State of emergency extended for 2 months. The cabinet on Tuesday extended the state of emergency nationwide for two months, until the end of September, to cope with the local Covid-19 situation. Bangkok Post

State of emergency extended for 2 months

There was little traffic near the famous Erawan Shrine at at Ratchaprasong intersection, a central business area of Bangkok, on Tuesday, when lockdown measures took effect in 13 provinces heavily hit by Covid-19, including Greater Bangkok. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)

The cabinet on Tuesday extended the state of emergency nationwide for two months, until the end of September, to cope with the local Covid-19 situation.

Deputy government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul said extension was from  Aug 1 to Sept 30, as proposed by the National Security Council. The NSC functions as the operations unit of the government's Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration.

The extension was necessary to facilitate the swift and integrated implementation of measures to control Covid-19 for the sake of public safety, she said.

The decision was a response to the thousands of new Covid-19 cases being recorded daily in Greater Bangkok, where  easily transmissible and drug-resistant Covid-19 variants were spreading and being carried by workers returning to their home provinces, Ms Traisuree said.

The Public Health Ministry was predicting about 10,000 new Covid-19 cases and more than 100 fatalities a day, she said.



😡😡😡😡😡The government has signed a supply agreement for 20 million doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine, three months after it said it would buy them….😡😡😡. Bangkok Post

Contract to buy 20m doses of Pfizer vaccine signed

Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Department of Disease Control, and Ms Deborah Seifert, executive of Pfizer Thailand and Indochina, show the agreement Thailand has signed with Pfizer at the Public Health Ministry on Tuesday. Witnessing the event were Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul (in pink) and senior officials. (Photo: Department of Disease Control).

The government has signed a supply agreement for 20 million doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine, three months after it said it would buy them.

The delivery is expected in the fourth quarter of this year. The value of the deal was not disclosed. 

Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Disease Control department, on Tuesday signed the agreement with Ms Deborah Seifert, executive of Pfizer Thailand and Indochina.

Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, his deputy Sathit Pitutecha, and public health permanent secretary Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit witnessed the signing ceremony at the Public Health Ministry in Nonthaburi. 

Mr Anutin said Thailand had worked closely with Pfizer Co over the past 2-3 months. According to reports, Thailand decided to buy it in late April. 

The batch, however, is not the first mRNA vaccine to arrive in Thailand.

Dr Opas said 1.5 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine donated by the US would reach the country on July 29.

According to the U.S. Embassy Bangkok Facebook page, the batch was worth $30 million.

"This donation, and the millions of doses the United States is providing to neighboring countries, will help Thailand and the region accelerate their vaccination campaigns, keep their populations safe, and ensure that their economies can recover quickly," read the post.

According to Mr Anutin and Dr Opas, the vaccine would be administered on frontline medical personnel and health workers, elderly people and other groups as approved by the National Communicable Disease Committee.

Thailand has also planned to buy another 50 milion doses of the vaccine next year.

Thailand's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Pfizer shots for emergency use on June 24 as the sixth coronavirus vaccine. It is used as a two-dose regimen given 21 days apart.

The vaccine can be used on people aged 12 or more whereas the other five vaccines approved in Thailand earlier are for people aged 18 or more, said Mr Anutin.

There were 80 Covid-19 fatalities and 11,305 new cases recorded on Monday, the Public Health Ministry reported on Tuesday morning.

What leaving your Pattaya home “only when necessary” means in practice. Pattaya Mail

What leaving your Pattaya home "only when necessary" means in practice

Pattaya MailJuly 20, 2021

Pattaya, being inside Chonburi, is now in a "deep red" zone with lockdowns and curfews.

Beginning Tuesday July 20, a lockdown of indeterminate length will be enforced in "dark red" Thai provinces which now include Chonburi and its favorite city Pattaya. Everyone is expected to remain in their homes unless a journey outside is necessary. Based on a reading of the Royal Gazette and on previous lockdowns, here are the most likely consequences.



A curfew will be enforced from 9 pm to 4 am. To be outside during these hours, you would need to show a document supporting exemption, for example a relevant air ticket. The (Thai) drivers of delivery vans, ambulances, etc., are exempt. Thailand has long experience of efficiently supervising curfews during many coups and crises over the years.

Shopping is allowed outside of curfew hours, until 8 pm, for basic necessities such as food and medicine. Many retail businesses will close and some "non-essential" sections in malls and supermarkets are likely to be roped off. Banks, vaccination centers, shops selling communication devicesand essential public services (such as immigration and post offices) will remain open, although hours could be restricted in some local government departments such as the issuing of driving licences and the registration of land sales. If you have to go to a religious ceremony, such as a funeral, checkwith the monks first.

Dining in restaurants is now banned, although take-out and delivery remains an option till 8 pm. Coffee bars and snackeries will shut down for the duration. Drinking alcohol anywhere except in your own home is banned, although the purchase in retail outlets is still permitted, a change from the April 2020 early lockdown. Under a recent edict from the Chonburi governor, non-relatives should not visit your home for social reasons.

It is still unknown if beaches will be closed, but in reality, it doesn't much matter either way as hardly anyone uses them during lockdowns.

Travelling to work or for voluntary duties is permitted, although you should carry a relevant permission such as your work permit or a letter of authorization from a competent official. Unless the driver is solo, car or minibus occupants should wear a mask and hand cleansers should be available. A suggestion in April 2020 that people over 70 should refrain from travel anywhere without official dispensation has not been issued this time.




Travel is an ongoing issue and may well be the subject of more regulation from the authorities. Travel within the province is allowed only if "necessary" and checks on private and public vehicles are likely to increase. Inter-provincial travel will become near-impossible by public transport and private cars will become subject to strict inspection. To date, there has been no public mention of passes issued by the local authority for travellers with an urgent need to travel nationally. Other provinces may impose quarantine restrictions on travellers from dark red zones such as Chonburi and Pattaya. Indeed, some already have.

Hairdressers, salons, beauty shops, snooker halls, massage parlours and any venue which could be described as a leisure or non-essential business will need to close down unless specifically exempted, which is unlikely. Beaches, parks swimming pools and golf courses were closed for varying amounts of time in previous lockdowns. However, physical exercising in public is allowed, so it is possible that some specific areas may be left open. These could include, for example, the tracks around public reservoirs. Such details will be left to provincial decrees rather than instruction from centralgovernment. Best to assume everything is closed unless specifically and officially exempted.



Thailand’s purchase contract for 20 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been signed, with delivery expected in the fourth quarter of this year, according to Pfizer and BioNTech today (Tuesday). Without revealing the prices or exact delivery schedule, both Pfizer and BioNTech said in a press statement that a contract has been signed with Thailand’s Disease Control Department under the Ministry of Public Health. | Thai PBS World

Contract signed for Thailand's 20 million doses of Pfizer vaccine, delivery in Q4 this year

views  622

Thailand's purchase contract for 20 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been signed, with delivery expected in the fourth quarter of this year, according to Pfizer and BioNTech today (Tuesday).

Without revealing the prices or exact delivery schedule, both Pfizer and BioNTech said in a press statement that a contract has been signed with Thailand's Disease Control Department under the Ministry of Public Health.

"We are thrilled to have signed this important agreement with the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand as part of our shared commitment to be part of the country's efforts to drive down COVID-19 infections," said Deborah Seifert, Country Manager of Pfizer (Thailand) Ltd. and Indochina.

"I would like to thank the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand for its support and for putting trust in our ability to develop a vaccine that, we believe, has the potential to help address this global pandemic threat. Our goal remains to deliver a global supply of a well-tolerated and effective COVID-19 vaccine for many people around the world, as quickly as we can," said Sean Marett, Chief Business and Chief Commercial Officer at BioNTech.

Pfizer and BioNTech aim to manufacture approximately 3 billion doses of their COVID-19 vaccine globally by the end of 2021. It is one of the two current mRNA vaccines, the other being US-made Moderna. Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was approved for emergency use by Thailand's Food and Drug Administration on June 24^th.

Thailand does not yet have any mRNA vaccines in use, with only Sinovac and Sinopharm from China, both are whole virus vaccines, and AstraZeneca, a vector vaccine, being provided.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and other key health officials will meet representatives from six vaccine brands this afternoon to discuss importing more vaccines, including 50 million more Pfizer doses, separate from the newly signed agreement. Others are Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and Sinopharm.



The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 537 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today, July 20th with one new death. Patta ya News

Chonburi Covid -19 cases drop to 537 with one new death

Tuesday, 20 July 2021, 10:18

Chonburi –

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced
537 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today, July 20^th with one new death.

254 people were also released and recovered yesterday in Chonburi.

This makes a total of 16,527 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 7,052 still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 82 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April. The details on yesterday's new death was not given, which is standard for the health department.

Additionally, 9,393 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 88, Si Racha 137, Banglamung (Pattaya) 193, Panat Nikhom 22, Sattahip 1, Ban Bueang 35, Pan Thong 25, Bor Thong 9, Koh Sichang 1, and 26 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, 2 cases
2. 11 medical personnel
3. Central Festival Pattaya Beach, 9 cases
4. A risky career, meeting a lot of people, 4 cases
5. New Thai Wheel Manufacturing Co., Ltd in Rayong, 3 cases
6. Summit Laem Chabang Auto Body Work Co.,Ltd in Rayong, 2 cases
7. Honglin Electric Power Technology (Thailand) Co., Ltd, 1 case
8. Provided a history of traveling to other provinces
   • Samut Prakan, 3 cases
   • Samut Sakorn, 1 case
   • Bangkok, 1 case
   • Rayong, 1 case
9. New cases transferred from other provinces for medical care
   • Rayong, 5 cases
   • Bangkok, 4 cases
   • Chachoengsao, 2 cases
10. Close contacts of a confirmed patient
    • Close persons in general, 15 cases
    • Joined a party, 4 cases
11. Close contacts of confirmed patients
    • Family members, 176 cases
    • Co-workers at workplaces, 83 cases
12. Close contacts of confirmed patients (under investigation), 156 cases
13. Under investigation in general, 54 cases

A total of 612 close contact searches were received today with 1,338 initial proactive searches, and more proactive search reports are pending.

There are currently, in Chonburi, clusters of Covid-19 at 15 establishments and five markets, 10 construction worker camps, and four communities.

The Chonburi Governor released through their public relations accounts last night, July 19th, 2021, new orders around closures, measures, and restrictions as the province becomes a "Dark Red" zone.

Chonburi Governor releases new provincial orders for change to maximum control/dark red zone 

10 I topp 20/7

 

Govt in talks with pharmas. Second-gen vaccines 'target' mutations. The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Friday approved a plan to purchase 120 million vaccine doses next year, in addition to the 105.5 million to be acquired this year, the spokesman said. Bangkok Post

Govt in talks with pharmas

A man receives a Covid-19 vaccine at The Street Ratchada, one of the vaccination points which offers jabs to those aged 60 years and older, in Bangkok on Monday. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)

The government is in development and procurement talks with manufacturers for second-generation Covid-19 vaccines that can effectively combat new coronavirus strains, according to government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri.

A new generation of vaccines is said to be essential in controlling the spread of the virus. The spread of the Delta variant is affecting Thailand and many other parts of the world.

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Friday approved a plan to purchase 120 million vaccine doses next year, in addition to the 105.5 million to be acquired this year, the spokesman said.

The cabinet on July 6 approved the order of 20 million vaccine doses from Pfizer, and the Department of Disease Control reportedly contacted the company and placed the order.

The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation has brokered talks with Zuellig Pharma to import the Moderna vaccine for sale to people, Mr Anucha said. The firm is said to be the sole importer of the vaccine.

Vaccines currently available for free are manufactured by AstraZeneca, Sinovac and, in the future, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson jabs will join the list, while the public will have to purchase those produced by Sinopharm and Moderna, Mr Anucha said.

The Sinopharm vaccine has been distributed to local administrative organisations and is being sold to the general public, he said. In the meantime, the Moderna vaccine has been pre-ordered by private hospitals, he added.

Mr Anucha said the CCSA is expediting talks with producers on the development and procurement of second-generation vaccines with improved safeguards against new variants.

The centre is also seeking cooperation with other countries in the transfer of technology to produce vaccines, including those using the inactivated virus, viral vector and mRNA methods, he said.

The CCSA also supports research into a prototype vaccine that is effective in lessening the chances of virus mutations, Mr Anucha said.

Meanwhile, a total of 6,288,541 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been administered with 6,180,413 being used as first and 108,128 as second jabs.

As for Sinopharm doses, 412,803 were given with 412,076 as first and 727 as second jabs.

Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Minister Anek Laothamatas said Thailand has emerged as one of the top Asean countries with a population of over 50 million in terms of percentage of people who have received their first jab.

He said Thailand's percentage was 16.3%, followed by Indonesia (15.1%), the Philippines (9.1%), Vietnam (4.1%) and Myanmar (3.1%).



Phuket info.