FILE PHOTO: A health worker prepares a dose of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the Central Vaccination Center, inside the Bang Sue Grand Station, Thailand, June 21, 2021. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha
BANGKOK (Reuters) - A Thai medical committee has agreed to narrow the gap between doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to eight weeks from 10-12 weeks previously in places where there has been outbreaks of the Delta variant, an official said on Tuesday.
Areas where the more contagious Delta variant, first identified in India, had been detected could "adjust the timing for the second dose," said Kiatiphum Wongrajit, permanent secretary at the public health ministry.
The move comes after Thailand last week abandoned plans for a 16-week gap between AstraZeneca doses in a bid to stretch vaccine supplies to reach more people.
Thailand reported the first instance of the Delta variant in Bangkok last month and up to now it has spread to 20 provinces with over 660 cases recorded.
Thailand's vaccination drive, which uses a mix of Sinovac and AstraZeneca shots, faced delays a week after it started in June due to limited supplies. About 2.2 million people are fully vaccinated from a population of over 66 million.
Bangkok, the epicentre of the latest outbreak, with around an average of 1,000 new infections per day, has only 20 beds left for coronavirus patients in critical condition at government hospitals in the city, said health official Somsak Akksilp.
Thailand reported 4,059 new infections on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases to 225,365 and 1,693 fatalities, with more than 85% infections and 95% of deaths coming since April.
Ta Waen beach on Koh Lan, one of the most popular destinations for tourists off Pattaya. (Photo by Karnjana Karnjanatawe)
Eight major tourism associations in Pattaya have proposed a plan to reopen Pattaya on Aug 1 to restore travel and the tourism-focused economy.
Chairat Rattanopas, president of the Eastern Spa and Wellness Association in Pattaya, said on Saturday he was among those who met Chon Buri governor Phakkhrathon Thianchai recently.
Mr Chairat said the tourism representatives asked Mr Phakkrathon, who is also the chairman of the provincial control disease committee, to set up a panel to mull their proposal to reopen Pattaya.
They proposed the Seal Route tourism reopening plan, part of the Pattaya Move On project, run by Pattaya city, the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the private sector.
He said the reopening plan is expected to take place on Aug 1.
The Seal Route plan will determine the kinds of tourists, places and routes which can be included to ensure safety while reopening, which will be limited in controlled areas.
Covid-19 has affected the city for two years and forced 80% of service businesses to close down entirely, he said.
He said Pattaya's geography was different from other tourism cities such as Phuket and Samui, which are islands and can be managed within a Sandbox scheme.
The Seal Route plan would allow vaccinated visitors to travel across Chon Buri's two districts on the mainland, Bang Lamung and Sattahip, within sensible safeguards.
He said the associations also wanted the committee to determine measures to comply with the Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration (SHA) and Standard Operation Procedures to ensure safety and service quality in hotels in the districts.
Most importantly, 70% of the people in Pattaya must be vaccinated to create herd immunity.
Some 900,000 doses of vaccine are needed to inoculate 450,000 people.
He said he has also asked the provincial committee of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) to forward the plan to reopen Pattaya to the CCSA's central committee for consideration.
The Seal Route plan ideally would start in August and test the prevention system before the high season in October begins, he said.
"If the plan cannot be implemented by high season, more operators will face losses," he said. – Bangkok Post
Few tourists are seen at a walking street in Phuket, Southern Thailand.
Thailand's planned Sandbox reopening scheme for the resort island of Phuket next month for vaccinated tourists has, unsurprisingly, had a muted response.
The Phuket Sandbox scheme that is scheduled to commence on July 1st will enable free movement of tourists on the island without self-isolation.
After 14 days the vaccinated tourists will be allowed to travel to other provinces in Thailand.
Thai Airways, with direct flights from six European cities to Phuket starting July, expects only a fraction of the seats to be occupied, with less than 100 passengers in the first week, one of the airline's representatives said.
Many industry professionals complain that uncertainty and constant rule changes discourage bookings. Furthermore the Phuket Sandbox plan won't be finalized until the end of this month.
"This is going to be a slow process. Neither of us expect 100% occupancy by July 2nd," said Anthony Lark, president of the Phuket Hotels Association.
To an economy dependent on tourism for jobs and consumption, the newcomers will not bring immediate relief, though the lifting of the costly two-week quarantine regime that put tourists off for more than a year offers some hope.
"We are already seeing strong interest, particularly from the Middle East, UK, Europe and Scandinavia, to gradually return to Phuket," said Lark.
Phuket has been hard hit
Thailand lost around $ 50 billion in tourism revenue last year as overseas arrivals fell 83% to 6.7 million, from a record 39.9 million in 2019. The slump was on global travel restrictions and Thailand's severe Entry requirements returned. Phuket has been particularly hard hit by job losses and business closings.
The government hopes the Phuket Sandbox will draw 129,000 visitors to the country in the third quarter – a far cry from the average 3.3 million monthly arrivals in Thailand in 2019. Typically a quarter of Thai visitors go to Phuket.
Thailand had only 28,701 visitors in the first four months of this year.
A Phuket hotel owner said the sandbox initiative was "a bunch of cops" that would make little difference, in part because much of the target audience – middle class and wealthy Asians – must be quarantined upon their return home.
"More than 50% of Phuket tourism comes from China," said the hotelier, who refused to be named.
"It will be difficult without this market."
The island's hotel association is forecasting a gradual increase in occupancy to 30-40% by the end of the year, from 10-20% in July-October, including local bookings.
Several major airlines support the plan and offer direct flights, including Emirates, El Al, Air France, Qatar Airways, British Airways and Cathay Pacific according to the Thai Tourism Authority.
Visitors banned from high-risk countries
Singapore Airlines told Reuters that its flights to Phuket will be increased from two a week to seven from July after piquing customer interest.
However, some barriers remain, as some key markets such as China, Japan and Malaysia have restricted exit restrictions while Thai health authorities have banned visitors from some high-risk countries such as India.
Critics also lament onerous conditions such as mandatory swab tests, insurance coverage of at least $ 100,000 for COVID-19 treatment, and use of a tracking application.
For its part, Phuket is trying to vaccinate 70% of its residents – a requirement to reopen – with 60% having received an initial dose so far, a rate well above that of the capital, Bangkok, the epicenter of Thailand's worst outbreak to date.
Thailand to reopen to visitors within 120 days
Phuket has had single-digit cases on most days since May when it introduced negative test requirements for domestic arrivals. Bangkok, on the other hand, saw hundreds of new cases every day for the past month.
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said Thursday that Thailand would reopen to visitors within 120 days, calling it a calculated but necessary risk.
If the sandbox program goes smoothly, authorities plan to replicate it in destinations like Krabi and Koh Samui.
"It's a completely new situation. You are trying to reopen the country to tourism to help the economy, but at the same time you have to be careful, "said Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, Deputy Governor of TAT.
Coverage by Panu Wongcha-um, with additional coverage by Orathai Sriring and Chayut Setboonsarng; Editing by Martin Petty and Tom Hogue. – Reuters
Restrictions in Phuket have loosened, allowing restaurants to resume selling alcohol and certain venues to open under normal hours. The Phuket Governor signed the provincial order allowing restrictions to be lifted as preparation for reopening the island province under the "Phuket Sandbox" travel model, which will allow travellers from overseas, who are vaccinated against Covid-19, to enter without undergoing a 14-day quarantine.
The order went into effect yesterday. The relaxed measures include…
Schools and tutoring centres can open as normal.
Shopping centres can open as normal except for arcades and amusement rides.
Restaurants can offer dine-in services until 11pm. Restaurants are now allowed to sell alcohol again.
Convenience stores and supermarkets can stay open during usual hours.
Sports stadiums, fitness centres, and gyms can open during usual hours, but only a limited number of spectators are allowed to watch events.
Salons and barbershops can open as usual.
Billiards halls can open from 3pm to 11pm.
Internet cafes can open as usual.
Cinemas and water parks can open.
People can now gather and drink alcohol at beaches and parks. Events of with than 200 people are still prohibited
The Beta strain of Covid-19 first identified in South Africa is now sweeping through the South after initially being diagnosed in a cluster at a Muslim school on June 9, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) reported on Monday.
Dr Apisamai Srirangson, assistant spokeswoman for the CCSA, said the recent cluster in the Muslim religious school of Margaz Tabligh preaching center in Yala's Muang district, has already spread to 402 patients across 12 southern provinces.
There were 111 positive cases reported in Narathiwat, 102 in Yala, 46 in Satun, 46 in Pattani, 36 at Songkhla, 18 in Krabi, 13 in Phatthalung, 10 in Nakhon Si Thammarat, nine in Surat Thani, five in Phangnga and three each in Trang and Phuket.
The Margaz community has a population of 4,000, including around 500 students from 17 provinces who frequently gather for social activities such as formal dinners in which they share utensils and trays, and perform religious rites with no mask wearing, according to Dr Apisamai.
The school has been closed and access to and from nearby areas heavily restricted as active case finding is conducted. Those who have had any close contact with the students have been asked to report to healthcare officers.
Dr Apisamai said the Eid al-Fitr festival in July, in which feasts are held to celebrate the end of Muslim fasting will be go ahead this year and Asis Pitakkumpol, Sheikh-ul-Islam of Thailand has asked Muslims to be mindful of the outbreak situation and follow disease control measures.
Meanwhile, Chief of the Department of Medical Sciences, Dr Supakit Sirilak acknowledged that laboratory tests had all but confirmed the schools to be the sources of the Beta infections, and more work was being done to trace its route into the community in the first place in order to stop further clusters arising.
Dr Supakit warned that the Beta variant is of particular concern due to studies showing that it can lessen the efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines.
"We have seen both Alpha and Beta variants in the school and it is necessary to control the disease in particularly infectious areas like these. However, the rate of transmission is quite slow so it can be controlled quickly if patients are found and quarantined," he said.
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said that he has already passed an order for an increase in action to control the outbreak, saying there would be no cause for concern if all those infected were processed within the Thai healthcare system. However, there was a chance that illegal migrants could be spreading it too so close cooperation with the Ministry of Interior would be needed too.
He added that the ministry is considering extending quarantine from 14 days to 21 days or more for arrivals from countries where the strain is particularly prevalent, adding that the academic committee is going to discuss the proposal.
The Committee for Covid-19 Situation Administration has placed the blame squarely with drinkers of alcohol for not opening pubs and bars in Thailand.
Dr Aphisamai Srirangsan said the CCSA sympathized with the industry after they begged the government to let them reopen the multi-billion baht industry last week.
But, she said, infections of Covid-19 are caused by the "actions of people" and people drinking alcohol make it hard to control situations, reported Siam Rath.
She said they lose their restraint making bars and pubs hotbeds for the potential spread of the virus.
She urged pubs and clubs to demonstrate how they can mitigate this tendency and show how they can reopen safely.
Thaivisa notes that such comments are likely to enflame industry leaders who say they have fallen over backwards to ensure safe environments for people to enjoy a beverage.
What is a massive industry in Thailand is currently on its knees begging to be included in other businesses that have been allowed to reopen this week and in recent days.
Yet the authorities, with the good doctor included, continue to blame drinkers above most others.
Physicians urge for strict measures, no long holidays, before reopening Thailand
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The Royal College of Physicians of Thailand (RCPT) has proposed a list of six prerequisites, to be implemented by the government before it finally decides to reopen Thailand to foreign arrivals, currently planned for October.
In a statement, posted on its Facebook page today (Monday), the RCPT expressed concern over the government's policy to reopen to foreign visitors in 120 days, at a time when new COVID-19 infections are not slowing, noting that such a policy could seriously hamper the health system, if there is an fourth outbreak of COVID-19 caused by a virus variant which is more serious, spreads faster and does not respond to current vaccines.
One of the prerequisites calls for the government to define clear and effective measures to be put into practice to control and monitor infections and to make sure that all stakeholders will cooperate fully to improve the situation, which will build confidence among the public and tourists alike.
The RCPT warned that, during the 120-day period, the government must refrain from announcing long public holidays, which will encourage people to travel and spread the disease, as was the case during the Songkran holidays.
The government must undertake pro-active all-encompassing screenings, particularly in high-risk areas, such as markets, factories and construction worker housing facilities across the country, and impose lockdowns in areas of cluster infections.
Another prerequisite, proposed by the RCPT, is for the government to enforce the laws strictly, concerning disease control, illegal border crossings, illegal gambling, large gatherings and travel by infected or high-risk people.
The RCPT said that the government must procure sufficient, effective vaccines, to inoculate all people in Thailand.
Finally, the RCPT said that, after the completion of the 120-day pre-reopening period, the government must assess the situation, by taking into consideration the pandemic inside and outside the country, the vaccination coverage and the spread of new variants, before making the final decision.
The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 187 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 with two new deaths today, June 21st.
This is the highest number of cases since the start of the recent round of infections in April, driven by two large clusters at migrant worker dormitories in Mueang Chonburi and Si Racha.
This makes a total of 6,293 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 1,334 still in medical care, and with a total of 37 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April.
Additionally, 4,922 people in total have now been released from medical care and fully recovered since this current wave began. 34 people were released yesterday.
The district-level new cases were as follows today:
Mueang Chonburi 109, Si Racha 58, Banglamung 8, Panat Nikhom 1, Sattahip 5, Ban Bueng 3, and three new cases transferred from other provinces for medical care.
The details on the cases are as follows:
Migrant community dormitory in Si Racha, 43 cases
Cluster at New Market Mueang Chonburi, 38 cases (Active case finding)
Cluster in Soi Ratchaprasit, Mueang Chonburi, 18 cases
Cluster in Soi Bang Sai, 10 cases
Cluster at the Morning Market Sattahip, 2 cases
Risky occupations that meets a lot of people, 5 cases
Migrant community dormitory in Khao Kansong, Si Racha, 5 cases
Close contact of a confirmed patient from Samut Prakan, 2 cases
Close contact from a confirmed patient from Nong Bua Lamphu, 2 cases
Close contact of a confirmed patient from Chachoengsao, 1 cases
Close contact of a confirmed patient from Bangkok, 1 case
Overall close contacts of confirmed patients:
27 family members 8 co-workers
13. Close contact of confirmed patients (Which is under investigation) 6 cases
14. 19 cases are under investigation in general
A total of 511 contact searches were received today, 2,061 initial proactive searches, and more proactive search reports are pending.
The Chonburi Governor, Phakkhrathon Thianchai, ordered the closure of three locations yesterday, June 20th, 2021, to control the spread of Covid-19
The governor of the eastern province of Chon Buri has ordered a lockdown in 3 locations in an attempt to stop the spread of Covid-19. According to a Pattaya News report, Phakkhrathon Thianchai issued the closure order last night. The province reported 175 new infections yesterday, the highest since the start of the current outbreak in April.
The Pattaya News reports the 3 locations now in lockdown as:
– The Standard Construction Workers Camp Performance in the Si Racha sub-district of Khao Khan Song. The camp is closed until June 27, with everyone barred from entering or leaving the area without express permission from Chon Buri communicable disease control officers. – The JWS Construction Company camp on Sukhumvit Road in Sir Racha has been closed until July 3. Nobody can enter or exit without permission from provincial communicable disease control officers. – Soi Ratprasit in the sub-district of Ban Khod has been closed from house number 796/36 to the end of the street. The closure is in effect until July 4 and again, nobody can enter or leave without permission from Chon Buri communicable disease control officers.
It's understood that officials are providing people based in these locations with food, water, and other essential supplies for the duration of the lockdown. Residents who test positive for Covid-19 are being evacuated to hospital or to field hospitals, depending on their symptoms.
The lockdowns come as the popular tourism destination of Pattaya pushes for approval to re-open to international visitors from August 1.
Public health official warn of new "fourth wave" in Thailand in work camps and factories
Officials at the Thai Ministry of Public Health have warned the government that a new "fourth wave" of the Covid-19 pandemic could be imminent unless action was taken, a source told Thai Enquirer on Monday.
Thailand is currently in the midst of the third wave of the pandemic with over 180,000 infections and over 1,500 deaths since it began on April 1.
The government has stepped up its lagging vaccine program and imposed a partial lockdown as a response, but infection numbers remain high.
The third wave began in entertainment venues in the capital and spread throughout Bangkok. It was exacerbated by the Songkran holidays which spread the disease throughout the country.
Now officials are warning that a new fourth wave of the virus, fueled by the extra-transmissible Delta variant of the disease, could spark a new chapter in the pandemic in Thailand.
"We're seeing increased numbers of Delta-type infections in work camps and construction sites across the central region," a public health official told Thai Enquirer by phone.
"If further action is not taken, we can see a fourth wave of this disease and it will spread quickly in these unprotected sites," he said on condition of anonymity.
According to the source, casualty numbers have so far been low in the work camp because the demographics usually skew towards younger patients who were extremely healthy.
"But the Delta variant can spread quickly and if it keeps jumping from camp to camp it's only a matter of time before it hits the general population, then we will have a disaster."
Officials at the Ministry of Public Health have informed the minister and the covid administration centre that restrictions must be put in place at the camp and employers must be pressured to introduce sanitation and safety precautions.
"We are already seeing cases from the camps jump to factories causing several to shut down. This is a problem that we need to address and cooperate on immediately."
The government's plan to reopen the country in 120 days may prove to be overly ambitious if vaccinations fall short and new Covid-19 variants emerge, says the Rural Doctor Society.
On its Facebook page, the society expressed scepticism about the government's 120-day goal being met, saying Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was trying to communicate a message of hope that may not be realistic.
Gen Prayut on Wednesday said the kingdom should be fully reopened within 120 days, with businesses able to resume normal operations and visitors free to travel across the country.
The doctors' society suggested the prime minister's comment was part of a political game. Some believe that with a mass vaccination scheme underway, Gen Prayut could dissolve parliament and call for a snap election.
Rural doctors said the government's move to set a reopening target would divert public attention from the vaccine supply issue. People had expected tourism and businesses to reopen after the New Year, it added.
Gen Prayut has moved that forward by two months, citing the government's target of administering the first of two doses of the vaccine to 60% of the population by October, which coincides with the 120-day deadline.
However, the society said the government has not spelt out how it will implement its reopening plan. "We haven't seen the plan," it said. "No one has."
The key to a successful reopening plan rests with the government's ability to contain the spread of the virus and keep major outbreaks from occurring from October onwards, the society said.
Major outbreaks are caused largely by not having enough vaccine doses available and the emergence of new coronavirus strains, it said.
One key factor would be whether the 10 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses promised can be consistently delivered.
"We will keep our fingers crossed," the society said, noting the government was purchasing 28 million more Sinovac vaccine doses and accelerating imports of Pfizer's vaccine for students.
It added that existing vaccines might not be fully effective in raising people's immunity against coronavirus new strains. Border areas must be secured to keep variants out, it said.
Gen Prayut said on his Facebook page yesterday that government agencies and officials are working hard to meet the reopening target.
He said he was aware of potential problems with the arrival of vaccine doses and the emergence of new strains. "But we need full cooperation from all sides so we can reach the finishing line together," he said.
Kanok Wongtra-ngan, deputy Democrat Party leader, commended Gen Prayut for his leadership in launching the 120-day reopening deadline.
He said the government should offer soft loans to struggling small businesses.
Caution voiced over premature reopening of Thailand to international visitors
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A senior doctor, at the Internal Medicine Department of the Faculty of Medicine at Mahidol University, has voiced caution over premature reopening of Thailand to foreign arrivals in October, pointing out that vaccination of 50 million Thais, to begin development of herd immunity, should not be the only consideration behind such a decision.
Associate Professor Dr. Nithipat Jiankul, chief of the respiratory disease and tuberculosis department, said that, besides the mass vaccination operation, the decision to open the country must also take into consideration the domestic health system, the national economy and security.
If new daily infections are still at about 3,000, or more than 300 people are in need of ventilators with more than a dozen fatalities each day, he said that it is better for the country to remain closed.
Dr. Nithipat said that, to achieve the goal of inoculating at least 50 million people in Thailand with their first doses of vaccines, in the hope that this will generate a safe level of herd immunity, is just the first step before easing restrictions, as mass vaccinations are not the only prerequisite for the safe opening of the country.
He also pointed out the need for a third booster jab, as a preventive measure against new variants of COVID-19.
Meanwhile, the Rural Doctor Society has expressed doubt that the goal of reopening the country in 120 days will be attained, as it demanded that the government disclose the operational plans in place to attain the goal.
In its Facebook post today, the society said that the prime minister's decision was based on the recommendations of the economists, particularly the National Economic and Social Development Council, rather than on those of health officials.
The decisive factor, said the society, is the containment of the pandemic and this can only be done if there are sufficient vaccines, adding that the 10 million doses of AstraZeneca, expected in July, must be received as contracted.
The society said, however, that even the government isn't sure that it will receive all 10 million doses of AZ vaccine in July, hence the frantic attempts to procure other vaccines, another 28 million doses of Sinovac from China and the Pfizer vaccine for youngsters.
"The prime minister is communicating with the people to give them hope, but that goal may not realised, if there are not sufficient vaccines and if there is an outbreak of new variants," said the Rural Doctor Society.
