As Ministers Get 4th Jabs, 20 Million Thais Yet to Receive 1 Covid-19 Vaccine Dose. Thailand has sped up its Covid-19 vaccination drive to reach its goal of 100 million doses administered by the end of November, even though that goal means less and less with every booster. Bangkok Herald

As Ministers Get 4th Jabs, 20 Million Thais Yet to Receive 1 Covid-19 Vaccine Dose

22 November 2021

Thailand has sped up its Covid-19 vaccination drive to reach its goal of 100 million doses administered by the end of November, even though that goal means less and less with every booster.

When first announced early this year, the intent was to fully immunize 50 million people by administering 100 million doses by the end of 2021.

Since then, the country has rolled out third and even fourth doses to the same people, mostly in Bangkok, Phuket, Chonburi and islands popular with tourists. All the time, many Thais in poor rural areas have yet to get even a second dose.

The result has been the government can claim victory for the gross number of doses administered, but failed again to meet its obligation to fully vaccinate the entire willing population.

As of Sunday, more than 20 million Thais had yet to receive a single dose. The government claims 59 percent of the country is fully vaccinated.

Prime Minister's Office spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said the Public Health Ministry and other agencies have taken steps to accelerate vaccine uptake.

As an example, the ministry will be holding a "vaccination week" from Nov. 27-Dec. 5 while proactive vaccination teams will be sent out to improve vaccine access for the elderly, bedridden patients and migrant workers.

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation as well as universities and medical schools are conveying vaccine information to the public.

Provincial governors are working to bring unvaccinated members of target groups to receive the shots by using incentives such as prizes and handouts.

The business sector is also holding incentive campaigns that provide discounts or souvenirs to people who are able to present evidence of vaccination.

Thanakorn said the collaboration being had from all sectors will enable Thailand to achieve the target of administering 100 million doses by the end of this month.

He added that being able to present evidence of having received at least one dose of vaccine will benefit individuals when they carry out outdoor activities.

He called for everybody, especially senior citizens and people with chronic diseases, to come forth and get vaccinated.

The National News Bureau of Thailand contributed to this report.

Thailand’s legislature shot down a draft bill aimed at strengthening democracy, in which its backers sought to scrap or overhaul of key institutions they said had been hijacked by the military elite. Bangkok Jack / Reuters

Thai lawmakers reject bill to strengthen DEMOCRACY

November 22, 2021

A pro-democracy protester holds a sign at a rally to demand the government to resign, to dissolve the parliament and to hold new elections under a revised constitution, near the Democracy Monument in Bangkok, Thailand on Aug 16, 2020.

Thailand's legislature shot down a draft bill aimed at strengthening democracy, in which its backers sought to scrap or overhaul of key institutions they said had been hijacked by the military elite.

A joint session of the lower house of parliament and the Senate voted 473-206 to reject the bill, with six abstentions, which called for a constitution passed under a military junta in 2017 to be changed to ensure a clear separation of powers.

Thailand's government is still led by the architects of a 2014 coup, who remained in power after a 2019 election that its rivals say was stacked in the military's favour.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the coup leader, has denied that.

The draft was backed by 130,000 petitioners and sought to abolish the 250-seat, junta-appointed Senate, and restructure the Constitutional Court and key state agencies.

The government's critics, including a formidable student-led protest movement that emerged last year, say democracy has been subverted by the military and its royalists allies, who wield influence over independent institutions.

"The 2017 constitution protects and enables General Prayuth to extend his power by providing mechanisms of control through the Senate and independent agencies," one of the bill's proponents, Parit Wacharasindhu, told legislators.

Since 2019, 21 bills have been proposed to parliament seeking constitutional amendments, only one of which has passed, which sought changes to the balloting system.

Pro-government lawmakers defended the constitution, reiterating that it was endorsed in a referendum and that the coup was necessary to address a political crisis.

"To only fix the problem of coup and its consequences without addressing the political problems that came before that, will that lead to a perfect democracy?" lawmaker Wanchai Sornsiri said during the debate.

Thailand has seen 20 constitutions and 13 coups since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932. – Reuters

BREAKING: #Thailand's telecom giants True (CP group) and Dtac (Norway's Telenor) have entered into an "equal partnership" 200-million-USD joint venture, with a focus on tech start-up investments. PBS World



🔴 #COVID19 on Monday: ⬇️ 6,428 new cases ⬆️ 49 deaths. Richard Barrow





Bangkok Post highlights 22/11



Chonburi announces 188 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 2 new deaths. Pattaya News

Chonburi announces 188 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 2 new deaths

Sunday, 21 November 2021, 15:14

Highlights:

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

• 198 people recovered and were released from medical care

• 2 new deaths

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 188 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with 2 new deaths, November 21st.

This makes a total of 106,009 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 2,258 people still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 751 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April.

Additionally, 198 people were also released and recovered yesterday in Chonburi. 103,000 people in total have now been released from medical care and recovered in Chonburi since this current wave of Covid-19 began.

Only four cases out of 2,258 were listed as being in serious condition in Chonburi currently, either on a ventilator or pneumonia.

In total, 1,795,116 people in Pattaya and Chonburi have received their first dose of a Covid -19 vaccine which is 77.07 percent of the total Chonburi population. Of those, 283,830 have received their first dose and are what the Thai government calls 608 groups (elders, have chronic health problems, and pregnant) which is 76.72 percent of those in these risk groups in Chonburi.

The district-level new cases were as follows today:

Mueang Chonburi 35, Si Racha 49, Banglamung (Pattaya) 35, Panat Nikhom 18, Sattahip 4, Ban Bueang 2, Phan Thong 13, Bor Thong 3, Ko Chan 1, Nong Yai 1, and 27 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, 9 cases
2. Cluster, Thai Samsung Electronics Company Limited in Sriracha district, 6 cases
3. Cluster, Superb Furniture (Thailand) Co., Ltd. in Sriracha district, 5 cases
4. Cluster, Sony Technology (Thailand) Co., Ltd. in Mueang district, 5 cases
5. Risky occupations meeting many people, 6 cases
6. Back from risky areas in Sri Saket – 3 cases and Rayong – 2 cases
7. Close contacts from previously confirmed cases in families – 62 cases, in workplaces – 35 cases, close friends – 9 cases, and joined parties – 3 cases
8. Close contact of a confirmed patient (under investigation), 8 cases
9. 35 cases, in general, are under investigation as to how they contracted Covid-19

Tourism seeing signs of recovery after Covid-19 pandemic. Arrivals are increasing, but Chinese restrictions and European Covid outbreaks won't help. The Thaiger

Tourism seeing signs of recovery after Covid-19 pandemic

By 

Neill Fronde

Sunday, November 21, 2021 12:05

FILE PHOTO: Tourism is showing signs of economic recovery.

Thailand's reopening hasn't quite caused an avalanche of tourists pouring into the country, but the tourism industry is seeing some recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic with a steadily increasing stream of arrivals gaining momentum. The CCSA reports that nearly 60,000 international travellers have entered Thailand in the first 16 days of the reopening program.

With the increasing daily arrivals, November may hit the 100,000 tourist goal that the Executive Chairman at Kasikorn Research Centre had hoped to see. He felt that figure would be a reasonable goal that indicated moderate success in the early stages of the reopening, the first in Southeast Asia while others are now beginning to follow suit.

He believes the numbers may not be enough to suddenly save all the tourism businesses decimated by the Covid-19 pandemic, but are an encouraging sign for a slow and steady recovery over the next year or two. The National Economic and Social Development Council estimated this week that 257,000 foreign travellers will have arrived here by the end of 2021, and forecast that 5 million tourists will arrive next year. It would be a huge improvement over this year, but be a bit less than the 6.7 million visitors Thailand saw in 2019, mostly before the grip of Covid-19 took hold.

Thailand's economy is heavily dependent on tourism revenue; it has made up as much as 20% of the gross domestic product before the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2019, domestic tourism generated 1.1 trillion baht while international tourism produced 1.9 trillion baht in revenue. Thai tourists are expected to make 66.7 million trips, down 26.3% from last year, but are expected to grow next year, to an estimated 109 to 155 million trips, generating nearly 700 billion baht.

As popular tourist destinations are beginning to come back to life, Maya Bay is set to reopen in January after being closed since 2018 to rehabilitate the nature damaged by the overwhelming popularity of the location. Before its closure, 7,000 people a day visited, but the reopening will limit visitors to 2,000 per day.

While Thailand's Covid-19 situation has been stable around 6,000 to 7,000 infections per day and vaccination rates growing steadily – great news for the economy – the situation in other countries affect tourism recovery as well. China's strict rules that mostly forbids its citizens from travelling abroad leaves a huge hole in Thailand's tourism plans. They were the biggest demographic travelling to Thailand before the pandemic and now cannot come to the country.

Meanwhile, Europe is struggling with a surge in Covid-19 infections, with Austriagoing into lockdown on Monday and Germany is tightening restrictions in hopes of avoiding their own lockdown.

SOURCE: Thai PBS World

Majority concerned Covid situation could worsen after country's reopening: poll. Bangkok Post

Majority concerned Covid situation could worsen after country's reopening: poll

A large majority of people are concerned the Covid-19 situation could worsen in the next one to two months, following the Nov 1 reopening of the country, according to the result of an opinion survey by the National Institute of Development Administration, or Nida Poll.

The poll was conducted by telephone interviews between Nov 15-16 on 1,320 people aged 18 and over of various levels of education and occupations throughout the country to compile their opinions on the overall situation after the reopening of the country on Nov 1.

Regarding the economy, 48.11% thought it remained the same; 29.85% viewed it as having improved a bit; 9.26% thought it had become a little worse; 8.94% thought it had become much worse; and only 3.48% said economic conditions were much improved.

Asked how satisfied they were with the measures taken by the government to prevent Covid-19 spreading, 42.88% said they were fairly satisfied; 29.09% a little dissatisfied; 17.04% not satisfied at all; 8.64% very satisfied; and 2.35% had no answer or were not interested.

Asked whether they were concerned the Covid-19 pandemic could become more serious in the next one or two months, a large majority (75.61%) said "yes" -- with 43.11% quite concerned, saying that the number of new infections in the country were still high and some people had not been vaccinated, and 32.50% very concerned, saying that foreign tourists could bring with them new Covid-19 variants.

On the other side, 24.09% said they were not concerned -- with 15.23% not particularly concerned because they lived in areas where the pandemic had been under control and 8.86% not concerned at all, saying the government had put strict measures in place and some people had been double-jabbed.

The rest, 0.30%, had no answer or were not interested.

Asked which was more important to them between economic survival and health safety, 58.94% said they attached more importance to health; 27.58% preferred economic survival with some health risks; and 13.48% left it to the government to decide.

Thai insurers now try to CANCEL COVID policies. Insurers have urged the regulator to allow them to cancel Covid-19 policies as it estimated claims could reach 40 billion baht by the end of this year. Bangkok Jack / Bangkok Post

Thai insurers now try to CANCEL COVID policies

November 21, 2021

A woman shows a list of people who jointly filed a complaint against The One Insurance Plc in Bangkok on Sept 6. Several Covid-19 policyholders gathered there in protest, claiming the company had failed to pay them claims. (Photo by Arnun Chonmahatrakool)

Insurers have urged the regulator to allow them to cancel Covid-19 policies as it estimated claims could reach 40 billion baht by the end of this year.

General insurers sold 14 million Covid policies this year, Anon Wangasu, chairman of the Thai General Insurance Association, said on Thursday.

Of the policies, 1.8 million were sold in the first quarter of this year and 13 million at the height of the third wave from April to June, when many people sought financial coverage.

As of Monday, he said, Covid claims exceeded 37 billion baht while insurers' risk-based capital stood at 132 billion baht.

He expected Covid-19 claims to exceed 40 billion baht by the end of this year, or 30% on average of their risk-based capital prepared for all types of general insurance.

Mr Anon added the percentage could reach an unsustainable level of 60-70% in the event of a new wave. If that happens, 70 million policies of other types of general insurance could be affected.

As a result, Mr Anon urged the Office of the Insurance Commission (OIC) to allow them to exercise their right to cancel the Covid coverage policies.

He claimed Covid-19 was an emerging risk, with few data to support the accurate calculation of coverage and claims and pricing was initially based on available data at the time.

A condition for either party to unilaterally cancel an insurance policy is standard worldwide but the Thai regulator had issued an order on July 16 this year prohibiting insurers from doing so for Covid policies, he said.

The order had a retrospective effect on all policies in effect at the time instead of only new policies issued from that date as was a common practice, he said.

Mr Anon added the insurers had prepared remedial packages for holders of cancelled Covid policies.

For starters, a policyholder would get a 100% premiums refund, compared to a pro-rate based on the remaining time of the policy.

The customer could also choose to switch to other types of general insurance policies for a discount equivalent to two times the premiums refund in some cases.

In July, social media users started sharing experiences on being asked to cancel their Covid policies, leading to complaints to the OIC, which intervened in the same month by issuing the order stopping them from doing so.

At the request of the insurers, the regulator reviewed the order this week. It stood by its earlier decision but allowed for a cancellation on a case-by-case basis if customers agree to it.

Covid-19 insurance premiums start at about 750 baht for one-year coverage. – Bangkok Post

Here is an update from James, who was told to quarantine for 14 days after he became a close contact to a friend who had tested positive. They had shared the same hotel transfer car from the airport. Richard Barrow



Here is an update from James, who was told to quarantine for 14 days after he became a close contact to a friend who had tested positive. They had shared the same hotel transfer car from the airport. 

My friend was discharged after 10 days. His hospital bill came to 112,000 baht which was covered by the insurance. He had no symptoms at all throughout his entire stay. 

For myself I was really struggling to get answers, I was always refused a retest and it got to a point where the hospital just started to ignore my questions. I even managed to order an ATK from 7/11 which proved I was negative but that made no difference. It was only when I contacted the department of disease control and explained my situation that I managed to make progress although they also confirmed that the guidelines say to quarantine for 14 days if you're a close contact.

After further explaining some key points about my situation which I believed gave me the right of a retest they then agreed and contacted the hotel and hospital. I was finally retested on day 10 and allowed to checkout as soon as I received my negative result.

How is it fair that a positive person with no symptoms only has to quarantine for 10 days but I'm expected to wait 14 days even though I continued to test negative? Once I asked that, the next email I received was the confirmation that I will be retested and able to leave once a negative test is confirmed.

I believe it probably helped that I knew the positive person so I could show them his discharge certificate etc.

My advice would be to  anyone else travelling in to Thailand to ask the hotel their booking, 

1. What happens if you test positive? 

2. What happens if you test negative but are a close contact? 

3. How many days would you be expected to quarantine for? 

4. When would you be allowed a retest? 

Also as I didn't have a Thai phone and the hotel would never transfer me to 1422. I found a number which could be called from an outside number which might be help to others it was +6625903000/3157

Bangkok Post highlights 21/11



🔴 #COVID19 on Sunday: ⬆️ 7,006 new cases ⬇️ 29 deaths. Richard Barrow



While 10 percent of all foreign visiting Thailand coming to Pattaya may sound good, the country is only drawing a pittance of its former arrivals, so the city remains quiet. Fewer than 300,000 people are expected to arrive in Thailand in the final two months of the year. Current trends say that about 30,000 of those will come to Pattaya. That will do nothing to help the city’s moribund tourism industry. Pattaya Mail

10% of nearly 0 tourists still 0 for Pattaya

Jetsada HomklinNovember 20, 2021

While the powers that be are dilly dallying about whether to allow alcohol sales in Pattaya, bar angels sit around and play on their smart phones waiting for permission from above to make a living again.

While 10 percent of all foreign visiting Thailand coming to Pattaya may sound good, the country is only drawing a pittance of its former arrivals, so the city remains quiet.

Fewer than 300,000 people are expected to arrive in Thailand in the final two months of the year. Current trends say that about 30,000 of those will come to Pattaya. That will do nothing to help the city's moribund tourism industry.



Pattaya City Councilman Thanet Supornsahatrangsi, who also heads the Chonburi Tourism Council, said 95 percent of all tourists in Pattaya this month are Thais and expats.

He, like other industry leaders, said a major reason for the city's stagnant environment is the current ban on restaurants selling alcohol and the fact the city's bars remain closed.

A German expat, identified only as Stephen, wants to see the alcohol ban lifted, so much so he'd even agree with a vaccine mandate that requires eateries to only admit customers with proof of full Covid-19 vaccination.

Pattaya City Councilman Thanet Supornsahatrangsi blames the lack of foreign tourists coming to Pattaya is because of the current ban on restaurants selling alcohol and the fact the city's bars remain closed.

Message to the powers that be: "10% of nearly 0 tourists is still 0 for Pattaya"

3 Cathay Pacific pilots broke Covid-19 rules, got fired and infected. Over 350 people ended up quarantined as a result. The Thaiger / Bangkok Post

3 Cathay Pacific pilots broke Covid-19 rules, got fired and infected

By 

Neill Fronde

Saturday, November 20, 2021 11:51

FILE PHOTO: 3 pilots broke Covid-19 rules and got infected with the virus and lost their jobs.

After what Cathay Pacific described as a serious breach of pandemic regulations, 3 cargo pilots were fired after becoming infected with Covid-19 and putting many others at risk. An internal investigation found the pilots for Hong Kong's flagship airline broke Covid-19 safety rules while abroad in Frankfurt, Germany. The airline is known for being very proactive about Covid-19 safety and may have been the first to fire staff for refusing to be vaccinated.

Cathay released a statement regarding the firings on Thursday but did not specify the exact details of what the serious breach was, though insiders suspect they left their hotel rooms against policy that expected they stay in isolation during a layover, and further that and lied about it, apparently contracting Covid-19 due to their gaffe.

"After investigation into these cases, regrettably, the findings indicate a serious breach of requirements during crew overseas layovers. The individuals concerned are no longer employed by Cathay Pacific."

2 of the 3 pilots were diagnosed as having Covid-19 on November 10. During questioning by health authorities doing an epidemiological investigation, the 29 and 57 year old pilots told investigators that they had not participated in any kind of gathering, nor had they left their rooms at all during a stopover in Germany.

Knowingly providing false or misleading information about their medical history, who they had contact with, or where they went is punishable under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance and carries a punishment of HK $10,000 – about 42,000 baht – and up to 6 months in prison.

The impact of their indiscretion was widespread. More than 150 Cathay Pacific staff had to be quarantined after the risk of transmission of their Covid-19 infections. A lot of other close contacts were also sent to Penny's Bay to stay in a government isolation facility.

The effects rippled further though, outside of Cathay, as one of the pilot's wives is a teacher at Discovery Bay International school, where their 2 sons also attend. Over 120 students who risked exposure also had to be put into quarantine. 70 more friends of the pilots were also placed into isolation programmes. Cathay apologised for the mess their pilots created.

"We acknowledge the impact these incidents have had on all of our people, their families and the community, especially those who are now being quarantined at a government facility."

SOURCE: Bangkok Post