New Covid strain added to watchlist. Health officials to readjust jab doses. A new Omicron subvariant known as BQ.1.1, first reported in the United Kingdom last month, is now on Thailand's watchlist as the newest fast-spreading coronavirus variant, according to the Center for Medical Genomics at Ramathibodi Hospital. Bangkok Post

New Covid strain added to watchlist

A new Omicron subvariant known as BQ.1.1, first reported in the United Kingdom last month, is now on Thailand's watchlist as the newest fast-spreading coronavirus variant, according to the Center for Medical Genomics at Ramathibodi Hospital.

The centre posted on Facebook that BQ.1.1 has now been reported in 10 other countries, with a total of 78 cases, but not yet in Thailand. It said that twenty-eight new cases were recently recorded by GISAID, the world's Covid-19 database.

According to the centre, the increase in cases in one month means BQ.1.1 could potentially replace BA.5 as the dominant strain.

Its relative growth advantage is approximately 5.3 times greater than BA.5, which makes it the fastest-spreading Omicron subvariant, the centre said, adding that the severity of symptoms is not significantly different from that caused by the BA.5 strain.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Health recommends one or two booster shots against Covid-19 annually after the pandemic ends.

Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit, the ministry's permanent secretary, said people are now receiving more booster doses, with many receiving a total of five doses.

He said that the Department of Disease Control is now studying to determine the suitable number of boosters people should receive.

He said the ministry currently advises four-month vaccination intervals due to the Covid-19 situation in the country.

He said the vaccine would help improve immunity and fend off the disease.

"Fortunately, right now, the situation has changed," he said. "We have a declining number of daily infections -- the outbreak is now under control."

"So we need to adjust the booster doses in line with the situation," he said.

The ministry recently cancelled many coronavirus-preventive measures, including a vaccine passport programme for all arrivals and the ATK test requirement, after the government deemed the coronavirus situation had improved.

Dr Kiattiphum further said the ministry had adjusted its vaccine purchasing plan, which was initially set at 80 million doses of the vaccine due to arrive next year.



Thai baht caught in international currency crosshairs - Pattaya Mail

Thai baht caught in international currency crosshair

Barry KenyonSeptember 24, 2022

The Thai baht is being pulled in opposite directions by factors outside its control.

The cost of a foreign holiday in Thailand now depends increasingly on the currency you wish to exchange. The US dollar continues to rise on the back of Federal Reserve hawkish interest hikes and investors' preference for the greenback during a time of general instability in world affairs. One dollar is now worth nearly 38 baht. Kasikornbank Research says there isn't much the Bank of Thailand can do to stem the rise of the dollar, which is hiking the cost of foreign imports and fuelling Thai domestic inflation. However, the rise in foreign tourist arrivals and the increase in Thai exports should bring an improvement later in the year. CIMB Thai Bank points to a likely rise in GDP (gross domestic product) of 3.2 percent for the whole of 2022.

Meanwhile, the British pound is in headlong retreat against all major currencies including the Thai baht. Thai exchange bureaux are currently offering barely 40 baht for one UK pound, compared with 42 just weeks ago. The British chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, has introduced a massive tax-cutting budget (mainly benefitting the rich) to kickstart a dash for economic growth. But the Institute of Fiscal Studies warns the UK will need to borrow an extra 72 billion pounds at a time of high inflation everywhere. The independent Bank of England could well raise interest rates substantially to dampen inflation, but this would have the effect of making mortgages and other borrowing more expensive in a continuing inflationary spiral.

International financial gurus such as Bloomberg say it's currently very difficult to predict currency movements. For example, a Russian withdrawal from Ukraine, however unlikely, would immediately have a reducing effect on international oil and gas prices. Thus the British pound would be boosted in spite of the recent budget. As regards the US dollar, some speculators argue that the greenback's share of the world's foreign exchange reserves continues to fall even as the rise of crypto-currencies poses a threat to traditional theories. As physicist Stephen Hawking hinted, "The only way to predict the future is to invent it yourself."



Anutin: "They" may have stopped wearing masks but Thais are still "naa rak" for keeping them on to prevent disease. Anutin praises Thais as "lovely" for still wearing masks.



Picture: Thai Rath

 

Thailand's DPM and Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has indicated that he will NOT be ditching his face mask and has praised Thais for sticking to them.

 

And he he has said in pointed comments that "people in other places" may not be wearing them but Thais still were.

 

He was clearly referring to countries abroad and foreigners where masks have been ditched for a long while now.

 

In Thailand people like TV presenters still wear masks and the habit is still widespread in Bangkok and many cities especially inside shops. School children have had to wear them through the first semester that is coming to an end. 

 

Anutin was at Khon Kaen university on the day that Covid-19 was downgraded to a communicable disease being watched, reported Thai Rath. 

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

The CCSA is being disbanded and visitors to Thailand will no longer have to have vaccinations or ATK tests from the end of next week.

 

But tourists arriving in Thailand may be surprised that so many people are still wearing masks. That is unlikely to change at the end of next week, suggests ASEAN NOW.

 

Reporters pressed Anutin yesterday about the Covid baton being passed to the Ministry of Public Health from the Communicable Disease Committee.

 

He responded by praising himself and the press for continuing to wear masks.

 

"We're "na rak" aren't we," he quipped. It's an expression that means "lovely".

 

"People in other places may have stopped wearing them but we Thais are still doing it.

 

"We have to remember that wearing masks is not just a preventative measure for Covid but protects people against resipratory and gastrointestinal diseases too", he noted.

 

He thanked everyone for their co-operation throughout the pandemic referring to two years of fear adding that Thailand was in control as ever.

 

He said that the disease was still with us but we have to live with it.

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2022-09-24

If you were hoping that dropping the emergency decree, disbanding the Covid Center and downgrading Covid-19 would mean widespread masking would end in Thailand-even though it is not mandated- that appears unlikely. - The Pattaya News

Thai Public Health Minister says even though Emergency Decree is ending and Covid center is being disbanded people should keep masking

Adam JuddSaturday, 24 September 2022, 10:40

PHOTO: ข่าวคนชล

Thailand-

Thai Public Health Minister and Prime Minister hopeful Anutin Charnvirakul stated to the press yesterday, September 23rd, 2022, that although Thailand is downgrading Covid-19 to a monitored disease and taking other actions that people should still wear masks.

Thailand has announced that nearly all Covid19 emergency measures, such as the emergency decree and requirement of showing proof of vaccination if asked will be dropped effective from October 1st. Additonally, the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration or CCSA will be disbanded and all Covid-19 monitoring and support will be handled by the Ministry of Public Health under Anutin.

The CCSA has been in charge of much of the country's Covid-19 response and indeed overall direction for the past two and a half years since it was created under the emergency decree in March of 2020.

Anutin, however, did state that despite the removal of these measures and what appears to be a full return to normal that the public would still be encouraged to wear masks. He even said that he was proud of Thais for continuing to choose to mask up unlike many other places, which he did not specifically name or identify, and that he felt Thai people were lovely for continuing to protect themselves and each other. He did not give any specific "off date" for encouragement of wearing masks and also stated that masks helped protect against many other respiratory diseases, according to him.

TPN notes, however, that there is no mandate to wear a mask and it is purely a personal choice. However, there have been reports of some businesses and venues requiring masking which of course a private venue has the right to do so.

Although Thai Nationals have largely accepted and worn masks for the entire pandemic and indeed continue to do so in most of the country, even outside and alone, the issue of masking has often been contentious with foreign tourists and visitors.

PHOTO: ข่าวพัทยา Pattayanews



A look at the week ahead in Thailand news: Prayut's date with destiny, Emergency Decree ends - The Pattaya News

A look at the week ahead in Thailand news: Prayut's date with destiny, Emergency Decree ends

Adam JuddSaturday, 24 September 2022, 11:11

Thailand-

The following is our weekly feature in which we at TPN media highlight the most important stories coming up in the next week that our editorial team believes our readers should monitor and be aware of.

The following is for the week of September 25th to October 1st, 2022.

Let's take a look at what to follow as the week ahead unfolds.

1. Thai Constitutional Court to rule on suspended Thai Prime Minister's term limit on September 30th at 3PM

The biggest story to follow over the next week will certainly be this one.

Prayut Chan-O-Cha is currently suspended from his duties as Prime Minister due to the Thai Constitutional Court debating his term limit and the legal status of it. Prayut remains the Minister of Defense during this period.

According to the opposition, Prayut has met his legal eight year term limit if counted from 2014, when then General Prayut led a military coup to take over the government.

However, according to the sitting government, Prayut has only legally been Prime Minister since 2017 when the current constitution was ratified and Prayut was made Prime Minister officially.

The Constitutional Court will rule on this later this week. For more on this story and the background behind it please click here.

2. Emergency Decree to finally end after September 30th

The Emergency Decree to control the Covid-19 coronavirus will finally end next week after two-and-a-half-years.

The decree had been in place since March of 2020 and although it had significantly reduced its powers and mandates at one point the decree was used widely to enforce Covid-19 related restrictions, mandates, curfews, regulations, and more.

Critics of the decree consistently claimed it was being used to stifle pro-democracy protests and easily detain protesters upset at the Thai government for one reason or another. The Thai government, however, continued to maintain throughout the pandemic that the decree was only being used to control the Covid-19 pandemic and protect the health of the people.

With the decree ending this means the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration or CCSA, created as an emergency department during the pandemic to oversee the administration of the pandemic fight, will disband and all Covid-19 management will move to the Ministry of Public Health. 

This also means visitors to Thailand will no longer need to prove they are vaccinated against Covid-19 or have taken a recent test. The end of the decree will also return special administrative zones like Bangkok and Pattaya to their full self jurisdiction and administration.

For more details on the end of the emergency decree please click here.

It should be an exciting week ahead! We will keep you updated throughout the week right here at TPN media.



Covid19 September 24th. PBS World

THAI announces winter flight schedule 2022-23. Bangkok Post

THAI announces winter flight schedule 2022-23

From Oct 30, 2022 to March 25, 2023, Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) is operating flights on 34 European, Australian and Asian routes with increased frequencies on selected routes.

Flight details are as follows:

Intercontinental routes (return flights):

1. Bangkok-London: twice daily flights.

2. Bangkok-Paris: daily flight.

3. Bangkok-Zurich: daily flight.

4. Bangkok-Frankfurt: twice daily flights.

5. Bangkok-Munich: daily flight.

6. Bangkok-Copenhagen: daily flight.

7. Bangkok-Stockholm: 5 flights per week from Bangkok on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,  Friday and Sunday (*increased to daily from Dec 1, 2022).

8. Bangkok-Sydney: daily flight.

9. Bangkok-Melbourne: daily flight.

Regional routes (return flights):

1. Bangkok-Tokyo (Narita): twice daily flights.

2. Bangkok-Tokyo (Haneda): daily flight.

3. Bangkok-Nagoya: daily flight.

4. Bangkok-Osaka: daily flight.

5. Bangkok-Fukuoka: daily flight.

6. Bangkok-Sapporo: daily flight. (*starting Dec 1, 2022)

7. Bangkok-Manila: twice daily flights.

8. Bangkok-Seoul: triple daily flights.

9. Bangkok-Taipei: daily flights. (*increased to twice daily from Jan 14, 2023)

10. Bangkok-Hong Kong: twice daily flights.

11. Bangkok-Singapore: triple daily flights.

12. Bangkok-Jakarta: twice daily flights.

13. Bangkok-Denpasar: daily flight.

14. Bangkok-Kuala Lumpur: twice daily flights.

15. Bangkok-Kolkata: daily flight. (*starting Jan 1, 2023)

16. Bangkok-Chennai: daily flight.

17. Bangkok-Hyderabad: daily flight.

18. Bangkok-Bengaluru: daily flight.

19. Bangkok-New Delhi: every day, 22 flights per week (*Flight TG335departs from Bangkok on Friday)

20. Bangkok-Mumbai: daily flight. (*increased to 11 flights per week from Jan 1, 2023) 

21. Bangkok-Dhaka: every day, 10 flights per week (*Flight TG339 departs from Bangkok on every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday)

22. Bangkok-Lahore: 5 flights per week from Bangkok on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday

23. Bangkok-Islamabad: 4 flights per week from Bangkok on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday

24. Bangkok-Karachi: daily flight.

25. Bangkok-Jeddah: 4 flights per week from Bangkok on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday (*increased to daily from Jan 1, 2023) 

---



Emergency decree for Covid will be lifted while CCSA is to be dissolved on Sep 30 - Thai Enquirer Current Affairs

Emergency decree for Covid will be lifted while CCSA is to be dissolved on Sep 30

Erich ParpartSeptember 23, 2022

The emergency decree to prevent the spread of Covid-19 will be lifted on September 30 and the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) will be dissolved by then, the government decided.

The move came after the government is preparing to downgrade Covid-19 from its designation as a "dangerous communicable disease" down to "communicable disease under surveillance" by October 1 which was already announced in the Royal Gazette.

The disease will also be removed from a list of prohibited diseases for foreigners entering or having residency in Thailand.

"The meeting today decided to lift the state of emergency in all districts of the Kingdom which came into effect on March 25, 2020," said Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, CCSA's spokesman.

"This will come into effect from September 30 onwards," he said.

After the decree is lifted and the CCSA is dissolved, all of their orders will be canceled, including all the domestic restrictions and entry regulations that were ordered by the CCSA.

This means no more requirements for the Covid-19 vaccine certificate and ATK test result before entering the country and there will be no more random checks for them.

There will also be no more mandatory self-quarantine for people who tested positive for Covid.

The Ministry of Public Health said infected people who are asymptomatic or have minimal symptoms will be asked to wear a facemask for 5 days and to strictly overserved Covid prevention measures (Distancing, Mask Wearing, hand Washing and Testing or DMHT) instead.

People eligible for universal healthcare programs such as the Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients (UCEP) will continue to receive free treatment like any other disease.

The National Communicable Disease Committee (NSDC), which was recently established, and the Communicable Disease Act will be used to manage the Covid-19 situation in Thailand instead.

The CCSA said the domestic outbreak situation has been improving with less severe cases and related deaths. They also said there are already enough Covid treatment medicines and vaccines in the country to cope with the current situation.

CCSA adviser Dr Udom Kachinthorn said before its meeting that there are still around 30,000-40,000 new Covid cases per day in Thailand but most of them are not severe cases.

He said the high number of new daily Covid cases is one of the reasons why the disease might not be declared an endemic disease until next year.

Thailand's official number for daily Covid-19 cases was 752 on Friday. However, only Covid patients that have been admitted to hospitals were being counted.

This brings the total number of counted cases to 4.67 million since the pandemic began in 2020.

A total of 8,235 Covid patients were being treated at hospitals on Friday, including 523 patients with pneumonitis. Only 8.3% of hospital beds that are being reserved for Covid patients were occupied nationwide, down from 10.9% in August.

Nine people died from Covid yesterday, bringing the total number of people who died from Covid in Thailand to 32,692.  

More than 143.21 million Covid-19 vaccine doses were administered in Thailand between February 28, 2020, and September 21, 2022.

At least 57.31 million people received their first dose as of September 22, accounting for 82.4% of the eligible population.

At least 32.1 million people received their third dose, or 46.1% of the eligible population.

Dr Udom said the government is still aiming to increase the number of people who received their 3rd booster shots to 70% of the population but he did not provide the timeline.

The CCSA was also informed that more than 5.25 million foreign tourists visited Thailand between January 1 and September 21 which generated more than 211 billion Baht worth of income.

The top visitors by air were India (528,753), Singapore (285,303) and Malaysia (258,789). By land, the tops visitors were Malaysia (634,693), Laos (234,849) and Cambodia (122,575).

As for domestic travelers, there were 98.7 million Thai tourists who were traveling around the country between January 1 and September 21 and the most visited destinations were Bangkok, Chonburi, Kanchanaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Phetchaburi.

Thai tourists generated income worth more than 432 Billion baht during this period of time.



Dr Udom Kachinthorn, an adiviser for the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), said ahead of its meeting today that there are still around 30,000-40,000 new #Covid19 cases per day in #Thailand but most of them are not severe cases. Thai Enquirer

 Dr Udom Kachinthorn, an adiviser for the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), said ahead of its meeting today that there are still around 30,000-40,000 new #Covid19 cases per day in #Thailand but most of them are not severe cases.

This is why the disease might not be declared as an endemic disease until next year.

Dr Udom said if the CCSA decided to lift the emergency decree on October 1, it will be replaced with the Communicable Disease Act.

He also said the government is still aiming to increase the number of people who received 3rd booster shot from the current 30-40% to 70% of the population.

Putin’s call to arms could benefit Thai tourism - Pattaya Mail

Putin's call to arms could benefit Thai tourism

Barry KenyonSeptember 23, 2022

The effects of the Russian mobilization on Thai tourism are just beginning. (Photo: thetimes.co.uk)

President Putin's partial mobilization is underway, but the scope remains unclear. Technically, it is a draft for those with previous army experience although reports from some Russian cities, especially in the Siberian east, suggest it is more of a 100 percent policy. As many Russians try to flee the country, airlines report a lack of capacity whilst several western countries with land borders have closed their frontiers.

Russians departing by air in an emergency need flight to countries which don't require a Russian visa and are friendly to them. Popular choices have included Turkey, Dubai, Armenia and the former Soviet republics known as the Stans. Direct flights, as reported by the popular online ticket agency Aviasales, are full even though prices are escalating daily. A single, economy-class journey to Dubai has escalated beyond US$5,000.

Thailand looks attractive as Russians obtain 30 days (soon to be 45 days) visa exempt on arrival by air, whilst the Thai tourist authorities are looking to expand any and all international customers. There are currently no direct flights between Moscow and Bangkok, whilst Aeroflot's intention to restart the route to Phuket is only scheduled to begin late next month.

Russia's national airline Aeroflot is set to resume daily direct flights from Moscow to Phuket beginning October 30, 2022. (File photo – Mai Khao Beach, Phuket Airport)

Thai Airways suspended its direct Moscow route earlier in the summer, allegedly because of the lack of spare parts in Russia caused by western sanctions. There are rumors of charter flights from various Russian cities to Bangkok and U-tapao, but skyscanners say no tickets are yet available. One of the problems with charter flights is that passengers are expected to return home on the pre-arranged flight, whereas the latest Russian travellers may be looking for an extended stay. However, Thai visa rules are certainly flexible enough to create extensions at the drop of a hat.

Another looming issue is whether the Russian authorities will allow unrestricted travel. Although Aeroflot claims to be selling tickets to one and all, whilst the defence minister Sergei Shoigu says there are no limits in force, some airlines in Moscow are already notifying clients that they will stop selling tickets to any male 18-65 without a pass from the Ministry of Defence.

Officers at Chonburi Immigration say there has not yet been a significant uptake in the number of arriving Russians. A couple from Moscow told Pattaya Mail they had travelled indirectly via the Middle East to escape conscription. A Russian woman, who happened to be visiting relatives in southern China, said she had used the China-Laos rail express and crossed into Thailand via the Friendship Bridge at Vientiane. A busy agency next to Jomtien immigration bureau said there have been several enquiries from Russian arrivals asking about the Elite and 10-year residency visas.



Covid19 September 23rd. PBS World

THAI says its capital needs may be half its earlier projections as biz recover, court sets hearing date on Sept 27 - Thai Enquirer Main. September 22, 2022

THAI says its capital needs may be half its earlier projections as biz recover, court sets hearing date on Sept 27

Thai EnquirerSeptember 22, 2022

Thailand's embattled national carrier – Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) revealed that it may need lower than expected new capital needs as the situation of the airline starts to improve with the Central Bankruptcy Court now scheduling its hearing for its reworked rehabilitation structure next week.

THAI said that the improvement in the overall operations and revival of the airline industry's fortunes have prompted the airline to rework its recapitalization needs and therefore it may need half the amount of new equity injection than the previously projected 50 billion Baht.

THAI, which pre-covid outbreak, had more than 100 aircrafts of different configurations, has been battling bankruptcy proceedings and its 1^stbankruptcy proceedings were approved with plans for a cost cutting, resizing of aircraft fleet, capital injection and a debt-for-equity swap.

The new filing which includes amendments states that THAI has accumulated cash flow of more than 10 billion Baht, and this has caused it plan administrators to assess that the new capital needed to manage the business during the rehabilitation period would not be as high as 50 billion Baht that was projected earlier.

The new funding need may be as low as 25 billion Baht, causing Thai Airways to submit a new plan to the Central Bankruptcy Court.

THAI said that although there may be some creditors who may oppose the proposal to amend the business rehabilitation plans, the court has set September 27^th as the date for the hearing, a postponement from the hearing that was supposed to take place today.

The rehabilitation plan is being managed by former President and also former Energy Minister – Piyasavasti Amranand, Pornchai Thiravej, Kraisorn Baramee-Huaychai, Siri Jirapongphan and Chansin Treenuchagron.

And on July 1, 2022, the Plan Administrator submitted a request to amend the business rehabilitation plan to the officer of Debtor Rehabilitation Division, Legal Execution Department. And on September 1, 2022, the officer has already held a meeting of the Company's creditors.

The meeting of creditors passed a resolution under Section 90/46 of the Bankruptcy Act B.E. 2483 and its amendments. 78.59% of the total debt of all creditors who attended the meeting and voted to accept the proposal to amend the rehabilitation plan as submitted by the plan administrator to the officer. However, some creditors have exercised their legal rights to submit a petition opposing the proposal to amend the business rehabilitation plan. Therefore, the Central Bankruptcy Court has scheduled a hearing.



Thailand's repeat drink driving offenders will be jailed. New legislation in Thailand means that people caught drink driving more than once will go to jail. First time offenders could go to jail or get a fine. The harsher punishments are intended to act as a DUI deterrent to reduce the overall number of deaths on Thailand’s dangerous roads. | Thaiger

Thailand's repeat drink driving offenders will be jailed

By 

leah

Thursday, September 22, 2022 13:18

New legislation in Thailand means that people caught drink driving more than once will go to jail. First time offenders could go to jail or get a fine. The harsher punishments are intended to act as a DUI deterrent to reduce the overall number of deaths on Thailand's dangerous roads.

Thailand's roads are the deadliest in Southeast Asia and among the worst in the world. In the first six months of 2022, Thailand recorded 8,624 deaths as a result of road accidents, according to the Ministry of Public Health's Division of Injury Prevention. On average, 48 people every day died in road accidents between January – June.

The figures are a slight decrease from the same period last year, in which 8,967 people were killed on the roads in Thailand.

Motorcyclists account for 82.72% of road deaths, people in cars account for 9.81%, people in trucks and vans account for 4.49% and pedestrians account for 2.98%. The age group most likely to die on the roads are 15 to 24 year olds.

Drink driving continues to be one of the top causes of fatal road accidents in Thailand.

Drink driving has always been a punishable offence in Thailand, but offenders usually get off with just a fine. Due to recent amendments made to Thailand's Road Traffic Act (1979), first time offenders could go to jail and repeat offenders will go to jail…

"The first instance of drink driving is punishable by up to no more than one year imprisonment or a fine between 5,000 – 20,000 baht."

"Repeat drink driving (more than once in two years) is punishable by no more than two years imprisonment and a fine between 50,000 and 100,000 baht. Additionally, the offender's driving license will either be confiscated for one year or completely revoked."

The penalties will be increased if someone is injured as a result of drink driving and be increased further if someone is killed as a result of drink driving.

Thailand's new legislation is sending out the message to the public, "rethink before you drink and drive."

SOURCE: Daily News