Chonburi orders temporary closure of several construction workers camps in Banglamung following Covid-19 clusters
The Chonburi Governor, Phakkhrathon Thianchai, ordered the closure of two construction workers camps this evening, June 25th, 2021, to control the spread of Covid-19.
Banglamung –
The two new locations which were ordered closed tonight is in the construction area of the Supalai Ville Pattaya –Motorway project on Chaiyaphon Vithi 21 Road in Nongprue which are:
Closure of the construction workers camp of Ruean Chan Construction Co., Ltd.
Closure of the construction workers camp of Phon Jaroen Construction Co. Ltd.
Owners, operators, workers, and other people involved must strictly follow the order. Relevant agencies and officials will assist those who have been temporarily stopped from working and quarantined, regardless of their Covid-19 status.
This follows an earlier announcement in which the Thai Prime Minister, Prayut Chan O'Cha, shut down all Bangkok construction camps and ones in surrounding and Southern provinces for at least a month. Chonburi was not included as a province but has chosen to close these two major camps for the time being. You can read more about this notice here.
The order takes effect from today (June 25th) to July 22nd.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O'Cha, as the director of the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), this afternoon, June 25th, has announced the closures of all construction worker camps in Bangkok and its vicinity and four southern provinces for one month, starting this Monday, June 28th.
High-risk business and activities, particularly all construction camps, in Bangkok and its vicinity and four southern provinces – namely Yala, Pattani, Songkhla, and Narathiwat – were ordered closed for at least one month, which is similar to health measures previously implemented in April 2020.
The Ministry of Labor would also offer financial remedies to both Thai and migrant workers at all closed campsites. The details of the remedies are expected to be implemented within a week, according to the Prime Minister.
PHOTO: TNA MCOT
He told the Associated Press: "The measure is a "disease control situation" for certain groups and areas, and is not a lockdown. Lockdown will forbid everyone to leave their houses, but this is not. People can still go to work but with some limitations. No curfew will be implemented as well."
"More measures will be issued by this weekend and will be announced by Monday, June 28th, which may include the relaxation measures to open restaurants, etc. They are currently being reviewed by the CCSA and the related agencies."
The government also asked the public for cooperation on travel restrictions that could potentially reduce the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic and encouraged everyone especially the elderly and people with 7 disease risk groups, to receive full vaccination within 2 months, around July and August.
Officials recently inspected a construction workers' camp on the outskirts of Bangkok where clusters of Covid-19 infections among migrant workers have been reported.
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) is disappointed with the government's decision not to lock down virus-hit Bangkok to curb high daily infection rates after it ordered a one-month shutdown for stricken construction camps.
The FTI raised doubts about whether the latest measure will be strong enough to stop the virus spread, following an announcement by the prime minister following a meeting of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration.
Other business groups voiced concerns over the inability to control the third wave, which started in April.
Nothing changes
Supant Mongkolsuthree, chairman of FTI, said he is afraid the new measure will not reduce the infection rate, leaving the situation unchanged. The only thing people can do now is take better care of themselves, he said.
"We have to admit closing the construction camps will not solve the problem at its root," said Mr Supant. "The most crucial effort at this moment is to speed up mass vaccination of the public."
However, given the reeling economy, he understands why the government made the choice not to lock down Bangkok.
Lockdown needed
"This is a critical situation with soaring daily cases and a hospital bed shortage for Covid patients in Bangkok. A strict lockdown is needed, similar to what was used during the first wave last year to help flatten the curve," said Chamnan Srisawat, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand.
He said tourism businesses have been suffering because every tourism activity, especially in Bangkok, is on hold indefinitely amid the new wave.
The government has to implement decisive lockdown procedures, using clear communication to contain the virus in order to have an effective result in the shortest time possible, said Mr Chamnan.
Mass vaccination needs to continue because that leads to positive momentum, while the government must be active in finding high-risk clusters at factories and construction camps, he said.
Mr Chamnan said operators affected by the closure order need to access financial aid, such as using the Social Security Fund to pay for 62% of a 15,000-baht monthly salary to make up for losses from the temporary suspension of economic activities.
The Employers' Confederation of Thai Trade and Industry (EconThai) wants the government to enforce a lockdown for all of Bangkok lasting seven days, believing it would be good for public health and the economy in the long term.
Tanit Sorat, vice-chairman of EconThai, said the government should listen to doctors and hospital personnel, who say they are unable to deal with rising infections.
"It's true a lockdown will cause further harm to the economy, but it will allow the government to get infections under control," he said.
Beyond lockdown
Retail and services associations issued a joint statement that even a lockdown would not be enough.
An action plan to contain infections and remedy measures to help small businesses, such as water and power bill subsidies for three months, co-payment subsidies to retain staff and compensation for lost revenue from the outbreaks are desperately needed, said the associations.
"If lockdown measures have to be implemented to curb infections, the lockdown should be applied only to Bangkok and surrounding provinces," said the group.
The same struggle
Pornnarit Chuanchaisit, president of the Thai Real Estate Association, said the rising number of daily infections creates a negative perception for the property market.
"Some people in Bangkok are thinking about temporarily relocating to other provinces," he said.
"The prolonged third wave is more negative for the property sector than the first two waves last year. A lockdown would not have a great impact on the property market as it is already sluggish."
Uncertainty ahead
Therdsak Thaveeteeratham, executive vice-president of Asia Plus Securities, said uncertainty remains about whether the government will announce a Bangkok lockdown because it would deal a heavy blow to the economic recovery and may push workers to other provinces, worsening the spread in those areas.
Despite the great cost, if the government doesn't impose a lockdown now, the country's public health is at risk, he said.
Hospitals may not have enough beds to accommodate Covid patients. Failure to impose a lockdown now may delay the city fully reopening, said Mr Therdsak.
Delayed vaccine distribution is another factor limiting control of the pandemic. The government must expedite vaccine rollouts and inoculate the population as fast as possible, he said.
Mr Therdsak expects the investment climate next week to be negative because of growing concern that the increase of infections in Bangkok may affect the economic recovery.
The SET Index will likely decline to a support line of 1,550 points, he said.
The government is encouraging everyone to get vaccinated. But most can't until enough effective vaccine arrives and an expedient way is put in place to get them into people's arms.
If Pattaya hopes to open as a Sandbox destination in August, officials must step up vaccination efforts as more than 86% of Pattaya's population, including expats, remains unvaccinated.
PBTA President Boonanan Pattanasin said only about 60,000 people out of 450,000, the official number needed to achieve herd immunity in Pattaya, have received their first or second jabs.
Most have been given the Sinopharm vaccine, which has proven only 50% effective. It is still unknown whether the Sinopharm vaccine would be at all effective against the Delta variant currently thriving in Thailand.
Meanwhile, Public Health Ministry officials said the vaccines have arrived and expect the delivery will be on time … in September.
Pattaya's plans for "Sealed Route" tourism will be presented to CCSA when finished. Officials are waiting for the central government to guide them how to proceed.
With hotels and local businesses closing down at an alarming rate, the governmenthas launched a public relations campaign to convince people it is safe to get vaccinated. So far, with not enough vaccines to go around, the effort is moot.
Too many expats remain confused as to how, when and where they can get vaccinated. Those who applyonline receive a "don't call us, we'll call you" response.
Chonburi Covid -19 cases drop to 183 with one new death
Chonburi –
The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 183 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 with one new death today, June 25th.
This makes a total of 7,207 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 1,998 still in medical care, and with a total of 40 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April.
Additionally, 5,169 people in total have now been released from medical care and fully recovered since this current wave began. 61 people were released yesterday.
The district-level new cases were as follows today:
Mueang Chonburi 49, Si Racha 53, Banglamung 41, Sattahip 20, Ban Bueng 6, Pan Thong 10, and four new cases transferred from other provinces for medical care.
The details on the cases are as follows:
Migrant community dormitory in Khao Kansong, Si Racha, 10 cases
Migrant community dormitory in Si Racha, 4 cases
Cluster at Sattahip Morning Market, 4 cases
Cluster at New Market Mueang Chonburi, 5 cases
Contact from previous confirmed case (from a party), 2 cases
Contact from previous confirmed case at New Market, 1 case
Risky occupation that meets many people, 1 case
Hua Kunjae Market, 1 case
Confirmed cases transferred from Sa Kaeo, 1 case
Confirmed cases transferred from Rayong, 1 case
Confirmed cases transferred from Samut Prakan, 1 case
Overall close contacts of previously confirmed patients:
55 family members
25 co-workers
Close contact of previously confirmed patients (Which is under investigation), 36 cases
Cases that are under investigation in general, 36 cases
A total of 526 contact searches were received today, 1,437 initial proactive searches, and more proactive search reports are pending.
File photo for reference only//REUTERS Jorge Silva
Thai media has reported that hotels in Phuket under the SHA+ scheme will not allow foreigners who are not legally married to their wives to stay together.
You must have "jot thabian" or legally registered your marriage to be allowed in the same room.
This could affect many people who have married in villages according to Buddhist traditions but whose marriages are not legally registered, notes Thaivisa.
The media went further quoting Phoomkiat Raktaengam, the head of the Phuket tourism business association who was speaking on behalf of the hotels.
"If foreigners arrive with a girlfriend, lover, sex partner they will not be permitted to stay together.
"The same goes for those in a "third gender" relationship unless they had travelled together from their country of origin".
He also mention what he called "sao ent" - this is a euphemism for a prostitute or "entertainment girl". Those would also be a no-no in the rooms.
Phoomkiat said that foreigners will not be able to sleep with someone they met on the island even for a bit of fun during the day.
Only those that came together to Phuket would be allowed to be together in a room, he said.
B3mn COVID insurance for O-A visa applicants may broaden options for retirees
PHUKET: Reports of a requirement for foreigners staying in Thailand on 'Non-Immigrant O-A' visas now needing to have B3 million COVID health insurance caused much confusion last week, but several of the 'guidelines' approved in principle by Cabinet may broaden the options for health insurance for retirees wanting to stay in the country
News of the B3mn COVID insurance spread quickly, with different reports marking different requirements (see The Phuket News story here).
The level of confusion even saw state news agency National News Bureau of Thailand (NNT) later removing their own story from their main news website. The link to the NNT story, originally posted here, now redirects viewers to the NNT news home page.
According to the official minutes of the Cabinet meeting last week (June 15), the Cabinet was very clear that the issue of retiree foreigners staying in Thailand needing health insurance that covered COVID infection was raised by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH).
The ministry had pointed out that the current insurance requirement for foreigners staying on Non-Immigrant O-A visas was likely to be insufficient.
Non-Immigrant O-A visas are offered to appeal to people who have retired from work and want to live in Thailand.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs describes the visa as, "This type of visa may be issued to applicants aged 50 years and over who wish to stay in Thailand for a period of not exceeding 1 year without the intention of working. Holder of this type of visa is allowed to stay in Thailand for 1 year. Employment is strictly prohibited."
Currently, holders of Non-Imm O-A visas must purchase Thai health insurance with a limit for medical expenses of not less than B40,000 in case of outpatient treatments and not less than B400,000 in case of inpatient treatment required.
The MoPH recognised that many foreigners in Thailand were of an age that made the cost of obtaining such health insurance coverage prohibitive. Some were unable to be issued a policy at all, leading the government to launch a project so that such foreigners could buy insurance through confirmed insurance providers through the longstay.tgia.org web portal.
However, the issue of many foreigners not being able to afford the policies, or unable to be issued such health coverage persisted, prompting the MoPH to review the insurance coverage guidelines for foreigners staying on Non-Imm O-A visas, noted the Cabinet minutes.
The Cabinet specifically recognised that "there were problems in the process of applying for a visa to purchase health insurance" as follows:
1.1 Foreigners over 70 years of age cannot purchase insurance in Thailand. As a result, they are not qualified to apply for extension.
1.2 Form for buying insurance abroad inconsistent with the insurance business system/benefits from various funds
1.3 The application to renew the visa twice (extend) wish to take medical insurance overseas.
"In the past, the Ministry of Public Health has issued health insurance certificates to four foreigners to use in applying for visa extensions due to being refused to purchase health insurance in Thailand, [and] as a result, the visa extension cannot be renewed," the Cabinet minutes read.
The new proposed guidelines, now approved in principle by the Cabinet, recommend that only those who are applying for a Non-Imm O-A visa for the first time be required to have health insurance or government welfare coverage of not less than US$100,000 or B3mn ("adjusted health insurance limit") to cover medical expenses for COVID infection.
Of note, the Thai General Insurance Association (TGIA), which also operates the government-supported longstay.tgia.org web portal, refers visitors to its main home page, which it notes very clearly, in English, "This COVID-19 Insurance Policy, together with its renewal, is a requirement for inbound travelers to Thailand only. It is not intended for foreigners currently living in Thailand."
The second recommendation approved in principle by the Cabinet was that those applying to stay in Thailand under the O-A visa be granted to purchase health insurance from abroad or have government welfare from abroad.
Such health coverage would need to be verified by a government agency, likely through embassies of foreign countries in Thailand, or by the applicant presenting the necessary documents to the relevant Thai embassy when applying.
However, the Cabinet minutes were not clear in differentiating whether this was to apply to just those applying for an O-A visa for the first time, or also to foreigners already staying in Thailand on an O-A visa.
The third recommendation, which may affect many retired foreigners in the country, was to allow applicants who had been refused health insurance coverage to instead be able to present evidence of security or deposits, other health insurance, with a total limit of not less than B3mn.
The minutes explained, "In the case of a person who has a risk of causing the insurance company to refuse, in whole or in part, additional documents are required, such as: Letter of refusal to purchase health insurance; Securities/deposits/other health insurance with a total limit of not less than 3,000,000 baht according to the criteria specified by the Immigration Office."
The Cabinet minutes marked clearly that the guidelines had been approved in principle only.
However, the Cabinet formally tasked the Immigration Bureau to review its order that enacts the mandatory insurance requirements.
Any changes in the mandatory insurance requirements will not take effect until the Immigration Bureau officially changes its own regulations on the issue.
The Immigration Bureau has yet to post any public comment on the recommendations.
Thailand's tourism minister Pipat Ratchakitprkarn had a stark message from prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha when he visited Phuket ahead of the island's opening to international tourism next week.
Don't let Phuket's infamous mafia spoil the party.
With this in mind all the pick-ups at the airport will be registered drivers and no taxi mafia will be allowed.
Around 300 tourists are expected on the big day next Thursday.
Manager reported that deputy governor of Phuket Phichet Panapong outlined the readiness of the island for the start of "Phuket Sandbox" on July 1st at a meeting at the international airport yesterday.
International tourists who have received two doses of WHO and Thai authority approved vaccines will have to stay on the island for 14 days before going elsewhere. Their movements will be tracked by compulsory apps.
Picture: Manager
Pipat said just a few minor matters remained to be sorted but that Phuket was 100% ready and he was "waiting for the first tourist to arrive at the airport".
Then the question was: "How many?"
Pipat said that on Thursday he was expecting something around 300.
But not to worry, when others see how safe it is they will decide to come and he was expecting increasing numbers in the last three months of the year.
He said that the latest Tourism Authority of Thailand assessment was that 100,000 visitors in the next three months will spend 9 billion baht.
He said this was down on previous assessments by 30,000 people after it was decided to change the requirement to stay on Phuket from 7 days to 14.
"Be that as it may," he said "Thais and foreigners will all be safe".
Then he mentioned that one big concern of the PM, the mafia.
It was clear that with so much resting on the Phuket Sandbox as regards the immediate future of Thai tourism the government did not want the mafia putting a spanner in the works and upsetting foreign tourists, notes Thaivisa.
One hotelier on the island expects that only 20% of hotels are open and with incoming tourists limited to certified hotels, accommodation rates are reported to be significantly higher for tourists considering Phuket as a holiday option at this time with the 'sandbox' experiment. However, it is the intrusive and burdensome public health requirements including the continued closure of bars and entertainment venues that have killed the initial excitement and left tourists feeling boxed in.
There is growing scepticism about the outcome of Phuket's reopening after it emerged on Wednesday that already fully vaccinated travellers on a two week holiday to the island will be subject to no less than five Covid-19 tests at their own expense and will have to wait in their hotel bedrooms for the results to come back from the processing laboratory.
Phuket Governor Narong Woonsiew briefed the press on Wednesday on final details of the approval given by the cabinet as the 'Phuket Sandbox' scheme got the green light but under a heavy weight of regulation and burdensome restrictions which has sparked scepticism among many potential foreign tourists over the last three weeks when international interest in the travel trade and goodwill towards plans to reopen one of the world's most popular tourist destinations was initially high.
Final details were given by the Governor of Phuket on Wednesday after the cabinet, at last, approved the Phuket reopening on July 1st to vaccinated travellers.
Governor Narong Woonsiew said that he expected to see travellers arriving on the once-thriving holiday island from July 1st from both America and Europe.
However, he only mentioned international flights operated by Thai Airways from Europe which he pointed out were scheduled from London, Frankfurt, Zurich, Paris and Copenhagen.
Undoubted interest among international travellers but June has seen growing question marks raised by uncertainty and new restrictions imposed
The top official did not reference other planned flights announced in recent weeks by Qatar Airways and Emirates which had both indicated plans to fly direct to Phuket.
There had been undoubted interest among international tourists in travelling to one of Thailand's and the world's favourite destinations without quarantine especially among fans of the kingdom prompted by what appeared like opening, brighter skies at the beginning of June.
Now the situation and outlook appear to be rather overcast following a tightening of conditions, the announcement that bars and entertainment venues on the island will not be reopened and even more restrictive public health requirements.
Officials in Thailand have linked bars to dangerous clusters of the disease.
A spokesman with the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) this week also explained that it was considered people who consumed alcohol find it difficult to follow health guidance further raising the risk to public health.
Skyrocketing hotel and accommodation costs another big turnoff for those booking holidays abroad
Prospective foreign visitors have also been turned off by the limited selection of hotels open on the island and the additional requirement that all the hotels and facilities being frequented and booked by tourists must have Safety and Health Administration (SHA) Plus certification.
A top hotelier in Phuket, Suksit Suvunditkul, estimates that only 20% of hotels on the island will be open after July.
This has meant rocketing accommodation prices which are reported to be 250 to 400% above normal for the average spending western traveller to Phuket which is the market for the reopening scheme at least until the end of 2021.
Up to 5 Covid 19 tests for already fully vaccinated travellers within a two-week holiday timeframe
Among the conditions announced by Governor Narong on Wednesday was that all visitors to Phuket will have to undergo no less than 4 Covid-19 tests starting with one on arrival at the airport.
This, combined with the preflight requirement of a negative virus test within 72 hours of departure, means that all holidaymakers will be subject to no less than 5 tests, in the course of just over two weeks, even though all travellers entering Phuket will be required, at the outset, to be fully vaccinated with two vaccine shots of vaccines approved by the World Health Organisation if the passenger or tourist is not booked for 14 days quarantine.
It is also being reported that Thai travellers entering Phuket are also now required to be vaccinated and have one negative Covid test if they are not going into quarantine.
A failed Covid 19 test from among the series will mean immediate quarantine at the visitor's own expense
This is already reported to be creating difficulties for Thais who regularly holiday on the island.
Up to May, the cost of Covid-19 tests in Thailand was over ฿3,000 and it is not known what each incoming tourist will be charged.
It is clear, however, that the requirement is an expensive one and one which will significantly disrupt any holiday break.
We do know that anyone suffering a positive test result will be immediately required to move into quarantine at their own expense.
Tourists must stay in their hotel room while awaiting the Covid 19 test results from the laboratory
The first test will be on arrival at the airport, the second will be on day 6/7 followed by a third on days 12/13 with one final test on day 14.
A further condition, also laid down by health officials, is that all those taking Covid 19 tests will be required to wait for the result in their hotel bedroom in the immediate period after until the lab results are brought back giving them the all-clear.
This burdensome regime for holidaymakers comes after visitors will already be required to submit complicated paperwork and information to a Royal Thai embassy or consulate including proof of $100,000 insurance cover, be fully vaccinated for at least 14 days and have the certified results from a negative Covid 19 test 72 hours before departure in the first pave to obtain a Certificate of Entry.
This is an addition to hotel costs and the price of a flight to Phuket.
Uncertainty raised about Phuket flights after Wednesday'sdetails only referred to Thai Airways
There is speculation about the number of flights that will end up flying into Phuket as a result of the continued uncertainty about the programme in recent weeks. This prompted even the Thai Minister of Tourism and Sports, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, to concede that a significant number of cancellations had been caused by potential visitors who simply switched off or went elsewhere.
On Wednesday, a spokesman for the Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Ltd which operates air traffic control for the Ministry of Transport at Phuket International Airport suggested that the organisation is only preparing for a 6% increase in incoming flights based on the current number of flights, which has already dropped by 45% for this year following last year's catastrophic level of activity.
Plan in place to curtail or cancel the 'Phuket Sandbox' scheme if infections on the island begin to rise and get out of control as Thailand still faces a threat
On Wednesday also, Natapanu Nopakun, the Deputy spokesman at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while speaking at a Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration briefing, confirmed that plans were in place to limit or curtail the Phuket reopening experiment or close it down altogether in the event of a spike in cases.
Concerns over nationwide tallies and talk being entertained of a one-week shutdown in Bangkok
It coincides with the kingdom reporting its highest death tally from the disease ever on Wednesday with 51 deaths and 31 deaths on Thursday reported alongside over four thousand new infections across the kingdom.
The serious nature of the growing threat with fears of the spreading Delta or Indian variant, currently being examined by top Thai virologists, led the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Wednesday to concede that the suggestion of a one-week long lockdown of Bangkok may have to be considered by the country's leadership.
If infections on Phuket rise to 90 per week, officials will begin to review the reopening scheme
Mr Natapanu told reporters that if the infection rate reached 90 cases per week in Phuket, this would be a basis for at least a reconsideration of the reopening scheme as well as if there was evidence that the disease was widespread on the island or that the outbreak was putting pressure on its hospital beds.
'For example, if there are 90 persons infected per week in Phuket, that would be a key criterion for reconsideration of the scheme once it has started, or for any adjustments,' Mr Natapanu explained. 'Also if all three districts in Phuket are affected, and in that more than six villages are affected, that would be another criterion.'
Phuket still recording cases but the population vaccination rate should help keep cases low
Phuket has seen 712 cases since early April when the third wave of the virus broke out which averages at nearly 60 cases a week leaving at 28th or 77 provinces or areas in Thailand in terms of severity of the virus at this time.
It should be noted, however, that since April the province has seen herd immunity achieved which should significantly reduce the threat.
Mr Natapanu said a key consideration for public health officials also would be if contact tracing ability for infections broke down.
'Also, if the hospital bed capacity exceeds 80%, that would be another criteria' he further explained to reporters. 'If the situation becomes worse in Phuket after the opening of the province on the 1st of July with these particular criteria, then it would be reconsidered.'
No wristbands for tourists but a tracking app must be used on tourist's smartphones at all times
One requirement which didn't make it to the final announcement was a suggestion that all tourists would have to wear wristbands but authorities have specified that all must download the MorChana tracking app on their smartphones and allow themselves to be monitored.
The province of Surat Thani including Ko Samui, Ko Tao and Ko Phangan will also reopen from July 1st as part of the reopening plan although the scheme in that province provides for more control with sealed routes and movement limits in the initial seven days with a short hotel quarantine period at the beginning.
