onsdag 5 januari 2022

This means that the temporary suspension in accepting new Thailand Pass applications in place since December 22, 2021 may remain until at least the end of January. This also means the reopening of pubs and bars scheduled for January 16 is not very likely. PBS World

Thai government needs one month to decide on new COVID-19 measures

The Thai government will need at least four weeks to assess the latest COVID-19 situation, following the long New Year holidays, after which new infections are expected to surge.

It will then decide whether to adjust existing safety and preventive measures, said Government Spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, today (Wednesday).

He explained that it will take two weeks to assess the new infections and another fortnight to assess the numbers of hospitalisations and fatalities before a decision can be made by the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), which is chaired by the prime minister and is due to meet this Friday.

This means that the temporary suspension in accepting new Thailand Pass applications in place since December 22, 2021 may remain until at least the end of January. Those who have applied and been granted the Thailand Pass can still enter the country under the Test and Go programme until January 10, 2022, as per the previous announcement. This also means the reopening of pubs and bars scheduled for January 16 is now unlikely.

Meanwhile, Thanakorn said the prime minister is pleading with the unvaccinated and partially vaccinated to get fully inoculated or boosted, particularly the elderly, pregnant women and those suffering from underlying diseases, because doing so will help reduce the risk of hospitalisation and death.

Those at high-risk of being infected should be socially responsible, by refraining from travel and  isolating, so they do not to pose a risk to others and for their own safety, said Thanakorn.



🔴 According to Khun Natapanu, the deputy spokesperson for the MFA, the Test & Go scheme will definitely continue to be suspended for the foreseeable future. Richard Barrowv


 🔴 According to Khun Natapanu, the deputy spokesperson for the MFA, the Test & Go scheme will definitely continue to be suspended for the foreseeable future. However, the CCSA are still discussing the details such as deadline to enter the country. Full information will be released on Friday after the main meeting. They will also decide on new colour coding for provinces and also what can and cannot open. I will be translating and then posting the full details here as and when they are released during the press briefing. 

#Thailand

Anutin Charnvirakul, the Public Health Minister, told reporters that the government has done all it can and that "the irresponsible and selfish" will continue to be infected. Thai Enquirer




The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 529 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with no new deaths, January 5th, 2022. The Pattaya News

Chonburi, led by Banglamung with 337, announces 529 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 and no new deaths

Highlights:

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

  • 190 people recovered and were released from medical care

  • No new deaths

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 529 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with no new deaths, January 5th, 2022.

This makes a total of 115,135 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 3,574 people still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 794 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April.

Additionally, 190 people were also released and recovered yesterday in Chonburi. 110,767 people in total have now been released from medical care and recovered in Chonburi since this current wave of Covid-19 began.

Four people were listed as being in serious condition in Chonburi currently, either on a ventilator or pneumonia. Three of them were not vaccinated. According to the Chonburi Department of Public Health, the vast majority of recent cases are mild or asymptomatic.

In total, 1,913,922 people in Pattaya and Chonburi have received their first dose of a Covid -19 vaccine which is 82.18 percent of the total Chonburi population. Of those, 298,522 have received their first dose and are what the Thai government calls 608 groups (elders, have chronic health problems, and pregnant) which is 80.70 percent of those in these risk groups in Chonburi.

The district-level new cases were as follows today:

Mueang Chonburi 83, Si Racha 43, Banglamung (Pattaya) 337, Panat Nikhom 3, Sattahip 25, new soldiers in Sattahip 2, Ban Bueng 3, Phan Thong 11, Bor Thong 1, Nong Yai 1, 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, 18 cases
  2. Cluster, Mino company in Mueang Chonburi, 5 cases
  3. Active case finding at restaurants that sell alcohol in Pattaya and Banglamung, 24 cases
  4. Cluster, students at Burapha University in Mueang Chonburi (staffers and customers at restaurants that sell alcohol, 17 cases
  5. More active case finding at restaurants that sell alcohol in Pattaya and Banglamung, 8 cases
  6. Risky occupations meeting many people, 25 cases
  7. 17 medical personnel
  8. Back from other provinces in

    8.1 Bangkok, 4 cases

    8.2 Kalasin, 1 case

    8.3 Khon Kaen, 2 cases

    8.4 Nakhon Nayok, 1 case

    8.5 Buriram, 1 case

    8.6 Pattani, 1 case

    8.7 Phang Nga, 1 case

    8.8 Phetchabun, 3 cases

    8.9 Phuket, 2 cases

    8.10 Roi-Et, 1 case

    8.11 Songkhla, 1 case

    8.12 Surin, 1 case

  9. Close contacts from previously confirmed cases in families – 84 cases, in workplaces – 53 cases, close personal contacts – 29 cases, and joined a party – 30 cases
  10. Close contacts of a confirmed patient (under investigation), 22 cases
  11. 178 cases close contacts of a confirmed patient (under investigation)





Dr Yong highlights 5 reasons why Covid will become less severe. The Nation

Dr Yong highlights 5 reasons why Covid will become less severe

Expert virologist Dr Yong Poovorawan explained on his Facebook page on Wednesday why the Omicron variant would reduce the severity of the disease.

Dr Yong highlights 5 reasons why Covid will become less severe

1. The number of infections in children have increased. Most infected children had mild or no symptoms. The severity of the disease will increase according to the patient's age.

2. Most adults including elders had been administered vaccines.

3. The Omicron variant causes less severe symptoms than Delta according to research especially in South Africa.

4. The research also showed Omicron is usually found in the upper airways than in the lungs.

5. According to Charles Darwin's theory, living things will adapt to survive. The virus will adapt itself but patients will build immunity. The virus will not cause too much damage though it will be able to live on.

Dr Yong highlights 5 reasons why Covid will become less severe

Related News

Omicron surge could bring end of pandemic for Thailand, says expert

Virus experts warns Thailand could lose race against super-infectious Omicron

Immunity against Covid-19 shoots up after Pfizer or Moderna booster, study shows

As an example, Yong wrote, several pandemics were severe at first but then became endemic.

Yong said the number of patients has increased to more than a million per day while the death rate has decreased heavily when compared to the past. Most patients were asymptomatic and may not have been tested.

He speculated that the number of patients would be much more than the World Health Organisation reported and the disease would be less severe after people achieved immunity from infection or vaccines.

Dr Yong highlights 5 reasons why Covid will become less severe

Yong added that WHO will stop counting the number of patients and only patients with symptoms will be tested because RT-PCR test prices are quite high.





Hospitals around the country told to prepare for surge in cases - Thai Enquirer

Hospitals around the country told to prepare for surge in cases

Hospitals throughout Thailand have been told to prepare for a surge in cases due to close contact and extensive travel over the new year period, a senior doctor told Thai Enquirer on Wednesday.

New Year clusters have already been reported by the Ministry of Public Health with popular entertainment areas responsible. These include areas in the capital like Khaosan Road and in provinces like Chonburi and Phuket.

But according to a senior doctor, the government is warning that clusters will likely be found in all provinces due to the new year's celebrations.

"The ministry in Bangkok have told us to be vigilant for possible clusters and prepare the hospitals for large intakes," Monthip Boriboonsong, a doctor at Khon Kaen Hospital, told Thai Enquirer by phone. 

"They cited travel over the new year period and family gatherings as reasons for the reasons."

According to Monthip, hospitals throughout Isan and across the North have all been briefed by the ministry and have prepared accordingly.

"We are ready but I do not think there is a reason to panic. That should be the key message to the public," Monthip said.

Other healthcare professionals agree with Monthip that it is too soon to cause public alarm. A senior doctor at Siriraj Hospital told Thai Enquirer that the high rate of vaccination and the booster drive by the government means that even if infections spike up, the health sector was better equipped to deal with a fourth wave than they were for previous waves.

"Look, no one wants to see higher numbers especially when the number of infections was on the decline. But if you ask any doctor in Thailand, they will tell you that we are more prepared to fight this virus now than ever," he said.










🔴 #COVID19 update on Wednesday: ⬆️ 3,899 new cases ⬆️ 19 deaths ⬆️ 34,877 in care. Richard Barrow