CCSA advisor says Thailand's COVID-19 situation has not yet improved
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An advisor to Thailand's Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), Professor Dr. Udom Kachinthorn, said today (Friday) that the COVID-19 situation in Thailand has not yet improved, with daily infections fluctuating between 5,000 and 7,000 for the past few weeks and infections may surge following the easing of lockdown restrictions.
He believes that new infections will not, however, increase substantially, as has been the case in the past, but stressed the need for vaccinations and compliance with basic safety measures, such as wearing face masks at all times while outdoors and maintaining social distancing.
Dr. Udom cited the situations in several European countries, where COVID-19 infections are rising rapidly, following the easing of restrictions and mass vaccinations, as he blamed the disease's resurgence on complacency among their populations over such safety measures.
The CCSA advisor said he would prefer to see a new daily infection of 1,000-2,000 cases a day and daily fatalities below 20.
He also said that the World Health Organization has recently warned of a new growth in the pandemic and said that countries using the AstraZeneca vaccine tend to see fewer severe cases than countries which used Pfizer as the main vaccine.
Saying he would express concerns at the CCSA meeting today, the professor said that there may not be New Year countdown events if new infections increase.
He added that he agrees with the easing of lockdown restrictions, to allow the economy to recover, but warns that the easing must be appropriate.
Wattanapong said after the EPAC meeting on Wednesday that only B7 diesel, or diesel fuel containing 7% biodiesel, will be offered at pumps from December this year to March next year.
Heightened energy prices have had effects on the public, and notably on transportation businesses and truckers. In response, the Energy Policy Administration Committee (EPAC) has resolved to adjust the types of diesel fuel offered at service stations to keep the retail price of diesel from exceeding 28 baht per liter.
Energy Policy and Planning Office Director-General Wattanapong Kurovat said after the EPAC meeting on Wednesday that only B7 diesel, or diesel fuel containing 7% biodiesel, will be offered at pumps from December this year to March next year.
He explained that the suspension of B10 and B20 biodiesel offerings is due to the high price of palm – the source of the methyl ester used in biodiesel. He said the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, and the National Oil Palm Policy Committee have unanimously agreed that B7 diesel will best suit current circumstances.
The EPPO chief said limiting the biodiesel offering to just B7 will keep pump prices from exceeding 28 baht a liter. In the meantime, oil firms are being asked to cap their marketing margins for high-speed diesel at 1.4 baht per liter.
The initiative is expected to reduce the amount of money drawn from the Oil Fund to 3.886 billion baht per month, from about 4 billion baht at present. The responsible agencies will continue to evaluate the energy prices to designate measures for reducing people's cost of living. (NNT)
🔴 BREAKING: The CCSA has agreed that from 1st December, people coming to #Thailand in the Test & Go and Sandbox schemes, only need to do an ATK test on arrival and not an RT-PCR. Test & Go only need to book transport to the hotel plus an ATK test and not necessarily a room. Sandbox peoplenow only need to book hotel room for 5 days. More details soon.
UPDATE: As a side note, the graphic about new changes to entry rules says it starts from 16th December, but the spokesperson and government ministers said from 1st December. As usual, we should wait for the publication in the Royal Gazette for confirmation and for full details #Thailand
Thailand's Minister of Public Health and deputy PM Anutin Charnvirakul has been ranting again.
Following more measured comments last week as Thailand continued to reopen, the controversial minister took direct aim at nightclubs, pubs, bars and karaoke for damaging the country.
He blamed bars in Bangkok directly for causing the misery and death of the last six months.
In an interview with Thai media he was clearly referring to the now infamous clusters in exclusive Thong Lo clubs that kickstarted the deadly wave of infections from April.
Conveniently he failed to mention that some key figures in the government were in attandance at those clubs and completely brushed any of his own alleged misdemeanors under the carpet.
He said that nightlife establishments that continue to flout the rules were similarly damaging the country.
His use of Thai vocabulary made it appear he was calling it tantamount to treason.
Instead he praised his leader Prayuth Chan-ocha for doing everything right and providing wonderful vaccine for the people.
It was right, he said, that Prayuth was thoroughly concerned about new clusters coming from the pubs and bars where alcohol is served.
He was not about to suggest that industry pressure to reopen the nightlife industry on December 1st would be successful.
On the contrary he said it was scary that some staff in places that had opened illegally were not vaccinated.
His only concession to a more relaxed atmosphere was in saying that the CCSA in their meeting today may relax rules for foreigners allowing them to just have ATK tests on arrival and not the far more onerous and costly RT-PCR tests.
Chonburi announces 202 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 3 new deaths
Highlights:
202 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Chonburi today
181 people recovered and were released from medical care
3 new deaths
The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 202 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with 3 new deaths, November 26th.
This makes a total of 106,917 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 2,156 people still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 757 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April.
Additionally, 181 people were also released and recovered yesterday in Chonburi. 104,004 people in total have now been released from medical care and recovered in Chonburi since this current wave of Covid-19 began.
Only three cases out of 2,156 were listed as being in serious condition in Chonburi currently, either on a ventilator or pneumonia.
The three new deaths were the average age of 46. They had personal health problems and two of them were not vaccinated.
In total, 1,814,069 people in Pattaya and Chonburi have received their first dose of a Covid -19 vaccine which is 77.89 percent of the total Chonburi population. Of those, 285,275 have received their first dose and are what the Thai government calls 608 groups (elders, have chronic health problems, and pregnant) which is 77.11 percent of those in these risk groups in Chonburi.
The district-level new cases were as follows today:
Mueang Chonburi 38, Si Racha 46, Banglamung (Pattaya) 48, Panat Nikhom 12, Sattahip 4, Ban Bueng 4, Phan Thong 5, Bor Thong 2, Ko Sichang 1, soldiers in Sattahip 22, and 20 people transferred from other provinces for medical care.
The details on the cases are as follows:
Cluster, soldiers in Sattahip, 22 cases
Work and stayed in Rayong, transferred from other provinces for medical care, 13 cases
3 medical personnel
Risky occupations meeting many people, 2 cases
Back from other provinces in Bangkok – 2 cases, Chachoengsao – 2 cases and Chiang Mai 1case
Close contacts from previously confirmed cases in families – 46 cases, in workplaces – 46 cases, close friends – 8 cases, and 1 joined a party
Close contact of a confirmed patient (under investigation), 3 cases
53 close contacts of a confirmed patient (under investigation)
The full meeting of the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) today (26 Nov) is expected to decide whether to extend the emergency decree that is expiring at the end of the month. Other agendas will likely include deliberations on relaxing the current suspension of activities at entertainment venues and adjustments to be made to the process of welcoming international arrivals.
Yesterday's meeting of the National Communicable Disease Committee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul, endorsed the lifting of all quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated international tourists. Under the proposal, tourists will still need to undertake RT-PCR tests for COVID-19 before departure but they will now be screened via the ATK method upon arrival in Thailand. The new entry measures will come into use on December 16, if approved by the CCSA meeting this afternoon.
The committee has also endorsed the waiving of the issuance fee for certificates of immunization for COVID-19, from December 1-31, for people who will travel abroad.
Mr. Anutin said the number of Covid-infected international arrivals in November was roughly 0.1%, which is considered manageable. He explained that accepting international tourists can be managed along with efforts to revive the tourism and service sectors, but the public is asked to strictly adhere to public health measures such as Universal Prevention and Covid-Free Setting so operations and activities may be carried out safely.
Department of Disease Control Director-General Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong said fewer restrictions will now be imposed on international arrivals and more channels of entry will be offered. He added that although lapses have been seen in disease prevention efforts at some establishments, no large outbreaks have been found and the public health system is still capable of handling the situation.
Thailand May See 4,500 Suicides This Year, Most in SE Asia
A Chiang Mai police officer saves a Burmese man from jumping to his death from a bridge in 2017.
The suicide rate in Thailand, especially among teenagers, continues to rise, with experts attributing it to increased stress and despondency fueled by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and resultant economic problems.
According to data from last year, the nationwide suicide rate has risen to 7.37 per 100,000 people from 6.64 the year before.
Among Thai teenagers between the ages of 10 and 19, the rate is five per 100,000, which is especially worrying, according to experts at the country's Mental Health Department.
Many youngsters commit suicide after feeling depressed over their situation in school or at home, experts say.
Extensive use of social media and other online tools can also lead to mental health issues in young Thais, many of whom spend as many as 10 hours a day on the internet.
At the same time, a severe economic downturn owing to the Covid-19 pandemic has worsened the state of mental health for millions over the past year.
Thai males are more than four and a half times more likely to commit suicide than females, data shows.
The current rate of suicides in Thailand, which takes on average between 4,000 and 4,500 lives annually in a nation of 70 million, is considered very high by regional standards.
By way of comparison, the Philippines had a suicide rate of 2.2 per 100,000 or less than a third of the rate in Thailand.
"It has to be accepted that economic factors have become a serious issue [in 2021]," said Nattakorn Jampathong, director of the National Suicide Prevention Centre, which operates a 24-hour hotline for people feeling suicidal.
In one widely reported incident on Nov. 15, a 34-year-old woman got out of her car on a bridge at a motorway near Bangkok at night, leaving her three-year-old daughter in the vehicle, and jumped to her death into a canal.
Her family said the woman, who was a single mother, had been experiencing emotional and financial problems before her suicide.
Prominent observers have warned that many Thais, especially younger ones, are at risk of suicidal despondency and that many of them lack adequate access to counseling and mental health provision.
A holistic approach to suicide prevention is needed if Thailand is to avoid seeing the rate of people who take their own lives rise even higher, Nattakorn stressed.
"We should not be looking at the problem of suicides as just a [mental] health problem but as a social and economic problem that has a complex relationship with personal factors," the physician said.
The Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has confirmed that first time offences for not wearing a face mask in public areas is to be no more than B1,000.
The announcement followed concerns aired online after it was announced that the maximum fine for not wearing a mask in public areas was B20,000.
The announcement came during the CCSA press briefing earlier today (Nov 22).
Many foreign visitors were not wearing face masks and gathering in groups, said CCSA spokeswoman Dr Apisamai Srirangson.
Not wearing face masks while in public areas or when joining group activities was a violation of COVID-19 disease control regulations, she said.
Foreigners will be prosecuted if they fail to comply, she added.
Natapanu Nopakun, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information and Deputy Spokesman of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, confirmed the same warning in the English-language presentation of the key points from the CCSA meeting yesterday.
"Under the Disease Control Act, you are required to always wear masks while you are in public spaces or while doing activities in groups," he said.
"There is a maximum B20,000 fine for failing to do so," he repeated. (continues)
However, Dr Apisamai and Mr Natapanu in their presentations made no mention of incrementally increasing fines for repeat offences.
By this afternoon, however, the CCSA posted another notice explaining the incremental fines, as follows:
1st time – not more than B1,000
2nd time – more than B1,000 but not more than B10,000
3rd time onwards – more than B10,000 but not more than B20,000
As The Phuket News noted in a report on Friday (Nov 19), Patong Mayor Chalermsak Maneesri had already expressed concern about foreigners not wearing face masks while in public areas in Patong.
Patong Mayor Chalermsak Maneesri on Friday issued a notice specifically asking foreigners in Patong to wear face masks at all times, not just for Loy Krathong. The notice followed concerns being raised by local residents over tourists arriving under the Test & Go entry requirements not complying with COVID prevention measures.
The Phuket News noted that although it has been months since reports of officials fining people for not wearing face masks while in public, the provincial order remained in effect. The maximum fine in Phuket is B20,000.
The same order is in effect nationwide. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was fined B6,000 in January for not wearing a face mask at a meeting.
PM Prayut later clarified that B20,000 was the maximum fine. Initial fines are to be lower, gradually increasing with repeat offences, he said. – Phuket News Two masks but no helmet - This sort of thinking doesn't help much either....
The Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has confirmed that first time offences for not wearing a face mask in public areas is to be no more than B1,000.
The announcement followed concerns aired online after it was announced that the maximum fine for not wearing a mask in public areas was B20,000.
The announcement came during the CCSA press briefing earlier today (Nov 22).
Many foreign visitors were not wearing face masks and gathering in groups, said CCSA spokeswoman Dr Apisamai Srirangson.
Not wearing face masks while in public areas or when joining group activities was a violation of COVID-19 disease control regulations, she said.
Foreigners will be prosecuted if they fail to comply, she added.
Natapanu Nopakun, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information and Deputy Spokesman of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, confirmed the same warning in the English-language presentation of the key points from the CCSA meeting yesterday.
"Under the Disease Control Act, you are required to always wear masks while you are in public spaces or while doing activities in groups," he said.
"There is a maximum B20,000 fine for failing to do so," he repeated. (continues)
However, Dr Apisamai and Mr Natapanu in their presentations made no mention of incrementally increasing fines for repeat offences.
By this afternoon, however, the CCSA posted another notice explaining the incremental fines, as follows:
1st time – not more than B1,000
2nd time – more than B1,000 but not more than B10,000
3rd time onwards – more than B10,000 but not more than B20,000
As The Phuket News noted in a report on Friday (Nov 19), Patong Mayor Chalermsak Maneesri had already expressed concern about foreigners not wearing face masks while in public areas in Patong.
Patong Mayor Chalermsak Maneesri on Friday issued a notice specifically asking foreigners in Patong to wear face masks at all times, not just for Loy Krathong. The notice followed concerns being raised by local residents over tourists arriving under the Test & Go entry requirements not complying with COVID prevention measures.
The Phuket News noted that although it has been months since reports of officials fining people for not wearing face masks while in public, the provincial order remained in effect. The maximum fine in Phuket is B20,000.
The same order is in effect nationwide. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was fined B6,000 in January for not wearing a face mask at a meeting.
PM Prayut later clarified that B20,000 was the maximum fine. Initial fines are to be lower, gradually increasing with repeat offences, he said. – Phuket News
There will be a CCSA meeting today to review the first four weeks of the #ThailandReopening. On the table are proposals for allowing people from approved countries to do the cheaper ATK rapid antigen test on arrival instead of the RT-PCR test. Some land borders could also reopen. I will post the news later as and when it comes in.
In related news, if you plan to arrive in #Thailand after 15th December, you need to now wait until 1st December before registering for a Thailand Pass. It is possible this is because they are expecting significant changes to entry requirements.
