BANGKOK, Aug 25 (TNA) – The Department of Medical Services and Mahidol University developed a COVID-19 breath-test technique which is nearly as accurate as the RT-PCR method.
Assoc Prof Dr Sathit Niramitmahapanya, deputy director of Rajavithi Hospital who supervised the innovative development in the project, said the new technique was developed on a conventional technique to measure sugar levels with breath.
The development has resulted in ten versions of the new test device since the outbreak of COVID-19 three years ago.
Like the sugar-testing technique using breath, the new COVID-19 testing technique was developed to detect the gaseous changes that resulted from COVID-19 infection. The changes are related to acetone, carbon dioxide and benzoic acid. Compared with RT-PCR, the new technique had a sensitivity of 100% and an accuracy of 97%, Assoc Prof Dr Sathit said.
For such a test, a person exhales into a plastic bag and a tube is then used to connect the bag with a sensor which will give a result in five minutes.
Assoc Prof Dr Sathit said that the new testing devices were being further developed to increase their efficiency. The development received financial support from the National Science and Technology Development Agency and the innovative devices were expected to be brought into use in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November, he said. (TNA)
Breaking news: Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha has been ordered by the constitutional court to stop working while they investigate complaints about his eight year term limit, which may take several weeks to review. Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, pictured, will become caretaker PM during this period.
Police in central Bangkok are already preparing water cannon trucks as protest movements take up their position in the centre of the city with key roads to Government House being blocked. Pheu Thai Party MP for Ubon Ratchathani Somkid Chuekon has warned that any attempt by Prime Minister Prayut Chan ocha to extend his term from Tuesday nightwill result in 'disunity'.
Thailand has found itself on the cusp of yet another political crisis with the Constitutional Court now petitioned by parliament to urgently rule on the status of Prime Minister Prayut Chan ocha whose term, the opposition says, expires on Tuesday, the 23rd of August 2022 at midnight. The situation comes with a massive online and digital media opinion poll showing that over 93% of the public want the PM to go while protest groups have begun moving into place in central Bangkok in the last 24 hours with veteran activist and Red shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan, on Sunday evening, telling followers that this would be a turning point and promising a 'countdown' to General Prayut's exit from power.
The political temperature in Bangkok is rising as a decision from the Constitutional Court on the future of PM Prayut Chan ocha (right) is expected while protest groups take up positions in the capital. On Monday, a huge poll conducted by online and digital media showed over 93% of the public want the prime minister who took power after the 2014 coup d'état, to resign this week in line with a constitutional term limit.
With pressure mounting by the hour on Thailand's embattled Prime Minister Prayut Chan ocha to step down and bow to a constitutional provision limiting his term in office, a large and comprehensive opinion poll carried out by Thai online media and digital TV channels with over 374,000 votes, does not spell good news for the PM.
The poll shows that 93.17% of respondents want General Prayut to resign from office within the next 24 to 48 hours to comply with Section 158 of the Thai Constitution.
Over 374,000 people polled by online and digital TV media, 93.17% want the Prime Minister to resign
The poll, so far, has 369,284 respondents in Thailand with 4,579 in foreign countries while 1,438 votes were spoiled or incomplete.
It comes as it looks increasingly likely that the Constitutional Court will issue some sort of ruling on the matter shortly with Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam even suggesting, on Monday, that if General Prayut is forced out as Prime Minister, he could still attend cabinet meetings in his role as Defence Minister.
Earlier, Mr Wissanu, the government and Prayut's top legal adviser suggested that if the Constitutional Court ruled that General Prayut must cease performing duties as Prime Minister, he can still carry out the role in an acting capacity.
This has been rejected by scholars and opposition politicians on the basis that in 2014 then Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had to vacate the office after being ordered to do so by the Constitutional Court.
Legal adviser and Deputy Prime Minister insists the Prime Minister may be allowed stay on even if the Constitutional Court rules against him on the issue
However, Dr Wissanu has differentiated between the two situations by saying that, in this case, the government leader has not transgressed any law as was the case with Ms Shinawatra in 2014 who was removed for illegally having a key official transferred from his position.
Before this, Mr Somchai Srisutthiyakorn, the former election commissioner who has played a leading role in framing Thailand's new election laws which are now caught up in the maelstrom of the crisis, ruled out the prospect of the prime minister remaining in a caretaker role citing the precedent of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in 2014.
However, Deputy PM Wissanu said he saw no reason why this could not be a way forward except if the court specifically ordered to the contrary.
Mr Somchai has said that the appropriate step would be to appoint one of the current deputy prime ministers to the role under Section 41 of the State Administration Act 1991.
Petition submitted to the Constitutional Court by parliament after being perfected by Speaker's office
The Thai parliament has submitted the opposition's petition to the Constitutional Court seeking a ruling on the status of Prime Minister Prayut Chan ocha whose term, according to most legal experts, is due to expire on Wednesday at midnight.
The submission was perfected by the Speakers Office in parliament after being presented to Mr Chuan Leekpai last week by opposition party leaders.
The current elevated level of uncertainty and political tension has seen the return of street protest groups who are determined to see the government leader who assumed office on the 24th of August 2014, some three months after a coup d'état which he led, step down.
Prime Minister's Office and allies urge caution as General Prayut remains tight-lipped about his future
General Prayut has never commented publicly on the issue except to state that it was a matter in which the court may ultimately decide.
He has remained tight-lipped about this in recent weeks as tension has mounted while calling for unity and promising not to dissolve the House of Representatives which is solely within his prerogative.
In the last week, his former spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana as well as key allies of the PM urged the public and political commentators to desist from interpreting the law and to let the court decide the matter in due course.
Protesters descend on central Bangkok for a 'countdown' led by veteran Redshirt leader Jatuporn Prompan who sees a turning point in politics
On Sunday, a protest group took up a position in Bangkok ahead of what is now expected to be a critical week in Thailand's politics.
The group called 'People's Unity Council' set up a stage outside Bangkok City Hall in a space reserved in recent weeks for peaceful protests by the newly elected Governor of Bangkok Chadchart Sittipunt, a former Minister of Transport who was arrested by security forces in the May 2022 coup led by then army chief and now Prime Minister General Prayut Chan ocha.
The group is fronted by 56-year-old United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) Chairman Jatuporn Prompan, a veteran political activist and former Pheu Thai Party MP.
The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) is seen as a key vehicle for what has been named as the Red Shirt movement in Thailand which has been associated with violent street protests in the capital since the ousting of former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra in a 2006 army coup.
If Prayut stays beyond August 23rd, he will be a 'bootleg' prime minister warned Jatuporn on Sunday
The protest launched on Sunday evening has been themed as a 'countdown' to the removal of General Prayut from power.
Mr Jatuporn told his audience that the current political moment represented a 'turning point' for Thailand and a door leading to change.
'On August 23rd, the countdown will be held at midnight. After midnight, if Prayut stays, he will be a bootleg prime minister. He will have no right to enter Government House. I believe that this is the countdown for General Prayut for sure.'
It is understood that at least two other protest groups will be active between now and Wednesday night in Bangkok with at least one confirming that they intend to push their way through to Government House to encourage Prime Minister Prayut Chan ocha to leave office.
Police close off four roads leading to Government House in Bangkok expecting a large crowd to turn up
The heightening of tensions has seen all roads near Government House in Bangkok closed by authorities as some of the protest groups planning to demonstrate over the next few days have promised to march on the seat of government.
The current crisis relates to Article 158 of Thailand's 2017 constitution, together with Section 170, which limits the cumulative term of any eligible person in Thailand to be prime minister to eight years.
Despite a flux of opinion in recent years as to what date the current prime minister's term took effect with three different strands of opinion and thinking, there has been a change over the last week as the date approached with a growing belief that the PM must resign.
Three different strands of thought as to when the PM's term in office began under the 2017 Constitution
The more popular opinion is that PM's term began on the date of his appointment or the 24th of August 2019, the other is the 6th of April 2017 when the constitution came into effect with the third being the 9th of June 2019 when General Prayut was appointed by the King after the General Election in March 2019, the first under the new charter.
There has been, however, a gathering consensus that the first interpretation is the correct one.
This is based on other provisions of the 2017 Constitution such as Section 264, stating the cabinet and ministers in place were assumed to be governed by the charter when it took effect on the 6th of April 2017.
In addition, the constitutional drafting committee, in 2018, at meetings to define the intent of the charter for its future interpretation, supports the view that General Prayut assumed office on the 24th of August 2014.
Only filed his statements of assets and liabilities once and that was in 2014 when taking up the role
Other arguments cited in support of this are that the government leader only filed a statement of assets and liabilities as requested for officer holders under the law after his appointment in 2014 while various politicians and legal experts have also distilled the argument down to common sense, namely that the prime minister has been in office for eight years.
This is the view taken by Pheu Thai Party MP for Ubon Ratchathani Somkid Chuekong who this week came out to oppose any extended tenure of Prime Minister in his role beyond the Tuesday 23rd August 2022 even in a caretaker capacity.
'Taking the role of caretaker will only lead to disunity. Everyone knows that General Prayut has exceeded eight years,' Mr Somkid declared. 'I suggest Gen Prayut take this chance to leave his post with dignity.'
Pheu Thai Party MP warns that it is obvious that the Prime Minister must resign to preserve 'unity'
Mr Somkid suggested that there should be no need for the prime minister to refer the matter to the legal sphere at all.
The MP warned that his failure to resign risked plunging the country into political chaos.
As to the prime minister holding onto power until after the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November, he said this was unheard of and that the country cannot be held up by the wishes of just one person.
Police in Bangkok prepare to confront protesters
Police at Nang Loeng Police Station in central Bangkok are reported to be expecting a large number of people to attend the network of protests that have been scheduled.
In addition to Mr Jatuporn's countdown, there are also protests planned on Tuesday at Democracy Monument and on Wednesday at Ratchaprasong Avenue.
On Sunday evening, protesters took note as crowd control police appeared before the Ministry of Transport and a blue vehicle fitted with water cannon was seen being prepared.
A health professional prepares necessities for people under home quarantine for Covid-19 infection in Bangkok. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)
The Department of Medical Services (DMS) is planning to revise its Covid-19 guidelines to allow asymptomatic patients to isolate for only five days.
The news came from DMS director-general Dr Somsak Akksilp on Sunday. However, he said the duration for patients with severe symptoms required to be treated in hospital will be decided by doctors, he said.
Currently, Thailand has a 5+5 policy (five days of quarantine and five days of observation) for asymptomatic patients, he said.
Hospitals in the provinces may decide whether patients must be isolated for up to seven days amid bed shortages, he said.
Afterwards, patients are monitored and must comply with the department's safety rules, which require the regular washing of hands, wearing of face mask and social distancing, until the 10th day, he said.
However, Dr Thira Woratanarat, lecturer at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Medicine, said five days is not enough to curb transmissions of the coronavirus.
Dr Thira on Facebook also said the 5+5 policy is not based on academic principles.
Although the policy will benefit the economy, the outcome will have a widespread impact on society, including businesses, amid further infections, he said.
In addition, a patient may suffer long-Covid symptoms and bear high medical expenses, he said.
Citing research from the Massachusetts General Hospital in the United States and the Imperial College London in the United Kingdom, he said being quarantined for only five days poses a 50–75% transmission risk, compared to 25-35% for seven days and at 10% for 10 days.
A total quarantine period of 14 days is confirmed safe, he said.
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Sunday reported 1,968 new cases, taking the total number to 63 million. It reported 27 deaths.
The CCSA said that 2,252 patients stopped showing symptoms, while 19,624 others were still being treated, with 446 of whom were dependent on ventilators.
Taking extra measures to prevent mosquito bites is advised in Thailand, where cases of dengue fever have nearly doubled in the past month. Health authorities have voiced concerns about the threat of dengue fever this monsoon season.
On July 11, Thailand's Department of Disease Control (DDC) recorded 9,473 cases of dengue fever since the beginning of the year. By August 16, the number of cases since the beginning of the year had shot up to 17,412.
In July, the DDC reported a total of eight dengue fever deaths in Thailand this year. By August 16, the death toll had risen to 14.
In respective order, provinces with the highest number of cases are Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Ubon Ratchathani, Tak and Si Saket. The department reports that the illness is mostly found among adults.
The department expects intensified dengue fever outbreaks in accordance with the disease outbreak cycle, which usually surges in rainy season.
Dengue fever symptoms include two to seven days of high fever, headaches, body aches, rashes and small red spots on the skin. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, stomach ache and loss of appetite. Special care is required once the fever starts to go down, with most recorded deaths occurring at this stage from shock, says the DDC.
If a fever occurs for longer than two days and cannot be brought down by fever-reducing drugs, than dengue fever is suspected and the patient should see a doctor. The DDC warns against treating dengue with aspirin or ibuprofen.
Dengue is spread by bites from infected Aedes mosquitos, also known as Asian tiger mosquitos, which are easily identifiable by their black and white stripes.
Director-general of the DDC Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong recommends removing mosquito breeding grounds from homes by keeping the home tidy, storing items in an orderly manner and increasing sunlight. Anything that stores water, such as vases, should have lids on and the water should be changed every week, recommends the doctor.
Mosquito bites can be prevented by using mosquito repellent, wearing long sleeves and trousers and by burning mosquito-repelling incense, which is available to buy at 7-Eleven.
The Election Commission (EC) will answer a petition delivered by activist Srisuwan Janya seeking a Constitutional Court interpretation of when Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha will have served his maximum eight-year tenure.
EC chairman Ittiporn Boonprakong said yesterday the commission understands the issue has drawn public interest and the matter has been tabled for discussion tomorrow.
On Aug 5, Mr Srisuwan submitted his petition to the EC and the Office of the Ombudsman.
The latter rejected the petition on Wednesday on the ground that it has no authority on the matter.
Meanwhile, Somchai Srisutthiyakorn, a former election commissioner, wrote on Facebook yesterday that if the court rules that Gen Prayut reached the eight-year tenure limit on Aug 24, the premier cannot assume the role of caretaker prime minister.
He was responding to comments by Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam who said he saw no reason why Gen Prayut could not assume such a role unless a court separately ruled it out first.
Mr Somchai said if the court rules his tenure ends on Aug 24, it would preclude him from staying on as caretaker.
Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra was also not allowed to assume the role of caretaker after a court ruling of abuse of authority, he said.
The House must now proceed with section 41 of the State Administration Act 1991, he suggested, and choose one of the deputy prime ministers to take the role instead.
Meanwhile, across the floor, Pheu Thai Party MP for Ubon Ratchathani Somkid Chuekong also opposed the idea of Gen Prayut staying on, even temporarily.
"Taking the role of caretaker will only lead to disunity. Everyone knows that Gen Prayut has exceeded eight years," Mr Somkid said.
"I suggest Gen Prayut take this chance to leave his post with dignity."
The bill to amend the present cannabis and hemp laws has been completed and will go before the House of Representatives for a second reading next week, said Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
Mr Anutin on Satruday presided over a meeting on medical cannabis in Chiang Rai which was attended by the Public Health Ministry's executive officials, state agencies, the private sector and more than 1,000 people.
Mr Anutin said the June 9 delisting of cannabis from the narcotics list had only ever been for medical purposes and there had been no intention to promote it for recreational use.
It is hoped the plant can become a cash crop and help generate income in the medical marijuana market tipped to top 10 billion baht in value in the next couple of years, he said.
"The bill has a total of 103 sections and I believe it will pass without any problems because it is the result of collaboration with every party," said Mr Anutin.
The bill is intended to limit abuse of the plant, and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, at levels exceeding 0.2% will still be considered an illegal narcotic substance. In addition, advertising of cannabis-related products will be strictly controlled, he said.
Public Health Region 1 in the north -- comprising Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phrae, Nan, Phayao, Lampang, Lamphun and Mae Hong Son -- has driven the cannabis policy, said Mr Anutin.
For instance, Nakornping and Chiang Rai Prachanukroh hospitals have launched cannabis clinics for onsite and online health checks while Pai Hospital in Mae Hong Son offers cannabis treatment with modern medicine for curing insomnia, he said. Phrae Hospital also developed an integrated registration and alert system for new growers and those suffering ill effects following cannabis treatment.
The hospital also collaborated on research with other universities on the development of new cannabidiol (CBD) products such as soap and shampoo.
COVID infections on the rise in 44 provinces, over 30,000 new cases a day. August 19, 2022
COVID-19 infections in 44 of Thailand's provinces, including Bangkok, have been increasing, with an average rate of 31,148 cases a day between August 7th and 13th, according to Spokesman for the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin.
The death toll, during the same period, was 236, most of whom were people over 60, those with underlying diseases and pregnant women. There were also 853 serious cases, including 436 on ventilators.
Dr. Taweesin said that he would like the public to continue to wear face masks while they are outdoors and among people, noting that not getting infected is the best means of protection.
CCSA advisor, Dr. Udom Kachinthorn said today (Friday), before the CCSA meeting, that the actual infection rate should, however, be between 60,000 and 70,000 cases a day, as many are not reported to the authorities.
He anticipates that the high infection rate will remain for about a month, after which it will steadily decline, with the number of hospitalisations reducing to about 1,000 cases a day and the COVID related death toll declining to about 10 per day.
Dr. Taweesin said restrictions on the procurement of anti-viral medication will be eased on September 1st, with private medical facilities being able to buy the drugs independently and pharmacies being able to sell the drugs directly to patients who have doctor's prescription.
State-run health and medical units can also procure the drugs themselves, without relying on the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO), beginning October 1st, he added.
As of August 17th, there are about 4.9 million Favipiravir tablets, 6.7 million Molnupiravir tablets and 38,425 Remdesivir pills in the government's inventory.
Dr. Taweesin said that the stock of anti-viral drugs is enough to meet the demand, but they must be used reasonably and should be reserved for those who need them most.
He said that the CCSA did not discuss the state of emergency today, as they consider that there is still enough time to review the issue.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said, that the emergency decree is still necessary to control the spread of COVID-19 adding, however, that he is ready to scrap the law when the situation permits.
He insisted that the law is intended to limit the spread of COVID-19 and not for any other purpose.
Firemen put out the fire at the Mountain B pub in Sattahip district, Chon Buri province, on Aug 5, 2022. (Photo: @sawangrojana Sattahip rescue Facebook)
CHON BURI: The death toll from a fire at Mountain B pub in Sattahip district rose to 18, as one more seriously injured victim was pronounced dead on Friday night.
Siriwan "Mind'' Wongsuk, 17, of Sattahip district, succumbed to her injuries at Thammasat University Hospital in Pathum Thani province at 9.14pm.
Her elder sister Sawaros Wongsuk, 27, said Siriwan had been transferred to the hospital two days after the inferno. Her younger sister had been on ventilator and did not respond to treatment on Friday. Siriwan died peacefully on Friday night, said Ms Sawaros.
The teenager had gone to Mountain B with two other friends on Aug 5. One of her friends, Phromporn Phoolsawat, 18, died at the fire-gutted pub. Siriwan sustained serious injuries and her other friend, 18, managed to escape the fire, according to Ms Sawaros.
The family would bring Sriwan's body for funeral rites at Wat Ransisunthorn in Sattahip.
The nightclub caught fire about 1am. Thirteen people died at the blaze scene, and many were injured.
Now, 28 injured people remain at hospitals, with 11 seriously hurt with extensive burns and dependent on ventilators.
Dr Yong Poovorawan of Chulalongkorn University said Covid-19 Omicron cases will peak in the rainy season along with other respiratory diseases before starting to fall in September. The wave would subside further in October, in time for the reopening of schools.
However, it was impossible to tell the true number of Omicron cases because most had no symptoms, he added.
Yong also pointed out that vaccines cannot prevent infection but they do reduce the severity of the disease. He cited the US, where the infection rate has stayed level but the number of severely ill Covid patients has fallen.
He said that while previous infection offered natural immunity, hybrid immunity from also getting vaccinated gave more protection.
Meanwhile, the focus of efforts to combat Covid-19 had shifted from vaccine research to identifying how many people in Thailand are infected. Yong said that if 70-80 per cent of the population has already been infected with Omicron, the next dose could be administered next year or when a new variant emerges. Meanwhile, booster jabs were expensive so should be targeted at vulnerable groups.
Looking further ahead to how Thailand can control Covid-19 in the future, Yong said the country had spent a huge amount of money on vaccines in the hope of halting its spread but this was futile. He said Thailand would have to rely on its own knowledge rather than following other countries' disease-control policies.
Yong said his team would research the infection rate in each age group by checking Covid antibodies from samples of the population in one province. He is currently seeking funding for this project, which is awaiting official approval. Yong said the sampling project was urgently needed as part of Thailand's long-term plan to control Covid-19.
