Yesterday, (July 15th), 1,200 Bangsaen beach operators and residents were vaccinated for their first dose of the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine. Pattaya News

1,200 Bangsaen beach operators and residents receive first Covid-19 Sinovac vaccines

Yesterday, (July 15th), 1,200 Bangsaen beach operators and residents were vaccinated for their first dose of the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine.

Friday, 16 July 2021, 13:19

Chonburi –

The vaccination campaign took place at the Sanesuk Municipality. The Sanesuk mayor Ronnachai Khunplume was present at the event in order to encourage 1,200 vendors, beach operators, and residents who were taking their first dose of the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine.

Mr. Ronnachai told Pattaya News reporters, "About 15 percent of the people who live in the Sanesuk Municipality areas have already received a Covid-19 vaccine."

"Bangsaen beach vendor and operators are about at 30 percent in total of being vaccinated to fight Covid-19. They are a priority due to their direct exposure to many domestic tourists from out of town." The mayor added.

"We are expecting about 70 percent of our local beach vendors to receive a Covid-19 vaccine by December of this year if we continue to receive enough vaccine supply for them from the central government." The mayor explained.

"Bangsaen is one of the most popular domestic tourism attractions in Chonburi and attracts tens of thousands of tourists, especially from Bangkok. We are working on prioritizing vaccines to our area due to this factor and being such a popular destination for Bangkok residents, especially on weekends." The mayor stated.

"We have requested for more vaccines and also privately purchased and booked Sinopharm vaccines at about 10,000 doses. " The mayor concluded.

TPN media notes that the overall vaccination campaign in Chonburi continues at a trickle, primarily due to the vast majority of Thailand's supply of vaccines currently being allocated to Bangkok, where the majority of Covid-19 cases in Thailand are originating and taking place currently.

Thailand threatens PRISON TIME for 'hoarders'. The director-general also warned that hoarding of goods will be a violation of the Price of Goods and Services Act and punishable with a maximum seven years in prison, or a THB140,000 fine, or both. Bangkok Jack

Thailand threatens PRISON TIME for 'hoarders'

July 16, 2021

No stocking up is allowed.... - COVID-1984

Thailand's Department of Internal Trade (DIT) is urging people not to hoard consumer products during lockdown, while assuring that there will be enough supplies for everyone.

DIT Director-General Watthanasak Sua-Iam said the department has asked all department stores, wholesalers and retailers nationwide to increase their stocks of consumer products, to ensure there will be no shortage during the lockdown.

He said the DIT has also urged egg farmer associations in affected provinces to fix farm prices and supply eggs regularly to all markets in the area during the lockdown, and all associations have insisted that there will be a sufficient supply of eggs for consumption.

The director-general also warned that hoarding of goods will be a violation of the Price of Goods and Services Act and punishable with a maximum seven years in prison, or a THB140,000 fine, or both.

People can contact the department's hotline at 1569, if they witness product hoarding or unfair pricing. – NNT

Bangkok's snake-catchers are kept busy. Bangkok parkgoers looking for relief from renewed COVID-19 restrictions had a slithering surprise on Thursday (Jul 15) when a python as long as two of the Thai capital’s ubiquitous motorbikes was spotted in one of the city’s most popular green spaces. Bangkok Jack

Bangkok's snake-catchers are kept busy

July 16, 2021

In this image taken from video footage, firefighters display a reticulated python captured in Benjasiri Park in Bangkok, Thailand on Jul 15, 2021. (Image: AP/Adam Schreck)

Bangkok parkgoers looking for relief from renewed COVID-19 restrictions had a slithering surprise on Thursday (Jul 15) when a python as long as two of the Thai capital's ubiquitous motorbikes was spotted in one of the city's most popular green spaces.

The reticulated python was only the latest big serpent to turn up in the dense center of Bangkok, where urban sprawl eating into natural habitats has been blamed for a rise in snake sightings in recent years.

This one was found in Benjasiri Park, which is flanked by towering hotels, apartment buildings and several high-end shopping malls now largely off limits due to restrictions put in place this week to stem a surge in virus cases.

The curbs have shuttered non-essential businesses and limited restaurants to takeout only, leaving parks among the few public places still open.

In this image taken from video footage, a firefighter tries to capture a python in the Benjasiri Park in Bangkok, Thailand on Jul 15, 2021. (Photo: AP/Adam Schreck)

As parents pushed strollers and joggers rounded a nearby running path, firefighters called in to corral the snake started by trying to capture it with a ladder from the ground up.

The python plotted its escape by heading out on a limb, bound for a building on the edge of the park that houses the World Fellowship of Buddhists.

Other firefighters were waiting for it on the roof of the building. While one used a stick to grab the python by the neck, another man tried to cut the branch it was on. They soon coaxed it into a sack, tied up the bag, and carried it away.

Firefighter Somchai Yoosabai said the snake measured 3.5m long and weighed about 35kg.

Bangkok firefighters typically get thousands of snake-removal calls each year. Yoosabai said his department alone has caught a snake or two a day during the current rainy season, mostly in neighborhoods or houses with pets.

As coronavirus cases rise, so do the risks.

"If any houses have COVID-19 cases, we have to go to catch the snakes anyway," he said. "Plus, wherever we go to catch a snake, the crowd is always there. We cannot avoid that."

Thailand reported 9,186 new COVID-19 cases, including a record high 98 deaths, on Thursday. – AP 

Chonburi reports another record high with 530 new cases of Covid -19 and three deaths - The Pattaya News

Chonburi –

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 530 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with three new deaths, July 16th.

530 is a new record high for cases in the province. However, 183 people were also released and recovered yesterday in Chonburi.

This makes a total of 14,056 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 5,465 still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 75 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April. The details on yesterday's deaths were not given, which is standard for the health department.

Additionally, 8,333 people in total have now been released from medical care and recovered in Chonburi since this current wave began.

The district-level new cases were as follows today:

Mueang Chonburi 58, Si Racha 161, Banglamung (Pattaya) 171, Panat Nikhom 7, Sattahip 16, Ban Bueang 47, Pan Thong 19, Bor Thong 30, Ko Chan 1, and 20 new cases transferred from other provinces for medical care.

The details on the cases are as follows:

1. Cluster, Prime Products Industry, Bor Thong District, 28 cases
2. Cluster, Charoonrat Products Company, Ban Bueng District, 4 cases
3. Cluster, an unnamed school in Ban Bueng District, 3 cases
4. Proactive case finding at Rattanakorn Market in Banglamung, 9 cases
5. Proactive cases finding at Nongket Market in Banglamung, 4 cases
6. Risky occupation, meeting a lot of people, 8 cases
7. 2 medical personnel
8. New Thai Wheels Manufacturing Co.,Ltd. In Rayong, 13 cases
9. Patients from Rayong being treated in Chonburi, 2 cases
10. Traveling from high-risk areas in
    • Bangkok, 6 cases
    • Pathum Thani, 3 cases
    • Lopburi, 1 case
11. Other close contacts:
    • closed person, 21 cases
    • In parties, 7 cases
12. Other close contacts:
    • In families, 124 cases
    • In workplaces, 112 cases
13. Close contacts (under investigation), 54 cases
14. Currently under investigation in general, 129 cases

A total of 995 close contact searches were received today with 1,829 initial proactive searches, and more proactive search reports are pending.

There are currently, in Chonburi, clusters of Covid-19 at 14 establishments and five markets, 10 construction worker camps, and four communities.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is confident that the number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand in the fourth quarter of the year will increase significantly, thanks to the tourism sandbox campaigns that aim to reopen certain areas of Thailand to vaccinated tourists. The Nation

TAT expects sandbox schemes to give tourism a big boost

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is confident that the number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand in the fourth quarter of the year will increase significantly, thanks to the tourism sandbox campaigns that aim to reopen certain areas of Thailand to vaccinated tourists.

"The pilot tourism sandbox programme in Phuket that started on July 1 has been a great success. From July 1-14 the province has welcomed 5,742 tourists, nearly reaching the same level as in May, which had 6,512 tourists," TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said on Thursday.

"Meanwhile, we tested all visitors and found that only 10 were infected, which is lower than expected and is easily manageable."

Yuthasak added that on Thursday, Koh Samui in Surat Thani also opened under the sandbox programme, followed by Koh Phi Phi and Railay Beach in Krabi as well as Khao Lak and Koh Yao in Phang Nga.

"In September the sandbox scheme will expand to other tourist cities, including Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Buri Ram, which will host the MotoGP tournament," he added.

"The TAT has set the target that this year we will have domestic tourists at 90 million and will increase to 100 million in 2022, while in the fourth quarter of this year there will be at least 3 million foreign tourists visiting Thailand, generating income of THB850 billion," said Yuthasak.

"Tourism revenue for 2022 is estimated at THB2.5 trillion, but could vary depending on the Covid-19 situation. The TAT hopes to achieve this target by promoting Thailand to be at the top of the minds of foreign tourists and working with local partners to bring back foreign visitors."

🔴 #COVID19 Update on Friday: 9,692 cases & 67 deaths. Richard Barrow

 



Thailand's vaccine rollout is evidently a complete shambles due to questionable procurement, supply shortage, and misallocation amid a deadly surge of the Covid-19 "Delta" variant. The situation has been going from bad to worse with no end in sight as a poorly conceived strategy unfolds into a national calamity. Bangkok Post

Thailand's jab fiasco needs an inquiry

Virologist Dr Yong Poovorawan, front right, administers a Covid jab to Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, front left, on Feb 28. Dr Yong also advised the government to pioneer the mixing of Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines. Government House Photo

Thailand's vaccine rollout is evidently a complete shambles due to questionable procurement, supply shortage, and misallocation amid a deadly surge of the Covid-19 "Delta" variant. The situation has been going from bad to worse with no end in sight as a poorly conceived strategy unfolds into a national calamity. As public anger mounts with fast-spreading calls for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's ouster, the Covid-19 pandemic is becoming Thailand's political game-changer more than anyone could have anticipated.

Instead of the youth-led political movement or the parliamentary opposition's demands for reform, fundamental political change in this country will likely cascade from the Prayut government's gross mishandling that is claiming lives, inflicting daily hardships, and causing unhappiness nationwide. When the time comes to pick up the pieces with more abundant and efficacious vaccines with virus control under way, a national inquiry for public accountability will be imperative.

To be sure, it is worth acknowledging that Thailand is not alone in suffering from the coronavirus variants as well as problematic vaccine procurement, quantity, and rollout. For countries with previously stellar performances during the virus stage last year, such as Vietnam, or with far-sighted vaccine management, such as Singapore, challenges abound. Vietnam is also slow with its vaccine plan while infections have risen. Singapore has been exemplary in its diversified vaccine strategy but a virus spike has been unavoidable. Others from South Korea and Japan to Australia and the whole of Asean are behind on vaccinations while the virus and variants keep coming at them. It can be said that Indonesia's situation is worse than Thailand's.

What sets Thailand apart are what appears to be inherent nepotism and vested interests where people suspect there is more than meets the eye behind the country's vaccination procurement. For inhabitants of this country, it matters less that other countries are suffering the same conditions, but that the country they live in can and should be doing much better. What's worse, the Prayut government keeps repeating the same mistakes and making matters worse by the day.

Let's start with the incoming donation of 1.5 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine from the United States government. Pfizer has become the gold-standard vaccine choice. In Thailand and many countries, Pfizer and its US-made Moderna peer are preferred over other vaccines, particularly the China-made Sinovac and Sinopharm, and even the British-Swedish AstraZeneca.

But Thailand has had to stick with two vaccine choices. Thanks to the Prayut government, Thailand is one of just 11 countries in the world that chose not to join the international vaccine cooperation called Covax, which represents 184 members. For this reason, the US's Pfizer donation had to go to extra lengths to take place outside the Covax framework. Pfizer vaccine donations are a new kind of vaccine diplomacy from Washington, offering bilateral goodwill with a better and superior vaccine which could offset latent resentment from the 1997-98 economic crisis when Thailand felt abandoned by its treaty ally.

As the Pfizer donation comes with no strings attached, vested interests are already circling and manoeuvring for a take. The current policy discussion of a necessary "booster" shot is not about jacking up antibodies with a "third" jab, but all about getting an arm underneath a Pfizer injection. Since the state apparatus and government leaders are no longer trustworthy, it will be up to civil society and the public to demand and scrutinise to ensure transparency and fair access and distribution.

Frontline medical professionals who merit a third shot and people who have not had a first jab should be given priority. People should not be prevented from receiving their first jab for increased immunity. If that first jab is Pfizer, then so be it. It can almost be guaranteed that the Pfizer supply will be leaked and misallocated to the benefit of those in or with access to power.

The donation of the superior and highly coveted Pfizer also makes people in Thailand wonder why they are stuck with more than 10.5 million doses and growing deliveries of the China-made Sinovac, as a supply shortage continues to hinder the more preferred and internationally recognised AstraZeneca. That the integrity of Thailand's Sinovac purchases has been questioned is because Sino Biopharmaceutical -- listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange and having CP as a small shareholder, also invested in Sinovac Biotech which produces the vaccine.

Moreover, Sinovac's efficacy has been questioned. Singapore early this month was reported to have excluded Sinovac from its national Covid-19 vaccinations, citing inadequate efficacy data for the Chinese-made vaccine, especially against the contagious Delta variant. Meanwhile, there have been reports of Covid infections in Indonesia and other countries among those who had been fully vaccinated with Sinovac. Yet the Prayut government has got nothing else to inoculate its people. Sinopharm, made in China and imported by the Chulabhorn Royal Academy (CRA), has become the third available vaccine. But there is a limited supply and people need to fork out money to pay for it.

The government's latest move with its vaccination plan is worrying as it might make matters worse. The government is to approve the mixing and matching of a first Sinovac jab with an AstraZeneca second shot. Without sound medical science to back it up, this egregious move could be indictable if it ends up in consequent fatalities. Being stuck with ample Sinovac and some AstraZeneca with none of the superior US-made vaccines, the Prayut government is betting on public safety just to muddle itself out of a poor and dangerous vaccine short-sightedness from the outset.

As the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) pointed out in its recent virus and vaccine assessment, there needs to be a national inquiry to hold those who are responsible for the vaccine mismanagement to account. It needs to probe further the apparent conspiracy among top policymakers and perhaps healthcare experts, including the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO).

There must be an investigation into the allegation that whether there is systematic manoeuvring and intention behind keeping up the steady Sinovac orders and demurring on other vaccine choices. As the pandemic continues to run its course, political rumblings and combustibility in Thailand will not be far behind.

Thitinan Pongsudhirak, PhD, is professor at the Faculty of Political Science and director of its Institute of Security and International Studies at Chulalongkorn University.





Bangkok Post highlights 16/7

 

“Behind the bad luck there are still good things all around us”. Nurses surprise Covid-19 patient with Birthday cake in field hospital. Thai Residents

Nurses surprise Covid-19 patient with Birthday cake in field hospital.

Tanyaporn R.

July 15, 2021

Nurses and other medical personnel surprised a covid patient with a birthday cake on her birthday. The nurses all wore PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and walked up to the patient's bed. This was all done while the happy birthday song played through the hospital field speakers. The incident took place on 14 July 2021 in Chiang Mai Province. The numbers have continued rising as days go on. Stress increases nationwide but the story has brought a smile to many as proof that good things are still happening too. A video was shared showing medical personnel at a field hospital surprising a covid patient. 

Credit: Khaosod

The field hospital is at the International Convention and Exhibition Centre Commemorating His Majesty's 7th Cycle Birthday Anniversary building in Chiang Mai. The Facebook user named "Pause Indy" who is one of the medical personnel made a post stating "Behind the bad luck there are still good things all around us. Happy Birthday, stay strong everyone. Save Chiang Mai". The post helped share the story of a good incident that brought together the doctors, nurses, medical personnel, and Covid-19 patients. A covid patient at the field hospital had her birthday on 13 July but because she was infected and unwell the girl did not get to celebrate her birthday as she normally did every other year. 

After the medical personnel found out 4 decided to wear PPE and walked in to the patient with a birthday cake. Other medical personnel joined through the TV monitor and turned on the happy birthday song through the speakers. They all gave her birthday wishes and this made the hospital visit a little nicer. The story went viral and netizens helped wish the patient a good birthday. Most were impressed with the story that helped brighten their day. 



The Thai baht is heading towards its FIFTH weekly loss on Friday as confidence in the country’s tourism-reliant economy has waned amid a rapidly spreading Delta variant of coronavirus in Asia and abroad that has clouded global growth outlook. Bangkok Jack

It's all about the money, honey

The Thai baht is heading towards its FIFTH weekly loss on Friday as confidence in the country's tourism-reliant economy has waned amid a rapidly spreading Delta variant of coronavirus in Asia and abroad that has clouded global growth outlook.

The baht, Asia's worst performing currency this year, dropped 0.7% to 32.68 per dollar following Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's decision on imposing more travel restrictions.

The baht last traded at this level during the original COVID-19 outbreak in April 2020.

'The baht's Achilles heel is decimated tourism,' HSBC analysts said in a note, expecting it to weaken further amid slow recovery as they lowered their year-end projection for the currency by about 7% to 33.0 per dollar.

Investor sentiment had also taken a hit since the Bank of Thailand slashed its growth forecast for the economy last month, predicting it would return to pre-pandemic levels only by 2023.

Asia's emerging markets already faced pressure from recent devastating outbreaks and a slow pace of vaccination, but a jump in COVID-19 cases in developed economies has stoked worries of more lockdowns that could hinder global trade.

'Broad risk aversion was even more apparent in the foreign exchange space with U.S. dollar on the rise… regional (Asian) currencies took the brunt because of worsening COVID outbreaks here,' Maybank analysts said in a note.

'The trigger could be the state of emergency declared for Tokyo on Thursday, underscoring the challenges of overcoming the Delta variant.'

Most Asian equities fell in line with the frail market sentiment, with the Philippine stock index leading declines, tumbling as much as 2.6% to see its worst day since March 19.