AstraZeneca has asked to extend the timeline for the delivery of 61 million doses of its Covid-19 vaccine to Thailand from December to May 2022, Deputy Health Minister Sathit Pitutacha said on Thursday. Bangkok Post



FILE PHOTO: Vials labelled "AstraZeneca COVID-19 Coronavirus Vaccine" and a syringe are seen in front of a displayed AstraZeneca logo, in this illustration photo taken March 14, 2021. (Reuters)

AstraZeneca has asked Thailand to extend the timeline for the delivery of 61 million doses of its Covid-19 vaccine by five months, a deputy minister said on Thursday, a move likely to disrupt further the country's sluggish vaccine rollout.

Deputy Health Minister Sathit Pitutacha said AstraZeneca currently had the capacity to produce 15 million doses of vaccine per month at its production facility in Nonthaburi and that capacity could expand in the future.

The company has promised to deliver 40% of what is produced there inside the country, the deputy health minister said, adding that the government will ask the company for more doses.

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"We must negotiate with them because in this situation we need more vaccine," Mr Sathit said.

"We want 10 million doses because the original plan was 10 million doses," he said referring to the previous monthly delivery target.

A day earlier, the government said it was considering imposing limits on exports of locally manufactured AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine to fight its own outbreak.

The country is suffering its worst outbreak yet and reported a record 98 coronavirus deaths on Thursday, taking total fatalities to 3,032 since the pandemic began last year.

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration also reported 9,186 new coronavirus cases, bringing total infections to 372,215.

The main vaccine rollout started last month and only about 5% of the population of more than 66 million people have been fully vaccinated.



Tyvärr blockerad artikel men det man kan läsa säger allt !! Thai opgiver nyåbnet sommerrute fra CPH - CHECK-IN.dk



Thai Airways åbnede 2. juli en sommerrute fra København til Phuket, men den lukker igen allerede om få uger. "Der har ikke været efterspørgsel nok," siger den danske salgschef.

Det seneste halvandet år har der været begrænset med flyvninger fra København til Thailand som følge af coronapandemien.

Før pandemiens udbrud i marts 2020 fløj Thai Airways året rundt fra den danske hovedstad til Bangkok, mens der var flyvninger...

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Today's local Covid-19 report in Chonburi-another record high with 523 new cases - The Pattaya News

Today's local Covid-19 report in Chonburi-another record high with 523 new cases

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 523 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with two new deaths, July 15th.

Thursday, 15 July 2021, 7:08

PHOTO: BMA Health

Chonburi –

523 is a new record high for cases in the province. However, 212 people were also released and recovered yesterday in Chonburi.

This makes a total of 13,526 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 5,121 still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 72 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 102, Si Racha 117, Banglamung (Pattaya) 93, Panat Nikhom 15, Sattahip 21, Ban Bueang 123, Pan Thong 30, Bor Thong 12, Ko Chan 2, Nong Yai 2, Koh Si Chang 1, and 5 new cases transferred from other provinces for medical care.

The details on the cases are as follows:

1. Cluster, Hen Fong Home Living Technology Co., Ltd. (Thailand), Ban Bueng District, 87 cases
2. Cluster, Prime Products Industry, Bor Thong District, 12 cases
3. Cluster, an unnamed establishment in Ban Bueng District, 7 cases
4. Cluster, Charoonrat Products Company, Ban Bueng District, 3 cases
5. 3 medical personnel
6. Risky occupation, meeting a lot of 2 people (customer-facing roles)
7. People who recently visited other provinces:
7.1 Bangkok 1 person
7.2 Rayong province, 1 case
8. Surveillance of high-risk area employees' residential building, Village No. 3, Bowin Sub-district, Siracha District, 38 persons
9. Surveillance Takhian Tia Market Banglamung district 4 cases
10. Screening for high-risk groups at a government housing community in Mueang Chon Buri district 14 cases
11. Maxis International (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Rayong province 1 person
12. Close contact with previously confirmed cases:
12.1 Traveling from high-risk areas in Bangkok 14 cases
12.2 11 close contacts in general
12.3 1 person traced to a recent illegal party
13. Other close contacts:
13.1 86 family members
13.2 Co-workers at 71 workplaces
14. Close contacts (under investigation) 81 cases
15. Currently under investigation in general 86 cases

A total of 903 close contact searches were received today with 1,896 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.

Treasury takes another swing at golf course bids. The Treasury Department is renewing the invitation process today for interested companies to again bid to renovate and manage Bangpra International Golf Club in Chon Buri province in eastern Thailand. Bangkok Post



 



Treasury takes another swing at golf course bids

The Treasury Department is renewing the invitation process today for interested companies to again bid to renovate and manage Bangpra International Golf Club in Chon Buri province in eastern Thailand.

This is the second time the state agency offered the invitation, with the bid conditions revised this time to make them more attractive to prospective bidders, said Yuttana Yimgarund, director-general of the department.

The golf course occupies more than 633 rai in Bang Phra sub-district in Chon Buri.

He said bid documents go on sale today and the bid submission date is in late August.

The bid winner is awarded the right to manage and utilise the project for 30 years.

While the pandemic is affecting the Thai economy, especially the tourism sector, Mr Yuttana believes the outbreak will soon be contained.

Given the difficulty wooing investors to manage the golf course during the first bid invitation, the department made the conditions more attractive by removing the original condition that the winner would have to build a new hotel worth 200 million baht at the venue. The bid winner is now required to renovate the existing hotel and buildings instead.

Other conditions include the winner making an initial payment of at least 283 million baht. The bid winner can pay the full amount upfront or split it into five instalment rounds.

If the winner opts for the instalment payments, the interest rate is 3% per instalment.

The winner is also required to pay the annual golf course rental fee of 12.82 million baht for the first year, with the rate increasing 9% every three years. The winner shares revenue with the department at a rate of 3% of revenue before expenses.

The bid winner is required to invest at least 160 million baht on golf course renovations and at least 150 million on the renovation of a hotel, a golf club building and other buildings. Another rule is investment of at least 4.76 million baht to construct a golf academy building.



Bed situation for Bangkok virus patients reaches critical level. “Bangkok hospitals have a total capacity of about 1,000 beds for red-group patients. There are now only 10 per cent of these beds vacant,” said Dr Korakrit Limsommut, director of the ministry’s Health Administration Division. The Nation

Bed situation for Bangkok virus patients reaches critical level

The bed situation for Covid-19 patients in Bangkok is at a critical level, especially for those in the red group, for which there are only 10 per cent of beds available, the Public Health Ministry revealed.

"Bangkok hospitals have a total capacity of about 1,000 beds for red-group patients. There are now only 10 per cent of these beds vacant," said Dr Korakrit Limsommut, director of the ministry's Health Administration Division.

"For patients in the yellow group, there are [only] 415 vacant beds, plus some 449 beds available in hospital isolation rooms. As for patients in the green group, there are 500 vacant beds at field hospitals, plus about 4,200 at certified hospitels," the doctor said.

Patients in the red group are those with severe symptoms that require respirators, while patients in the yellow group display moderate symptoms but have underlying health problems that require close monitoring. Those in the green group have tested positive but are still asymptomatic.

Korakrit also said the ministry has 1,613 Remdesivir and 4,017,781 Favipiravir tablets in stock for treating Covid-19 patients.

"We are planning to procure 21 million more Favipiravir tablets to cope with the rising infections," he said.

"The first big lot of 16 million tablets should be delivered within this month; two million will arrive in August and another two million in September. Negotiations are being conducted with the manufacturer for the remaining one million tablets," he added.



State tinkers with reopening plan. The worsening Covid-19 situation in Thailand has led the Tourism and Sports Ministry to reconsider the country's reopening strategy, admitting some target destinations are still marred by soaring infections. However, the ministry insists on reopening Bangkok by this year as the capital is the heart of the tourism industry in Thailand. Bangkok Post

State tinkers with reopening plan

A sign lights up the entrance to Walking Street in Pattaya where business has ground to a halt since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Nutthawat Wicheanbut

The worsening Covid-19 situation in Thailand has led the Tourism and Sports Ministry to reconsider the country's reopening strategy, admitting some target destinations are still marred by soaring infections.

However, the ministry insists on reopening Bangkok by this year as the capital is the heart of the tourism industry in Thailand.

"With more than 9,000 cases per day, we cannot think of reopening the whole country or even 10 designated destinations as expected. We should adjust the strategy depending on the situation in each area and stay focused on provinces that have already reopened like the Phuket sandbox and Samui Plus schemes," said Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the tourism and sports minister.

Four destinations -- Bangkok, Chon Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Phetchaburi -- are still reporting a high number of new cases daily, so the ministry will propose a plan to help tourists in the Phuket sandbox visit safe areas nearby such as Koh Phi Phi and Railay Bay in Krabi and Khao Lak in Phangnga, he said.

Under this plan, tourists will see their compulsory stay in Phuket reduced from 14 days to seven if they opt for sealed route tours to destinations as part of a programme called "island-hopping".

This proposal still requires the approval of the prime minister.

Mr Phiphat said the ministry and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will not restrict reopening to certain provinces, but will extend it to other provinces that have been left behind.

He said some provinces in the Northeast with low infection rates such as Bueng Kan, Nong Khai and Ubon Ratchathani have the opportunity to join the programme as they have unique landscapes, culture and characteristics to attract the Western market.

Chiang Mai and Lamphun in the North can be promoted as golf destinations, said Mr Phiphat.

"Reopening should occur in areas that can control the virus and have 70% of the population vaccinated. This scheme should also win public consensus to welcome inoculated international tourists," he said.

The Phuket sandbox scheme has been open for two weeks, but Mr Phiphat said it is still premature to discuss reducing the compulsory 14-day stay on the island as the whole country is grappling with record high infections and fatalities.

"I have to visit the Tokyo Olympic Games in Japan this month and will return via the Phuket sandbox, completing 14 days on the island. This rule won't change for the time being," he said.

However, the government plans to keep its goal to reopen Bangkok by this year if 70% of its 10 million inhabitants are vaccinated, said Mr Phiphat.

"We must reopen Bangkok because it represents the whole nation. The capital is the heart and centre of tourism. If the city can reopen, there's no need to worry about other places," he said.

PATTAYA CONCERNS

Thanet Supornsahasrungsi, acting president of the Chon Buri Tourism Council, said despite 513 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, the province is committed to its reopening plan for vaccinated international tourists starting in September, dubbed the "Pattaya Move On" programme.

The province just cleared some hurdles as the TAT officially endorsed the provincial reopening plan, allowing the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration to allocate enough vaccines for its population of 450,000 in two districts: Bang Lamung and Sattahip.

However, he said tourism operators acknowledged they must closely monitor the situation in the coming months. If cases rise in the area, Chon Buri might have to postpone the plan.

"Even if we cannot reopen as planned, we still need to achieve herd immunity to ensure confidence as a destination for travellers," Mr Thanet said.

He said more than 40% of small and medium-sized businesses in the hospitality sector in Pattaya have permanently closed since the first lockdown last year. Only 20-30% of remaining businesses are open.

"The initial return of guests might be business travellers from industrial zones in the eastern provinces. However, we hope to achieve 30% of 2019 tourism numbers by the end of this year," said Mr Thanet.



🔴 #COVID19 Update on Thursday: 9,186 cases & 98 deaths. Richard Barrow

 





Bangkok Post highlights 15/7

 

The Chonburi Governor released a new order this evening, July 14th, 2021, dropping the gathering limit in half from 100 people to 50 people, stating charity events must have permission from local officials, and closing a local company. Pattaya News

Chonburi releases new order dropping gathering limit in half, requiring permission for charity events, temporarily closing another factory

Wednesday, 14 July 2021, 18:54

Chonburi, Thailand-

  The Chonburi Governor released a new order this evening, July 14th, 2021, dropping the gathering limit in half from 100 people to 50 people, stating charity events must have permission from local officials, and closing a local company.

The orders are to help prevent the spread of Covid-19, according to the orders.

The first order, 54/2564 states that the Prime Production Company Limited in the Kasetsuwan sub-district in Bor Thong, Chonburi, has been identified as having multiple cases of Covid-19.

As a result, the factory will be temporarily closed until at least July 29th, 2021. All staff will need to comply with disease control official orders and those who live on the premises are forbidden from exiting the area during the closure period, regardless of Covid-19 testing status, unless given permission by a disease control officer.

The second-order, 55/2564, states all activities in which groups are gathered of more than 50 are prohibited unless authorized by provincial officials. This is primarily for official meetings, business gatherings, religious gatherings, formal events, company meetings, etc.  Gatherings of as few as two people for the purpose of drinking alcohol or partying are already forbidden, especially overnight, TPN notes.

The second part of the order states that anyone who wishes to organize a donation or charity event, such as a food giveaway, MUST get permission from local authorities, or the event is prohibited. Additionally, if authorities give permission and see an event that is not following Covid-19 rules, especially social distancing, the event will be shut down. Law enforcement is providing assistant to charity donations to help social distance and enforce Covid-19 rules, notes TPN media.

The second order is effective from today, July 14th, until further notice. 

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 A Thai government spokesman has slammed as fake news reports on social media that the Phuket Sandbox reopening to foreign tourists was over. And he has insisted that despite less than 400 tourists arriving each day a 100,000 target for three months will be met with spending of 8.9 billion baht.😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂



Picture: Siam Rath

 

A Thai government spokesman has slammed as fake news reports on social media that the Phuket Sandbox reopening to foreign tourists was over. 

 

And he has insisted that despite less than 400 tourists arriving each day a 100,000 target for three months will be met with spending of 8.9 billion baht. 

 

This came from Thanakorn Wangbunkhongchana, a PM's office secretary and spokesman for the office that handles the economic fallout from Covid-19.

 

He said there was no truth to suggestions that the sandbox had been abandoned amid a rise in infections calling it fake news and pointing his finger at bad people who suggested that. He urged the public not to share this nonsense.

 

He said that everything was proceeding as planned, strict measures were in place, all infections were being recorded and handled properly with quarantine for those in contact with those who are infected. 

 

He told Siam Rath that with nearly two weeks of the sandbox completed there had already been 4,778 foreign tourists.

 

Based on that being 12 days it would mean that just under 400 tourists had entered Thailand for the sandbox each day. 

 

Extrapolated at the same rate it would mean around 36,600 visits before the end of September, notes ASEAN Now. 

 

Yet the spokesman insisted that TAT targets for 100,000 tourists would be met and they would be spending 8.9 billion baht. 

 

Phuket Sandbox hotels to suit all budgets

 

Thailand's GPO files defamation against two public figures over profit claim in the Moderna deal. 5 million doses of the US-made vaccine is expected to be delivered in Q4 2021 and Q1 2022. - Thai PBS World

GPO files defamation against two public figures over profit claim in Moderna deal

views  160

Thailand's Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) has lodged a complaint with Phaya Thai police in Bangkok, accusing Dr. Boon Vanasin and Mr. Loy Chunpongtong of spreading false information about profit being sought in the Moderna vaccine procurement process, to discredit the organization.

Dr. Boon is the chairman of the Thonburi Healthcare Group, whereas Mr. Loy is a well-known mathematician, astronomer. The GPO acts on behalf of private hospitals in ordering the Moderna vaccine as only government agencies, with the exception of the Chulabhorn Royal Academy, can procure them.

In its complaint, the GPO accuses the two men of defaming the organization by providing false information to the public, causing the public to incorrectly believe that the organization is making huge profits from the procurement.

The GPO explained, in a statement issued today (Wednesday), that it was assigned to act as a go-between to procure alternative vaccines for the private sector, without making a profit.

It also said that it finds it necessary to resort to litigation against Dr. Boon and Mr. Loy because their false claims about the vaccine deal have damaged the organization's reputation.

Meanwhile, Mr. Loy explained, on his YouTube "Loy Academy" channel yesterday, that he did not spread fake or false news about the GPO's vaccine deal as alleged, but merely wanted to know how the state-owned organization came up with a price of 1,100 baht/dose of Moderna vaccine, charged to private hospitals, when the prices charged by the manufacturer are US$17-18 per dose to the US government and European Union, or 584 baht/dose charged by its distributer in Thailand, Zuellig Pharma Ltd.

Mr. Loy said the GPO is charging private hospitals 1,100 baht per dose, which is inclusive of 7% VAT and other expenses, and private hospitals are charging the public 1,650 baht/dose, including insurance coverage.

Although private hospitals are entitled to claim the 7% VAT refund from the state, he said he wondered if any private hospitals will refund members of the public who pay for the vaccine shots at the hospitals.

He asked why the GPO did not ask the government to waive the VAT from the beginning, so that it would not be a burden on the people. He also recommended that all government hospitals procure mRNA alternative vaccines for people free of charge, citing Section 47 of the Constitution, which stipulates that they are entitled to protection against communicable diseases from the state free of charge.

Mr. Loy claimed that what he had done, so far, is to protect Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha from public criticism, saying that he has done it in good faith, noting that people want the vaccine, but wonder why it is so expensive.



As it looks today ! NBT

 

Dagens ”Tio i Topp”. PRD