fredag 7 januari 2022

Bangkok Post highlights 7/1



The fifth wave is here for sure with the steepest curve so far of new cases, but, and this is a big but, the number of deaths and serious cases remain low. Richard Barrow


The fifth wave is here for sure with the steepest curve so far of new cases, but, and this is a big but, the number of deaths and serious cases remain low. Let's hope it stays this way. 
🔴 Chonburi Public Health Office is reporting 1,342 ⬆️ new cases today, the highest for four months, and no deaths. Most new cases are in Chonburi City (207), Si Racha (265), and Bang Lamung/Pattaya (712). There are 5,376 patients in care ⬆️


torsdag 6 januari 2022

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said today (Thursday) a proposal will be made at the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)’s meeting tomorrow whether the January 10th deadline, for foreign tourists with the “Thailand Pass” to enter the country through the Test and Go scheme, can be postponed to January 15th. He made clear that it is not possible to extend the deadline to February or April, as suggested by some tourism business operators, explaining that the government is focusing on “quality” tourists, not on the numbers. Thai PBS World.

Deadline for arrivals under Thailand's 'Test and Go' scheme may be extended to mid-January

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said today (Thursday) a proposal will be made at the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)'s meeting tomorrow whether the January 10thdeadline, for foreign tourists with the "Thailand Pass" to enter the country through the Test and Go scheme, can be postponed to January 15th.

He made clear that it is not possible to extend the deadline to February or April, as suggested by some tourism business operators, explaining that the government is focusing on "quality" tourists, not on the numbers.

The public health minister said that he could not say for sure whether lockdown restrictions will be re-imposed, to cope with the rapid surge in COVID-19 infections since the end of the long New Year holidays adding, however, that the Disease Control Department has proposed that some high-risk areas be declared COVID-19 "orange zones", under which restrictions, such as no alcohol service in public venues and mandatory quarantine for foreign arrivals, can be imposed.

Regarding the increase in the COVID-19 alert, from Level 3 to Level 4, Anutin said that it was not unexpected, in light of the rise in new COVID-19 infections since the New Year.

He added that the extent of the growth of new infections would become clearer in the next 7-10 days, but said that he believes the number of serious cases will not climb as rapidly as the new infection rate.

5,775 new COVID-19 cases were recorded today, but he said that, on the plus side, significantly fewer deaths have been recorded since early December, which is not related to this new wave sweeping the country.

The new cases include 135 among "Test and Go" tourists and 62 in the "sandbox" program.

He reminded the public that hospital beds are strictly for the very sick, as evaluated by doctors, and those who have mild symptoms or asymptomatic cases will have remain at home or in community isolation facilities.

Meanwhile, Disease Control Department chief Dr. Opart Karnkawinpong said today that the department will propose a set of measures to contain the spread of the virus to the CCSA at its meeting tomorrow. The measures include quarantine and adjustment of zones in line with the infection rates, among others.

He warned that, without additional restrictions and the full cooperation of the public, daily infections will jump into the tens of thousands very soon.



Thailand has enough hospital beds in case of Omicron surge Thailand’s health system has the capacity to treat up to 50,000 Covid-19 patients per day, which is higher than the Department of Disease Control (DDC) estimation of 30,000 daily infections in the worst-case scenario due to the highly transmissible Omicron variant, Department of Medical Services chief Dr Somsak Ankasil said on Wednesday. The Nation

Thailand has enough hospital beds in case of Omicron surge

Thailand's health system has the capacity to treat up to 50,000 Covid-19 patients per day, which is higher than the Department of Disease Control (DDC) estimation of 30,000 daily infections in the worst-case scenario due to the highly transmissible Omicron variant, Department of Medical Services chief Dr Somsak Ankasil said on Wednesday.

The DDC earlier estimated that Covid-19 cases would surge between 10,000 and 30,000 infections per day after the New Year holidays as people who had visited their hometowns return to big cities to resume working.

The Public Health Ministry reported on Thursday morning that in the past 24 hours there were 5,775 new Covid-19 patients, while 11 have died.

"Public health facilities in Bangkok and surrounding provinces, where we expect a surge in Omicron cases, can treat up to 8,000 Covid-19 patients per day," he said.

"Bangkok has up to 11,000 beds available for patients with severe symptoms, 6,000 beds for level 2 patients, and 5,000 beds for level 3 patients."

Somsak also said the Department of Medical Services had ordered public health offices in each province to prepare home and community isolation systems for patients with no symptoms, which will be the largest group among Omicron infections.

"From the statistics of Omicron cases in Thailand, 48 per cent are asymptomatic, while 41 per cent have mild symptoms," Somsak pointed out. "These patients can be treated at isolation centres and will not require hospital beds," he said.

"If you perform a self-test with an antigen test kit [ATK] and the result turns up positive for Covid-19, contact National Health Security Office hotline 1330. Officials will evaluate your symptoms before sending you for suitable treatment," Somsak said, adding: "If you, however, display severe Covid-19 symptoms, contact hotline 1669 for emergency service."


Alcohol Ban, Red Zones, Bar Closures Likely When CCSA Meets Friday - The most obvious move will be for the CCSA to reinstate red, or even “deep red” coronavirus-control zones in areas with large numbers of new cases, including Bangkok, Chonburi, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Samut Prakan, Ubon Ratchathani, Khon Kaen and Rayong. Historically, red zone restaurants cannot sell alcohol and have hours either reduced to close at 9 p.m. or are restricted to delivery and takeout only. Bangkok Herald

Alcohol Ban, Red Zones, Bar Closures Likely When CCSA Meets Friday
Koh Samui Thailand Bars Closed Lockdown Coronavirus Reopen 2

The Center for Covid-19 Administration on Friday is expected to reimpose a ban on alcohol sales in restaurants, reinstate "red" zones and close bars masquerading as restaurants.

At a Thursday news conference, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Thailand's pandemic "alert level" was raised to four on a scale of five, which will result in the closure of the restaurants similar to pubs and bars.

He said the raised alert level likely will lead to restriction on alcohol consumption because booze is a main factor in the new outbreak.

Various government officials hinted in recent days that more restrictions were coming Friday.

The most obvious move will be for the CCSA to reinstate red, or even "deep red" coronavirus-control zones in areas with large numbers of new cases, including Bangkok, Chonburi, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Samut Prakan, Ubon Ratchathani, Khon Kaen and Rayong.

Historically, red zone restaurants cannot sell alcohol and have hours either reduced to close at 9 p.m. or are restricted to delivery and takeout only.

Ending alcohol sales would put an end to the thousands of bars that have reopened using dodgy restaurant licenses or bribes to police.

Eschewing recent government pronouncements that no new national lockdown would be imposed, Anutin declined to answer when asked if lockdown measures would be necessary in a worst-case scenario.

The hypocritical blowhard minister – who was caught in photos hosting a holiday party where only one guest was seen wearing a facemask – blasted "selfish" people partying and bar owners for failing to adhere to the government's vague disease-control schemes.

Restaurant operators can be forgiven for being unable to sort out the difference between SHA, SHA+, "Covid-Free Setting" and "Anti-Stop Covid Now".

Anutin said that the treatment of Covid-19 patients will utilize mainly home isolation and community isolation centers to keep hospital beds free for the critically ill.

He also said that the government extended the deadline for the arrival of the travelers who had earlier applied to the now-suspended Test & Go country entry scheme. The new deadline is on Jan. 15 instead of Jan. 10.

The visitors must have health insurance as required by the government.

He claimed some visitors had submitted fake insurance documents or bought inadequate insurance coverage, failing to mention it was the fault of the Foreign Affairs Ministry for not checking the documentation thoroughly before issuing a Thaialnd Pass.

Anutin also complained that some infected tourists in Phuket refused to go to the hospital. He failed to mention that the insurance companies wrongfully denied coverage, as the tourists were asymptomatic, and insisted the foreigners pay full rates.

The Thailand News Agency contributed to this report.








Pattaya hotels to open as isolation facilities for COVID-19 patients | Chon Buri province may also be declared a COVID-19 “red zone” again, as the province saw 769 new COVID-19 infections in the past 24 hours. The daily infection rate has overtaken Bangkok’s top spot since Sunday. Thai PBS World

Pattaya hotels to open as isolation facilities for COVID-19 patients

The administration of Bang Lamung district in Thailand's Chon Buri province, which includes Pattaya, is making preparations to convert hotels into "hospitels" with a capacity to accommodate 2,500 COVID-19 patients initially, if daily infections continue to rise steadily.

Chon Buri province may also be declared a COVID-19 "red zone" again, as the province saw 769 new COVID-19 infections in the past 24 hours. The daily infection rate has overtaken Bangkok's top spot since Sunday.

Cumulative infections in the province, since last April, have soared to 115,902, with more than 4,000 people still being treated in hospitals. The death toll is 794, according to the provincial health office.

The office said that most of the new infections have been linked to pubs and bars in Pattaya and Bang Saen, which were allowed to operate as eateries to ease the hardship caused by prolonged closure.

23 new cases linked to Pattaya's eateries have been reported in the past 24 hours, raising the total number of infected in this cluster to 325.

Visitors to Tree Town market in the city have been advised to take two such tests, five days apart.









The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 769 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with no new deaths, January 6th, 2022. - The Pattaya News

Chonburi, led by Banglamung with 339, announces 769 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 and no new deaths

Highlights:

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

  • 175 people recovered and were released from medical care

  • No new deaths

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 769 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with no new deaths, January 6th, 2022.

This makes a total of 115,904 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 4,168 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, 175 people were also released and recovered yesterday in Chonburi. 110,942 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. Four 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, 1,914,775 people in Pattaya and Chonburi have received their first dose of a Covid -19 vaccine which is 82.21 percent of the total Chonburi population. Of those, 298,625 have received their first dose and are what the Thai government calls 608 groups (elders, have chronic health problems, and pregnant) which is 80.72 percent of those in these risk groups in Chonburi.

The district-level new cases were as follows today:

Mueang Chonburi 229, Si Racha 100, Banglamung (Pattaya) 339, Panat Nikhom 10, Sattahip 26, new soldiers in Sattahip 10, Ban Bueng 7, Phan Thong 21, Bor Thong 1, Nong Yai 5, Koh Si Chang 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, 16 cases
  2. Active case finding at restaurants that sell alcohol in Pattaya and Banglamung, 23 cases
  3. Active case finding at restaurants that sell alcohol in Bang Saen and Wonnapa Beach in Mueang Chonburi, 20 cases
  4. Active case finding in students at Burapha University in Mueang Chonburi (staffers and customers at restaurants that sell alcohol), 45 cases
  5. Cluster, Daikin Industries company in Mueang Chonburi, 3 cases
  6.  14 medical personnel
  7. Risky occupations meeting many people, 19 cases
  8. Back from other provinces in

    8.1 Ubon Ratchathani – 4 cases

    8.2 Chiang Rai 3 cases

    8.3 Surin – 3 cases

    8.4 Bangkok – 2 cases

    8.5 Chiang Mai – 2 cases

    8.6 Phuket – 2 cases

    8.7 Mukdahan – 2 cases

    8.8 Kampangpetch – 1 case

    8.9 Khon Kaen – 1 case

    8.10 Chachoengsao – 1 case

    8.11 Chaiyaphum – 1 case

    8.12 Trat – 1 case

    8.13 Nakhon Ratchasima -1 case

    8.14 Sisaket – 1 case

    8.15 Samut Sakorn – 1 case

    8.16 Lopburi – 1 case

  9. Close contacts from previously confirmed cases in families – 119 cases, in workplaces – 89 cases, close personal contacts – 43 cases, and joined a party – 65 cases
  10. Close contacts of a confirmed patient (under investigation), 29
  11. 257 cases close contacts of a confirmed patient (under investigation)