torsdag 12 augusti 2021

Foreigners in Thailand have nearly ฿600 billion in the bank as inequality and poverty rise alarmingly. The Enquirer

Foreigners in Thailand have nearly ฿600 billion in the bank as inequality and poverty rise alarmingly
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Figures published this week show a strong financial system but a deeply dysfunctional economy plagued by growing inequality. Thailand's economic problems date back to well before this pandemic which has only served to expose them. The World Bank and other international financial institutions have long urged the government to introduce more radical plans to tackle inequality at all levels to afford younger generations a level playing field of opportunity which certainly does not exist now.

As Thailand reduced its bank deposit protection limit this week, economic analysts have emphasised the strength of the banking system in the country underpinned by record-high levels of deposits with funds held by foreign residents amounting to ฿596,779 billion. The figures also reflect rising inequality and poverty in the kingdom whose economy increasingly isolates over 90% of its population from the ranks of the well off, a situation that is unsustainable if the country seeks to progress and emerge from an extended economic malaise going back well before the pandemic.

foreigners-have-nearly-600-billion-baht-banked
Figures released this week showing record deposits in Thailand's commercial banking sector also reveal massive inequality amid an economy devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. It follows repeated warnings by the World Bank to the government that Thailand cannot hope to progress to a high-income economy unless inequality and poverty are robustly tackled.

As protests roam the streets of Bangkok clashing with police on Wednesday in what are now daily clashes, news emerged on the nature of bank deposits in Thailand which serve to highlight the growing inequality in the kingdom.

The data came 48 hours before Thailand's adjusted lower level of bank deposit protection kicked in and appears to show that only 1.52% of all funds held in Thailand's commercial banks are held by 91.22% of people while foreign residents in the kingdom hold 3.52% of all wider bank financial holdings, according to the Bank of Thailand, valued at ฿596,779 billion.

Despite chronic inequality, Thailand has, in the past, made substantial progress reducing poverty levels in the country until 2018 when the official rate of 65% in 1988 fell to 9.85% according to the World Bank.

World Bank Gallup poll data showed large numbers of Thai people who cannot afford food or shelter

At the same time, according to Gallup polls monitored and curated by the World Bank, over 40% of Thai people from 2016 to 2018 said that the year previously they had not had enough money to buy food while 30% to 40% in the same period said that they had not enough money to pay for shelter.

The official figures showed a rise in poverty for both 2015 and 2018. 

Up to the pandemic, Thailand was the only country in the ASEAN community that has seen poverty levels moving in the wrong direction since 2000. 

The poverty line used for this survey is a level set by the World Bank at $1.90 per day.

Economic malaise in Thailand has been growing with underlying problems now making their presence felt

While bank deposits may be rising and large firms are holding their own during the pandemic, since at least 2018, Thailand's economic malaise has been worsening with long term problems including its under par education system, ageing population and chronic levels of household debt making a deeper impact on the country's economic performance every year since.

Some analysts have traced this degeneration back to 2015.

The record levels of bank deposits highlighted at the end of May this year tells clearly that the problem is one linked with the country's long term social and economic policies and failure to tackle inequality robustly and comprehensively.

Government repeatedly urged to tackle inequality and to focus on opportunities for younger Thai people

The World Bank has repeatedly warned the Thai government that it is very difficult for any country to achieve high-income status without implementing policies that act to reverse inequality particularly in regard to equal opportunity for all the kingdom's young people notwithstanding their family background or province of origin.

This has not been happening or at least it is far from effective.

The banking data we saw this week shows us this in stark terms.

Even before the pandemic, the World Bank was highlighting the more widespread uptick in poverty that Thailand witnessed in 2018 and before that in 2015. 

In March 2020, the bank pointed to stagnant wages and lack of investment in raising people out of poverty as well as outdated farming techniques as the basis for a lack of optimism despite a clear commitment from the government of General Prayut Chan ocha to tackle the issue as a priority.

On one positive note, the institution underlined that government supports, where they had been deployed, had successfully bolstered families by 'buffering households from worse outcomes'.

It concluded that Thailand must move towards a level playing field for its younger generations to allow them to get beyond the 'poverty and inequality traps' that now exist.

Record GDP contraction last year and bleak prospects in 2021 followed a year of disappointment in 2019

Thailand, last year, recorded a record 6.1% GDP contraction followed by a further 2.6% reversal in the first quarter and appears to be on course for, at best, a year of stalled growth or perhaps another contraction in GDP. 

The latest blow to the country has seen a projected growth in exports in 2021 slashed from 11% to 7% due to COVID-19 impacting factory output and production.

In the meantime, the country's foreign tourism is on course for a wipeout in excess of 99% of 2019's figures and even as much as a 96% loss on last year's annus horriblis.

World Bank report questioned Thailand's tourism success up to 2019 even before the pandemic

However, even before the pandemic, there were problems with both tourism and exports.

Despite an oft-reported record year for Thailand's tourism in 2019 in which over ฿3 trillion was generated, the World Bank, in a report published in March 2020, highlighted a fall in both tourism and exports in years up to that point.

Similar comments at the time by Bank of Thailand officials also alluded to this.

Growth rates well behind its Asian neighbours are insufficient to power economic transformation with underlying issues exascerbated by inequality

It also highlighted that in 2019 Thailand had one of the lowest growth rates in the Southeast Asian region at only 2.7%. 

The country's growth rates were noted to be significantly behind larger economies in the wider Asian region and insufficient to tackle inequality and transform the country.

The report highlighted the need for Thailand to boost productivity even as farming incomes were being hit hard with more drought and environmental problems.

It is estimated that over 33% of Thailand's workforce is still maintained on the land, most with no means to advance or attain a higher standard of living which is essential if Thailand seeks to achieve sustainable economic growth or make a breakthrough to a high-income economy.

Indeed the World Bank warned that poverty in Thailand had risen sharply in 2018.

Deposits in Thai commercial banks reached a record high in May 2021 according to new data this week

Deposits held in commercial Thai banks reached a record high at the end of May with a sharp and hectic rise in holding since the pandemic began in the opening quarter of 2020.

The figures, this week, released by the Economic Intelligence Centre at Siam Commercial Bank showed that, at the end of May, deposits in the commercial Thai banking sector had increased to ฿1.78 trillion. 

The findings revealed by the unit were presented by senior economist Mr Wachirawat Banchuen focusing on deposits within the commercial banking sector suggesting that the levels of funds held increased by an average of 8.7% per month compared to only 3.9% in the four years from 2015 to 2019.

Siam Commercial Bank identified this trend early on

This trend was quickly identified and highlighted in May 2020 by the President of Siam Commercial Bank, Apiphan Charoenanusorn.

Top bank sees rise in money on deposit in reaction to the virus emergency and rattled markets

The figures within the commercial banking sector give further confirmation of the inequality in the country and reflect a survey of all bank accounts in Thailand carried out at the end of 2019 by the Puey Ungphakorn Institute which showed that 93% of all funds in Thai banks were held by 10% of account holders with funds in excess of ฿3 million while a large segment, 19% of accounts, held less than ฿500, the equivalent of $15.

Survey says that 10% of Thai bank accounts have 93% of funds with 19% having less than ฿500

In the research on the commercial bank sector, the figures this week were even more startling.

91% of all funds held by only 1.6% of account holders while 91% of depositors held only 1.52% of funds

91% of all funds were held by only 1.6% of account holders with deposit holdings over ฿1 million. The total amount of deposits in commercial banks was ฿12.54 trillion according to the Bank of Thailand which fell sharply to ฿9.907 trillion at the end of June. This was a significant drop of 21%.

On the other side of the coin, in this banking segment, balances under ฿100,000, representing 91.22% of account holders, held funds valued only at ฿1.128 trillion.

The rise in deposits last year only saw ฿27 billion lodged by smaller account holders representing 1.52% of new deposits for the year.

The bank economist suggested that the findings were in line with trends worldwide as consumers and firms husbanded their financial resources during a period of restricted economic activity.

However, the pattern is quite different to western countries where a broad section of the population, as well as small firms and business operators, have benefited from generous government supports particularly in the United Kingdom and Europe.

There has been nothing quite like the catastrophic outcome seen in Thailand for the small business sector and the kingdom's large number of self-employed people. 

The data presented by Mr Wachirawat confirms this.

Inequality in Thailand contrasts sharply with other countries and is increasingly compelling

The contrast between the inequality demonstrated by the data presented and other countries worldwide even within the ASEAN region and wider Southeast Asia is quite compelling.

Thailand's economy and base of economic activity has been deteriorating since 2015, well before the pandemic.

Inequality has been rising in Thailand since 2015 as the kingdom becomes officially an aged society in 2021

The data presented by the economic intelligence unit of Siam Commercial Bank comes as the kingdom proceeded this month with plans to reduce bank deposit protection to ฿1 million from August 12th from the previous level of ฿5 million, a move postponed last year by the cabinet in April 2020 because of the pandemic. 

Bank economist: 91% of bank account holders are withdrawing funds for daily use during this crisis

The guarantee originally came about under the Deposit Protection Agency Act of 2018 which was introduced during the world financial crisis that year to shore up confidence in Thai banks and the financial industry.

In his reports this week, Mr Wachirawat suggested that deposits with the commercial banking sector will increase for the remainder of 2021 as large deposit holders and wealthier consumers will move to preserve their funds and holdings during the ongoing pandemic.

At the same time, he did accept that smaller account holders representing over 91% of the commercial banking sector were withdrawing funds for day to day use.

New deposit guarantee levels will not have a significant impact says bank economic unit

The figures and data published by the Bank of Thailand covering the wider range of bank accounts were augmented when Mr Songpol Chevapanyaroj, who is the President of the Deposit Protection Agency (DPA) revealed that across 35 banks and financial institutions, there were 83.72 million customers whose holdings were no more than ฿1 million.

At the same time, the value of the overall funds protected were ฿15.28 trillion which was a 2.3% increase from 2020.

Kasikorn Research Centre, the research arm of Kasikorn Bank, meanwhile, made it clear that Thai banks and financial institutions were solidly backed with a liquidity coverage ratio of 195% well above the requirement set by the central bank.

It suggested that the changes will not impact a large number of deposit account holders.

Bigger picture of overall financial deposits also showed a peak at the end of May but fell in June

Looking at the wider picture of all financial balances across the Thai economy, CEIC Economic Analytics, a trusted industry source, reported an overall balance for deposits across all financial institutions at $517,088 billion at the end of May 2021 or approximately ฿17.063 trillion. 

Detailed figures published by the Bank of Thailand, however, for the end of May show a lower figure ฿16.154 trillion at that point which is a monthly high as with the figure for commercial bank holdings but shows a more gradual and slightly uneven rise since the pandemic began.

It is approximately 13% higher than the deposit levels recorded in February 2020 when bank deposits and holdings began to spike as the implications of the COVID-19 virus emergency became clear.

A remarkably stable picture emerges of a gradual rise in financial deposits during the COVID-19 pandemic

In fact, overall, the figures during the crisis remain markedly stable with minor fluctuations and a slow gradual rise. 

The longer-term picture, historically, shows funds on deposit across all institutions including NGOs, foreign residents and overseas banks from October 2003 to June 2021, rising from ฿5.482 trillion in October 2003 after reaching a record low of ฿3.614 trillion in July 2001, to ฿16.154 trillion, a record high in May 2021.

Bank deposits fell from May to June by just over 1% to ฿15.987 trillion but there was a similar fall in 2020 when the decline was just 0.34%.

Deposits have increased by 347% in twenty years

This means that up to the end of May 2021, over a period of nearly twenty years, bank deposits have increased by 347% while in the meantime, poverty in Thailand since 2015 has been on the rise with record levels of household debt.

What is of even more significance, however, is the breakdown of those who hold the funds and its implications for the wider Thai economy.

As the saying goes, 'Money makes the world go round' and indeed money must go around before the kingdom's economy and more importantly, its general populace, can progress up the economic chain of development.

At the end of June, according to the Bank of Thailand, foreign residents in Thailand owned bank holdings valued at ฿596,779 billion or 3.53% of the total.


The number of #COVID19 cases in hospitals is going down nearly every day now. Only 40% of patients are in hospital. More people are doing some form of home isolation now. ✅ 60,127 in hospitals ✅ 148,901 in field hospitals ✅ 73,160 in hospitels ✅ 68,335 in home/community isolation ✅ 7,406 elsewhere. Richard Barrow



🇹🇭 The Ministry of Public Health says the average number of RT-PCR tests for the past 7 days was 52,404 tests per day. Today there were 22,782 positive cases which is 43% of the daily testing average. The number of people being tested is on a decline. (Source: @Ch3ThailandNews)

Today's local Covid19 situation in Chonburi as cases rise again to almost a new high, driven mostly by factories and industrial estates. It has been 24 days since we became a deep red province. Do you think the measures are working? Pattaya News

Chonburi announces 1, 666 new Covid -19 cases with 11 deaths

Chonburi –

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 1, 666 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with eleven new deaths, August 12th.

This makes a total of 41,694 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 19,704 people still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 211 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April. The details on yesterday's eleven new deaths were not given, which is standard for the health department.

Additionally, 1,121 people were also released and recovered yesterday in Chonburi. 21,779 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 416, Si Racha 544, Banglamung (Pattaya) 204, Panat Nikhom 85, Sattahip 40, Ban Bueang 106, Pan Thong 126, Bor Thong 16, Ko Chan 24, Nong Yai 16, and 89 new cases transferred from other provinces for medical care.

The details on the cases are as follows:

  1. Cluster, LLIT (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (Ling Long) in Eastern Seaboard industrial estate in Si Racha, 77 cases
  2. Cluster, Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand), Co. Ltd. in Si Racha, 12 cases
  3. Cluster, Silapornchai Co.,Ltd. in Mueang Chonburi, 9 cases
  4. Cluster, Ge Mao Rubber International (Thailand) Co., Ltd. in Pan Thong, 7 cases
  5. Cluster, Thai Maintech Co.,Ltd., 7 cases
  6. A risky occupation, meeting a large number of people, 13 cases
  7. 7 medical personnel
  8. Many enterprises in Rayong Province, 14 cases
  9. Close contact of confirmed patients in families – 294 cases, , in workplaces – 190 cases, close people in general – 20 cases, and in a party – 1 case
  10. Close contacts (under investigation) – 247 cases
  11. 768 cases are under investigation in general.

A total of 1,329 close contact searches were received today with 1,050 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. TPN media notes that this cluster information appears to be outdated but is what was provided by authorities. 

Push to promote Phuket after murder. US travel warning could hurt tourism. A heavy tourism marketing drive will be launched overseas to spread the message of Phuket being safe after the murder of a Swiss woman and as the US placed Thailand on the list of countries with a Covid-19 alert, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Bangkok Post

Push to promote Phuket after murder

A heavy tourism marketing drive will be launched overseas to spread the message of Phuket being safe after the murder of a Swiss woman and as the US placed Thailand on the list of countries with a Covid-19 alert, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

The murder case has no immediate impact on tourism bookings through the Phuket sandbox programme, as reported by 29 TAT offices overseas, said Nanthasiri Ronsiri, director of TAT's Phuket office.

However, in the longer term, the pandemic might put pressure on Phuket's tourism outlook, especially with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) adding Thailand to the highest Level 4 list of countries -- "very high" -- which urges fully vaccinated US citizens to avoid travel to Thailand due to the risk of exposure to the virus and its variants.

The priority now was to communicate to people overseas and tour operators that Phuket, being the most vaccinated province, is far removed from the pandemic situation in the rest of the country, said Ms Nanthasiri.

The message must be put out urgently with a heavy marketing campaign to be implemented.

Phuket has a strong public health safety record and is medically equipped in terms of personnel and facilities to handle the pandemic, she said.

Meanwhile, the provincial health office has reported a steady rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in Phuket, especially among migrant workers from Myanmar employed mostly in the fishery industry.

Koosak Kookiatkul, head of the office, said Phuket logged 297 new Covid-19 cases last week, and 328 so far this week.

"New cases are coming on a wave of the Delta variant, which spreads 60-70% faster than the outbreak in April," he said.

"There are more patients as we have more visitors and inbound workers."



‼️NEW HIGHS - #COVID19 Update on Thursday: 22,782 new cases and 147 deaths. 8 Aug: 19,983 - 138 dead 9 Aug: 19,603 - 149 dead 10 Aug: 19,843 - 235 dead 11 Aug: 21,038 - 207 dead. Richard Barrow



Bangkok Post highlights 12/8



onsdag 11 augusti 2021

Phuket's Covid cases rising, especially among migrant workers. The number of Covid-19 cases is rising rapidly, especially among migrant workers from Myanmar contributing to the reopening of the tourist island, the provincial health chief said on Wednesday.Koosak Bangkok Post

Phuket's Covid cases rising, especially among migrant workers
Phuket health chief Dr Koosak Kookiatkul speaks to reporters on Wednesday. (Photo: Achadthaya Chuenniran)
Phuket health chief Dr Koosak Kookiatkul speaks to reporters on Wednesday. (Photo: Achadthaya Chuenniran)

PHUKET: The number of Covid-19 cases is rising rapidly, especially among migrant workers from Myanmar contributing to the reopening of the tourist island, the provincial health chief said on Wednesday.

Koosak Kookiatkul said Phuket logged 297 new Covid-19 cases last week, and 328 so far this week.

"New cases are coming on a wave of the Delta variant, which spreads 60-70% faster than the outbreak in April. There are more patients as we have more visitors and inbound workers," he said.

Dr Koosak said infections were increasing among Myanmar workers contrbuting to the economy at fresh markets, factories and on fishing boats.

Markets and workers' dormitories must be sealed off if infection rates exceed 10%, he said.

Three construction camps - in Patong, Karon and Thalang districts - had already been closed off. Construction was continuing, however, while medics took care of the workers.

About 30 infected Myanmar workers were staying aboard two fishing boats that brought supplies to Phuket. They were receiving medication and most of them were asymptomatic.

Increasing admissions to field hospitals in Phuket prompted provincial authorities to open a Covid-19 care centre in an unused building at the old Phuket prison on Wednesday, to treat the people who tested positive via antigen kits and remained healthy, Dr Koosak said.

On Tuesday Phuket recorded 54 new Covid-19 cases. This raised the total number of Covid-19 cases since the start of April to 1,609 and included 52 visitors who arrived under the Phuket Sandbox reopening programme that started on July 1.


The Thai cabinet, on Tuesday, approved a 33.47 billion baht budget to help about 6.69 million unemployed and freelance workers affected by the government’s partial lockdown restrictions, imposed in the 29 COVID-19 “Dark Red” provinces, said Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri. PBS World

More financial support approved in Thailand's "Dark Red" provinces

The Thai cabinet, on Tuesday, approved a 33.47 billion baht budget to help about 6.69 million unemployed and freelance workers affected by the government's partial lockdown restrictions, imposed in the 29 COVID-19 "Dark Red" provinces, said Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri.

People eligible for the 5,000 baht taxpayer funded cost-of-living allowance are those covered by Section 39 of the labour law, who were previously covered by the social security scheme under Section 33 and were laid off or resigned, but continued to contribute 432 baht/month to the social security fund. There are about 1.4 million such workers, according to Mr. Anucha.

There are also about 5.2 million freelancers and traders covered by Section 40 of the labour law who are eligible to the support.

Moreover, the spokesman said that an additional two billion baht was approved by the cabinet, on top of the 15 billion baht earlier earmarked to help employees and employers in 13 "Dark Red" provinces who have suffered from the partial lockdown measures.

The 29 "Dark Red" provinces are Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala, Songkhla, Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, Ayutthaya, Nakhon Ratchasima, Rayong, Ratchaburi, Saraburi, Suphan Buri,  Kanchanaburi, Lop Buri, Phetchabun, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi, Tak, Ang Thong, Nakhon Nayok, Samut Songkhram, Prachin Buri and Sing Buri.

In the meantime, the cabinet decided to set aside 12.6 billion baht, from the Central Fund, to be disbursed as overtime pay and hazard allowances to medical personnel and public health volunteers engaged in caring for COVID-19 patients between July and September.

Anucha said that the people eligible for the payments also include members of various committees, experts, advisors and outsiders who were involved in activities related to the contagion.

The fund was originally intended for the April to June period, but was extended until the end of September due to the continuing spread of the disease, he explained.

An additional 1.8 billion baht was also approved for those involved in the vaccination process at non-hospital facilities.



The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 1,368 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with eleven new deaths, August 11th. Pattaya News

Chonburi announces 1,368 new Covid -19 cases with 11 deaths

Chonburi –

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 1,368 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with eleven new deaths, August 11th.

This makes a total of 40,028 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 19,170 people still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 200 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April. The details on yesterday's eleven new deaths were not given, which is standard for the health department.

Additionally, 837 people were also released and recovered yesterday in Chonburi. 20,658 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 376, Si Racha 340, Banglamung (Pattaya) 187, Panat Nikhom 78, Sattahip 6, Ban Bueang 145, Pan Thong 113, Bor Thong 60, Ko Chan 9, Nong Yai 18, and 36 new cases transferred from other provinces for medical care.

The details on the cases are as follows:

  1. Cluster, Mitsubishi Electric Consumer Products (Thailand) Co., Ltd. in Mueang Chonburi, 16 cases
  2. Chicony Electronics Thailand Co.,Ltd. in Mueang Chonburi, 8 cases
  3.  Autoliv (Thailand) Co., Ltd. in Mueang Chonburi, 8 cases
  4. Damoa Eletronics (Thailand) Co., Ltd. in Si Racha, 6 cases
  5. A risky occupation, meeting a large number of people, 18 cases
  6. 20  medical personnel
  7. Provide history to Pathum Thani, 1 cases
  8. Many enterprises in Rayong Province, 18 cases
  9. Close contact of confirmed patients in families – 328 cases, , in workplaces – 171 cases, and close people in general – 26 cases
  10.   Close contacts (under investigation) – 158 cases
  11. 590 cases are under investigation in general.

A total of 1,061 close contact searches were received today with 522 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. TPN media notes that this cluster information appears to be outdated but is what was provided by authorities


Vaccines alone won't stop spread of Covid. As Thailand's Covid-19 infections have yet to peak, the public should comply strictly with measures and restrictions which are meant to contain the spread of the virus, such as getting a vaccine as quickly as possible, urged the dean of Siriraj Hospital's Faculty of Medicine, Prasit Watanapa, on Tuesday. Bangkok Post

Virus restrictions 'still necessary'
Vaccines alone won't stop spread of Covid
Members of the Rural Doctor Society carry out mass Covid-19 testing at Rangsit University in Pathum Thani province on Tuesday. The society joined forces with medical workers to accelerate testing in Greater Bangkok. (Photo: Arnun Cholmakatrakool)
Members of the Rural Doctor Society carry out mass Covid-19 testing at Rangsit University in Pathum Thani province on Tuesday. The society joined forces with medical workers to accelerate testing in Greater Bangkok. (Photo: Arnun Cholmakatrakool)

As Thailand's Covid-19 infections have yet to peak, the public should comply strictly with measures and restrictions which are meant to contain the spread of the virus, such as getting a vaccine as quickly as possible, urged the dean of Siriraj Hospital's Faculty of Medicine, Prasit Watanapa, on Tuesday.

Dr Prasit, who spoke on Facebook to provide an update on the country's Covid-19 situation, said he arrived at the conclusion after assessing daily case figures and trends.

According to him, Thailand's Covid cases have yet to peak as there are still many people who violate public health guidelines and restrictions which are intended to curb the spread of Covid-19, by gathering in public places.

He also added some schools are still organising activities, which facilitates the rapid spread of the virus.

"But if everyone strictly complies with Covid-19 measures I believe the number of new cases will drop sharply between September and October. Meanwhile, the government must speed up vaccinations to cover at least 25% of the population by the end of this month," he said.

"I'd say this is possible if no unexpected events, such as a massive cluster outbreak, take place.

Dr Prasit said that the Delta variant of Covid-19 has prompted the global community to strengthen safeguards to prevent disease transmission.

For example, the United States has been recording around 100 deaths per day, compared with thousands a day before its mass vaccination rollout. Similar results can be seen in other countries such as the United Kingdom, France and Italy.

He went on to say that while vaccines do protect its recipients from developing severe symptoms and death from Covid-19, a study carried out by the University of Wisconsin showed that the viral load on nasal swabs conducted on vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals doesn't differ much.

"This new information has shown us that the vaccine alone won't be enough to prevent outbreaks. Social-distancing measures are still needed. Moreover, herd immunity can't happen if there are no vaccines for children," he said.

He further added that the country will likely get stuck in the same situation until the second generation of Covid-19 vaccines is produced and becomes widely available to the public.

Vaccine manufacturers are expected to produce 12 billion doses of vaccine by the end of this year, far below the previous expectation of 20 billion doses.


🔴 #COVID19 Update on Wednesday: 21,038 new cases and 207 deaths. 7 Aug: 21,838 - 212 dead 8 Aug: 19,983 - 138 dead 9 Aug: 19,603 - 149 dead 10 Aug: 19,843 - 235 dead. Richard Barrow





Bangkok Post highlights 11/8



The ferry between Pattaya and Hua Hin has officially stopped their service, this time seemingly permanently, due to the ongoing Covid -1 9 pandemic and lack of foreign tourists since March of last year. Pattaya News

Pattaya to Hua Hin ferry service officially ends, this time for seemingly good, as contract canceled and port returned to Pattaya City

The ferry between Pattaya and Hua Hin has officially stopped their service, this time seemingly permanently, due to the ongoing Covid -1 9 pandemic and lack of foreign tourists since March of last year.

Pattaya –

The ferry service between Pattaya and Hua Hin was first suspended due to the Chonburi COVID – 19 Communicable Disease Committee prevention orders last year.

https://thepattayanews.com/2020/06/11/pattaya-to-hua-hin-ferry-service-is-still-suspended-pattaya-marine-office-confirms/

Meanwhile, a brand new ferry service across the Gulf of Thailand from Sattahip to Prachuap Kirikhan (Hua Hin) to Songkhla was test run last year. However, this is still not a permanent service and was not designed to be a replacement.

https://thepattayanews.com/2020/10/28/sattahip-huahin-songkhla-new-ferry-service-to-be-test-run-next-month/

The ferry service was at Pattaya Port C at the Bali Hai Pier. The service was operated by Royal Passenger Liner Co., Ltd. which was the only company for the ferry service at the port.

Their two catamaran ferries carried 150 passengers on one vessel and 262 passengers on another and took only one hour and forty minutes per round to Hua Hin. They had been operating since 2017 but had been plagued with various issues and difficulties, as well as less than expected popularity. The Covid-19 pandemic was the so-called "nail in the coffin" for the ferry service.

Today (August 10th) the Pattaya City Mayor Sonthaya Khunploem told Pattaya News reporters, "The company has requested to cancel the contract for using the port as they have had to stop their ferry service due to the Covid -19 crisis with the current restrictions and no domestic or foreign tourists. We also don't know when the situation will improve or when exactly tourists can return."

"They will have to fix some structures at the port to what it originally looked like before their operations. There were some renovations done that the company changed and some structures are not to our standards. Once this is completed, they can finally return the port to Pattaya City properly, where it will likely be operated as a normal boat dock. There are no plans to resume a Hua Hin service at this time from Pattaya." The Mayor concluded.


The plan to open Pattaya City to foreign vaccinated tourists on September 1st has been officially postponed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Worse, the TAT is unable to provide even a guesstimate of when the city will be able to relax restrictions and reopen its economy, devastated by Covid-19 regulations and measures. Pattaya News


Pattaya –

The plan to open Pattaya City to foreign vaccinated tourists on September 1st has been officially postponed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Worse, the TAT is unable to provide even a guesstimate of when the city will be able to relax restrictions and reopen its economy, devastated by Covid-19 regulations and measures.

The Pattaya City Mayor Sonthaya Khunplume told local media, "The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has postponed the reopening plan of Pattaya and several other areas, such as Hua Hin, for foreign tourists with no firm future date set."

This news, although unfortunate, is not a surprise to many readers or business owners who have now been closed for four months as of today, August 10th, 2021. The closure of Pattaya's main economic driver, their bars, nightlife, entertainment, cinemas, amusements, most hospitality, and tourism attractions was ordered on April 10th of this year. Other than a few slight easings since then (which were then reversed and reclosed, like massages and gyms), most venues have remained closed. Currently, the city and province of Chonburi is a maximum control zone and even beaches, parks, pools, malls, restaurants for dine-in, and more are all closed along with all of Pattaya's famous tourism and nightlife attractions.

This comes as the province of Chonburi has regularly had over a thousand cases a day of Covid-19, with several hundred in the Banglamung/Pattaya area. Many are coming from factories and industrial estates but are still in the local community as well, according to the Mayor. This has also come as a vaccination plan has moved forward slower than officials and residents had wanted. To be able to reopen for tourism and relaunch its economy, according to the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, an area would need to be roughly 70% vaccinated. Chonburi is nowhere near that number as the majority of vaccines have gone to Bangkok, the epicenter of the current Covid-19 breakout in Thailand.

The good news, however, is that once the situation improves in Bangkok, a more widespread local vaccination program will take place in Pattaya, which is still an economic priority zone according to the Mayor.

"However, we are still working on a Standard Operation Procedure Plan (SOP) which will be measurements to welcome tourists for hotels and tourism places including a sealed route plan for vaccinated foreign tourists traveling schedules." The Mayor added, without being able to give an approximate date as to when this would be.

To be clear, the initial plan to "open" Pattaya in September was never intended to be a major reopening of all foreign tourists, with all the neon lights back on. In fact, a similar plan in Phuket and Koh Samui still bans bars and nightlife, Pattaya's bread and butter, from opening. (At least officially.)

Pattaya's "Move on" safe and sealed plan was originally intended to be a low-key affair in which selected resorts and hotels that passed safety and health measures would be allowed to let vaccinated foreign tourists return, under strict rules.

Under the sealed route plan, the participating tourists could explore the resort and grounds and go on proposed day trips to safe places like islands, water attractions, temples, and gardens. The plan was not one in which tourists could simply "fly-in" and do what they wanted, like prior to Covid-19. Any plan along those lines, according to the Mayor, will likely be a long way away.

"We expect within the next two years, the economy will return to 2019 levels in which we were the 19th most visited city in the world and welcomed 10 million foreign tourists and roughly 7 million domestic tourists. However, until we can get the Covid-19 situation under control things will be difficult. We hope to be able to open our local economy at least for local residents and domestic tourists by Quarter Four (October/November/December), but we cannot promise this." The Mayor concluded.

Koh Larn, the popular island near Pattaya, has now decided to close the island entirely for tourism for at least fourteen days except for residents from tomorrow, August 11th.



tisdag 10 augusti 2021

Delta variant now 95.4% of Bangkok’s new cases, spreads to almost all provinces Read more >>> https://www.thaipbsworld.com/delta-variant-now-95-4-of-bangkoks-new-cases-spreads-to-almost-all-provinces/ PBS World



More than 90 per cent of Covid-19 patients have been infected by the Delta variant of the virus, a survey conducted by the Department of Medical Science revealed. The Nation

Delta variant of Covid-19 fast becoming mainstream, survey shows

More than 90 per cent of Covid-19 patients have been infected by the Delta variant of the virus, a survey conducted by the Department of Medical Science revealed.

Delta variant of Covid-19 fast becoming mainstream, survey shows

"The department has been studying new infections every week and of the 1,632 samples surveyed last week, 1,499 or 91.9 per cent had been infected by the Delta variant, formerly known as the Indian strain," the department's director-general Dr Supphakit Siriluck said on Tuesday. "Of the samples, 129 or 7.9 per cent had picked up the Alpha variant or UK strain, while four or 0.2 per cent had the Beta or South African strain."

No other strains of Covid-19 have been detected in Thailand so far.

Of the 1,632 samples, 1,157 were collected in Bangkok, 95.4 per cent of whom had picked up the Delta variant and the rest Alpha variant. The remaining 475 samples had been collected from the provinces, where 83.2 per cent were found to have been infected by Delta and 16 per cent by the Alpha variant.

"The trend of infections in Thailand shows that the Delta variant is fast becoming mainstream and can be found in every province, while the Alpha variant will eventually cease to exist," Supphakit said. "As for the Beta variant, it will remain in southern provinces and not spread to other regions. Currently, there are 354 patients with the Beta variant in Narathiwat, four in Phuket and one in Phatthalung.

"Unlike Delta, the Beta variant spreads more slowly and is, therefore, easier to contain," he added.


Today, the US Ambassador to the UN announced $5M in new COVID-19 assistance for Thailand, which will provide support to health care workers administering vaccines and strengthen Thailand’s health system’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to COVID-19. Richard Barrow / US Embassy Bangkok

Remarks by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield at Med Park Hospital Vaccination Center | U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Thailand

Remarks by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield
Med Park Hospital Vaccination Center
August 10, 2021

Sa-wat-dee-kaa. Good morning.

I am here today, as President Biden's representative, to reaffirm our commitment to the Thai people during this unprecedented global health crisis.

The United States has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Thailand for over 200 years.

Our partnership is broad and deep. We do so much together, from our trade and people-to-people exchanges, to our steadfast military alliance, to our cooperation on public health.

It's a relationship based first and foremost on the shared values of our nations.

That's why I'm proud to be here at Med Park Hospital today.

I'm grateful to have the opportunity to see how Thailand is working to vaccinate and protect people with Pfizer vaccines recently provided by the United States.

This morning, I met frontline health care workers — Thailand's heroes — as they received their first doses of the vaccine. And I was inspired to hear about their life-saving work.

I was briefed on how these vaccines are being deployed rapidly, strategically, and efficiently to keep all of Thailand safe.

Since the start of the pandemic, the United States has provided ventilators, PPE, and other critical equipment across the globe to help combat COVID-19.

And American medical personnel are working hand-in-hand with Thai public health authorities to fight this terrible virus.

In order to stop COVID, we know we must work together. COVID has no borders.

The virus does not care whether you are from Thailand, or the United States, Myanmar, or Laos. And no one nation can stop a pandemic on its own.

Extinguishing this virus requires ingenuity, principled leadership, and the cooperation of every nation on the earth.

President Biden has committed America to providing vaccines to the world. He understands that no one is safe until everyone is safe.

So we are providing over half a billion doses to over 100 nations, free of charge, with no strings attached.

In Thailand, we have already delivered 1.5 million doses of Pfizer vaccine, which I just saw going into the arms here in the clinic. We are proud to say we will soon be providing another 1 million doses.

We also know that Thailand is dealing with additional pressures, including responding to humanitarian needs resulting from the crisis in Burma.

So today, I am proud to announce the U.S. government is providing 55 million dollars in assistance, the vast majority of which is going toward humanitarian response efforts. We are also providing assistance to support the pandemic response that will help alleviate the strain on Thailand's health systems.

Specifically, this includes 5 million dollars in COVID-19 assistance for Thailand, which will provide support to health care workers administering vaccines and strengthen Thailand's health system's ability to prevent, detect, and respond to COVID-19.

The 50 million in humanitarian aid will flow directly through international and non-governmental organization partners to provide emergency food assistance, lifesaving protection, shelter, essential health care, water, sanitation, and hygiene services to vulnerable people from Myanmar, including more than 700,000 refugees and internally displaced people.

These resources will help ensure Thailand, NGOs, and international organizations can both respond to the COVID crisis and meet the needs of vulnerable people, particularly in the Thai border area.

These are extremely tough times here and across the globe. And I want the people of Thailand to know the United States will continue to stand with you.

I also want to particularly thank the nurses, doctors, medical personnel, volunteers, and everyone working day and night to stop the virus and save lives.

Thank you.

Download photos at https://state-low.box.com/v/USUN-Amb-LTG-at-Medpark

By  | 10 August, 2021 | Topics: EventsU.S. & Thailand






Each province's daily domestic COVID-19 cases update in Thailand on Tuesday Total: 19,822. NBT



Chonburi announces 1,005 Covid -19 cases with ten deaths - The Pattaya News

Chonburi announces 1,005 Covid -19 cases with ten deaths

Chonburi –

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 1,005 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with ten new deaths, August 9th.

This is the lowest number of Covid-19 cases in Chonburi in close to two weeks.

This makes a total of 38,660 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 18,650 people still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 189 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April. The details on yesterday's ten new deaths were not given, which is standard for the health department.

Additionally, 880 people were also released and recovered yesterday in Chonburi. 19,821 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 271, Si Racha 262, Banglamung (Pattaya) 179, Panat Nikhom 74, Sattahip 13, Ban Bueang 62, Pan Thong 57, Bor Thong 23, Ko Chan 11, Nong Yai 9, and 44 new cases transferred from other provinces for medical care.

The details on the cases are as follows:

  1. Cluster, Thai Kobashi Co., Ltd. in Si Racha, 14 cases
  2. Cluster, Mitsubishi Electric Consumer Products (Thailand) Co., Ltd. in Mueang Chonburi, 8 cases
  3. Cluster, Excellent Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. in Ban Bueng, 7 cases
  4. Cluster, Molten (Thailand) Co., Ltd. in Si Racha, 6 cases
  5. Cluster, Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) Co., Ltd. in Si Racha, 5 cases
  6. A risky occupation, meeting a large number of people, 28 cases
  7. 5 medical personnel
  8. Many enterprises in Rayong Province, 22 cases
  9. Close contact of confirmed patients in families – 263 cases, in workplaces – 97 cases, and close people in general – 30 cases
  10. Close contacts (under investigation) – 160 cases
  11. 360 cases are under investigation in general.

A total of 1,283 close contact searches were received today with 971 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. TPN media notes that this cluster information appears to be outdated but is what was provided by authorities.


Only 6.7% of Thai population fully vaccinated, over 23% have received 1 dose | Thaiger




Only 6.7% of Thai population fully vaccinated, over 23% have received 1 dose

Just 6.7% of Thai residents are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, while over 23% have received their first dose. The figures were released by the Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation Ministry, according to a Nation Thailand report. The southern island of Phuket is the only province where the majority of people have been fully vaccinated. The island launched its quarantine-free re-opening to foreign tourists on July 1, which required most of the local population to be inoculated.

Nation Thailand reports that over 20 million vaccine doses have now been administered in the Kingdom, with the first 10 million administered in 124 days and the second 10 million taking just 36 days. 0.3% of the population has received a third – or booster – shot, most of them healthcare workers. The government has pledged that most of the 1.5 million Pfizer doses donated by the US will be reserved as boosters for frontline medical workers.

To date, Thailand has been heavily reliant on just 2 vaccine brands, with 48.77% of administered doses being the Chinese Sinovac and 43.95% being AstraZeneca. 7% of doses are Sinopharm, while just 0.28% of the doses administered are Pfizer. The highest number of vaccines administered was on August 5, with 670,000 doses rolled out.

Nearly 76% of Phuket residents have now been vaccinated, followed by Bangkok with over 70%, the eastern province of Rayong with 41.6%, and the southern province of Phang Nga, where just over 41% are vaccinated.


Pattaya: September plan to reopen resort to tourism is OFF - Koh Larn sealed off after 6 infections. ASEAN NOW



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File photo

 

Plans to open Thailand's leading seaside resort of Pattaya to tourism have been shelved indefinitely.

 

The plan was to open up on September 1st. The TAT has now abandoned this idea, Pattaya's mayor Sontaya Khunplome told Manager yesterday.

 

This came as 6 cases of Covid-19 were reported on Koh Larn off the coast of Pattaya. 

 

Access to the island had already been severely restricted but the latest cases dealt a blow to its limited reopening, notes ASEAN NOW.

 

All six cases are in hospital care and the mayor said that Pattaya city would be conducting a pro-active testing program of residents there. 

 

The island is being sealed off completely again for 14 days.

 

The TAT have not set a date when Pattaya can reopen to tourism. 

 

Chonburi reported 1,318 new Covid-19 cases on Monday with clusters of between 10 and 18 at Chicony Electronics in Muang district, Mitsubishi, Italian Thai (Thai Oil project in Sri Racha and Italian Thai in Bang Lamung.

 

A total of 199 infections were within families and 267 from the workplace. 

 

Mayor Sontaya has consistently said that vaccination was the key to the reopening of Pattaya and a batch of Sinopharm has been bought out of city coffers costing 88 million baht.

 

Despite this his hand has been forced by the infection numbers and events on Koh Larn meaning that Pattaya will continue to be a ghost town for the foreseeable future. 

 

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