Bangkok school suspends on-site classes after 910 students get COVID-19
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The Triam Udom Suksa Pattanakarn School in Bangkok has announced the suspension of on-site classes from July 25th to 27th and from August 1stto the 5th after 910 of its students became infected with COVID-19.
According to the school's director, Jintana Srisarakham, who issued the announcement yesterday (Tuesday), the figure of 910 cases is the accumulated total as of Monday. She did not, however, reveal when infections in the school started.
On-line teaching will be provided during the two periods of on-site class suspension. This Friday, the school will carry out a complete disinfection.
According to the announcement, all students are required to submit their rapid antigen test results to their teachers via the Line application by Sunday August 7th, ahead of the resumption of normal classes on August 8th.
Parents have also been advised by the school to tell their children to avoid visiting risky areas and to abide strictly by the safety measures set out by the Disease Control Department.
Triam Udom Suksa Pattanakarn is not the only school resuming online classes following a surge in COVID-19 infections. Bangkok Christian College also opted for online learning between July 11thand 19th after 688 students and 70 staff members were found to be infected.
Thailand's daily COVID-19 infections began to surge recently, with today's figure at hospitals recorded at 2,886, up from 2,125 yesterday and 1,814 on Monday. The number of people who are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms and are isolating at home is about 10 times higher than the hospitalised
The passenger terminal that serves both domestic and international passengers at Samui airport.
Bangkok Airways has announced the launch of Thailand's first airport real estate investment trust (BAREIT), which it is promoting with an estimated 8.46% first-year yield.
The firm believes Thailand's promising tourism rebound will make its 14.3-billion-baht REIT an attractive financial product to potential investors.
The BAREIT offers a 25-year leasehold rights contract for five main properties used for the company's Samui airport operations: the single 2.1-kilometre runway, a taxiway, a check-in terminal, passenger terminals that serve both domestic and international travellers, and a fire station.
The REIT, which has a listed appraisal value of 14.3 billion baht, is expected to raise 10.3 billion baht in capital from investors buying the trust units, while the rest of will come from long-term loans.
Bangkok REIT Management Co serves as the REIT manager and Kasikorn Asset Management Co as the REIT trustee.
BAREIT is awaiting regulatory approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission following its filing in early April of this year.
Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, president of Bangkok Airways, expressed confidence in BAREIT and its growth potential, noting that relaxed travel regulations to enter Thailand serve as a positive factor in terms of Samui's tourism and, ultimately, Samui airport.
"This year, things have started to return to normal. In the first quarter of 2022, Samui airport serviced 993 flights which amounts to approximately 66,738 passengers. As we advance, I am certain that we will continue to see improvement in the number of passengers in future quarters, too," Mr Puttipong said.
Throughout Samui airport's 33 years as a public airport, Bangkok Airways has promoted tourism that is friendly to the environment. It has also carried out several CSR projects.
"It is not just about increasing the number of flights, but things have to go hand in hand with sustainability and active CSR projects, from planting trees to empowering the youth and showing them how aviation works. The kids love the flight simulators, and I hope that it inspires and paves the way for them to be curious and have fun about the world," he said.
Bangkok Airways' Samui airport is Thailand's first privately-owned airport that serves both inbound and outbound flights and is capable of receiving 16,000 passengers daily or about six million passengers annually. The airline expects that the number of passengers serviced by Samui airport would reach the regular level by 2024.
Leelapat Leelahavanich, managing director of Bangkok REIT Management Co, said BAREIT is an appealing investment option for those who wish to invest in trust funds that yield good and stable returns over the long term.
"You can see that we carefully selected five properties to include in the BAREIT. They are directly related to the airport's operations. This means that BAREIT will have regular earnings from lessees, yielding steady returns on investment, a good alternative to generate income for long-term investment," she said.
She said BAREIT differs from Samui Airport Property Fund (SAF) in three areas.
First, it has better growth potential because it allows the trust fund to add more assets in the future if it wishes. Second, BAREIT can take out loans of no more than 35% of its total assets, while SAF has limitations when it comes to taking out loans and, lastly, BAREIT yields stable returns.
Sawit Srisarunyapong, head of investment banking business at Kasikornbank, said BAREIT should be ready for trading on the Stock Exchange of Thailand this year.
BANGKOK (NNT) - The Ministry of Public Health has announced it will convene a meeting with Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt to discuss plans for reducing public activities in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit, permanent secretary of public health, said COVID infections are rising, particularly in Bangkok, its surrounding provinces and major tourist provinces.
He cautioned that the risk of transmission is greatest in the capital due to its size and population, high commuter mobility and frequent mass activities.
Dr Kiattiphum said the governor was invited to attend the medical and public health emergency meeting, where he will be asked to scale back public activities with a high risk of widespread infections.
According to Dr Kiattiphum, people with severe or moderate COVID symptoms occupy an average of 13% of hospital beds nationwide, except in Bangkok where the rate exceeds 42%.
The ministry is also urging people to get two vaccine injections and a booster shot every four months.
Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Department of Disease Control, gives update and overview of the Covid-19 situation, at the Ministry of Public Health in Nonthaburi province on Monday. (Screenshot)
The number of the Covid-19 patients who depend on ventilators and coronavirus-related deaths are both rising, the Department of Disease Control reported on Monday.
Director-general Opas Karnkawinpong said most severely ill patients and most deaths were in Greater Bangkok and the major provinces.
The average number of patients dependent on ventilators had risen from 300 a day on July 5 to 369 as of Sunday, and the average number of daily fatalities had increased from 16 to 21. Those averages were based on data collected over 14 days.
"We are monitoring the situation following the recent long holiday, when people in Greater Bangkok returned to their home provinces, where infections could now rise," Dr Opas said.
The government holidays last week included Asarnha Bucha and Buddhist Lent on Wednesday and Thursday, which connected to a special holiday on Friday and then the weekend.
Dr Opas also said there were more fatalities among elderly people and those with underlying illnesses who had received their third dose of Covid-19 vaccine more than three months ago.
"Vulnerable groups' access to treatment is the key to reduced fatalities," he said.
At present the health system was still able to treat all seriously ill patients, Dr Opas said.
He advised people who develop cold-like symptoms to take antigen tests. These symptoms were typical of infection with the BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants of Covid-19. He mentioned sore throat, throat irritation and muscle and body aches in particular.
Worldwide Covid-19 infections were rising especially in Europe and America but the pace had started to stablise, Dr Opas said.
New infections were also increasing in nearby countries but the fatality rates were not rising, he said.
Thailand registered 17 more Covid-19 fatalities and 1,814 new cases were admitted to hospitals on Sunday.
Conversations are hotting up between Thailand's public health ministry and the new Bangkok Governor over rising numbers of Covid cases, mostly fuelled by the recent BA.4 and BA.4 sub-variants of Omicron (a variant of SARS-Cov-2) . The call comes at a time when the variant is causing a new surge of Covid infections in Europe, the UK and US, also Brazil, and more locally Japan and South Korea.
Now the public health ministry is taking steps today to get the governor and the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority to take new steps to limit contact and minimise a possible resurgence of the virus.
With any general mass testing missing, health authorities assume that there are probably hundreds of thousands of new infections unreported and the true situation is likely much more widespread than they can accurately assess at the moment.
The public health ministry is likely to initially call on limits of large crowd gatherings and group activities.
Mirroring similar trends in the latest surges of the BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants in UK and Europe, the public health ministry is reporting that 42% of Covid inpatients in Bangkok hospitals are "seriously ill" or "showing life-threatening symptoms", mostly respiratory in nature.
2,000+ people a day are now being treated in hospitals in Thailand, more than half of them in the capital. But health authorities note that, despite the rising number of hospitalisations, even more serious cases, the number of deaths is not rising at the same pace, at this stage.
Patients in "serious condition" have risen from 677 to 785 during the past week. Patients relying on ventilators, and considered in a "critical condition",are up from 299 to 352, as of last Saturday.
The occupancy rate of Thai hospitals is at an average of13% at the moment, in Bangkok it has sharply risen to 42% in just the last month, according to figures quoted in the Bangkok Post.
Authorities have also voiced their fears of the "bad timing" of the recent 5 day long weekend. Today, Thais, taking advantage of the 5 day break, return to work after heading home for the break. Last Wednesday and Thursday were Thai religious holidays. Most public offices and schools made the Friday a day off, creating a 5 day break.
But many see the public health ministry's meddling with Bangkok affairs as politically motivated, given the Bangkok governor's landslide win over the government's preferred candidates, including candidates favoured by the Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul from the Bhumjaithai party.
Health Ministry, Bangkok governor to hold emergency Covid talks
The Public Health Ministry has called an urgent meeting with Bangkok's governor on Monday to prepare measures for a new wave of Covid-19 in the city.
Kiattiphum said Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt would join Monday's meeting of the public health emergency operations committee. Chadchart chairs Bangkok's communicable disease control committee and his cooperation would be sought to issue measures to control the surge of new Covid cases, Kiattiphum said.
He warned that Bangkok was at heightened risk from Covid surges because it had a large population who travelled a lot and were socially active.
As a result, City Hall should curb risky activities while hospitals in the capital must prepare for an influx of new Covid patients, he said.
About 2,000 Covid cases were being admitted to hospitals nationwide every day, but more than half of these were in Bangkok, Kiattiphum said. The new patients were categorised as "yellow" or "red" cases (moderate or severe symptoms).
Covid patients currently occupy only 13 per cent of hospital beds nationwide, but that rate has risen to 42 per cent in Bangkok.
"So, we need to make preparations by managing hospital beds," Kiattiphum said.
The BMA would coordinate Covid preparations at all Bangkok health facilities, including private hospitals.
"The Public Health Ministry will provide full support for the preparations," Kiattiphum said.
He also urged people to protect themselves by getting a booster shot every four months.
On Sunday, the Public Health Ministry reported that Thailand recorded 2,028 new Covid-19 infections and 18 fatalities over the previous 24 hours.
The Public Health Ministry estimates the caseload will rise to 30,000 per day in September, driven by the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 sub variants.
People wait for a vaccine shot outside Bang Sue Grand Station on July 10, 2022, amid a new wave of Covid-19 infections. The country's largest vaccination centre is offering jabs to both walk-ins and by appointment. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)
The latest subvariant of the Omicron strain of the coronavirus is as harmful to the lungs as the previous Delta variant although it still mainly attacks only the most vulnerable groups -- the unvaccinated and the under-vaccinated -- says an expert from Siriraj Hospital.
Among people currently receiving Covid-19 treatment, about 800 are suffering from lung infections which account for about 8% of all Covid-19 hospitalisations, says Dr Nithipat Jearakul, head of Siriraj Hospital's Department of Respiratory Disease and Tuberculosis within the Department of Internal Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine.
The 8% represent a five-fold decrease from the lung infection rate of 30-40% caused by the previous Delta strain.
"However, in terms of severity, the current infections and those caused by Delta are not very different," Dr Nithipat said.
The BA.5 subvariant of Omicron is mainly responsible for recent flareups, which are expected to peak late this month and remain high next month before they begin dropping during the next school break, said Dr Yong Poovorawan, chief of the Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology at the Department of Paediatrics of Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Medicine, earlier.
Dr Nithipat said lung infections now mostly affect people in the so-called "608" group -- people aged 60 years and older, those with underlying diseases and pregnant women -- as well as those who received only one or two doses of vaccine or none at all.
Very few of those sick with lung infections had a history of receiving booster shots, he noted.
"Acquiring sufficient booster jabs can prevent hospitalisation and death," Dr Nithipat said.
Meanwhile, deputy government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek said caseloads have risen although most sufferers were in the "green" group with slight or mild symptoms such as a fever, temporary loss of taste and smell, sore throat, cough and runny nose.
People who test positive following an antigen test are advised to see a doctor under their respective universal health insurance programme.
Those not suffering from serious Covid-19 symptoms are advised to do home isolation for 10 days. If patients are in the 608 group, doctors will carry out a deeper examination of their conditions.
The National Health Security Office (NHSO) has added a telemedicine service where Covid-19 sufferers in home isolation can receive remote consultations and may be dispensed free medication, including the antiviral Favipiravir, straight to their homes if needed.
Thai Rath reported that the Muang Pattaya traffic police set up roadblocks to stop a large gang of Arab and Indian motorcyclists annoying residents following complaints.
The gang was revving engines, sounding horns and driving in a negligent fashion.
Checkpoints were set up by Pol Maj Arut Saphanon in Soi VC, Soi Yen Sabai and at the second road intersection in south Pattaya.
The annoyance from the foreigners was happening every day as they rode their rented motorcycles around without a care in the world, said the media.
Most were Kuwaitis and Indians.
Ten were booked for not having licences, six for failing to wear helmets, four for not having documentation and four for not having tax.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently announced a variety of awards and high rankings number bestowed upon Thailand over the past year. They proudly proclaimed the Kingdom's favourable ratings in over 14 different categories and surveys on Thursday. The country itself won nods over the past year in tourism, livability, happiness, Covid-19 response, safety, and more.
Bangkok received accolades for its popularity with tourists as while as its food, while the traditional meal of Tom yam kung was also recognized. Koh Samui, Phuket, and Koh Pha Ngan were also praised as high-ranking destinations for tourists and digital nomads alike.
Among the awards or rankings that feature Thailand as a whole or one specific destination over 2021 and 2022 so far:
16th best university in the world for supporting the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals in the Impact Ranking 2022 by the UK magazine Times Higher Education
Bumrungrad Hospital
30th best in the world by Newsweek.
Thailand
61st happiest country in the UN's World Happiness Report 2022
A nurse prepares a vaccine shot for people at Bang Sue Grand Station on July 6, 2022. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)
The Public Health Ministry has urged people infected with Covid-19 who are self-isolating at home to comply with the 10-day quarantine period after reports that some people with the virus have not done so, putting others at risk.
Public Health Ministry spokesman, Dr Rungrueng Kitphati, said everyone must take strict precautions to prevent another big wave of Covid-19 infections.
In particular, people who are outpatients with mild or no symptoms must self-isolate at home for at least 10 days and, if they must leave their homes, such as for a trip to hospital, they must wear masks, Dr Rungrueng said.
"We found that a number of infected patients failed to comply with the 10-day quarantine rule and went out and about, which is likely to spread the disease to others, especially the high-risk group such as the elderly and people with underlying health conditions," he said.
Dr Rungrueng also said that outpatients should stay in a well-ventilated room separate from others during their self-quarantine.
A separate bathroom for them is also recommended, but if there is only a shared bathroom, all surfaces must be disinfected after use by the patient, he said.
While in self-quarantine, those infected are strongly advised to stay away from people considered part of the high-risk group, he said.
After the 10-day self-quarantine period, they can be allowed freedom of movement, he said.
Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said that after many restrictions were eased, infection rates have been increasing particularly in Bangkok, its nearby provinces and provinces which are tourist destinations.
The five-day holiday period starting from Wednesday saw numerous people travel across provinces and gather for activities, which increased the risk of further infections, he said.
Dr Taweesilp said that even though mask-wearing is no longer mandatory in open spaces, masks are still an efficient tool to protect against the virus. Mask-wearing is still recommended in activities involving large crowds, he said.
Chakrarat Pittayawonganon, director of epidemiology at the Department of Disease Control, said on Friday that the number of patients on ventilators was almost 400 in Bangkok and nearby provinces over the past two weeks. Most of them are in the high-risk "608'' group, which is made up of people aged 60 and older, those with underlying conditions and pregnant women.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Chuan Leekpai was discharged from hospital on Friday after being treated for Covid-19. Mr Chuan will continue recuperating at home, said his adviser Sukit Atthopakorn.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said more field hospitals and isolation centres would be reopened to curb the recent spike in Omicron sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5 if it is necessary.
The 56 year old told media today that the Omicron sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5 have increased recently since the relaxation of mask-wearing raising the number of Covid-19 infected patients in Bangkok.
The governor insisted that hospital beds in Bangkok are still available for patients and that the beds in Bangkok field hospitals are only 20% full.
Bangkok has earmarked more field hospitals in the Nong Chok district and will open isolation centres in Ratchapipat Hospital in the Bang Khae districts, but opening dates have not yet been revealed.
Chadchart added that home isolation is still preferred, but the field hospitals would be a choice for Covid patients who wanted to separate themselves from elders or family members in the sensitive group categories.
The media today reported new coronavirus cases in Bangkok are on the increase again.
Bangkok's Public Relations Department made public today there were 1,406 new cases and 5 deaths. Ratchathewi district is housing the most patients at 115 while Bang Khae district, and Nong Chok district, where new field hospitals and isolation centres would be opened, are in the capital's top 10 list.
The Thai Deputy of Health, Sathit Pitutecha, last week urged the Ministry of Public Health to reveal the actual numbers of infections. He claimed that the actual number of current infectionsis more like 20,000 to 30,000 per day, not the 2,000 cases being reported daily.
Two weeks before, a doctor from Siriraj Hospital, Nitiphat Chierakul, made a similar statement, saying cases had reached 50,000since June.
According to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, the number of Covid cases in the country was expected to peak in September. The department added that the cases would decrease quickly in November if the residents followed pandemic prevention measures suggested by the Ministry of Public Health.
The 300 baht entry tax proposal still defies clarification.
The tourist ministry has clarified that a 300 baht controversial mandatory insurance fee for all arriving foreigners has likely been postponed to early 2023 because of implementation hurdles. Assistant permanent secretary Mongkon Wimonrat told the Bangkok Post that there would be no exemptions for expats or diplomats. He explained that the fee collection for air passengers would be built into the ticket price, but no way had yet been found to collect cash from those entering by a land crossing.
Because many millions of non-Thais enter the country by land every year, the fear is that massive queues would swamp immigration checkpoints as impatient entrants held aloft debit cards which didn't work, or demanded change from their foreign currency or thousand baht notes. As regards air travel, the airlines Association of Thailand last month raised concerns that taxes on foreigners only might be held to be overtly discriminatory. Even after all the detail is inked in and published in the Royal Gazette, there would be a three months wait for collection to start.
What began two years ago as a simple plan to charge all visitors 500 baht (then reduced to 300 baht) to provide cash to improve tourist facilities, such as repairing monuments or building toilets, has turned into a bureaucratic nightmare which many politicians say just isn't worth the bother. Part of the fee was said to be reserved for tourist insurance, but the latest announcement restricts cover for 30 days and lists only "accident, riot, terrorism and natural disasters" plus a cremation bonus. Most personal disasters such as Covid or in-patient hospitalization for diseases are not covered as common sense dictates with such a small premium. Expats hoping that the initiative would insure them for lifestyle diseases will be disappointed too.
Other implementation hazards are that airlines would have to decide who is a foreigner and who is not. Presumably, a dual national (many are children) booking a ticket would be charged if showing a foreign passport, yet escape with a Thai one. The details of handling passengers arriving by sea are still unknown even as cruise ships and private yachts become a common sight in the waters of Pattaya and Phuket. There is still no confirmation on any age limits for the compulsory insurance which could make it impossible for the advanced elderly to enter without an independent policy which they likely could not obtain in any case.
Given that many international airfares have already doubled in recent months, together with a host of other inflationary pressures, it seems odd that the Thai authorities are wrestling with a 300 baht (less than US$10) entry tax so fraught with difficulties. Maybe, they should just add the fee to the 700 baht Suvarnabhumi airport international departure tax already hidden in ticket prices. Or as Fagin concluded in the musical version of Oliver, "I think I'd better think it out again."
