Thailand News - Corona - By Ola J. - Palmtree

The public health minister says Thailand is prepared to deal with any new variant of the coronavirus including the newly emerged Deltacron that is now being closely watched by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Anutin Charnvirakul, deputy prime minister and public health minister, said his ministry has prepared the necessary medical tools, vaccines and drugs to ensure it can fight the virus no matter how it may mutate.

Mr Anutin said he believed the government's Covid-19 preventive measures -- social distancing, mask-wearing, hand washing and so on -- are still effective.

"We are not worried about any new strains as long as our people have strictly followed the ministry's guidelines and have not lowered their guard in preventing infection," he said.

Deltacron was first reported earlier this year when it was thought to be a co-infection of the Omicron and Delta variants. On Wednesday, the WHO started tracking Deltacron, but has yet to designate it as a variant of concern -- nor has it officially named it.

Researchers believe it is a single, hybrid variant that combines genes from Delta and Omicron.

The minister made his comments during the Thailand International Health EXPO 2022 organised by the Department of Health Service Support, which he presided over on Thursday.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, delivered a speech virtually at the event that included a nod to Thailand's successful management of the pandemic.

Mr Tedros said the WHO continues its strong support for vaccine distribution to poor countries, especially those in Africa.

He confirmed the WHO's goal of having at least 70% of the population in all countries vaccinated. "By achieving this goal, we could end the game faster," he said.

Mr Tedros said that technology transfers for vaccine production are still needed.

Suthiphong Phuanphiphob, vice president of the Tourism Council of Thailand (TAT), said that many tour programmes were not approved by the Tour Tiew Thai scheme after the application deadline on March 15. 

"This has an impact on tour programme sales and guests who booked such packages in advance," Suthiphong explained. "Travel agencies must refund the payments as the programme will not be backed by the stimulus packages."

The Tour Tiew Thai scheme subsidized up to 40 per cent of tour fees for the total 200,000 Thai people. The subsidy is capped at 5,000 per trip. To be eligible, people must purchase at least a two-night tour package from a selected travel agency.

The benefits, however, cannot be combined with the "Rao Tiew Duay Kan" (We Travel Together) initiative, which subsidizes travel fees for registrants who plan trips without using tour operators.

As of Thursday, the registrants of the Tour Tiew Thai scheme stood at 48,000. 

Chotchuang Surangkun, vice president of the Association of Domestic Travel (ADT), urged the government to consider approving the tour programs submitted by travel agencies. 

"If not, this will affect tourists who have already planned their trip." Chotchuang stressed. He seeks to avoid losses to tour operators as most of them have suffered from the Covid-19 crisis that has plunged tourism demand.

This is not the first time the domestic tourism stimulus has been criticized. Tourism businesses have complained about the scheme's complex rules and long process, as well as fraudulent practices.

Last year, the Tourism and Sports Ministry considered scrapping the "Tour Teaw Thai" domestic stimulus program if the benefits could not be distributed fairly to the majority of people.

Highlights:

• 1,231 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Chonburi today

• 4,978 positive ATK (rapid antigen) tests were reported but all require a second confirmed PCR test before being counted as official cases. The ATK positive tests are just "possible" cases until confirmed by PCR. TPN notes, however, that second confirmed tests are no longer mandatory except for high-risk groups.
• 804 (PCR) and 1,964 (ATK) recovered and were released from medical care
• Four new deaths

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 1,231 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with four new deaths, March 17th, 2022.

This makes a total of 59,133 cases (PCR) and 74,382 cases (ATK) of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 11,233 (PCR) and 32,704 (ATK) people still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 105 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections at the beginning of this year, January 2022.

Additionally, 804 (PCR) and 1,964 (ATK) people were also released and recovered yesterday in Chonburi. 47,795 (PCR) and 41,678 (ATK) people in total have now been released from medical care and recovered in Chonburi since this current wave of Covid-19 began at the beginning of this year, January 2022.

The four new deaths were aged 65, 70, 75, and 83 with severe personal health problems and pre-existing conditions. ฺone of them was not vaccinated.

The details on the cases are as follows:

1. Work and stayed in Rayong, transferred from other provinces for medical care, 59 cases
2. Cluster, Fujitsu company in Si Racha, 6 cases
3. Cluster, EIKOI company in Si Racha, 5 cases
4. Risky occupations meeting many people, 31 cases
5. 27 medical personnel
6. 2 Back from Bangkok and Nakhon Sawan
7. Close contacts from previously confirmed cases in families – 222 cases, in workplaces –37 cases, close personal contacts – 57 cases, and joined a party – 2 case
8. Close contacts of a confirmed patient (under investigation), 56 cases
9. 272 cases of close contacts of a confirmed patient (under investigation)