Exports of fresh and processed fruits in the first seven months (January to July) generated 131.16 billion baht, up 48.31 per cent year on year, the Commerce Ministry said on Thursday.
The ministry is targeting at least 180 billion baht in revenue from fresh and processed fruit exports this year, up 30 per cent year on year, said Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit.
The minister credited the rise in fruit exports to four promotional activities – online business matching, a department store promotion campaign, Thai Fruit Golden Month, and sales via foreign platforms such as India's BigBasket and China's Tmall.
"In China alone, Thai Fruit Golden Month in eight cities generated up to 15 billion baht," said Jurin, who expects the same promotion in five more cities to yield another 5 billion baht.
Fruit exports up almost 50% in first 7 months
He added that provincial commerce offices have been instructed to oversee negotiations between buyers and sellers in each province to clear remaining fruit in stock, especially longan and langsat.
"Meanwhile, we have asked commerce ambassadors to seek fruit markets overseas and prepare export plans for next year," he added.
Relatives shun baby boy of parents hospitalised with Covid
A child under two years old, whose parents are infected with Covid-19, could not find any caregivers among relatives despite testing negative.
On Wednesday, a rescue team in Nakhon Ratchasima province took two infected persons -- the baby's mother and her cousin -- to Suranaree University of Technology Hospital.
Both had contracted the virus from the woman's husband, who had been admitted to the same hospital on Monday.
The hospitalisation of the three adult members of the family left the one-year, nine-month-old baby alone. No relative wanted to take care of him, as they were afraid of getting infected, even after a test had found the boy negative.
Left with no choice, the rescue staff took the baby along with his mother and cousin to the hospital. The child was later separated from family members, quarantined and monitored closely.
Safety measures for "Sandbox" travellers in Phuket are being tightened following the suspected murder of a Swiss woman who had entered Thailand under the "Sandbox" and was found dead in a creek near the Ao Yon waterfall.
Accommodations that have the SHA+ certification are being told to closely watch Phuket Sandbox Tourists who are old, feeble, women travelling by themselves, girls, or single men, as the island seeks to increase security for travellers entering under the "Sandbox" reopening scheme.
Phuket Immigration Superintendent, Thanet Sukchai, announced the watchdog decision at a meeting at Phuket Provincial Police headquarters in Phuket Town, yesterday. Thanet says that SHA+ managers must keep a close eye on these risk groups to ensure maximum safety for the tourists.
Vice Governor Vikrom says that 177 people from overseas entered under the Sandbox on Tuesday and they all tested negative for Covid on arrival. Since the reopening scheme started on July 1, more than 24,000 people have have entered Phuket under the scheme. Only 73 of them have tested positive for Covid-19 after arriving to the island. He says there are around 5,000 visitors are still on the island.
The provincial immigration chief says a so-called "crime triangle" strategy is being used to make Phuket safe for tourists travelling to Phuket, but no details on the strategy were reported. Phuket has been on high alert to increase safety measures following the murder of the 57 year old Swiss woman, Nicole Sauvain-Weiskopf, whose body was found August 5. The alleged murderer, Bang Lee, was later caught.
"The strategy is to create safety for local people and for tourists arriving under Phuket Sandbox to build confidence and our tourism image, because safety is an important indicator of world-class tourist attractions."
Thanet went on to say that the Phuket Governor has already ordered a review of nearly 200 tourist attractions on the island and that officials have discovered 2 tourist sites they considered risky. The sites have been ordered closed. Thanet says this was achieved by closing the entrance to the sites and taking the sites' listing off the internet. In fact, if someone tries to search for the locations online, the "areas will not be found".
He adds that 26 more moderate and low-risk areas were also found. The Thanet says current safety modifications to the island include more lighting, trees being taken out, and having volunteer patrols. Also, local officials are establishing a budget for more CCTV cameras.
Chonburi reports 973 new Covid-19 cases with 15 deaths, 1,672 people recovered
Chonburi, Thailand –
Highlights:
973 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Chonburi today
1,672 people recovered and were released from medical care
15 new deaths
The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 973 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with 15 new deaths, August 26th.
This makes a total of 58,137 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 18,228 people still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 339 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April. The details on yesterday's 15 new deaths were not given, which is standard for the health department.
Additionally, 1,672 people were also released and recovered yesterday in Chonburi. 39,570 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 234, Si Racha 251, Banglamung (Pattaya) 151, Panat Nikhom 44, Sattahip 45, Ban Bueang 47, Pan Thong 80, Bor Thong 15, Ko Chan 24, Nong Yai 21, and 61 new cases transferred from other provinces for medical care.
The details on the cases are as follows:
Cluster, Thai Wonderful Wire Cable Co., Ltd. in Pan Thong District, 4 cases
Back from risky areas in Bangkok – 3 cases, Samut Prakan – 1 case and Chachoengsao – 1 case
36 cases at many enterprises in Rayong Province
Close contacts of confirmed patients 10.1 A total of 289 family members 10.2 A total of 115 co-workers 10.3 A total of 17 friends of previous patients 10.4 Six people who joined an illegal party
Close contacts (under investigation), 194 cases
Cases currently under investigation in general, 262 cases
A total of 1,064 close contact searches were received today , and 264 proactive search reports are pending.
PHUKET: The latest Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO) daily COVID situation report has marked a record 189 new local infections across the island yesterday (Aug 25), bringing the total number of people recognised as infected with COVID-19 in Phuket since Apr 3 to 3,070.
The PPHO report, marked as accurate as of 10:20pm last night, also marked three new cases of Phuket Sandbox tourists being confirmed as infected.
The report marked no new deaths attributed to COVID-19, leaving the total number of deaths in Phuket attributed to COVID-19 since Apr 3 at 18.
The 189 new local infections bring the total number of new local infections on the island to a new record of 898 in the past seven days, as follows:
Aug 19 - 129 new cases
Aug 20 - 101 new cases
Aug 21 - 126 new cases
Aug 22 - 124 new cases
Aug 23 - 73 new cases
Aug 24 - 156 new cases
Aug 25 - 189 new cases
The current total of 3,070 people infected in Phuket since Apr 3 does not include 10 infected with COVID-19 in other provinces and 23 returning from other countries and testing positive.
The current Phuket tally also does not include 39 COVID patients brought back to Phuket under the "Bring Phuket people home" policy, or the 73 Phuket Sandbox arrivals who have tested positive for the virus after landing on the island since the Sandbox scheme began on July 1.
According to the PPHO COVID report for yesterday, 1,225 people were under medical care or supervision, one less than the day before.
The report also marked 1,935 people in total being discharged from medical care for COVID infection since Apr 3 ‒ 206 more patients than the 1,729 reported for Tuesday.
The report posted last night recorded just 19 new cases of people suspected of being infected with COVID-19 after testing positive by antigen test kits (ATKs) yesterday (Aug 25).
Despite the 19 new suspected cases, which have yet to be confirmed by RT-PCR tests, the total number of people currently held at 'COVID-19 Care Centers' across the island fell from 444 to 430.
The report did not confirm how many people who tested positive by ATKs were confirmed infected by RT-PCR tests or how many people had been released from ATK detention at 'COVID-19 Care Centers' and allowed to go home.
The PPHO daily COVID situation report posted last night also reported that Phuket currently has in total 1,473 beds available for COVID patients (+72 from yesterday).
The total number of hospital beds occupied by COVID patients in Phuket now stands at 1,009 (+51), or 68.50% of the total number of beds, with 464 (+20) hospital beds in Phuket still available.
The report also marked that of the COVID patients in care 32 were designated as 'Red patients' (+1); 324 were designated 'Yellow' patients (-3) and 393 were 'Green' patients (-18).
The latest map released by the PPHO showing the locations of the new infections across the island was released yesterday (Aug 24), but marked as accurate as of 6pm Tuesday (Aug 24), as follows:
Rassada - 643 cases (+64)
Phuket Town - 578 (Talad Yai 335, +18; Talad Neua 243, zero change)
Thailand on track to get 100 million shots in arms by year end, official says
Thailand is on course to meet the target of administering 100 million Covid vaccine doses within 2021, even though only 28 million doses have been administered so far and AstraZeneca will only be able to send seven million doses per month between September and December, the government said on Wednesday.
A total of 28.2 million Covid vaccines were administered between February 28 and August 24, including 21.2 million first doses, 6.4 million second doses and 560,624 third-booster shots.
More than 585,000 people were vaccinated on Tuesday.
"To meet the target, we have to administer around 15 million doses per month or 500,000 doses per day and if you have been following the daily development, we have been vaccinating more than 500,000 people per day over the past week," said Dr Apisamai Srirangson, an assistant spokeswoman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).
"For August, 13.8 million doses have been made available, including 6.5 million Sinovac, 5.8 million AstraZeneca, 1.5 million donated Pfizer and 1 million Sinopharm so we are on course for August with more than 500,000 people being vaccinated per day," she said.
The breakdown numbers Apisamai gave add up to 14.8 million doses.
"Another 15 million doses will be made available for September including six million Sinovac, seven million AstraZeneca and two million Pfizer," she said.
Another 34 million doses are expected to be made available in October and November (17 million each month).
According to CCSA's data, Thailand administered 4.6 million doses between August 16 and August 24 with an average of 511,725 people per day.
Thailand received 1.5 million donated Pfizer doses from the US since July 30 and has ordered 30 million more Pfizer doses, which are expected to arrive between September and December.
Apart from the 2 million Pfizer doses that are expected to arrive in September, another 8 million doses are expected to arrive in October, 10 million in November and 10 million in December.
For AstraZeneca, the government said on Monday that Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha has spoken with chief executive Pascal Claude Roland Soriot, and the company has agreed to deliver all of the ordered 61 million AstraZeneca doses between now and December.
Earlier AstraZeneca had said that the 61 million doses would be delivered by May 2022.
As of the end of August AstraZeneca had delivered 17.1 million doses of the vaccine and had said that it would deliver 5-6 million doses for the remaining months of 2021.
A decision to supply 61 million doses would mean that for the remaining four months of 2021 (between September and December) Thailand could get up to 10.9 million doses per month.
However, Apisamai said on Wednesday that AstraZeneca told the government that they will be able to send 7 million per month between September and December, not 10 million.
"AstraZeneca was able to send 5.8 million in August but from the latest negotiation…AstraZeneca said they will be able to send at least seven million per month between September and December," she said.
If they can only send 7 million doses per month, this would mean that AstraZeneca would be 15.9 million doses short of their latest promise to the Thai government. Apisamai said if they can produce more, they will deliver more.
For Sinovac, 30 million doses of the inactivated vaccine are expected to arrive between now and December.
This would mean that Thailand's vaccine supply for 2021 would be 120 million doses including 61 million of AstraZeneca (if AstraZeneca can send more than 10.9 million per month between September and December), 30 million doses of Chinese Sinovac and 30 million doses of Pfizer.
The number of weekly rolling Covid-19 infections in Phuket is poised to pass 800, as 5 of the last 7 days have seen infections of over 100 people and the 7-day total now stands at 798 new local Covid-19 infections. According to the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office, yesterday marked a new daily high of 156 new infections and one new death due to Covid-19.
79 possible cases were uncovered with antigen test kits, but are not considered official until the patients have been tested using more reliable RT-PCR tests. There are 444 people being held at Covid-19 Care Centres, locations set up for people in the grey are of having tested positive with an antigen test kit, but not yet confirmed positive or negative with an RT-PCR test.
TOTALS
The total number of domestic infections in Phuket since the start of April is 2,881. After 44 people were released yesterday, a total of 1,729 people have been discharged from medical care or supervision, while 1,226 people still remain hospitalised or under medical supervision.
DEATHS
18 people have died from Covid-19 in Phuket since the start of the third wave of the pandemic in Thailand in April. July saw 5 deaths total, but August has now had 6 fatalities, 4 of them occurring just since last Monday.
HOSPITALISATION
110 more people yesterday than the day before are now under medical care or supervision, with a total of 958 hospital beds currently occupied, up 63 from the day before. After continually adding more beds – 43 new ones yesterday – there are 443 beds still available in Phuket. With a total of 1,401 hospital beds in the province, the occupancy rate now has dropped to just over 68%, down from 79.5% a few days ago.
Of the patients currently under medical care or supervision, 31 are considered severe red patients, while 327 are more mild yellow patients and 411 are very mild green patients.
ADDITIONAL COVID-19 INFECTIONS
As always, the total does not include several demographics:
70: Phuket Sandbox travellers who tested positive sometime after landing in Phuket.
39: Covid-19 infected Phuket natives who were infected in other provinces but moved for treatment under the "Bring Phuket People Home" programme.
23: Travellers returning home from other countries and found to be infected.
10: people in Phuket who were infected in other provinces.
974 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Chonburi today
1,361 people recovered and were released from medical care
12 new deaths
The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 974 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with 12 new deaths, August 25th.
This makes a total of 57,164 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 18,942 people still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 324 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April. The details on yesterday's 12 new deaths were not given, which is standard for the health department.
Additionally, 1,361 people were also released and recovered yesterday in Chonburi. 37,898 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 251, Si Racha 287, Banglamung (Pattaya) 147, Panat Nikhom 24, Sattahip 48, Ban Bueang 58, Pan Thong 58, Bor Thong 11, Ko Chan 26, Nong Yai 11, and 53 new cases transferred from other provinces for medical care.
The details on the cases are as follows:
Risky occupations like taxi drivers, customer-facing roles, 29 cases
5 medical personnel
Back from risky areas in Samut Prakan – 2 cases, Chachoengsao – 1 cases and Rayong – 1 case
30 cases at many enterprises in Rayong Province
Close contacts of confirmed patients 5.1 A total of 279 family members 5.2 A total of 144 co-workers 5.3 A total of 12 friends of previous patients 5.4 Six people who joined an illegal party
Close contacts (under investigation), 228 cases
Cases currently under investigation in general 237 cases
A total of 965 close contact searches were received today , and 406 proactive search reports are pending
Thailand's two main protagonists in the Covid-19 pandemic were both bullish yesterday as they saw light at the end of the tunnel for the country after many months of lockdowns.
Restaurants and malls are expected to reopen next month in some capacity after the CCSA meet on Friday.
PM Prayuth Chan-ocha went on his personal Facebook page to adress his "phee nong" - brothers and sisters inThailand.
He spoke of the need to build the country together post-pandemic - something that Daily News took to mean a "new country".
Prayuth informed his followers of plans to stimulate the Thai economy with 95,500 new jobs and 4,303 separate projects across 35 provinces.
He claimed this would help millions get back on their feet.
He also promised help for students struggling to repay loans.
Meanwhile DMP and health minister Anutin Charnvirakul received representatives from nine major organistations in the retail and restaurant sector.
Picture: Daily News
He hoped that with vaccinations, upped protocols and testing kits Thailand could move to reopening next month at least in a step by step way.
He intimated that he expected a favorable outcome for business organistations when the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration meet on August 27th, two days time.
Daily News reported that restauranteurs proposed to Anutin a three stage reopening of their restaurants on Sept 1st, 15th and 30th.
In the first stage 50% of capacity would be targeted, in the second 75% and by the end of the month they want dining of 100% of tables to be allowed.
Much will rest on CCSA assessments this Friday, notes ASEAN NOW, as more and more people are suggesting that the data shows Covid-19 beginning to ease in Thailand.
Politicians including the PM and DPM are under huge pressure to get the economy restarted though many - including those in the medical profession - are still advocating caution in reopening plans.
One of several monks at Wat Sutthi Wararam temple wears PPE to help perform Covid tests for adjacent community residents in Bang Kholaem district. Pattarapong Chatpattarasill
Thailand has money to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet people are falling like leaves. It's clear. Cash handouts cannot save lives. Highly effective vaccines can. Rapid mass vaccinations for everyone can. Everyone, Thais and non-Thais. No one is safe from the virus if anyone is left out.
But can these effective Covid-19 solutions happen fast enough to save lives and rescue the national economy?
Amid rising public frustrations with the state's failure to contain the pandemic, the government must quickly fine-tune the Covid-19 policy. Money is not the problem. The question is how to use it effectively.
Last year, the government secured a loan of one trillion baht to cope with the pandemic. This year, it has secured another 500 billion baht. About 94 billion baht has been allocated for public health measures. Combined with the money from the central budget, the government has at least 134 billion baht for public health measures to contain the coronavirus and return the country to normal.
To date, more than 9,000 people have died -- many from lack of vaccinations and hospitalisation. Almost two years into the pandemic, only 8% of the population have been fully vaccinated. Officially, one million people have been infected. In reality, the figures may be much higher.
The economy is collapsing. Stuck in the pandemic, the country loses more than 150 billion baht a month alone from tourism.
We should learn from other countries' successes. Great Britain, Singapore, and Israel have shown that three things must be achieved before we can open the countries.
Firstly, the majority of the population must receive highly effective vaccines. It is 70% in Great Britain and 80% in Singapore and Israel. Secondly, the spread of the virus must be effectively contained until the ratio between confirmed deaths and confirmed cases (seven-day moving average) drops to 0.1-0.2%. And thirdly, the number of ICU patients (seven-day moving average) should be below nine per one million people.
In Thailand, as of Aug 20, less than 10% of people had been fully vaccinated. The ratio between confirmed deaths and confirmed cases (seven-day moving average) is 1.16%. The number of ICU patients per million (seven-day moving average) is 17.5. And about 25% of people tested are infected.
The government has vowed to open the country this October. That won't happen. Thailand is far from being ready.
But we have the resources. To turn things around, the government must invest in five public health measures. They are:
People in Nonthaburi flock to Central Westgate shopping centre for their Covid-19 jabs. The provincial health office has delayed giving recipients a mix of Sinovac and AstraZeneca shots despite the shift in vaccination policy. Chanat Katanyu
Highly effective vaccines
Thailand must acquire highly effective vaccines immediately for mass vaccinations. The vaccines must be distributed quickly, widely and transparently.
As of Aug 20, 2021, 25.8 million doses of vaccines had been administered, yet the pandemic situation remains critical. This is because the main vaccine Sinovac has a relatively low efficacy rate. Even if half of the population have received Sinovac, it still cannot stop the spread of the coronavirus.
To acquire highly effective vaccines such as Pfizer for 50 million people to be fully vaccinated would cost about 130-165 billion baht. This expense would be covered in a few months when the country can welcome tourists again. Life will return to normal -- or nearly -- enabling the domestic economy and the export industry to pick up.
In addition, the government must buy more antiviral drugs such as Favipiravir and Remdesivir. Any bureaucratic red tape that delays the use of these medicines must be dismantled.
Mass rapid testing
Investing in mass rapid testing stops the spread of the virus because it expedites isolation and early treatment which saves lives and medical costs.
Singapore conducts about 12,039 RT-PCR tests per one million people a day. In Thailand, it is only about 933 tests per million a day.
Without mass rapid testing, infections will likely rise again after the lockdown which will cost 770 billion baht in damage to private consumption or about 4.8% of gross domestic product, according to SCB Economic Intelligence Centre.
Investing in mass testing for one million people alone could save the country about 5.1 billion baht in medical costs. The mass testing should run until the positive test rate is below 5% which indicates successful virus containment.
Like in Singapore, the government should distribute rapid antigen test kits (ATKs) and oximeters to every household, especially to the poor and wage earners who face a high infection risk from their work.
A set of home use ATKs, thermometer, and oximeters costs about 1,000 baht. Spending 146.5 million baht for 146,462 urban poor households in Bangkok will save about 3.2 billion baht in hospitalisation costs.
The workers who cannot work remotely should also receive free ATKs. There are 11.9 million of them in the manufacturing, construction, transport, warehouse, hotel and food industries. They produced about 5.8 trillion baht, or 37% of GDP in 2020. They need protection to keep the economy running.
A set of ATK costs about 120 baht. Mass testing twice a month for these workers would cost about 2,856 million baht. Apart from saving lives and the economy, this health measure would save about 66 billion baht in hospitalisation costs.
Importantly, the government should make ATKs affordable through value added tax exemption. A set of ATK now costs about 250-400 baht, well beyond most people's means.
Isolation and medication
Speed is the key. Isolation and medication must happen immediately after infection.
State agencies need to integrate health services to support home and community isolation, providing the venues as well as food and medical support. This intervention costs much less than the medical costs for critical patients from delayed virus detection and treatment.
According to the Department of Medical Services, taking Favipiravir during the first four days after the symptoms show can prevent critical symptoms and death.
The medical cost for mild Covid-19 patients in a community isolation centre to prevent critical health conditions is about 30,000 baht. The medical cost for moderate and severe Covid-19 patients is about 190,000-360,000 baht.
Better protection for frontliners
Apart from work overload, doctors and health personnel face a high risk of infections. They need highly effective vaccines, more pay, and better protection. Their families also need better protection, particularly the elderly and those with illnesses.
At present, doctors get an extra 1,500 baht per eight-hour shift. Nurses and other health personnel get an extra 1,000 baht. They often work longer hours amid a high risk of infection so they deserve better pay. The government should give them bonuses at year-end to show appreciation for their sacrifice.
Hire volunteers and staff
The government should recruit more volunteers and staff to assist the rising number of people in home and community isolation. They should receive training in Covid-19 care and online case reports for further supervision from health professionals. The volunteers and staff should already be fully vaccinated or be former Covid-19 patients if they have to work in community isolation centres.
State agencies should also collaborate with the various volunteer groups which are now helping Covid-19 patients. Better still, provide funding for them to expand their services. The collaboration will create a better system to help the infected.
Highly effective vaccines, mass rapid testing, isolation and treatment, protection for frontline health personnel, and more volunteers and staff to aid for home and community isolation. Investing in these five public health measures are highly worthwhile economically. More importantly, they would save lives and rescue the economy.
Thailand has the money. The question is whether or not the government has the will and the vision to successfully steer Thailand out of the pandemic.
Saowaruj Rattanakhamfu, PhD, is Research Director for Innovation Policy for Sustainable Development at the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI). Policy analyses from TDRI appear in the Bangkok Post on alternate Wednesdays.
Fruit exports up almost 50% in first 7 months
