People Now Literally Dying in Streets as Covid-19 Runs Rampant in Thailand - Bangkok Herald

People Now Literally Dying in Streets as Covid-19 Runs Rampant in Thailand

22 July 2021

It's no longer just India or Indonesia. People are dying on the streets of Bangkok from Covid-19.

Two of four bodies found lying in the street Wednesay were confirmed to be infected with Covid-19. Whether that is what directly killed them remains to be seen, but there's no doubt that the virus itself or the dire circumstances it caused for the victims played a part.

Three bodies were found in Phra Nakhon District and two tested positive for Covid-19. The test result for the final corpose was not available.

The fourth body was a homeless man, seen lying in front of Tesco Lotus on Rama 4 Road in Khlong Toei. While he tested negative for the coronavirus, Thailand's economic collapse since the virus hit last year may have put him on the street.

The fatalities are the most vivid illustrations yet of how the coronavirus epidemic in Thailand is spinning out of control, fueled by incompetence among the former generals trying to play doctor and their failure to secure ample supplies of Covid-19 vaccines.

Thailand on Thursday reported another 13,655 new Covid-19 cases and 87 deaths. Daily cases have set records nearly every day this month and are 49 percent higher than just a week ago. Meanwile, only about 5 percent of the country has been fully vaccinated, most with inferior Chinese vaccines.

Metropolitan Police Bureau spokesman Pol. Maj. Gen. Piya Tawichai said officials needed to work more carefully in collecting the bodies of suspected Covid-19 cases, so it caused a delay in responding to each case. He insisted that the officials did not abandon those bodies.

The first case was reported to the police that he fainted and collapsed. Emergency service was called to the scene but attempts to save his life failed and he died at 5 p.m. before his body was collected at 10 p.m. The test result later showed he had Covid-19.

The Thai News Agency contributed to this report. 

More generous economic relief and a clear alternative plan after a missed vaccination procurement target is required, according to 40 CEOs who met Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha remotely to discuss a solution to the pandemic crisis on Wednesday. Bangkok Post

CEOs launch bid to reboot economy

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha holds talks with business leaders via video conference at Government House on Wednesday. (Government House photo)

More generous economic relief and a clear alternative plan after a missed vaccination procurement target is required, according to 40 CEOs who met Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha remotely to discuss a solution to the pandemic crisis on Wednesday.

Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) chairman Sanan Angubolkul said the business sector was concerned about the pandemic and vaccine procurements which have missed their target.

Fuelling the bad news is the continued surge in daily Covid-19 infections and fatalities which have weighed down the economy.

The TCC and the 40 CEOs stand firm in supporting the government to combat the virus and recommended speeding up immunisation via the 25 non-hospital vaccination points in Bangkok, the hardest hit province.

The points will help free up hospitals from the vaccination task so they can concentrate on Covid-19 treatment.

Somchai Lertsuttiwong, CEO of Advanced Info Service AIS, said the government should explain what options are created when there is a change of vaccine procurement and related plans.

He also suggested state agencies divert non-essential spending to help tackle the crisis.

Meanwhile, Mr Sanan said more aid should be given to employers whose businesses were suspended as a result of stricter Covid measures for more than 90 days. No further details were available on what shape it should take.

Also, vaccinations should be offered in a timely fashion to Thai and migrant workers in labour-intensive industries.

Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha thanked the 40 CEOs for helping share their ideas to fight Covid-19, insisting all proposals will be put into action.

For economic stimulus measures, the businesses affected by the pandemic should be given special, low-interest loans from financial institutions and tax incentives from the Board of Investment, Mr Sanan added. 

MER ANGÅENDE VARFÖR DET INTE FUNGERAT MED VACCINERING - ’Sorry' for slow vaccine supply. Govt will make U-turn to join Covax. Bangkok Post

'Sorry' for slow vaccine supply

A doctor prepares medication to be delivered to Covid-19 patients under home isolation in Kannayao district of Bangkok on Wednesday. The programme allows those with mild symptoms to stay at home, in order to help ease workloads at hospitals. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)

The National Vaccine Institute (NVI) has apologised for slow Covid-19 vaccine procurement and says it is prepared to hold talks to join the Covax global vaccine sharing scheme.

The apology came after the government weathered heavy criticism over its failure to procure enough vaccines as infection numbers continued to soar, with a record 13,002 new cases reported on Wednesday.

Speaking at the Public Health Ministry, NVI director Nakorn Premsri said the agency tried to contact vaccine manufacturers in August last year and place advance orders even though the vaccines were in research trials.

The Public Health Ministry issued a ministerial regulation under the National Vaccine Security Act to allow the NVI to place advance orders for vaccines being researched.

This led to talks with AstraZeneca between August and September last year to procure 61 million vaccine doses, Dr Nakorn said, adding that an order was placed in November last year.

He said that vaccine procurement plans must go before a vaccine procurement committee chaired by the permanent secretary for public health. Such plans cannot be undertaken by any individual, but by a committee comprising experts and agencies involved, he said.

Even though the NVI and the Department of Disease Control are assigned to work together to procure vaccines, procurement must be decided by the committee and working panels, Dr Nakorn said.

This is because the matter involves budget spending and requires a commitment to agreements which means a vaccine procurement plan cannot be undertaken by any particular agency alone, he said.

Advice must also be sought from the government's legal advisory agency before an agreement is signed, he added.

"This has led to public feeling that the vaccine procurement may not meet the target. It's all about those impediments and constraints. I apologise to the public. Even though the NVI has tried to do all it can, it cannot procure enough vaccines to respond to the unexpected situation," Dr Nakorn said.

"The Covid-19 pandemic is something we have never experienced before. The mutations of the virus are also unforeseeable and are spreading even faster, further disrupting vaccine procurement efforts."

He also said the NVI has prepared for talks to join Covax, an international vaccine-sharing scheme administrated by the World Health Organisation.

"The NVI aims to receive vaccines from Covax next year," he said.

Asked whether the NVI will be able to procure 100 million vaccine doses by this year, he said that the institute is speeding up negotiations with manufacturers of various vaccine types, including mRNA and protein subunit vaccines.

However, it has not been decided how many doses will be procured and when, Dr Nakorn said.

He added the NVI also plans to procure 2nd-generation vaccines that are more effective against variants of concern in the first quarter of next year.

Meanwhile, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Wednesday said the Delta variant of Covid-19 is spreading in five districts of Bangkok, while a new high of 13,002 new cases and 108 fatalities were recorded over the past 24 hours.

There were 11,953 cases in the general population and 1,049 among prison inmates.

The five districts were Chatuchak, Bang Rak, Chom Thong, Klong Toey and Laksi, said Apisamai Srisangson, assistant spokeswoman for the CCSA at a briefing of the Covid-19 situation.

Bangkok has the most cases at 2,921, a big increase from Tuesday, followed by Samut Sakhon (932), Nonthaburi (661), Samut Prakan (656), Chon Buri (636), Chachoengsao (374), Pathum Thani (350), Rayong (305), Pattani (282) and Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya (235).

Samut Sakhon had a new cluster of 24 cases at a cold storage plant in Muang district while Samut Prakan had a new cluster of 40 cases at an animal feed plant in Bang Sao Thong district, Dr Apisamai said.

Rayong had two new clusters -- 92 cases at an electrical appliance factory in Pluak Daeng district and 12 cases at Siri Phiban Pattana market in Klaeng district.

The 31 imported cases were from the UK (2), Singapore (2), Cambodia (5) and Myanmar (22 including 14 illegal Thai returnees and Myanmar migrants).

On Tuesday, 131,411 people were receiving treatment for Covid-19 at hospitals. Of these, 3,786 had lung inflammation and 879 were dependent on ventilators.

Dr Apisamai said that Covid-19 infected people were returning from their closed workplaces to their home provinces.

She asked infected people not to travel and to remain in their homes or in community isolation centres while waiting for hospital admission.

"About 70-80% of Covid-19 cases are asymptomatic. The green-coded patients could get tired during their trip and their condition could worsen," she said.

Dr Apisamai said Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stressed the need to spare beds at hospitals, field hospitals and ICU units to accommodate patients with severe symptoms.



Thailand to procure an additional 10.9 million doses of Sinovac vaccine to fight against Covid-19 domestic spread. Critics, however, are not pleased and want Thailand to focus on other brands. The Pattaya News

Thailand to procure an additional 10.9 million doses of Sinovac vaccine to fight against Covid-19 domestic spread

Wednesday, 21 July 2021, 23:40

National –

Thailand's Ministry of Public Health has ordered an additional 10.9 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine as an urgent case, hoping to help control the Covid-19 spread.

Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Department of Disease Control, told reporters today, July 21st, that the department has signed a formal request to the Director of the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) for assistance in importing additional vaccines (Sinovac) to cope with the domestic spread of the Covid-19.

This followed the Cabinet Committee's approval of a loan to support the provision of vaccines against Covid-19 for the population in the country.

The Department of Disease Control, therefore, considered that in order to prevent, control, and enhance immunity for 70 percent of the population, according to the Prime Minister's goal, and people in the risk groups, the procurement of additional 10.9 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine as an urgent case is necessary.

TPN media notes that many comments online were negative as many Thai residents seem to prefer that the government focus on other brands and types of vaccines. 

‼️NEW HIGH - #COVID19 Update on Thursday: 13,655 cases & 87 deaths / 17 July: 10,082 - 141 dead 18 July: 11,397 - 101 dead 19 July: 11,784 - 81 dead 20 July: 11,305 - 80 dead 21 July: 13,002 - 108 dead. Richard Barrow

 







Bangkok Post highlights 22/7

 

Thailand’s National Vaccine Institute (NVI) Director Nakorn Premsri offered an apology to the public on Wednesday for the slow and insufficient national COVID-19 vaccine rollout, saying mutations of the virus were unforeseen, while promising that the country will join the COVAX program to receive donated vaccines next year. NEXT YEAR !!!! 😡😡😡😡(min egen kommentar) | Thai PBS World

Thailand's vaccine director apologises for 'slow, inadequate' vaccine rollout, promises to join COVAX

views  344

Thailand's National Vaccine Institute (NVI) Director Nakorn Premsri offered an apology to the public on Wednesday for the slow and insufficient national COVID-19 vaccine rollout, saying mutations of the virus were unforeseen, while promising that the country will join the COVAX program to receive donated vaccines next year.

"I apologise to the people that the National Vaccine Institute has not managed to procure a sufficient amount of vaccines for the unforeseen situation, although we have tried our best. The mutations (of the virus) were something that could not be predicted, which have caused a more rapid spread than last year. The vaccine procurement effort did not match the situation," Dr. Nakorn said.

Thailand is in the process of joining the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access program, or COVAX, which is a worldwide initiative aimed at providing equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines directed by Gavi, or the Vaccine Alliance, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The NVI will soon send formal communications to Gavi, to initiate negotiations on vaccines to be received, said Dr. Nakorn.

92 low-to-medium-income countries have joined the COVAX program, under which they receive donated WHO-approved vaccines from wealthier countries, like the US, the UK, the EU, China and Japan.

Although Thailand is not yet part of the program, about 1.5 million doses of Pfizer vaccine will be donated to the country by the US government in the coming days.

Thailand has only received 14.5 million doses of China's Sinovac, two million doses of Sinopharm, also from China, and about 9.2 million doses of the UK's Oxford-AstraZeneca, mostly locally produced by Siam Bioscience, as of July 16th. 3.5 million people or only about 5% of the entire population have been fully vaccinated to date.

Chonburi Governor releases more Covid-19 related restrictions and closures, effective until further notice Wednesday, 21 July 2021, 19:14. Pattaya News

Chonburi Governor releases more Covid-19 related restrictions and closures, effective until further notice

Wednesday, 21 July 2021, 19:14

Chonburi, Thailand-

  The Chonburi Governor released an updated order this evening with more Covid-19 related restrictions and closures. The order is effective tomorrow, July 22nd, 2021, until further notice.

This follows the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, or CCSA, stating more measures were being "suggested" for maximum control provinces this morning. You can read more about that here.

  All prior closures and items are still in place, you can read about everything previously closed here.

Here are the new changes:

-Close all indoor and outdoor sports stadiums

-Close golf courses, mini-golf, and golf ranges

-Close libraries and book stores

-Close all public parks, gardens, botanical parks (like Nong Nooch)

-Close boxing courts/areas, boxing schools, even if outdoors

-Close all barbers/salons of all types

-Close nail shops

-Close tattoo shops

-Close any and types of competition fields/courts (includes tennis, volleyball, and badminton courts, all places for indoor and outdoor sports are to be closed)

-Close all types of pools, private, public, waterparks, and athletic/competition

-Close museums

-Close Culture centers, learning centers, science centers, art galleries, any sort of similar establishment

-Child development centers, preschools, child care closed

-Dance schools are closed

-Malls/Department stores can only be open for supermarket/medicine/vaccinations. It appears that restaurants in malls cannot open, even for take-away.

-Markets can only sell food, all other items (non-essential) are to be closed.

-All prior orders and items in the last order are still in place.

There was no mention of beaches or fishing parks in the order.  If you are unsure if your business can open or have a question we advise to call 1337, the Pattaya city call center, and ask directly.

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