Covid-19 patients who request beds in Greater Bangkok via the National Health Security Office (NHSO) hotline 1330 will receive medical treatment at home or at a venue in their community from Monday. The Nation

Home or community treatment for Covid patients requesting beds under NHSO

Covid-19 patients who request beds in Greater Bangkok via the National Health Security Office (NHSO) hotline 1330 will receive medical treatment at home or at a venue in their community from Monday.

NHSO secretary-general Jadet Thammathat-Aree said community clinics would be responsible for treating Covid-19 patients in the area.

"This move will enable patients to receive medical treatment faster without fear of developing severe symptoms," he said.

He said home or community isolation was not an abandoning of patients, but instead they will be treated at home, in the temple pavilion, or a school auditorium just as in a hospital.

"Community clinics will send thermometer, pulse oximeter, Fah Talai Jone (​andrographis paniculata) drugs and meals to patients to ensure that they can undergo isolation without the risk of spreading the virus," he explained.

"Meanwhile, clinics will contact patients via video call to evaluate their symptoms every day."

He said patients who develop severe symptoms will be sent to the hospital once beds are available.

"Community clinics will send Favipiravir to patients for treating themselves while waiting for available beds," he said.

He added that the NHSO would cooperate with the Urban Institute for Disease Prevention and Control and Mahidol University's Faculty of Medical Technology on conducting proactive tests across the capital from Wednesday.

"The office aimed to conduct tests on 10,000 people per day, while those who test positive for Covid-19 will undergo home or community isolation as well," he added.

Published : July 11, 2021

Chonburi Public Relations announces 381 new cases of Covid-19 with five new deaths - The Pattaya News

Chonburi Public Relations announces 381 new cases of Covid-19 with five new deaths

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 381 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with three new deaths, July 11th.

Sunday, 11 July 2021, 13:58

Chonburi –

This makes a total of 11,632 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 4,009 still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 65 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April. Five new deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours although specific details, which is normal for Chonburi Public Health, were not released.

Additionally, 7,558 people in total have now been released from medical care and fully recovered since this current wave began. 207 people were released yesterday.

The district-level new cases were as follows today:

Mueang Chonburi 144, Si Racha 73, Banglamung (Pattaya) 42, Panat Nikhom 9, Sattahip 7, Ban Bueang 47, Pan Thong 21, Bor Thong 25, Nong Yai 2, and 11 new cases transferred from other provinces for medical care.

The details on the cases are as follows:

1. Proactive inspection of an establishment in the Bor Thong District, 21 cases
2. 5 confirmed cases with symptoms from previous contacts in a school in the Panat Nikhom District
3. Risky occupation that meets a lot of people, 4 cases (This category is generally occupations with high levels of customer contact, like taxi drivers or grocery store workers)
4. Beach Shop Operator in Mueang Chonburi District 2 cases
5. 1 medical personnel
6. Maxis International (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Rayong Province 1 person
7. Matsuda Denki (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Rayong Province 1 person
8. Stars Technology Industrial Company Limited, Rayong Province 2 persons
9. One prison officer
10. Close contacts of previously confirmed cases from other provinces who traveled:
10.1 Bangkok 4 cases
10.2 Phetchabun Province, 1 case
10.3 Pathum Thani Province 1 case
11. General close contacts:
11.1 A total of 110 family members of previously confirmed patients
11.2 Co-workers of previously confirmed cases, 122 in total
11.3 People who joined an illegal party-2 cases
12. Close contacts of previous cases under investigation for their timelines- 46 cases
13. 57 cases are under investigation in general

A total of 961 close contact searches were received today with 492 initial proactive searches, and more proactive search reports are pending.

There are currently clusters of outbreaks in 11 establishments and five markets, 10 construction worker camps, and three communities in Chonburi. The vast majority, according to Chonburi Public Health, are asymptomatic or mild cases.

Chonburi Public Health has said the majority of recent outbreaks in the province are being spread at home and then going into worksites, factories, markets, and similar places.  Most of these are at worker camps or dormitories where the majority of people live in densely packed situations and mix and mingle with people who work at other locations and places.

The current focus is to identify these camps, proactively search them, and shut down the ones where outbreaks are found. Workers are being asked not to socialize (especially around drinking alcohol), refrain from eating with other people, and to stay alone as much as possible to prevent the spread of Covid-19. TPN notes this can be difficult as at some of these dormitories dozens of people share the same accommodation and use the same bathroom facilities.

Phuket Sandbox: Good idea, gone wrong. For Stefanie Korényi coming back to Thailand this week was the realisation of a dream years in coming and six months just in preparation. She arrived in Phuket on Tuesday (July 6) and 24 hours later she was forced to move from her booked hotel to an alternative local quarantine (ALQ) because someone else tested positive for COVID-19. Phuket News

Phuket Sandbox: Good idea, gone wrong

PHUKET: For Stefanie Korényi coming back to Thailand this week was the realisation of a dream years in coming and six months just in preparation. She arrived in Phuket on Tuesday (July 6) and 24 hours later she was forced to move from her booked hotel to an alternative local quarantine (ALQ) because someone else tested positive for COVID-19.

Before leaving her native Germany, Stefanie sold nearly everything she had to begin her new adventure in Thailand.

"I have been preparing for this day for 6 long months and now it's here: The 1st day of my NEW LIFE," she posted on her Faceboook page.

"My motorcycle: Sold! My furniture: Sold! My clothes: Sold! Donated! Or thrown away!

"Remaining are 1 large travel bag, 1 small backpack and 1 helmet. That's all I own! I don't even have keys. I'm officially homeless.

"An adventure I have been dreaming of my whole life. But sometimes dreams just have to mature, especially such big ones. The main reason that kept me from leaving home for good before? Apart from all my belongings, I also leave behind my friends & family. A decisions that hasn't been easy. Therefore, I am all the more happy that I could see many of these wonderful people who have accompanied me in the past years during the last 2 weeks. Thank you for being - and staying - part of my life!" she wrote.

Today she is staying in a "quarantine hotel" in Phuket she didn't book, and paying B52,000 for the privilege.

Here in her own words is her experience under the Phuket Sandbox scheme:

The idea…

For the past six months, I have been preparing to permanently leave Germany. First, I want to do what I missed most during the pandemic: Travel!

Later, I will also go back to work. Fortunately, I can do my job as a freelance translator, copywriter and author anywhere as long as I have internet.

It was obvious to me that the first stop should be Thailand. Ever since I first came here 10 years ago, I have loved the country and all of Southeast Asia. Okay, there is this annoying quarantine, but *hey* what the heck? If you plan to be on the road for an extended period of time, like I do, 10 days (at that time) are nothing! Since it's quite a hassle to dissolve my entire life and sell all my possessions, I am happy for any check mark on my To-Do list. Therefore, I looked for a fancy ASQ hotel in Bangkok early on, booked my 10 nights and put a check mark on it. Or so I thought…

What I hadn't thought of was how quickly the regulations can change over here. First, the quarantine period was extended again to 15 days due to the rising infection numbers; followed by the first sandbox rumours a short time later. As the rumours grew, it was clear to me: I will let my prepaid, non-refundable ASQ hotel in Bangkok lapse and rebook to a SHA+ hotel in Phuket. After all, the 14 days in Phuket cost me only a few Euros more than the 5 days in Bangkok I would have had to add to the already booked 10 days.

At the very last minute I get my Certificate of Entry / COE (more about this in a separate story) and board the plane from Frankfurt via Dubai to Phuket.

Gone wrong… 

Things could have been so nice! The flight with Emirates from Frankfurt to Dubai is extremely relaxed. Only a third of the seats are occupied. I have a whole row to myself, where I can stretch out and enjoy the flight. The second leg of the journey looks similar at first… until an Arab superfamily encircles me… In front of me a couple with a baby, in the two middle rows next to and in front of my row 4 people each and next to me a young man, maybe in his early/mid 20s, who is spontaneously unappealing to me with his mask hanging under his nose. I briefly consider asking the stewardess for another seat, but the plane is pretty full by now… I wish I had done that!

Once I arrive in Phuket, things continue to run super smoothly. My papers are checked 3 times, then I get my luggage, before I have the first PCR test done at the exit. The whole procedure takes less than an hour. My driver is already waiting outside the door to take me to my SHA+ hotel in Rawai Beach. Until the test result comes back, I have to wait in the room. But the room is beautiful, the balcony overlooks the pool, the minibar is well stocked and after the long journey I am tired anyway.

The next morning my test result is ready (about 18 hours later): negative. My vacation can begin! With my rented scooter I first go to Nai Han Beach and Windmill Viewpoint. In the afternoon I relax at the pool and have a delicious Chang beer with two Israelis at the swim-up bar. I am just about to get ready for dinner, when my phone rings…

High Risk Contact

…at the other end is the lady from the reception. I am a High Risk Contact of a passenger who tested positive on flight EK378 from Dubai to Phuket, landing on July 6 at 12:30. My dinner is cancelled, instead I am being told to transfer to an ALQ hotel. At my own expense, of course! The problem is that most hotels in Phuket have stopped their quarantine operations and switched to the sandbox model. Accordingly, there is very little choice.

Actually, I would have expected someone from the health authority, the CCSA, to be waiting for me at the reception. But no such thing. I was practically left to my own devices. The instruction to go to an ALQ only went to my hotel. No help from the authorities whatsoever! Null. Zero. Rien. The German Embassy and the Honorary Consulate in Phuket also remain silent.

Luckily, the receptionist was super sweet (thanks to the Rawai Palm Beach Resort!!!!) and called all the hotels for 2 hours to help me. The only option that was even remotely affordable was a hotel in Patong. And by "remotely" I mean, I first had to transfer money from my savings account to my credit card. The planned 15,000 baht became 52,000 baht for 2 weeks within 2 hours. I really wonder what they do with tourists who just can't make an extra 1000 Euros? Do they go to jail? To the hospital?

I get 1 hour to pack up, then the security van is waiting for me at the door. The masked driver and his equally wrapped companion take me to the ALQ hotel - with a thick partition between us. Once there, I get a very nice welcome. Everybody was so sorry for me! My luggage is taken to my room, where dinner is already waiting for me. In a plastic box. Cold. That's what I get every day now, morning, noon and night. Lukewarm food from plastic containers, which are disposed of in an "Infectious Waste" container. The room is… middle class. Far below the standard of my original hotel. At least I have a balcony. The staff are very nice and helpful, at least most of the time. I was brought a beach mat for some exercise, a fan because the air conditioning was too loud for me to sleep, and some soft drinks from 7-Eleven. The internet on the other hand is a disaster, but I was promised a SIM card with unlimited Internet. Hopefully it will come faster than the toilet paper :-D

On day 6 and 13, further PCR tests will be performed. Let's hope that these will also be negative and that I won't have to trade the minimal comfort of my hotel room for a hospital.

Conclusion

For travellers planning to stay for more than 3 weeks, the sandbox model remains a great alternative to quarantining in an ASQ/ALQ.

Tourists who want to stay for only 1, 2 or 3 weeks should be aware that if things go wrong, they will spend their holiday in the hotel room instead of at the beach. The chances are slim, but, as you can see from me, they are definitely there.

Should this occur, the costs quickly increase to three times or more!

What I really don't understand:

a) Why was there no help at all from the authorities?

b) Why does it have to be the full 14 days? How likely is it that I, as a fully vaccinated person, will infect someone even after the second negative coronal test?

Vaccine alone no cure for Covid's ills. As strategic areas of the kingdom enter a new round of harsh restrictions over the recent spike in coronavirus infections tomorrow, one must remember that it is the people who will end up hurting the most, and it is up to all of us to help the kingdom recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. Bangkok Post

Vaccine alone no cure for Covid's ills

As strategic areas of the kingdom enter a new round of harsh restrictions over the recent spike in coronavirus infections tomorrow, one must remember that it is the people who will end up hurting the most, and it is up to all of us to help the kingdom recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The government on Friday announced tough policies to curb infections in Bangkok and its five surrounding provinces as well as four southern border provinces.

A curfew is being put in place from 9pm to 4am, stores -- except essential shops including pharmacies, mobile phone shops and supermarkets -- located in malls are to be closed, while spas, beauty centres and traditional massage parlours are expected to do the same, all for at least 14 days. These measures were placed on top of the already existing, devastating ones, such as those placed on gyms, markets and dine-in services at restaurants.

It is also noteworthy that the announcement didn't mention any new economic relief measures. That again may prompt many workers affected by the lockdown to travel back home, a decision which may lead to more transmission.

While it is commendable that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his cabinet are willing to donate their salaries for the next three months to Covid-19 sufferers, one cannot help but ask whether it is enough.

The economy has been hurt even before these policies were devised. The unemployment rate for the first quarter of this year was 1.96% -- the highest since the first quarter of 2009. And this figure likely doesn't account for those working in the informal sector such as street vendors and rubbish scavengers.

Today, amid a third outbreak of the disease and the spread of the Delta variant, first detected in India, the government has seemingly lost control of the situation. On Friday, the kingdom reported 9,276 new Covid-19 cases and 72 fatalities, amid severe hospital bed shortages for coronavirus patients.

The government was forced to implement selective lockdown measures across Thailand amid concerns the new daily infection number will reach 10,000 cases.

The economic trajectory looks even more ominous. The National Economic and Social Development Council in May cut its economic growth outlook for this year to 1.5%–2.5% from 2.5%–3.5%.

The question arises, where will this 14-day semi-lockdown lead the country? And if this step fails, what is next?

Another lockdown, like the previous two? The government cannot keep doing same thing and expect a different outcome.

Gen Prayut and his officials at the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) must rethink their lockdown strategy and implement more responsive approaches if the kingdom is to recover from the economic downturn posed by the coronavirus.

Some economists are calling on the government to "hibernate" companies to ensure a decent recovery from Covid-19, and Gen Prayut's administration should consider the idea.

Sergio Schmukler, a research manager at the World Bank, says firms should try to preserve relationships with workers, suppliers and customers, by "having the bare minimum of cash necessary to withstand the pandemic lockdown, and social distancing measures".

The government would need to ensure that credit is available to businesses that do not have cash in hand, so workers can receive a basic income. The plan doesn't offer a perfect solution -- many companies would face a lack of growth in profits -- but at least the measure would keep firms afloat, and workers employed.

And what will happen to overburdened public health services if the government allows cases to rise for the sake of speedier recovery? In addition to opening many field hospitals and deploying additional medical workers, the government must go all-out to develop isolation spaces to separate at-risk groups for further Covid testing and treatment.

Vaccination is also key in achieving herd immunity and economic recovery. So far, the kingdom has given 12 million doses, but only about 3.18 million people have been fully inoculated -- that's only 4.6% of the population since in a drive that began months ago.

The government must speed up inoculations even if it faces hurdles in acquiring quality vaccines. South Korea is planning on producing about a billion vaccine doses for major companies and Thailand must be among the first to acquire them.

However, the public cannot rely on the government to do all the work. We must do our part by protecting ourselves and our loved ones, meaning face masks must be worn and social distancing observed.

The pandemic will eventually end, but it is in our hands, to some extent, as to when that happens.

First Delta case turns up in Phuket. The first case of the Delta variant has been confirmed on the tourist island as the province decided to close all schools until July 23 after a surge in infections. Bangkok Post

First Delta case turns up in Phuket

People enjoy the evening at almost empty Kata beach as Phuket reopens to overseas tourists on July 1, 2021. (Reuters photo)

PHUKET: The first case of the Delta variant has been confirmed on the tourist island as the province decided to close all schools until July 23 after a surge in infections.

Koosak Kookiattikul, chief of the Phuket public health office, said the province found the first patient infected with the Delta variant of Covid-19, the strain first discovered in India. The strain analysis was confirmed by the medical science centre on Friday.

He said the patient, a foreign businessman who lives in the province, is suspected to have contracted the virus from a visitor from Bangkok. The patient's contacts are being placed under quarantine.

Ten Covid-19 cases were reported on Saturday, the highest in several days, raising concerns. Most patients were Thai nationals who travelled from other provinces.

According to Dr Koosak, three variants of Covid-19 have been reported in the province and most are the Alpha variant, first detected in the UK. Six cases were found to be the Beta variant, first identified in South Africa, and one is the Delta variant.

He said it will take two weeks for the result of a strain analysis of an infected tourist under the Phuket Sandbox tourism scheme to be available.

The tourist, from the United Arab Emirates, arrived on the southern island in a tour group on Tuesday and was found to be infected with Covid-19.

He said 13 tourists in the same group decided to fly back last night while another entered an alternative local quarantine facility.

The school closure order was shared by the Phuket Covid-19 centre on its Facebook. Under the province's order, all schools are to close from July 12-23 and switch to online classes.

The two-week closure follows a meeting of the provincial communicable disease control committee which expressed concerns about a rise in the number of Covid-19 patients aged under 18.

The school closure was proposed out of concern about the emergence of school clusters where people aged below 18 are not vaccinated and cannot fully comply with Covid-19 restrictions.

Students aged below 18 and not vaccinated would need to present student ID cards issued by their schools when entering the province and take Covid-19 tests on arrival. The committee also discussed tightening the screening process for local visitors.

Troops to man 145 Covid checkpoints. Some 145 checkpoints, of which 88 are in the capital, have been set up to control the movement of people with the supreme commander warned that decisive legal action will be taken against those who break the rules. Bangkok Post

 Troops to man 145 Covid checkpoints

Some 145 checkpoints, of which 88 are in the capital, have been set up to control the movement of people with the supreme commander warned that decisive legal action will be taken against those who break the rules.

The moves follow fresh stringent measures rolled out on Saturday to curb a soaring Covid-19 infection rate which new cases hit 9,326 and the death toll reach 91 in the last 24 hours.

The measures approved by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), including a 9pm-4am curfew, were published on the Royal Gazette on Saturday.

Gen Chalermpol Srisawat, Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTAF) commander-in-chief, ordered 88 checkpoints in Bangkok be set up to accommodate the partial lockdown, while another 22 checkpoints were erected in surrounding provinces and 35 more in the four southern border provinces.

The general instructed authorities to strictly enforce the measures.

Anyone who flouts the restrictions would face legal action based on the emergency decree and the Communicable Disease Act, said Teerapong Pattamasingh Na Ayuthaya, RTAF deputy spokesman.

Published on the website of the Royal Gazette was a 9pm-4am curfew that is planned for at least the next two weeks from Monday in the 10 provinces of Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala and Songkhla, the provinces which are considered dark red zones.

Travelling for medical reasons during the 9pm-4am curfew is allowed for both patients and their caretakers.

Other crucial activities will also be allowed including the transport of goods, food, medical supplies, agricultural products, fuel, letters and packages.

Workers who need to travel during the curfew are required to show their ID cards and documents pertaining to them being allowed to travel to security officials at the checkpoints, according to the curfew order.

Defence Ministry spokesman Lt Gen Kongcheep said security forces consisting of soldiers, police and administrative officials were deployed early Saturday morning to security checkpoints in the dark-red zone provinces.

To raise public awareness about the partial lockdown, the authorities will tell the public what they can and can't do during the period, he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman for the CCSA, said travelling into the 10 most critical provinces for certain reasons such as vaccination will still be allowed, while travelling from those dark-red provinces to other parts of the country will largely depend on measures imposed by the destinations.

Bangkok's communicable disease control committee on Saturday decided to order key service businesses in the capital to close at 8pm and open again after 4am, throughout the partial lockdown, effective tomorrow.

The order applies to eateries, shopping malls, convenience stores, and most types of markets, said the source.

A gathering of more than five people in public is also prohibited under the partial lockdown rules.

‼️BREAKING: New high on Sunday: 9,539 cases & 86 deaths. Richard Barrow



Bangkok Post highlights 11/7



🔴 BREAKING: Not so good news coming out of Phuket this evening. Health officials have just announced that two foreigners aged 8 and 9 have tested positive for #COVID19 on their 2nd test (Days 6-7). The children have been sent to hospital and the family to quarantine. Richard Barrow

🔴 BREAKING: Not so good news coming out of Phuket this evening. Health officials have just announced that two foreigners aged 8 and 9 have tested positive for #COVID19 on their 2nd test (Days 6-7). The children have been sent to hospital and the family to quarantine.

#PhuketSandbox update on Saturday: Nine local cases and two Sandbox cases with 70 patients now in hospital.
🔴 WEEK ONE: 24 local + 1 sandbox = 25 cases
🟢 WEEK TWO: 26 local + 2 sandbox = 28 cases in just three days

What we know so far. The two that tested positive are children aged 8 and 9. This was the 2nd test and so Days 6-7. They have been sent to hospital. There are two families with a total of 7 members. The people who tested negative have been sent to ALQ quarantine. The two children were allowed to enter even though they were not vaccinated because they were with family members. Health officials are now doing track and trace to see where they've been over the last seven days. They've asked people not to panic. #Thailand 

Thai nationals and expats are using the Phuket Sandbox scheme, which was launched on July 1, to return home while avoiding the kingdom’s mandatory two-week quarantine rule that most inbound travellers have to undergo. Bangkok Jack

Thais & expats using Phuket Sandbox as route home

July 10, 2021

Ms Tarruthai Thamvongsin and her husband Chulayuth Asawaroengchai are returning home to Bangkok through the Phuket Sandbox scheme.PHOTO: COURTESY OF TARRUTHAI THAMVONGSIN

Thai nationals and expats are using the Phuket Sandbox scheme, which was launched on July 1, to return home while avoiding the kingdom's mandatory two-week quarantine rule that most inbound travellers have to undergo.

Under the scheme, vaccinated travellers can roam around Phuket without being confined to their hotel rooms, and after 14 days will be free to travel to the rest of Thailand with no restrictions.

The scheme – which was contingent on at least 70 per cent of Phuket's population being vaccinated – paves the way for the possible reopening of other Thai tourist regions, such as Ko Samui, Krabi and Chiang Mai, later this year.

In the past week, about 2,400 travellers from Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the United States have arrived in Phuket.

Many of this number have been Thai citizens and expats who were caught outside the country when the borders were closed and who are using Phuket as the route back to their families.

Thai national Tarruthai Thamvongsin, 38, arrived in Phuket from San Francisco on July 1. She intends to head home to Bangkok after two weeks on the island.

The food and beverage business owner travelled to the United States in April with her husband, also a Thai national, to get vaccinated as they were unsure of when they would be able to do so at home.

"We were about to return (to Bangkok) but we heard about the Phuket Sandbox opening up, and decided to stay a bit longer so we could use it," said Ms Tarruthai. She and her husband, who is a software engineer, are able to work remotely.

But choosing to enter Thailand through Phuket instead of Bangkok, where she would have had to spend two weeks in quarantine in a hotel, was not without its challenges.

Gaining entry to the island was a stressful experience, she said, noting the various entry requirements announced or changed just days before the sandbox scheme was launched.

Getting the documents necessary for entry was also an anxious experience, as she received approval just six hours before her flight.

"But it's definitely better than state quarantine. The money I use on a quarantine hotel in Bangkok I would rather use here," said Ms Tarruthai, who spent the past week traipsing around the streets of Phuket's Old Town and lounging by the hotel pool.

Another Thai national, Ms Sawalee Thammavechmongkol-Taylor, 52, who has been away for more than a year, latched onto the sandbox scheme to visit family and friends in her home town in Chon Buri.

Ms Sawalee Thammavechmongkol-Taylor and her husband Fred will be arriving in Phuket next week. PHOTO: COURTESY OF SAWALEE THAMMAVECHMONGKOL-TAYLOR

Ms Sawalee, who runs a Thai restaurant in Michigan with her American husband, was wary about spending two weeks in hotel quarantine after friends shared their experiences about it.

"They joke that they feel like an animal in a zoo. Someone rings the doorbell and it's feeding time," she said, adding that the sandbox would allow her to have a holiday with little or no restrictions. She intends to fly from Chicago to Phuket on July 10.

"I need my Thai massage. I miss my family and Thai food," she said, acknowledging jokingly that the food she served in her restaurant was "not authentic".

The sandbox scheme is also a cause for optimism for expat Christina Grawe, 50, who is eager to return to Bangkok from Germany with her 10-year-old son as his school year begins next month.

Avoiding quarantine is a plus for her son, who is studying at an international school in Bangkok.

"He will go crazy if he cannot go out," she said.

The journalist and cafe owner flew to Germany in June to visit her family and get vaccinated. She is aware of rising infection numbers in Thailand as well as news about the Covid-19 positive traveller in Phuket.

"I know there are risks. As a tourist I would not go to Phuket, but having lived in Thailand for 16 years, I want to go home to Bangkok," said Ms Grawe who has booked her flight for July 23.

She knows other expat families who are also using the scheme to return to Thailand.

"Everyone who can, tries to enter via the sandbox. It's the better alternative," she said. Source – Straits Times

Thailand faces long journey back to pre-pandemic levels of mobility. - Economies of Thailand, the Philippines, Peru, Colombia and South Africa are among the most vulnerable to the COVID-19 Delta variant within emerging markets, mostly due to low vaccination rates, a JPMorgan analysis found on Thursday. Pattaya Mail

Thailand faces long journey back to pre-pandemic levels of mobility

Pattaya MailJuly 10, 2021

The Philippines, Peru, South Africa, Thailand, and Colombia face the longest journeys back to pre-pandemic levels of mobility, while Singapore, Turkey, India and Brazil have the shortest journeys.

Economies of Thailand, the Philippines, Peru, Colombia and South Africa are among the most vulnerable to the COVID-19 Delta variant within emerging markets, mostly due to low vaccination rates, a JPMorgan analysis found on Thursday.

The analysis looks at spread of the virus' Delta variant versus the pace of vaccination, which in some countries is not accelerating enough to offset higher rates of transmission.



Even if the Delta variant is shown to result in lower hospitalization and death rates, the report said, pressure on healthcare systems and a higher absolute number of deaths could occur, likely raising pressure on some governments to extend or re-impose mobility restrictions.

A separate note from Oxford Economics showed strong economic activity rebounds in Latin America on the back of gains in mobility.

The JPMorgan analysis said vaccination thresholds for getting mobility back to normal vary by country, so the results are best taken as relative performance from country to country.

"The model estimates suggest that the Philippines, Peru, South Africa, Thailand, and Colombia face the longest journeys back to pre-pandemic levels of mobility, while Singapore, Turkey, India and Brazil have the shortest journeys."

In Latin America, authorities have been less likely to re-impose or lengthen mobility restrictions, the report said.



"While the region has shown surprising resilience in the face of the virus and other headwinds, downside risks to growth could still manifest through the impact of worsening public health on confidence even if the uptrend in mobility remains in place."

Thailand has administered more than 11.6 million vaccine doses to date, about 8.5 million of which are first doses, while over 3.1 million people are fully vaccinated.

Zoning areas from July 12th. The Nation



Lite positiva nyheter för en gång skull 👍👍👍. Författare Richard Barrow

 National Vaccination Rollout:
💉 DAY 23: 255,734
💉 DAY 24: 254,992
💉 DAY 25: 299,485
💉 DAY 26: 345,109
💉 DAY 27: 98,605 <— Saturday
💉 DAY 28: 106,851 <— Sunday
💉 DAY 29: 280,642
💉 DAY 30: 269,653
💉 DAY 31: 291,575
💉 DAY 32: 356,378
💉 DAY 33: 399,908

🔴 TOTAL: 8,275,383 doses

The last two days looking good. Hopefully they can keep this up as vaccinating as many people as they can is the only way we can get out of this mess. Lockdowns don't work in the long run. Vaccinations do. Makes everyone safer as less severe symptoms and less deaths.

Nine million register for Moderna at private hospitals. They only expect to have 5 million jabs in the first batch. 3,300 baht is still a lot for Thai people. ASEAN NOW

Picture: INN

 

INN reported that the chief of the Thai Private Hospitals' Association told them that nine million people had registered so far for Moderna vaccine. 

 

They only expect to have 5 million jabs in the first batch. 

 

Chalerm Hanphanich put the huge interest down to the fact that the public believe the mRNA vaccine is a quality product and that the government rollout has been delayed so far. 

 

In further comments he told the media that he expects the peak of infections in Thailand to still be two weeks away saying this was now the "fourth wave".

 

Meanwhile media elsewhere in Thailand examined the price of the Moderna vaccine at private hospitals.

 

One outlet said 3,300 baht may not be much for some but compared to the price of many things and minimum wages it was a lot.

 

In most areas a worker would have to slave away for TEN days to get the cost of the two jabs.

 

They made price comparisons saying that 3,300 baht was enough, in Bangkok at least, for 115 liters of fuel, 16 visits to the cinema (if they were open), 357 bottles of water, 25 bottles of imported beer, 67 liters of milk or having internet for six months. 

 

People, merchants told to avoid hoarding goods amid lockdown The Department of Internal Trade has urged people not to hoard consumer products during lockdown, assuring that there will be enough supply for everyone. The Nation



The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration on Friday imposed a partial 14-day lockdown including partial curfew in Bangkok and nine other "Dark Red" provinces from Monday, to combat surging virus cases and deaths. The provinces are: Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla.

"The department has asked all department stores, wholesalers and retailers nationwide to increase their stock of consumer products to ensure there will be no shortage during the lockdown," Watthanasak Sua-Iam, the Department of Internal Trade director-general, said on Friday.

"Moreover, we have urged egg farmer associations in affected provinces to fix farm price and supply eggs to all markets in the areas regularly during the lockdown," he added. "All associations have insisted that there will be enough supply of eggs for people's consumption."

Watthanasak also warned that hoarding of goods would be a violation of the Price of Goods and Service Act and punishable with a maximum seven years in prison, or THB140,000 fine, or both.

"If you witness product hoarding or unfair pricing, contact the department's hotline at 1569," he added.

😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥 More suspected of Covid dying at home😥😥😥😥😥😥 "As we are now facing a steep rise in Covid-19 cases, many sick and elderly people cannot get in line to receive official Covid-19 tests, so many of them have no choice but to treat themselves at home. If the government does not promptly tackle this issue, we will surely face a crisis like in India, where many people died on the streets,"





More suspected of Covid dying at home

More people have died in their homes due to a lack of hospital beds, some of whom did not have the chance to be tested for Covid-19.

An elderly woman, who had worked at a massage parlour in Bangkok's Bang Phlat district, was extremely sick with a fever and severe Covid-like symptoms and died shortly after being transferred to hospital yesterday, said Thipjutha Bunnag, Pheu Thai Party candidate for the Bangkok Metropolitan Council in Bang Phlat district.

Ms Thipjutha recently donated 10 oxygen generators to Covid-19 patients being treated at home. The case of the dead and suspected Covid-19 patient was one of two cases she has looked into so far.

She said a few days ago, the woman became sick and wanted to get a Covid-19 test at a mobile testing vehicle, but she was not strong enough to stand for a long time while queuing up.

"As we are now facing a steep rise in Covid-19 cases, many sick and elderly people cannot get in line to receive official Covid-19 tests, so many of them have no choice but to treat themselves at home. If the government does not promptly tackle this issue, we will surely face a crisis like in India, where many people died on the streets," she warned.

A Myanmar woman suspected of being infected with the virus was also found dead in her Bangkok apartment on Thursday. 

359 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Chonburi today Saturday, rising again. Pattaya News



New measures. Bangkok Post / CCSA