The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 209 new and confirmedcases of Covid-19 today with no new deaths, November 17th. Pattaya News

Chonburi announces 209 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 and one new death

Wednesday, 17 November 2021, 11:56

Highlights:

• 209 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Chonburi today

• 289 people recovered and were released from medical care

• 1 new death

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 209 new and confirmedcases of Covid-19 today with no new deaths, November 17th.

This makes a total of 105,215 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 2,280 people still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 744 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April.

Additionally, 289 people were also released and recovered yesterday in Chonburi. 102,191 people in total have now been released from medical care and recovered in Chonburi since this current wave of Covid-19 began.

Only five cases out of 2,361 were listed as being in serious condition in Chonburi currently, either on a ventilator or pneumonia.

In total, 1,772,663 people in Pattaya and Chonburi have received their first dose of a Covid -19 vaccine which is 75.95 percent of the total Chonburi population. Of those, 282,265 have received their first dose and are what the Thai government calls 608 groups (elders, have chronic health problems, and pregnant) which is 76.30 percent of those in these risk groups in Chonburi.

The district-level new cases were as follows today:

Mueang Chonburi 52, Si Racha 48, Banglamung (Pattaya) 41, Panat Nikhom 5, Sattahip 5, Ban Bueang 11, Phan Thong 3, Ko Chan 2, Soldiers in Sattahip 16, and 20 people transferred from other provinces for medical care

The details on the cases are as follows:

1. Work and stayed in Rayong, transferred from other provinces for medical care, 15 cases
2. Cluster soldiers in Sattahip, 6 cases
3. Cluster soldiers in Mueang Chonburi, 6 cases
4. Cluster work camp of M.R.P. Engineering company in Mueang Chonburi, 4 cases
5. 3 medical personal
6. Risky occupations meeting many people, 2 cases
7. Back from risky areas in Bangkok – 1 case, Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya – 1 case and Rayong – 1 case
8. Close contacts from previously confirmed cases in families – 54 cases, in workplaces – 40 cases, close friends – 7 cases, and joined parties – 3 cases
9. Close contact of a confirmed patient (under investigation), 11 cases
10. 45 cases, in general, are under investigation as to how they contracted Covid-19

🔴 #COVID19 on Wednesday: ⬆️ 6,524 new cases ⬇️ 56 deaths. Richard Barrow





Bangkok Post highlights 17/11



Top 10 “countries of origin” for people flying to Thailand from 1-15 November: Hej och hå ! Sverige kommer ”starkt”…..😂😂😂



Top 10 "countries of origin" for people flying to Thailand from 1-15 November:

1 🇺🇸 USA 8,430

3 🇩🇪 Germany 6,242

4 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 2,875

5 🇯🇵 Japan 2,717

7 🇷🇺 Russia 2,266

6 🇫🇷 France 2,104

8 🇰🇷 South Korea 1,901

10🇨🇭 Switzerland 1,646

9 🇮🇱 Israel 1,545

10 🇸🇪 Sweden 1,472

* Please note, UAE has now been dropped from he Top 10

Health Ministry warns people to get vaccinated or face possible restrictions. Thailand’s Public Health Ministry is urging people who’ve yet to be vaccinated to do so or face possible restrictions. Dr Kiatiphum Wongrajit says the ministry is ramping up vaccination in the next 2 weeks in order to achieve its target of 100 million doses administered. According to a Bangkok Post report, the figure currently stands at 85 million doses. The Thaiger / Bangkok Post

Health Ministry warns people to get vaccinated or face possible restrictions

By 

Maya Taylor

Tuesday, November 16, 2021 08:47

PHOTO: Flickr/Marco Verch

Thailand's Public Health Ministry is urging people who've yet to be vaccinated to do so or face possible restrictions. Dr Kiatiphum Wongrajit says the ministry is ramping up vaccination in the next 2 weeks in order to achieve its target of 100 million doses administered. According to a Bangkok Post report, the figure currently stands at 85 million doses.

Around 10 million people are yet to receive their first dose and Kiatiphum says officials plan to administer 13.98 doses by the end of November. 8.6 million of those will be first doses, while 5.38 will be second and third, or booster, doses. The Bangkok Post reports that the Health Ministry has designated November 27 – December 5 as National Vaccination Week and is enlisting the help of various agencies nationwide to help accelerated vaccination efforts.

Meanwhile, the CCSA has ordered provincial governors to encourage residents to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Kiatiphum says unvaccinated people risk facing measures such as having to show proof of vaccination before being admitted to public spaces.

"The CCSA wants the target group to get their shots and it may come up with measures to give people an incentive to get vaccinated. And if necessary, the CCSA may impose a rule requiring people to show they have received at least 1 dose when attending activities in public places."

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 162 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with no new deaths, November 16th. Pattaya News

Chonburi announces 162 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 and no new deaths

Tuesday, 16 November 2021, 10:38

Highlights:

• 162 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Chonburi today

• 345 people recovered and were released from medical care

• no new deaths

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 162 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with no new deaths, November 16th.

This makes a total of 105,006 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 2,361 people still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 743 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April.

Additionally, 345 people were also released and recovered yesterday in Chonburi. 101,902 people in total have now been released from medical care and recovered in Chonburi since this current wave of Covid-19 began.

Only two cases out of 2,361 were listed as being in serious condition in Chonburi currently, either on a ventilator or pneumonia.

In total, 1,763,325 people in Pattaya and Chonburi have received their first dose of a Covid -19 vaccine which is 75.55 percent of the total Chonburi population. Of those, 281,592 have received their first dose and are what the Thai government calls 608 groups (elders, have chronic health problems, and pregnant) which is 76.12 percent of those in these risk groups in Chonburi.

The district-level new cases were as follows today:

Mueang Chonburi 23, Si Racha 41, Banglamung (Pattaya) 42, Panat Nikhom 1, Sattahip 3, Ban Bueang 7, Phan Thong 8, Bor Thong 2, Ko Chan 2, Soldiers in Sattahip 4, and 29 people transferred from other provinces for medical care

The details on the cases are as follows:

1. Work and stayed in Rayong, transferred from other provinces for medical care, 31 cases
2. Cluster soldiers in Sattahip, 4 cases
3. Cluster soldiers in Mueang Chonburi, 4 cases
4. Cluster work camp in Ban Bueang, 4 cases
5. Risky occupations meeting many people, 2 cases
6. 1 medical personal
7. Back from risky areas in Chachoengsao – 1 case and Rayong – 1 case
8. Close contacts from previously confirmed cases in families – 40 cases, in workplaces – 30 cases, and joined parties – 3 cases
9. Close contact of a confirmed patient (under investigation), 12 cases
10. 29 cases, in general, are under investigation as to how they contracted Covid-19

More restaurants and eateries will be allowed to serve alcoholic beverages from today(Tuesday), after the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) agreed to lift restrictions at venues certified by the Department of Health. Bangkok Jack

Bangkok lifts more restrictions on booze sales

November 16, 2021

Customers have a drink outside a bar on Khaosan Road in Bangkok on March 12. - Photographer: Nicolas Axelrod/Bloomberg

More restaurants and eateries will be allowed to serve alcoholic beverages from today(Tuesday), after the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) agreed to lift restrictions at venues certified by the Department of Health.

As of Tuesday, venues with "Thai Stop Covid Plus" certification will be allowed to serve alcoholic beverages in the same manner as businesses that have SHA (Safety and Health Administration) certification from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the BMA announced on Sunday.

While this means while more venues will be allowed to serve alcohol, the sale of such beverages will still be restricted after 9pm.

In the same announcement, the BMA said game shops and internet cafes will be allowed to reopen as long as they strictly enforce Covid-19 control measures, as most children in the capital have been fully vaccinated against the disease.

The relaxed restrictions will apply until Nov 30, when authorities will meet again to discuss the impact of the easing on infection numbers.

According to the director-general of the Department of Health, Suwanchai Wattanayingcharoenchai, the move was intended to help more businesses reopen.

However, he said, the majority of these venues are actually capable of managing Covid-19 risks, as shown by their Thai Stop Covid Plus certification.

As such, Dr Suwanchai said, they should be allowed to serve alcohol again.

The Thai Stop Covid Plus certification was developed by the Department of Health to help businesses assess if their health and safety measures are up to standard amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Businesses, Dr Suwanchai said, must have a good ventilation system and regularly conduct testing using antigen test kits, the frequency of which should be determined by the risk of exposure to infection sources.

Restaurants and eateries must immediately clean tables and chairs after use, frequently disinfect physical contact points and restrooms, and provide separate cutlery for each customer. In addition, Covid-19 tests must be carried out periodically to ensure the safety of service providers and consumers.

"The [Thai Stop Covid Plus] focus is on the providers and recipients of services and the practices of the businesses," said Sopon Iamsirithaworn, deputy director-general of the Department of Disease Control.

As of Nov 10, 6,579 businesses in Bangkok had obtained SHA certification, while 700 had received SHA Plus certification.

An SHA-certified venue has public health measures in place to prevent contagion, while SHA Plus certification means at least 70% of the staff are vaccinated.

The Thai Restaurant Association welcomed the latest announcement and urged business operators to strictly adhere to disease control measures to keep the virus at bay.

Thaniwan Kulmongkol, president of the association, said more than 30,000 restaurants and eateries are certified as Thai Stop Covid Plus venues, as they have been preparing for the reopening since May this year.

She said that personally she does not see a huge difference between Thai Stop Covid Plus and SHA/SHA Plus systems and urged the government to raise public awareness about the labels and what they mean.

She also called on the government to allow operators to serve alcohol until 11pm, after recent infection figures showed the easing of restrictions did not cause an uptick in new cases.

Currently, restaurants and eateries in Bangkok, Krabi, Phangnga and Phuket with SHA certificates are allowed to serve alcohol until 9pm.

Khao San Business Association president Sanga Ruangwattanakul said the most businesses have put in place Covid-19 control measures that are on par with Thai Stop Covid Plus, even before they were mandated by the government. – Bangkok Post

Bars 'Remain Closed' in Phuket; Don't Tell Bangla Road. Meanwhile Bangla Road bars are packed by 9 p.m. daily under cover of being “restaurants” and having paid off corrupt police. In Phuket, the law says “restaurants” may sell alcoholic beverages from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and again from 5-11 p.m. Live music can be performed inside restaurants, but the number of musicians is limited to five and they are to keep physical contact with others to a minimum.- Bangkok Herald

Bars 'Remain Closed' in Phuket; Don't Tell Bangla Road

16 November 2021

The Kangaroo "restaurant" is open and serving booze despite bars supposedly being closed in Phuket.

You wouldn't know it from Bangla Road, but bars technically remain closed in Phuket.

The central government claimed Monday that Phuket Province has been maintaining stringent coronavirus-prevention measures as stipulated by the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, which recently announced that no relaxations were yet being applied on pubs, bars, karaoke clubs and other nightlife venues.

Meanwhile Bangla Road bars are packed by 9 p.m. daily under cover of being "restaurants" and having paid off corrupt police.

In Phuket, the law says "restaurants" may sell alcoholic beverages from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and again from 5-11 p.m. Live music can be performed inside restaurants, but the number of musicians is limited to five and they are to keep physical contact with others to a minimum.

Bars – err, restaurants – are packed on Bangla Road.

Fishing piers are currently off-limits from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. unless for strictly necessary reasons. Only workers who were fully vaccinated are allowed to be employed in fishing, and random Covid-19 tests using antigen kits are carried out at the piers every 14 days.

People entering Phuket by land, on water and by air must be either fully vaccinated or have recently recovered from Covid-19. Others must present a coronavirus test result that is no older than seven days, RT-PCR or antigen, but the evidence must be certified by a medical facility or lab. The entrant must also download the Mor Phrom application onto their mobile device.

In Bangkok, district offices have been publicizing a vaccination service for non-immunized workers of Thai and foreign nationalities, currently being offered at Din Daeng Youth Center. Most of the vaccine recipients who showed up so far have been migrant workers from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.

The National News Bureau of Thailand contributed to this report.



Bangkok Post highlights 16/11



🔴 #COVID19 on Tuesday: ⬇️ 5,947 new cases ⬆️ 62 deaths. Richard Barrow





Top 10 “countries of origin” for people flying to Thailand from 1-14 November. Richard Barrow

Top 10 "countries of origin" for people flying to Thailand from 1-14 November:

1 🇺🇸 USA 7,999

2 🇦🇪 UAE 7,935 ⬆️

3 🇩🇪 Germany 5,648

4 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 2,706

5 🇯🇵 Japan 2,530

6 🇫🇷 France 1,953 ⬆️

7 🇷🇺 Russia 1,875

8 🇰🇷 South Korea 1,729

9 🇮🇱 Israel 1,532 ⬆️

10🇨🇭 Switzerland 1,507

✈️ Yesterday, 5,105 people flew into #Thailand with four of them testing positive. This brings the total since 1st November to 50,074 arrivals and 56 infections (0.11%). Most are taking part in Test & Go (36,066 | 0.07% infected) and most landed at Suvarnbhumi airport (32,502)

 

Update on COVID-19 situation in Thailand as of Nov 14 November 15, 2021. Pattaya Mail







Khao San Rd: Foreigners must take 100 baht swab tests if vax is old - ambulance on standby to take them away if positive. Foreigners visiting a major tourism venue in Bangkok could find themselves whisked away by ambulance if they tests positive for Covid-19. ASEAN NOW

Khao San Road. File photo

 

Foreigners visiting a major tourism venue in Bangkok could find themselves whisked away by ambulance if they tests positive for Covid-19.

 

Thai media reported that the traders' association at Khao San Road were adopting their own measures to fulfil the requirements of the latest Covid protocols called "Thai Stop Covid Plus".

 

Association chief Sanga Reuangwattanakul said they were doing all the necessary screening and had ATK for swab tests at the ready.

 

Only Thais and foreigners who have been double-vaxxed are allowed entry.

 

All foreigners are having their documentation checked even though that condition of entry to the country has already been satisfied.

 

If foreigners have been vaccinated six months ago they will have to take a 100 baht swab test and wait.

 

An ambulance is on hand to take them away if they turn out to be positive. 

 

But the good news is that so far 500 swab tests have been done on Thais and foreign visitors and not a single one has come back posiitive. 

 

Dr Sophon Iamsirithavorn of the Department of Disease Control explained the difference between SHA (Safety and Health Administration) approved establishments and Thai Stop Covid Plus.

 

The former is to inspire confidence in visitors about the staff and establishment following all the rules while the latter is an extra level of protection for both businesses and patrons.

 

He said that the changing of the alcohol hours from 9 pm to 11 pm is a tricky issue and one that was still being discussed. 

 

Discover Cigna's range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view

 

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 185 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with two new deaths, November 15th. Pattaya News

Chonburi announces 185 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 and two new deaths

Monday, 15 November 2021, 12:13

Highlights:

• 185 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Chonburi today

• 275 people recovered and were released from medical care

• 2 new deaths

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 185 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with two new deaths, November 15th.

This makes a total of 104,844 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 2,544 people still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 743 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April.

Additionally, 275 people were also released and recovered yesterday in Chonburi. 101,557 people in total have now been released from medical care and recovered in Chonburi since this current wave of Covid-19 began.

Only five cases out of 2,544 were listed as being in serious condition in Chonburi currently, either on a ventilator or pneumonia.

In total, 1,760,481 people in Pattaya and Chonburi have received their first dose of a Covid -19 vaccine which is 75.43 percent of the total Chonburi population. Of those, 281,303 have received their first dose and are what the Thai government calls 608 groups (elders, have chronic health problems, and pregnant) which is 76.04 percent of those in these risk groups in Chonburi.

The district-level new cases were as follows today:

Mueang Chonburi 32, Si Racha 42, Banglamung (Pattaya) 59, Panat Nikhom 2, Sattahip 2, Ban Bueang 2, Phan Thong 8, Nong Yai 4, Soldiers in Sattahip 6, and 19 people transferred from other provinces for medical care

The details on the cases are as follows:

1. Work and stayed in Rayong, transferred from other provinces for medical care, 13 cases
2. Cluster soldiers in Sattahip, 6 cases
3. Cluster soldiers in Ko Chan, 6 cases
4. Cluster Thai Samsung Electronics company in Si Racha, 9 cases
5. Cluster, Hong Yip Auto Parts company in Mueang Chonburi, 9 cases
6. Risky occupations meeting many people, 1 cases
7. 1 medical personal
8. Back from risky areas in Bangkok – 2 case and Rayong – 1 case
9. Close contacts from previously confirmed cases in families – 56 cases, in workplaces – 23 cases, close friends – 2 cases and joined parties – 4 cases
10. Close contact of a confirmed patient (under investigation), 16 cases
11. 42 cases, in general, are under investigation as to how they contracted Covid-19

The Chinese Government, through its embassy in Bangkok, pressured Thai government officials at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic to not criticize the Sinovac vaccine multiple sources have confirmed to the Thai Enquirer

China pressured Thai government officials to not criticize Sinovac vaccine

November 15, 2021

The Chinese Government, through its embassy in Bangkok, pressured Thai government officials at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic to not criticize the Sinovac vaccine multiple sources have confirmed to the Thai Enquirer.

The Sinovac vaccine, which was developed by a Chinese company, has been shown to reduce fatalities in large sample sizes but is also less effective than many western-made/licensed vaccines in preventing infections.

As a result, the Thai government's insistence on relying only on Sinovac vaccines and locally-produced AstraZeneca vaccines in the initial phases of the pandemic was met with criticism from the public.

At the height of the criticisms in April and May of this year, opposition parties grilled the cabinet and the ruling party over the decision to acquire Sinovac initially and for further orders for the drug once it was proven to be less effective against the Delta variant of Covid-19.

Both the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Public Health defended the use of the vaccine at the time, pointing to studies which shows that it significantly reduces the mortality rate.

But now, according to several sources inside the Ministry of Public Health and in the Thai diplomatic circles, the government may have been pressured by the Chinese embassy in Bangkok.

"Chinese government officials met with senior ministers at the health ministry to stress to them that negative press over the Sinovac vaccine could jeopardize the relationship between the two countries," said a senior public health official who asked to not be named.

"They basically said it was imperative that Thai government officials, at the very least, not criticize the vaccines in public," the source told Thai Enquirer.

A separate source inside the foreign ministry in Thailand told Thai Enquirer that the Chinese diplomats also met with Thai officials in the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the cabinet.

"They wanted to talk about Sinovac but I did not attend those meetings," the source told Thai Enquirer.

A third source, also at the health ministry, said that there had been orders issued from the "very top" that no doctors or health professionals should comment on the efficacy or use of Sinovac.

"They are very sensitive after the meeting with the Chinese about statements about the vaccines," the source said.

"I mean, even on its own the merits for Sinovac are there. It was the only vaccine available to be delivered in large quantities and is shown to prevent death," the source said. "But the fact that the Chinese officials had this much influence on our elected representatives is troubling."

Calls to the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok were not answered.

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 180 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with 1 new death, November 14th. Pattaya News

Chonburi announces 189 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 1 new death

Sunday, 14 November 2021, 10:34

PHOTO: Prachachat

Highlights:

• 180 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Chonburi today

• 319 people recovered and were released from medical care

• 1 new death

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 180 new and confirmedcases of Covid-19 today with 1 new death, November 14th.

This makes a total of 104,659 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 2,636 people still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 741 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April.

Additionally, 319 people were also released and recovered yesterday in Chonburi. 101,282 people in total have now been released from medical care and recovered in Chonburi since this current wave of Covid-19 began.

The new reported death yesterday was a 46-year-old male. He reportedly had chronic health problems and was not vaccinated, according to the Chonburi Department of Public Health.

The district-level new cases were as follows today:

Mueang Chonburi 41, Si Racha 42, Banglamung (Pattaya) 42, Panat Nikhom 10, Sattahip 2, Ban Bueang 4, Phan Thong 9, Bor Thong 1, Koh Chan 4, Nong Yai 2, Soldiers in Sattahip 2, and 21 people transferred from other provinces for medical care.

The details on the cases are as follows:

1. Work and stayed in Rayong, transferred from other provinces for medical care, 20 cases
2. Cluster, Denso (Thailand) Co., Ltd., 4 cases
3. Risky occupation, meeting a lot of people, 8 cases
4. 1 medical personal
5. Back from risky areas in Chanthaburi, 1 case; and Rayong, 1 case
6. Close contacts of confirmed patients in 63 families, in 36 workplaces, 2 from close friends, and 1 from joined parties
7. Close contact of a confirmed patient (under investigation), 9 cases
8. 34 cases, in general, are under investigation as to how they contracted Covid-19

🔴 #COVID19 on Monday: ⬇️ 6,343 new cases ⬇️ 45 deaths. Richard Barrow