19 infections at construction sites continue to escalate after a new cluster of 519 infected workers was reported near the parliament complex in Nonthaburi.

Most of the workers were migrants employed by Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction Pcl on Phibul Songkhram Road in Muang district. The news came after 900 of the site crew were tested on May 22.

Nonthaburi Muang district chief Phirun Wimon-akson said he would ask the province to temporarily close the construction site last night with the infected Thai workers sent to field hospitals in the province and the foreign contingent staying on site for treatment at a field hospital which is being set up there.

Sukij Atthopakon, the adviser to the parliament president, said he was told that none of the infected workers had entered parliament at any time since the work began.

More construction sites were also put under quarantine, as Bangkok's Bang Phlat district director Panchaphat Lakdee on Monday ordered a camp on Rung Pracha Road closed with the workers barred from leaving the premises.

Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin said all the labourers were fully documented and would be properly treated, adding that swift action was being taken now as more and more cases were being diagnosed at such sites.

The Labour and Interior ministries will inspect a further 393 camps in Bangkok, he said.

Meanwhile, in Phetchaburi, another field hospital with 2,400 beds has been set up at the Cal-Comp Electronics factory in Khao Yoi district as cases mount in another cluster of Covid-19 infected workers.

The factory on Monday reported 678 new infections, bringing the cumulative total to 2,789. There are now two field hospitals with a total of 4,800 beds at the factory.

Local public health authorities have suggested that all large businesses in Khao Yoi should prepare space for field hospitals in case they suffer from an outbreak.

Every infected worker at the Cal-Comp factory was ordered to report to disease control officers by the end of the day on Monday or face the threat of legal action. Those workers who have been ordered into quarantine will continue to receive their usual salaries, authorities said.

Assistant spokesperson for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) Apisamai Srirangson said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Public Works Department had asked the CCSA to invite 134 construction companies in Bangkok to send a representative to a briefing on the necessary steps to take with regards to housing a large number of migrant workers during the pandemic.

The CCSA earlier asked all those businesses responsible for large camps of foreign workers to step up disease prevention measures with a particular focus on eating areas, common areas and the transportation of groups of workers.

"District offices have the power to close camps that are not being properly managed," Dr Apisamai said. 

Thai Q1 jobless rate at 12-year high amid virus outbreaks. Reuters

FILE PHOTO: People wearing face masks as a measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are seen at a train station in Bangkok, Thailand, January 7, 2021. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's unemployment rate hit a 12-year high in the first quarter of 2021 due to the renewed impact of coronavirus outbreaks, as the country reimposed measures to contain a third wave of infections, the state planning agency said on Monday.

 

The Southeast Asian country's latest, more severe outbreak has seen overall cases nearly quadruple since early April, and deaths increase six-fold.

 

The unemployment rate was 1.96% in the January-March quarter, representing 758,000 workers without jobs, up from 1.86% in the previous quarter, state agency data showed.

 

The rate was the highest since 2.08% recorded in the first quarter of 2009 during the global financial crisis.

 

"The unemployment rate increased drastically and is expected to rise again, reflecting the ongoing impact of COVID-19," Danucha Pichayanan, head of the National Economic and Social Development Council, told a briefing.

 

Unemployment slowed in the second half of 2020, when earlier outbreaks were contained before re-emerging this year.

 

The official definition of being unemployed in Thailand is quite narrow, including only those who do not work a single hour in a surveyed week and excluding those with a business or owning farms, while analysts note it does not catch the significant unofficial economy.

 

The prolonged COVID-19 outbreak may prevent the economy from growing as targeted as economic activity has slowed, Danucha said.

 

Last week, the NESDB cut its 2021 economic growth outlook to 1.5%-2.5% from 2.5%-3.5%, predicting only half a million foreign tourists after the new wave of virus cases. Thailand had nearly 40 million visitors in 2019.

 

The outbreak will delay a recovery in tourism, affecting more than 7 million tourism workers, Danucha said.

 

However, the number of employed workers reached 37.6 million in the March quarter, up 0.4% from a year ago due to higher employment in the agricultural sector, which has absorbed some of the workers laid off in other sectors since 2020.

 

Govt says tourism industry may not recover until 2026. Bangkok Post

FILE PHOTO: An empty hotel and beach which have opened for visitors is seen in Karon, Phuket Island, March 31, 2021. (Reuters)

It could take another five years before tourism revives fully in Thailand -- an ominous sign for one of the most tourism-dependent economies in the world.

The sector, which contributed about one-fifth of the economy before the pandemic, isn't expected to return to normal until 2026, the National Economic and Social Development Council said Monday, citing the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

The delayed return -- which some analysts had expected within two years -- will impact more than seven million workers, some of whom may need to find jobs in other fields, the council said.

The country welcomed nearly 40 million visitors in 2019 -- the last year before the pandemic -- earning 1.8 trillion baht in revenue. After closing its borders to most foreign visitors in March 2020, the government is trying to gradually reopen some destinations to vaccinated visitors with the economy struggling to gain traction.

The economy has contracted for five straight quarters, a trend that's likely to continue in the April-June period as the country battles its worst Covid-19 outbreak yet.

The resort island of Phuket is set to be the first to reopen in July, followed by 10 other destinations in October. But the government only expects 500,000 visitors this year, a small fraction of the 6.7 million who came in 2020 -- almost all in the first three months of the year.

Pattaya schools hope to reopen June 14, but plan for worst Pattaya MailMay 24, 2021. Pattaya Mail



The Ministry of Education plans to reopen Pattaya schools June 14, but also plans for online learning just in case they can't.

Pattaya schools plan to reopen June 14, but also plan for online learning just in case they can't.

Classes had been scheduled for June 1, but the continued severity of Thailand's coronavirus third wave forced the Education Ministry to push back openings two weeks. The ministry also warned local school districts to organize online learning if in-person classes are too hazardous to resume.



Pattaya education chief Noppasitcha Na Nakorn said the city is working with all public schools to prepare for in-person classes June 14, but telling principals to ready online courses just in case.

Private and other schools can apply to reopen even earlier than June 14, but they need approval from the Chonburi Public Health Commission, he said.

Online learning is a challenge for all students, but more so for younger ones, Noppasitcha said.

Pattaya education chief Noppasitcha Na Nakorn said the city is working with all public schools to prepare for in-person classes June 14, but telling principals to ready online courses just in case.

Primary school students likely will see a combination of in-person and online classes with parents picking up assignments and returning homework in some cases, he said.

Schools already have contacted parents online to inform them about reopening plans, which will be updated as June 14 approaches. Parental supervision is key to having students attend online classes, he said.

Schools will count students' hours every day during their online classes. Each subject will be taught according to a class schedule with assignments to do while online.

School officials said parents may need to provide additional instruction for primary students, such as with homework, Noppasitcha added.

Provinsernas Top 10. 24 maj. PRD

 

Dr Yong: Praises Thailand's Covid-19 response and targets 70% jabbed in next four months. Thai Visa





Picture: Daily News

 

High profile Chulalornkorn University doctor Yong Poovorawan went on his Facebook page to sing the praises of Thailand's response to the pandemic.

 

Thailand and other SE Asian countries had done a great job to contain the virus, he claimed, explaining how much better they had done than places like Europe and the US despite the proximity to China.

 

He stressed the importance of getting 70% of the population vaccinated over the next 4 months something he conceded had been done well in places like the UK and US, reported Daily News. 

 

He also called for studies into how efficacious it would be to have a THIRD jab for long term protection from Covid. 

 

Pattaya City Mayor to urge National Vaccine Committee to allocate more Covid-19 vaccines to Chonburi and Pattaya to speed up recovery of tourism. The Mayor has stated that it "critical" the city be able to open up for tourism by October. Pattaya News

Pattaya City Mayor to urge National Vaccine Committee to allocate more Covid-19 vaccines to Chonburi and Pattaya to speed up recovery of tourism

Monday, 24 May 2021, 11:57

Chonburi-

The Pattaya City Mayor, Sonthaya Khunplome, spoke with the associated Thai press in Pattaya over the weekend, discussing the start of a mass vaccination campaign that began at various locations in Pattaya last week.

According to the Mayor, the start of the campaign had some "bumps in the road" and he was well aware that the number of vaccines was not sufficient for demand nor for the current plan to get at least 70% of the local community vaccinated before hopefully opening to vaccinated foreign tourists and "relaunching" the local tourist-reliant economy in October, per a current plan set by regional authorities and the Thai Tourism Authority.

The Mayor stated that Pattaya, which was the third most visited place by tourists in Thailand behind Bangkok and only slightly behind Phuket, and the 19th most visited place by tourists in the world in 2019, had been identified as a top priority zone by the Thai Government for economic recovery. Other priority zones are obviously Phuket, as well as Koh Samui, Chiang Mai, Krabi, and several other locations.

However, due to a current outbreak of Covid-19 impacting Bangkok, vaccines were reallocated by the National Vaccine Committee to the Bangkok area and surrounding provinces, which left Chonburi with only an estimated 57,000 vaccines for the entire province from the current batch, according to the Pattaya Mayor. 20,000 of these went to Pattaya, Banglamung, and the surrounding area but the Pattaya area was originally set to get an estimated 45,000 vaccines this month, which would have sped up the process to vaccinate Pattaya and restore the economy faster.

Mayor Khunplome thanked the medical staff and teams that helped get an estimated 20,000 people vaccinated in only two days but stressed this was only the start and for Pattaya to recover-which would also help the overall Thai economy recover-the area must be allocated more vaccines and quickly. The Mayor stressed that Pattaya missing a second high season in a row to foreign tourism would be devastating and that he personally would be reaching out to the National Vaccine Allocation Committee, as well as the Chonburi Vaccine Allocation Committee, to attempt to expedite the process.

The Mayor also stressed Chonburi and Pattaya's importance to the ongoing Eastern Economic Corridor initiative and the amount of industry and businesses in Chonburi with Pattaya being a central connection and transportation HUB for this ongoing effort.

In terms of vaccine supply, AstraZeneca is set to be produced locally next month, and the company producing the vaccine, Siam Bioscience, has repeatedly stated that they are on track to their production goals. This, however, will remain to be seen, as June 7th, the estimated date for the major rollout of vaccination around the country, is approaching quickly. Information for foreign nationals interested in taking part of the vaccination rollout nationally can be found in this article.

Chonburi Department of Public Health officials tour migrant worker dormitories associated with recent factory clusters in province Monday, 24 May 2021, 10:39. Pattaya News



Chonburi, Thailand-

Prominent officials from the Department of Public Health and Department of Disease Control toured dormitories in Mueang Chonburi and Phan Thong yesterday, May 23rd, 2021.

These dormitories are mostly associated with the Amata Industrial Estate and house primarily migrant workers. As with many similar communities, the dormitories have hundreds of people that share facilities and live in densely packed situations, often with many people living in a single shared room.

Recently, both the Okamura Metal Factory and the Celeres company have had clusters of Covid-19 located on their premises which over the past several days have been the majority of Covid-19 infections in the province. According to officials from the Chonburi Department of Public Health the vast majority of cases are completely asymptomatic, driven by the fact that most migrant workers tend to be younger and healthier that work at these factories.

The tour of the dormitories was led by Dr. Wichai Thanasophon, the deputy public health doctor for Chonburi province. A major part of the tour was to set guidelines, rules, and regulations for members of the community to stop the virus from potentially spreading further. All related communities are currently under a "safe and sealed" operating platform, which essentially means workers are not allowed to leave, provided essential food and supplies, and must follow strict rules. All workers are being tested for Covid-19 on a regular basis, those that test positive are quarantined at field hospitals.  In Thailand, even if asymptomatic, one must have medical supervision while positive for the disease, and home isolation is not officially allowed.

The rules include:

-No socializing outside of one's direct household, even with your neighbors.

-Meals must be taken alone and inside one's room or apartment, group meals, which are very common in Thailand, are currently forbidden.

-Strict social distancing must take place from people who are not direct household members, this includes not gathering in public areas, sitting outside or in front of one's door to socialize with others, etc.

-All those who are "sick" (sick is considered testing positive, asymptomatic or not) must be separated to a field hospital/quarantine.

-No relatives, friends, etc. from other provinces and locations are allowed to visit.

-Regular proactive inspections will take place in the community by the Department of Public Health and health volunteers are assisting in ensuring the rules are followed in the dormitories, as well as making sure that all residents have all the food and supplies they need for the current period of quarantine/monitoring that is expected to last at least two weeks.

The Chonburi Governor has so far ordered the closure of two factories related to the current clusters in Mueang Chonburi which you can read about in related articles below. Many of the factory workers live in dormitories in Phan Thong.