Thailand News - Corona - By Ola J. - Palmtree

By · Thursday, July 21, 2022 11:24

Bang Saen Beach near Pattaya to ban drinking and smoking

By

Thursday, July 21, 2022 11:24

Officials in Chon Buri province plan to ban the drinking of alcohol and smoking on Bang Saen Beach so they can develop the stretch as a model tourist attraction.

The Thai Health Promotion Foundation, Saensuk Municipality of Muenf Chon Buri District, and the National Institute of Development Administration yesterday announced the project to upgrade Bang Saen Beach into a tourist destination free from alcohol and tobacco.

The Acting Director of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, Roong-Aroon Liimhapunt, explained that the project aims to offer tourists a good environment, reduce the risks of passive smoke, and cut out chaos and violence from drunk people.

The Thai Health Promotion Foundation revealed that 8,278 people died from receiving second hand smoke, and 25% of all road accidents are a result of drunk driving.

Rong-Aroon revealed that more than 1,000 students from Burapha University have volunteered to join the venture. They agreed to run a campaign to promote the project and make locals, sellers, and travellers understand the importance of the enterprise and cooperate.

The Permanent Secretary of Pattaya city, Pramoote Tubtim, reported that Bang Sean wanted cooperation from locals and visitors not to bring alcoholic drinks or cigarettes to the area. People who bring alcohol or smoke on the beach would be warned first. If those still fail to follow the rules, they face charges and penalties, to be outlined launched later.

According to the report, restauranteurs and shop owners along the beach agreed to the project even if they had to stop selling alcohol and cigarettes. The report said travellers also agreed with the enterprise, saying they would feel safer and more relaxed if alcohol and tobacco were banned.

Bang Saen Beach bans alcohol and tobacco

Photo via Thai Health Promotion Foundation

SOURCE: Khaosod | Thai Health Promotion Foundation

A Chulalongkorn University lecturer is worried that the actual number of new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours and announced on Wednesday is almost 100,000 even as the official report puts the figure at only 2,886.

Covid cases in past 24 hours could number almost 100,000, Chula lecturer worries

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Chulalongkorn University Assoc Professor Dr Thira Woratanarat wrote: "2,886 > estimated 96,200."

In an earlier post, he said the number of deaths in the country on Tuesday was 14th in the world and fourth highest in Asia.

Thira said Covid-19 is spreading "heavily" in Thailand, so wearing face masks properly is necessary to reduce the risk of getting infected.

The doctor also touched on the intensifying topic of the BA 2.75 subvariant, which was detected in Thailand on Tuesday. He said it hasn't spread widely to other countries as yet and most cases are in India.

Just being careful could reduce the risk of becoming infected from any variant, Thira advised.

He cited a study by University of Washington researcher John E Bowen and others titled "Omicron spike function and neutralising activity elicited by a comprehensive panel of vaccines".

The study said three doses of vaccines are actually enough to prevent infection from Omicron subvariants BA.1, BA.2, BA.2.12.1 and BA.5.

Researchers used a sample from three doses of mRNA vaccines, two doses of Novavax along with one dose of mRNA vaccine, and two doses of Sinopharm with one dose of mRNA vaccine.

Thira said the study confirmed the significance of a booster dose to keep BA.5 at bay.

He also cited a study by King's College London research associate Emma Rezel-Potts and others titled "Cardiometabolic outcomes up to 12 months after Covid-19 infection – a matched cohort study in the UK".

The study mentioned that being infected with Covid-19 increases the risk of getting diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

It highlighted the importance of protecting oneself from being infected and how patients should treat themselves after contracting Covid to avoid these diseases.

Picture: Daily News

Pol Lt-Gen Damrongsak Kittipraphat told Daily News about the new points deduction system for drivers and other issues related to serious infractions on the Thai Roads.

Drunk drivers will face two years in jail and fines of 50-100,000 baht fines on committing a second offence within two years of the first.

Baseline fines are being changed from 1,000 baht to 4,000 baht from September.

The issue of car seats and restraints for children under 6 is still being discussed.

Regarding the points system drivers who lose all their points will have their licence suspended initially for 9 months.

It comes in on January 9th 2023 when everyone will get 12 points.

From one to four points can be deducted depending on the severity of the offence.

It's one point for speeding, ignoring a Zebra crossing, not wearing a helmet or seatbelt or using a phone while driving.

Two points is for going through red lights or going the wrong way.

Three points is for street racers.

Four points is for drunk drivers.

After the 12 points are exhausted the driver is banned for three months and the points are only restored after one year.

Bangkok school suspends on-site classes after 910 students get COVID-19

The Triam Udom Suksa Pattanakarn School in Bangkok has announced the suspension of on-site classes from July 25^th to 27^th and from August 1^stto the 5^th 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 7^th, ahead of the resumption of normal classes on August 8^th.

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 11^thand 19^th 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

Bangkok Airways rolls out first airport REIT

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.

by Paul Rujopakarn

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.

Severe Covid cases and fatalities are rising

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.

By · Monday, July 18, 2022 08:52

Bangkok governor under pressure to limit crowds over rising Covid infections

By

Tim Newton

Monday, July 18, 2022 08:52

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.

Picture: Thai Rath

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.

Motorcycles were seized and fines issued.

Thailand News - Corona - By Ola J. - Palmtree

torsdag 21 juli 2022

Bang Saen Beach near Pattaya to ban drinking and smoking | Thaiger

#Thailand recorded 2,607 new #COVID19 infections and 23 more deaths today. PBS World

Overnight heavy rains wreak havoc in Bangkok with most area inundated leaving many stranded, Bangkok saw 163.5 mm of rainfall, one of the heaviest seen in years. Thai Enquirer

onsdag 20 juli 2022

Covid cases in past 24 hours could number almost 100,000, Chula lecturer worries. In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Chulalongkorn University Assoc Professor Dr Thira Woratanarat wrote: “2,886 > estimated 96,200.” The Nation

Motorists beware! Points system in operation next year - lose all your points and licence suspended 3 months. Pol Lt-Gen Damrongsak Kittipraphat told Daily News about the new points deduction system for drivers and other issues related to serious infractions on the Thai Roads. ASEAN NOW / Daily News

#BreakingNews Ramathibodi Hospital's Centre for Medical Genomics has discovered Thailand's first BA 2.75 case. Read more: https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017948

Bangkok school suspends on-site classes after 910 students get COVID-19. The number of people who are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms and are isolating at home is about 10 times higher than the hospitalised | Thai PBS World

Thailand records 2,886 confirmed Covid-19 cases, 19 deaths on Wednesday. Read more https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017931 . The Nation

tisdag 19 juli 2022

#Thailand recorded 2,125 new #COVID19 infections and 18 more deaths today. PBS World

måndag 18 juli 2022

Thailand records 1,814 confirmed Covid-19 cases, 17 deaths on Monday. Read more: https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017849 . The Nation

söndag 17 juli 2022

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. The Nation

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.

Covid19 situation in Thailand July 17th 2022. PBS World

lördag 16 juli 2022

LYSANDE !!!! MYCKET BRA !!!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏. Annoying Arab/Indian motorcycle gang busted by Pattaya traffic police. 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. ASEAN NOW

Heavy rain triggers flash flooding across Pattaya, authorities provide traffic assistance - Pattaya Mail

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