Koh Samui recorded 20 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday (July 28), the highest one-day jump since it reopened to tourism, although local authorities insisted the caseload will not derail the island’s sandbox programme. Phuket News



 SURAT THANI: Koh Samui recorded 20 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday (July 28), the highest one-day jump since it reopened to tourism, although local authorities insisted the caseload will not derail the island's sandbox programme.

The discovery of the infections sent off a public health alarm in the island district. Of those diagnosed, 16 belonged to an infection cluster that has been traced to a cashier at a local fitness centre, reports the Bangkok Post.

Four people infected are a family of three and one foreign national who travelled to the island from Bangkok.

The Samui Plus Model, which emulates the Phuket Sandbox programme, was extended to fully-vaccinated foreign tourists with sealed-route tourist itineraries. The programme kicked off on July 15.

The Samui Plus programme also covers nearby Koh Pha-ngan and Koh Tao.

On Wednesday, the COVID-19 situation administration centre in Koh Samui district urged people who visited the Speedy Lounge & Bar nightspot on Lamai beach on July 16 and the Black Bamboo Club on July, 16, 17 and 23 to come for a COVID-19 test at the Koh Samui Hospital if they experience flu-like conditions, or experience a temporary loss of smell or taste.

Meanwhile, 10 fishermen who arrived at Bang Rak pier in tambon Bor Phut from neighbouring Nakhon Sri Thammarat were sent for a COVID-19 test.

Anyone outside of Samui who arrived on the island from 13 provinces hardest-hit by COVID-19 as well as 53 other provinces with a high prevalence must undergo a test locally if they do not possess documentary proof of a negative test result obtained within the past 72 hours prior to arrival.

The proof must be issued by a state or privately-run hospital certified to carry out the test by the Department of Medical Sciences.

Koh Samui district chief Theerapong Chuaychu said the COVID-19 infections posed no threat to the sandbox programme. He said authorities have pressed charges against the owners of entertainment venues which stayed open beyond closure times.

Krabi to welcome 500 travellers initially under 7+7 scheme The 7+7 sandbox island extension scheme, which is due to begin on Sunday, is being limited to 500 arrivals to Krabi during the initial stages. Bangkok Post



 Krabi to welcome 500 travellers initially under 7+7 scheme

The 7+7 sandbox island extension scheme, which is due to begin on Sunday, is being limited to 500 arrivals to Krabi during the initial stages.

After a seven-day stay in Phuket, 500 foreign guests are expected to travel by boat via the Ratsada and Ao Por piers to Koh Phi Phi, Railay Bay and Koh Ngai between Aug 10-30, generating 17.5 million baht, said Sasithorn Kittidhrakul, president of the Krabi Tourism Association.

Operators want to increase the length of stay from an average of seven days to stimulate revenue to 30 million baht, while setting a goal to receive 7,000 or 10% of travellers from Phuket in August and September, she said.

Hotels with a Safety and Health Administration (SHA) Plus certificate number 15 on Koh Phi Phi, three on Railay Bay and one on Koh Ngai.

The province's new travel restrictions become effective today and everyone is required to show a negative Covid test result plus proof of vaccination.

Tourism operators asked the government to deliver 36,000 Covid-19 rapid test kits to 12,000 locals who work on the three islands.

Ms Sasithorn said Krabi would like to reopen more areas and allow tourists to fly directly to Krabi airport, which expects to complete construction of its third terminal by the end of October.

The airport expansion doubles passenger capacity to 8 million per year and increases the number of flights allowed, including chartered services from Nordic countries during the high season.

"The plan to fully reopen without relying on tourists from Phuket depends on successful vaccinations by October. However, only 22% of provincial residents have been inoculated," she said.

Charintip Tiyaphorn, president of the Tourism Council of Krabi, said hotels and tour operators in the province will launch marketing plans this week to attract travellers, especially those from the US, the UK and Germany who frequently visit Koh Phi Phi. Tourists from Israel and the UAE are considered new potential markets, she said.

Koh Phi Phi reported no new cases since Nov 6, 2020. Railay Bay reported its last case on April 25 and Koh Ngai has never reported a Covid-19 case.

Krabi has 1,100 hospital beds and if there are 70 new cases in sandbox areas within a week, or if the hospitalisation rate reaches 80% of overall bed capacity, the plan will be scrapped.

‼️NEW HIGH - #COVID19 Update on Thursday: 17,669 new cases and 165 deaths. 26 July: 15,376 - 87 dead 27 July: 14,150 - 118 dead 28 July: 16,533 - 133 dead. Richard Barrow



Bangkok Post highlights 29/7



Om / när ni läser detta någonstans - ta med med 2 nyper salt.

Som sagt - ta med det med ro Thai är ännu inte klara med sin "rehab" och dessutom tror jag

inte det finns underlag för två bolag från Arlanda i dessa Covid19 tider. (Thai Airways och Finnair). Sist men inte minst - utvecklingen av smittan och vaccineringen här nere.

Men osvuret är bäst.

Thai Airways återtar direktflyg från och till Sverige

Från den 2 oktober kommer Thai Airways att börja flyga från Arlanda till Bangkok igen, skriver Dagens Nyheter.

Maila reporter

Resenärer kommer under oktober kunna välja mellan fyra olika avgångar. Sedan kommer flygen att gå tre gånger i veckan.

Flygbolaget, som är hälftenägt av thailändska staten, ställde in flygresorna i mars i fjol till följd av pandemin.

Region för region . NBT



Thailand health officials contradicted each other Tuesday over how much medical oxygen the country has to battle the coronavirus epidemic amid fears of a shortage caused by illegal tank smuggling to Myanmar. Bangkok Herald

Health Officials Can't Agree Whether Thailand Has Enough Medical Oxygen Amid Illegal Tank Smuggling

28 July 2021

Thailand health officials contradicted each other Tuesday over how much medical oxygen the country has to battle the coronavirus epidemic amid fears of a shortage caused by illegal tank smuggling to Myanmar.

Industry Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit said the Department of Industrial Works has contacted industrial gas manufacturers under the Federation of Thai Industries, gas-filling factories as well as gas container manufacturers about their current capacity and all have confirmed that they can produce enough medical oxygen during the Covid-19 outbreak.

At nearly the same time, Somsak Akksilp, director-general of the Medical Services Department, said shortage of oxygen used for treating Covid-19 patients is becoming an increasing problem that is being worsened by the smuggling of oxygen tanks into Myanmar.

He added that the oxygen shortage has stalled plans to better equip several hospitals with oxygen tanks, inhibiting the ability to add more hospital beds for oxygen users because "many" tanks have been smuggled to Myanmar.

Thailand's neighbor has a coronavirus crisis worse than Thailand's and is suffering an acute shortage of oxygen and tanks, with reports that the military is hoarding supplies and even seizing tanks legally imported from Thailand.

Somsak said not having the tanks is making it difficult for the department to assist more Covid-19 patients who need oxygen support in Bangkok and its vicinity.

Yet according to the industry minister, everything is fine and sunny. Suriya said there are currently 15 factories manufacturing oxygen, at 1,860 tons per day, in Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Chonburi, Rayong, Songkhla, Lamphun and Chiang Mai provinces. In August, a new factory will open in Rayong, pushing the country's total capacity to 2,200 tons per day.

He added that the country's total oxygen demand is at 1,260 tons per day on average. Of this, the industrial sector consumes 660 tons daily, while the medical sector requires 400 to 600 tons daily.

The National News Bureau of Thailand contributed to this report.

An official at the center of plans to reopen the popular resort of Hua Hin in Prachuap Khirikhan province has at last sounded a welcome note of realism. ASEAN NOW



File photo//Wikipedia

 

An official at the center of plans to reopen the popular resort of Hua Hin in Prachuap Khirikhan province has at last sounded a welcome note of realism. 

 

Following outlandish claims coming from the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the government about opening Thailand up to foreign tourism again and how much tourists will spend, comes a much more sober and somber outlook. 

 

It comes from Pornrawee Seeleuangsawat who represents SME's in the holiday city and is at the forefront of the "Hua Hin Recharge" plan. 

 

This is, or perhaps more appropriately WAS, a plan to welcome double dosed foreign tourists to Hua Hin from October 1st, reports ASEAN NOW.

 

Before the latest wave of the pandemic started to devastate Thailand it was hoped this could bring in 1.2 billion baht to the local economy in the fourth quarter (October to the end of the year).

 

Pornrawee said that now this appeared "highly unlikely".

 

She said that the recharge plan would need to be delayed until at least November, possibly December and even the start of 2022. 

 

She reported small hotels in the town with occupancy rates of just 10% and 3-5 star establishments struggling to make 30% what with all the travel restrictions at the moment.

 

She called for more help for businesses with interest rate deferrals.

 

And she referred to the much heard call to the government coming from every tourist area outside of Phuket and Samui:

 

For goodness sake speed up the vaccine rollout to ensure 70% of the population is jabbed. 

 

Thailand's vaccine rollout has been universally criticized with many fearing that it will hinder prospects for the recovery of tourism even if the pandemic can be brought under control. 

 

NU TAR MAN TILL “ALLT”……. - Thailand OKs Unproven, Dangerous Herbal Folk Remedy as Covid-19 Treatment - Bangkok Herald

Thailand OKs Unproven, Dangerous Herbal Folk Remedy as Covid-19 Treatment

28 July 2021

After failing to procure enough genuinely helpful coronavirus vaccines, the Thai government now is resorting to unproven, dangerous folk remedies to treat Covid-19.

The Cabinet on Tuesday made the baffling decision to officially approve use of green chiretta, or "fah talai jun" in Thai, on asymptomatic Covid-19 patients, even though the herbal remedy has proven to have dangerous side effects and not proven to be of any benefit to coronavirus patients.

The former generals trying to play doctor amidst Thailand's worst-ever health crisis justified their decisions by saying the Corrections Department used chiretta on inmates  – who couldn't object – and reported success.

The herb is commonly known as "Indian echinacea" or "battler stick". It is widely used in India and has seen limited use throughout Southeast Asia, but misinformation spread on social media has caused a run on the herb in Thailand, with back orders running several months and, now, the govermetn apparently buying into the fantasy.

There is no scientific evidence that chiretta has any effect on the coronavirus, but there is plenty of evidence the herb, especially if overused, can cause serious health ailments.

Use may trigger fatigue, headache, nausea, diarrhea, and allergic reaction. It has been known to lower blood sugar levels to dangerous levels for diabetics and can cause bleeding ulcers and prevent blood clotting leading to excessive bleeding.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, a small percentage of Thais used chiretta as an herbal remedy for symptoms of the common cold, claiming it can lessen fever and sore throat. But there are no scientific studies and too little evidence to back that up.

Now, amid the Covid-19 surge, Facebook "doctors" are claiming the herb can lessen symptoms such as sore throat and coughing. No pharmacists interviewed claimed it would prevent coronavirus infections, however.

Government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek had no problems making that false claim, however. She stated as fact that andrographolide, a component of green chiretta, protects cells from the virus and reduces its multiplication.

There is not a shred of scientific evidence to support that.

The Corrections Department inflicted green chiretta on about 11,800 coronavirus-infected inmates and, she said, and 99 percent recovered. That recovery rate is exactly what it would have been without the herb. She conveniently left out how many of the 11,800 suffered harmful side effects from the herb.

Government researchers suggested coronavirus patients should consume 180 milligrams of andrographolide per day, or 60mg per meal, Rachada said. That is 12 times the dose recommended by the few medical studies out on chiretta and is not advised by global health authorities.



Today is a public holiday in #Thailand for the King’s Birthday. All government offices, including Immigration, are closed today. The next holiday is in 14 days for the Queen Mother’s Birthday. We still have 155 days left in this year. Will next year be better and Covid-free? Richard Barrow



The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 864 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with four new deaths, Wednesday, 28 July 2021, 7:29. Pattaya News

Chonburi announces 864 Covid-19 cases with 4 new deaths

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 864 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with four new deaths, July 28th.

Wednesday, 28 July 2021, 7:29

Chonburi –

This makes a total of 22,524 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 10,493 still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 106 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April. The details on yesterday's four new deaths were not given, which is standard for the health department.

Additionally, 447 people were also released and recovered yesterday in Chonburi. 11,925 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 104, Si Racha 300, Banglamung (Pattaya) 212, Panat Nikhom 71, Sattahip 31, Ban Bueang 52, Pan Thong 29, Bor Thong 13, Ko Chan 6, Nong Yai 16, and 30 new cases transferred from other provinces for medical care.

The details on the cases are as follows:

1. Cluster Roong Ruangkit Construction Engineering Company Limited, Khao Khan Song Subdistrict, Si Racha District, 67 cases

2. Cluster, establishments in Phanat Nikhom District (1) 31 cases
(under investigation)

3. Cluster, establishments in Si Racha District (1) 61 cases (under investigation)

4. Cluster, establishments in Si Racha District (2) 13 cases (under investigation)

5. Cluster Construction Camp in Nong Yai District, 14 cases (in the process of investigation of the disease)

6. Cluster establishments in Phanat Nikhom District (2) 6 cases (under investigation)

7. Cluster, 3 business establishments in Mueang Chon Buri District (under investigation of the disease)

8. 5 medical personnel

9. A risky occupation, meeting a lot of people-11

10. Gameball (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Rayong Province 1

11. Close contacts of confirmed patients
11.1 in 184 families
11.2 out of 66 workplaces
11.3 20 close people in general/friends

12. Close contacts of confirmed patients (under investigation) 220 cases

13. Currently, 162 cases are under investigation in general

A total of 1,557 close contact searches were received today with 847 initial proactive searches, and more proactive search reports are pending.

There are currently, in Chonburi, clusters of Covid-19 at 21 establishments and five markets, 10 construction worker camps, and four communities.

Chonburi Public Health officials, as well as the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, recently stated that over 80% of patients were asymptomatic or mild in general.  In Chonburi, this number is closer to 90%, according to authorities, as the majority of those affected are younger and healthier people 

😥😥😥 NEW HIGH - #COVID19 Update on Wednesday: 16,533 cases & 133 deaths. Richard Barrow



Bangkok Post highlights 28/7



Fifteen sleeping cars at the Bang Sue Grand Station will be turned into an isolation facility for Bangkok's Covid-19 patients awaiting hospital beds. Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang on Tuesday went to the maintenance depot at the station to check whether sleeping cars could be used for the purpose. Sompong Wiangkaew, his adviser, State Railway of Thailand (SRT) governor Nirut Maneephan and executives of Navamindradhiraj University accompanied him. Treating the rising number of infected people in the capital is the priority of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), wrote the governor on his Facebook page. Bangkok Post

Fifteen sleeping carriages at Bang Sue Grand Station will be used as an isolation facility for Covid-19 infected people. The facility is expected to receive patients on July 30. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)

Fifteen sleeping cars at the Bang Sue Grand Station will be turned into an isolation facility for Bangkok's Covid-19 patients awaiting hospital beds.

Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang on Tuesday went to the maintenance depot at the station to check whether sleeping cars could be used for the purpose. Sompong Wiangkaew, his adviser, State Railway of Thailand (SRT) governor Nirut Maneephan and executives of Navamindradhiraj University accompanied him.

Treating the rising number of infected people in the capital is the priority of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), wrote the governor on his Facebook page.

He surveyed the depot at Bang Sue Grand Station after the initiative was supported by the SRT and Navamindradhiraj University.

After the survey, he decided 15 sleeping carriages could be temporarily turned into an isolation facility. Since 16 beds can be fitted in each car, the facilty will have 240 beds in total, said the governor.

Mosquito screens will be fitted on the windows while water supply and electricity will be provided. More bathrooms will be set up outside the carriages, said the governor.

The facility is expected to be ready for patients on July 30, he said.

On Friday, the Bangkok governor said the BMA planned to open 53 community isolation centres by early next month for Covid-infected people waiting to be admitted to hospitals.

Thailand logged 118 new Covid-19 fatalities and 14,150 new cases over the previous 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry announced on Tuesday morning.

Bangkok logged 40 new fatalities and 2,635 new cases.

Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang, front, and concerned officials survey sleeping carriages at Bang Sue Grand Station on Tuesday. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)

Will Phuket be the last straw that breaks camel’s back? - The answer will depend primarily on the COVID-19 numbers at Thailand’s popular island resort. But how the Prayut administration will look coming out of a potential Phuket nightmare will also have to do with competing political narratives, which are getting hotter and hotter on social media. PBS World



The answer will depend primarily on the COVID-19 numbers at Thailand's popular island resort. But how the Prayut administration will look coming out of a potential Phuket nightmare will also have to do with competing political narratives, which are getting hotter and hotter on social media.

A "car mob" was organized a few days ago by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's opponents with an aim to portray the "Sandbox" agenda for Phuket as one of his biggest COVID-19 mistakes, adding to the vaccine management. The brief protest was not big enough to catch national attention and it upset local businesses that virtually involve all residents on the world-renowned island. Yet it became clear that Prayut's enemies have been closely watching Phuket and will pounce at any major slip.

When things start to look bad for Phuket, the opponents' narrative of "blinded and poorly-prepared policy which therefore is disastrous" will come up against the government's argument that any protest gathering could "make things worse" or twist the knife in Thailand's wound, and that helping struggling local economies was always what critics of the government always called for. The Prayut administration's narrative can be effective to a certain extent, but a Phuket collapse will unlikely benefit the prime minister.

Phuket typifies key differences between the current coronavirus outbreak and the "Spanish Flu" pandemic. When the "Spanish Flu" first struck, the planet was in the first World War, during which tourism was non-existent. Obviously, media censorships carried out for military reasons deterred prevention efforts then. Also, there was no social media to spread quick and useful information. Frequent and large-scale movements of troops and ordinary citizens helped inflame one of the worst pandemics human beings have ever known.

Tourism is what the coronavirus relies on, among other things. But unlike wartime, control is easier. This can explain why the Spanish Flu infected some 500 million people and killed a big percentage of them over a two-year period, making it more devastating than COVID-19. (Spanish Flu's death tolls understandably varied due to troublesome record keepings at the time, some cover-ups as well as possible mix-ups in fatality causes. Estimates range from 20 million and 50 million, whereas some put the death toll at as high as 100 million.)

Tourism restrictions now and necessary troop movements as well as soldiers' crammed activities then, some experts believe, are one of the key reasons why the Spanish Flu's infection and death numbers make COVID-19 look pale. After over a year and a half, the coronavirus has infected fewer than 200 million people and killed just over 4.1 million.

But despite the Spanish Flu looking far deadlier and scarier, many things else have to be taken into account. Human beings are not at war this time, which means they are more educated and better prepared. Less media censorship and social media led to quicker and better responses. Vaccines were developed at a breakneck speed.

All these mean tourism and vaccination "mismanagement" can subject any government to harsh criticism. Fully vaccinated tourists or residents do not guarantee foolproof safety. In fact, the trust given to inoculated people may have made many overlook what they carry on their backs or on their hands.

Prayut, therefore, is on a tightrope while his enemies apparently have nothing to lose. If all else fails, Prayut can pin his hope on the fact that the coronavirus has sprung too many surprises to be considered to be anyone's ever-lasting helper.

Who will politically win at the end? It's probably too early to make any conclusion.

By Tulsathit Taptim

Ministers wave off ‘Covid train’ to Northeast as cases pile up in Bangkok. Trains, buses and even planes are being deployed to ferry mild cases out of Bangkok, where health facilities are being overwhelmed by more than 2,000 new infections per day. The Nation

Ministers wave off 'Covid train' to Northeast as cases pile up in Bangkok

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob on Tuesday oversaw an operation in Bangkok to send 135 Covid-19 patients with mild symptoms to their home provinces in the Northeast by train.

Trains, buses and even planes are being deployed to ferry mild cases out of Bangkok, where health facilities are being overwhelmed by more than 2,000 new infections per day.

Tuesday's Covid-19 train ferried patients to Buri Ram, Surin, Si Sa Ket, Ubon Ratchathani, Amnat Charoen, Yasothon and Nakhon Ratchasima. Each passenger car contained 35 Covid-19 patients and medical staff.

Guidelines on waste management and air ventilation were enforced, and an ambulance was waiting at each destination to take patients for treatment under the public health system.

Saksayam said the operation to transport mild Covid-19 cases back to their home provinces on vans, buses and Royal Thai Airforce planes will continue until the situation is resolved.

Ministers wave off 'Covid train' to Northeast as cases pile up in Bangkok

Anutin said beds were still available to treat Covid patients in other provinces, adding that sending patients back to their hometowns would reduce congestion at medical facilities in Bangkok.He also played down rumours that Bang Sue Grand Station's Central Vaccination Centre would close, saying a decision will be made by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration on Tuesday afternoon.

Ministers wave off 'Covid train' to Northeast as cases pile up in Bangkok

Asked about medics who went to the US Embassy this morning to demand it oversees the distribution of 1.5 million Pfizer shots donated by the US government, Anutin said everyone was free to express their opinions under the law.

Ministers wave off 'Covid train' to Northeast as cases pile up in Bangkok

He said the Department of Disease Control is responsible for the distribution, adding that they cannot reveal the list of medics who will receive Pfizer shots because this would be against the law.

Published : July 27, 2021 

Tyvärr så rör vi (Chonburi) oss åt fel håll på listan !! PRD



VEM trodde något annat ? - Phuket ‘sandbox’ continues despite more closures amid surge in COVID-19 cases. PBS World

Phuket 'sandbox' continues despite more closures amid surge in COVID-19 cases

views  381

The Phuket "sandbox" scheme, in which fully vaccinated COVID-19 negative foreign tourists are allowed into the country through the island, without quarantine, as an initial step in the country's reopening to international arrivals, will continue, despite the announcement of closures of more venues in response to rising coronavirus infections on the island and in many other parts of the country.

Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew said yesterday (Monday) the increase of new infections to 28 cases yesterday, one of whom among international arrivals, with a few returnees from other provinces and the rest local transmissions, does not mean that the scheme will be cancelled. Daily local infections in the province remained single digits for some time before increasing to two digits from July 22nd.

The Phuket Provincial Communicable Disease Committee has decided to close down the island's Central Festival and Central Floresta malls, the provincial sports stadium, soccer fields and futsal courts until August 2nd, as a precautionary step to contain further spread of COVID-19.

All schools and other educational institutes are now closed until August 16th, while social distancing is being enforced in night and fresh markets, with the number of visitors limited to four square metres per person, until further notice.

Public gatherings of no more than 100 people are permissible, said Mr. Narong, as he explained the need for tighter restrictions amid surging infections.

Cumulative infections in the province, since April 1^st 2021, are 958, including 191 cases still being treated. The island's death toll is 11, including one yesterday.

According to the provincial health chief, new infections are expected to stabilize at about 20 cases a day for the next two weeks, because there remain many high-risk cases in quarantine pending test results.

He attributed the increased infections to the arrival of more people on the resort island to seek jobs and more tourists, adding that the infection surge will not pose an obstacle to the continuation of the Phuket "sandbox" scheme.

Since July 25^th, people entering Phuket must be fully inoculated and have tested negative for COVID-19 in the 72 hours immediately prior to arrival.

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced a record-breaking high of 884 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with two new deaths, July 27th. The Pattaya News

Chonburi announces record-breaking high of 884 Covid-19 cases with 2 new deaths

Tuesday, 27 July 2021, 10:06

Chonburi –

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced a record-breaking high of 884 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with two new deaths, July 27th.

This makes a total of 21,660 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 10,080 still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 102 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April. The details on yesterday's two new deaths were not given, which is standard for the health department.

Additionally 411 people were also released and recovered yesterday in Chonburi. 11,478 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 206, Si Racha 242, Banglamung (Pattaya) 201, Panat Nikhom 60, Sattahip 20, Ban Bueang 46, Pan Thong 35, Bor Thong 6, Ko Chan, 21, Nong Yai 5, and 42 new cases transferred from other provinces for medical care.

The details on the cases are as follows:

1. Worker camp in Ko Chan district, 17 cases
2. Cluster, a business in Panat Nikhom (1), 14 cases
3. Cluster, a business in Panat Nikhom (2), 3 cases
4. Cluster, Vandapac Co., Ltd, Mueang Chonburi, 11 cases
5. Cluster, a business in Mueang Chonburi (1), 6 cases
6. Cluster, a business in Mueang Chonburi (2), 4 cases
7. Central Festival Pattaya Beach mall, 4 cases
8. A risky career, meeting a lot of people, 13 cases
9. 3 medical personnel
10. Provided a history of traveling to Pathum Thani, 1 case
11. Many businesses in Rayong, 10 cases
12. Transferred from other provinces for medical care
    • Rayong, 4 cases
    • Chanthaburi, 2 cases
    • Samut Prakan 1 case
    • Bangkok, 2 cases
13. Close contacts of a confirmed patient
    • Family members, 274 cases
    • Co-workers at workplaces, 130 cases
    • Close persons in general, 23 cases
    • Parties, 1 cases
14. Close contacts of confirmed patients (under investigation), 149 cases
15. Under investigation in general, 212 cases

A total of 1,505 close contact searches were received today with 1,632 initial proactive searches, and more proactive search reports are pending.

There are currently, in Chonburi, clusters of Covid-19 at 21 establishments and five markets, 10 construction worker camps, and four communities.

Thailand’s Palang Pracharat Party will stay for the full term despite rumours that there could be an early house dissolution, an MP from the ruling party told Thai Enquirer on Tuesday. Thai Enquirer

Thailand's Palang Pracharat Party will stay for the full term despite rumours that there could be an early house dissolution, an MP from the ruling party told Thai Enquirer on Tuesday.

The parliamentarian was responding to rumours which spread over the weekend that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha was set to resign or that the house was about to be dissolved.

The rumours sparked numerous hashtags including several that opposed any possibility of an appointed premier in the event that Prayut did resign.

"We have heard the rumours inside the party and there is absolutely no truth to it at all," said the MP from Bangkok who asked not to be named.

"As far as we're concerned, this government will go the full term and we will win the next election as well," he said.

Thailand's ruling party and its coalition partners have been under immense pressure due to the country's botched Covid-19 response.

A series of increasingly severe lockdowns have failed to curtail the spread of the virus with hundreds of thousands infected since April 1 and thousands dead.

The lockdown has also brought about untold hardship to the country's most vulnerable population with many people subsisting on savings or handouts.

The country's vaccination program is also lagging behind with vaccine shortages being reported throughout the country. 

Inget ont som inte har något gott med sig sägs det va ? Richard Barrow

 One silver lining of asking people to stay home and avoid travel is that the number of people dying in road accidents has dropped by more than half. An estimated 20-30 lives have been saved every day. These are the statistics for the last four days. The deaths for each day are in the red box in the top left corner. Usually we see at least 40 road accident deaths every day.

Inget ont som inte har något gott med sig sägs det va ? Richard Barrow



Thailand on Tuesday reported another near-record number of coronavirus cases with the Disease Control Department saying it doesn’t expect Covid-19 infections in Bangkok to decline until late August or early September. Bangkok Herald

No Decline in Bangkok Covid-19 Cases Until Late Aug. as Thailand Reports 14,150 New Cases

27 July 2021

Thailand on Tuesday reported another near-record number of coronavirus cases with the Disease Control Department saying it doesn't expect Covid-19 infections in Bangkok to decline until late August or early September.

A day after posting a record 15,376 cases, the Public Health Ministry said another 14,150 tested positive for the virus with 118 losing their lives. Thaialnd on Monday passed the half-million mark for total cases, about 0.75 percent of the kingdom's population. Only 5.5 percent of the public is fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Chief epidemiologist Dr. Chakkarat Pittayawong-anont said Monday that cases in Bangkok likely will level off in  four-to-six weeks.

The coronavirus situation in Bangkok is different from those in surrounding provinces because, despite a rise in cases, the Covid-19 vaccinatin rate in the capital is relatively high with 50 percent of those in the city's legal limits having received at least one dose.

Global studies repeatedly have shown that only one dose of inferior vaccines such those from China's Sinovac or Sinopharm do not provide high levels of immunity against the coronavirus and, particularly, the delta variant.

Chakkarat said Thailand is expected to see more Covid-19 cases in Bangkok, including intra-family transmission and those who return home for care and treatment.

He said everyone needs to cooperate to avoid the "Wuhan model" of total lockdown from being imposed.

Under the strategy used in the early days of the pandemic in China – and this week in Nha Trang, Vietnam – everything is shut down, including food markets, with the military delivering food and water door-to-door.

Businesses and factories should implement the "bubble and seal method" if the premises remain free of infections. Under this scheme, workers cannot leave their employers' properties.

For outlets where infections are reported, they are advised to avoid shutting down, as that would result in workers returning home and triggering community transmission.

The National News Bureau of Thailand contributed to this report.



Thai tourism this year is likely to be at an all-time low as international arrivals may reach just 1 million, while domestic tourism could plunge to 50-60 million trips if the worsening Covid-19 situation demands lockdown last for up to three months, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Bangkok Post

Tourism to hit all-time low in 2021

The passenger terminal at Suvarnabhumi airport is deserted during the lockdown and air travel restrictions imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19. Wichan Charoenkiatpakul

Thai tourism this year is likely to be at an all-time low as international arrivals may reach just 1 million, while domestic tourism could plunge to 50-60 million trips if the worsening Covid-19 situation demands lockdown last for up to three months, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

Despite reopening for vaccinated international tourists via the Phuket sandbox scheme and Samui Plus Model, Thailand may receive just 1 million international tourists this year, down 82% compared to 6.7 million last year when the country was able to receive a large number of foreign travellers during the two months prior to the outbreak of the pandemic in March.

TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said even though the agency has maintained its target of 3 million international visitors, there is a likelihood it could be just one third of the goal with revenue of 85 billion baht, down 74% from 2020.

Domestic tourism will also experience regression as the base number of local trips this year is set at 100 million trips.

However, due to the severe outbreak which prompted a lockdown and rigid travel restrictions in many key destinations, including the epicentre of pandemic, Bangkok, local trips may be lower than the forecast, particularly with the scenario that Thailand needs three months of lockdown to curb record high Covid-19 infections.

"Prior to the pandemic, Thai travellers took 10 million trips per month on average, but the first five months of this year saw only 23.6 million trips being made," he said.

"If the country needs longer than three months to control the situation, the number of local trips could nosedive to 50-60 million as market recovery will need a full month after lockdown to settle, and it's too difficult to offset those losses in the final quarter alone," he said.

According to the TAT's forecast, total tourism revenue in 2021 may drop by 23% to 625 billion baht, comprising 14% from the international market via sandbox initiatives and 86% from domestic tourism.

Meanwhile, the minimum target for the foreign market in 2022 is set at 10 million in the worst-case scenario, while that of local tourism is anticipated at 122 million trips.

Under this scenario in which the global virus situation remains volatile and many countries restrict cross-border travel, international receipts should be 625 billion baht, while domestic tourism would contribute 680 billion baht to the country.

The total revenue for 2022 in the worst-case scenario is estimated at 1.3 trillion baht.

The best-case scenario sees 18 million tourists generating 1.05 trillion baht, while local tourists take 160 million trips with total spending of 882 billion baht.

"Tourism recovery this year and next year still has to depend largely on the epidemic inside and outside Thailand, and the travel regulations of each country," he said.

Pornthip Hirunkate, Association of Thai Travel Agents vice-president, said the Phuket sandbox started to see positive momentum from long-haul markets, mainly from Europe, the US and the Middle East.

However, almost all inbound arrivals are individual travellers rather than large tour groups as seen previously. The tour series from the US may come back from next year at the earliest.

She said there are some obstacles in the sandbox requirements, such as the approval process of the Certificate of Entry (COE) for which tourists must wait quite long to obtain permission.