Jonathan Fairfield

“Mix & Match” with Sinovac then AstraZeneca implemented for those 18+ Director of the Emergency Health Hazard Division of Thailand’s Disease Control Department, Dr. Chawetsan Namwat, has announced new vaccination plans. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1228750-“mix-match”-with-sinovac-then-astrazeneca-implemented-for-those-18/

Director of the Emergency Health Hazard Division of Thailand’s Disease Control Department, Dr. Chawetsan Namwat, has announced new vaccination plans. People aged 18 and over, including those aged 60 and over, those with any of the seven underlying diseases and women who are 12 weeks pregnant, will be inoculated using the Chinese Sinovac vaccine for the first dose and the UK’s AstraZeneca for the second, with three weeks in between doses. In some cases, two doses of AstraZeneca, 12 weeks apart, may be used. Children, aged between 12 and 18, with any of the seven underlying diseases, and women who are 12 weeks into their pregnancy, will be inoculated with two doses of Pfizer, with three weeks between the doses. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/mix-match-with-sinovac-then-astrazeneca-implemented-for-those-18/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-08-25 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view

CCSA to consider limited easing of restaurant dine-in restrictions Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health will seek approval from the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), at its meeting this Friday, of guidelines for restaurants and other eateries in COVID-19 “dark red” provinces, should they are allowed to resume limited dine-in services. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1228749-ccsa-to-consider-limited-easing-of-restaurant-dine-in-restrictions/

Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health will seek approval from the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), at its meeting this Friday, of guidelines for restaurants and other eateries in COVID-19 “dark red” provinces, should they are allowed to resume limited dine-in services. Public Health Permanent Secretary Dr. Kiattibhoom Vongrachit said yesterday (Tuesday) that Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has instructed the Disease Control and Health departments to work out good practice guidelines for restaurants, after he received a petition from representatives of eight business associations, including the Restaurants Association, asking that restaurants be allowed to resume dine-in services, now that the COVID-19 pandemic is showing signs of improvement. He said that the guidelines, including the limit of 50% seating capacity, will be submitted to the CCSA by Mr. Anutin this Friday (August 27th), adding that representatives of restaurants and other eateries have pledged full cooperation in complying with the safety measures to be drawn up by the Public Health Ministry. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/ccsa-to-consider-limited-easing-of-restaurant-dine-in-restrictions/ Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-08-25 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

4 policemen arrested for allegedly killing suspect in viral video, manhunt for others underway The already tainted reputation of the Thai police has been dealt another devastating blow by the release of a viral video clip, purportedly showing a group of plainclothes officers torturing a suspect to death. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1228675-video-policeman-charged-with-murder-after-tortureextortion-of-drug-suspect-shocks-thailand/?do=findComment&comment=16770816

4 policemen arrested for allegedly killing suspect in viral video, manhunt for others underway The already tainted reputation of the Thai police has been dealt another devastating blow by the release of a viral video clip, purportedly showing a group of plainclothes officers torturing a suspect to death. Seven police officers in Nakhon Sawan province’s Muang district, who are believed to have been involved in the alleged murder of the suspect, have been dismissed from the police service, pending the outcome of an investigation. They have initially been charged with abuse of authority, coercion and murder through torture or brutal acts. Warrants for their arrests have also been issued by the Nakhon Sawan Provincial Court. Four have been captured and three are on the run, including Pol Col Thitisan Uttanaphon, also known as “Joe Ferrari” for his supercar collection, who was the superintendent of the Muang district police in Nakhon Sawan. Thitisan reportedly went underground three days ago, after he was transferred to the operations centre of the 6th Region Provincial Police Bureau. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/4-policemen-arrested-for-allegedly-killing-suspect-in-viral-video-manhunt-for-others-underway/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-08-25 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Thai unemployment rate dips in Q2 but virus curbs to hit jobs FILE PHOTO: Closed bars are pictured at the Ratchada Railway Night Market in Bangkok, Thailand, April 17, 2021. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's unemployment rate in the second quarter dipped from a 12-year high in the previous three month, but restrictions to contain the country's biggest coronavirus outbreak are likely to impact more jobs, the state planning agency said on Wednesday. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1228747-thai-unemployment-rate-dips-in-q2-but-virus-curbs-to-hit-jobs/

FILE PHOTO: Closed bars are pictured at the Ratchada Railway Night Market in Bangkok, Thailand, April 17, 2021. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's unemployment rate in the second quarter dipped from a 12-year high in the previous three month, but restrictions to contain the country's biggest coronavirus outbreak are likely to impact more jobs, the state planning agency said on Wednesday. The Southeast Asian country's latest outbreak that started in April has accounted for most of Thailand's one million infections, prompting restrictions in Bangkok and several other provinces. The unemployment rate was at 1.86% in April-June, representing 730,000 workers without jobs, down from 1.96% in January-March, as employment increased in the farm and export sectors, the agency said. Employment rose 2% in the second quarter year-on-year. Despite some improvement, the jobless rate remained high compared to before the pandemic, Danucha Pichayanan, head of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDB), told a briefing. "The COVID containment measures have affected economic activities and workers' income, so what we have to do next is helping employers keep their workers," Danucha said. The finance ministry and the labour ministry are working on additional support measures to maintain employment, which should be announced soon, he said. While unemployment will increase due to the lockdown measures, it's difficult to predict job losses, Danucha added. Last week, the central bank said jobless numbers were expected at 3.4 million at the end of 2021, up from 3 million in the second quarter. (Reporting by Kitphong Thaichareon, Satawasin Staporncharnchai; Writing by Orathai Sriring; Editing by Ed Davies) -- © Copyright Reuters 2021-08-25 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Thailand can raise public debt ceiling if needed FILE PHOTO: Thai finance minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith speaks during an interview with Reuters in Bangkok, Thailand January 21, 2021. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa By Orathai Sriring and Satawasin Staporncharnchai BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's fiscal position remains strong and it can raise its public debt ceiling if necessary, the country's finance minister said on Wednesday, as the Southeast Asian nation deals with its worst COVID-19 outbreak to date. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1228746-thailand-can-raise-public-debt-ceiling-if-needed/

FILE PHOTO: Thai finance minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith speaks during an interview with Reuters in Bangkok, Thailand January 21, 2021. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa By Orathai Sriring and Satawasin Staporncharnchai BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's fiscal position remains strong and it can raise its public debt ceiling if necessary, the country's finance minister said on Wednesday, as the Southeast Asian nation deals with its worst COVID-19 outbreak to date. The country's outbreak and stricter containment measures have hit economic activity while tourism is still struggling. Despite significant borrowing to fund the outbreak response, the country's ratio of debt to gross domestic product (GDP) was still low compared to peers at 56%, and expected to remain below its 60% ceiling at the end of this fiscal year to September, Arkhom Termpittayapaisith told a business conference. "If there is a need to increase our debt ceiling, the fiscal policy committee... can revisit and raise this threshold," he said. The government will work hard to stimulate the economy, especially by gradually reopening the country, to keep its GDP growth target of 4-5% next year, he said. For 2021, the ministry forecast GDP growth of 1.3%, while the central bank predicts 0.7%. Last year, the economy contracted 6.1%, the deepest fall in over two decades. The government has introduced various stimulus and relief measures since the pandemic with a total of 1.5 trillion baht ($45.86 billion) borrowing, of which, 500 billion baht was approved this year. The government has room available to engage in more "stimulus firepower" if necessary with much lower costs, Bank of Thailand Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput told the conference. He recently recommended that the government borrow a further 1 trillion baht. The economy has been quite resilient to shocks with limited downside risks and is likely to be much more resilient to a possible 'taper tantrum' than in many other countries due to its strong external position and banking sector, he said, referring to the impact of the withdrawal of U.S. stimulus. The BOT will ensure financial conditions are not a constraint on the economic recovery, he added, as the BOT's policy rate has been unchanged at a record low of 0.50% since a cut in May 2020. ($1 = 32.71 baht) (Reporting by Orathai Sriring and Satawasin Staporncharnchai; Editing by Ed Davies) -- © Copyright Reuters 2021-08-25 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Thailand urges pregnant women to get vaccinated, cites higher risks FILE PHOTO: A pregnant woman wears a protective face mask due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, as she came out from Suvarnabhumi Airport at Bangkok, Thailand March 20, 2020. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's coronavirus task force on Wednesday called on pregnant women in the country to get vaccinated against COVID-19, citing a higher risk of deaths among those who become infected with the coronavirus. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1228745-thailand-urges-pregnant-women-to-get-vaccinated-cites-higher-risks/

FILE PHOTO: A pregnant woman wears a protective face mask due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, as she came out from Suvarnabhumi Airport at Bangkok, Thailand March 20, 2020. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's coronavirus task force on Wednesday called on pregnant women in the country to get vaccinated against COVID-19, citing a higher risk of deaths among those who become infected with the coronavirus. "We have a target of vaccinating 500,000 women who are at least 12 weeks pregnant, but only 2,078, or 0.4%, have received two doses," Apisamai Srirangsan, a spokesperson for the coronavirus task force, told a news briefing. "Pregnant women are 2.5 times more likely to die after an infection than others due to changes to body shape that makes breathing more difficult," said Apisamai. Thailand has fully vaccinated about 9.7% of its overall population of over 66 million with a combination of China’s Sinovac vaccine and AstraZeneca shots. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is being offered to pregnant women and as a booster to medical workers who had previously received two shots of Sinovac. Health ministry data showed since April 2,327 pregnant women had been infected, of which 22 had received one vaccine dose. So far, 53 women and 23 unborn babies had died, the data showed. A study by British scientists in April showed that pregnant women infected with COVID-19 faced higher risks than previously known such as premature birth, high blood pressure with organ failure risk, need for intensive care and possible death. Women who are at least three months pregnant can safely get inoculated with any vaccine, Apisamai said, adding that immunity could also be transferred to the child. Thailand has reported 1.1 million cases of the coronavirus and over 10,000 fatalities, the majority of which occurred after April. (Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Chayut Setboonsarng; Editing by Ed Davies) Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view -- © Copyright Reuters 2021-08-25 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Thailand develops robotic system to squeeze out more vaccine doses A vaccine extraction machine called AutoVacc, designed by the Chulalongkorn University's Biomedical Engineering Research Center to extract extra doses out of AstraZeneca vaccine vials, is seen in Bangkok, Thailand August 23, 2021. Picture taken August 23, 2021. REUTERS/Juarawee Kittisilpa By Juarawee Kittisilpa BANGKOK (Reuters) - As Thailand struggles with its worst coronavirus outbreak yet, researchers in the country have developed a machine to draw out COVID-19 vaccine doses more efficiently and optimise lower-than-expected supplies. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1228744-thailand-develops-robotic-system-to-squeeze-out-more-vaccine-doses/

A vaccine extraction machine called AutoVacc, designed by the Chulalongkorn University's Biomedical Engineering Research Center to extract extra doses out of AstraZeneca vaccine vials, is seen in Bangkok, Thailand August 23, 2021. Picture taken August 23, 2021. REUTERS/Juarawee Kittisilpa By Juarawee Kittisilpa BANGKOK (Reuters) - As Thailand struggles with its worst coronavirus outbreak yet, researchers in the country have developed a machine to draw out COVID-19 vaccine doses more efficiently and optimise lower-than-expected supplies. Using a robotic arm, the "AutoVacc" system can draw 12 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in four minutes from a vial, according to researchers at Chulalongkorn University, who made the machine that has been used at the university's vaccination centre since Monday. That is up 20% from the standard 10 doses drawn manually, they said. The machine only works on AstraZeneca multi-dose vials currently and labels show each vial can provide 10 to 11 doses. "The machine guarantees with accuracy that we can gain an extra 20% from each vaccine vial - from 10 to 12 doses," said Juthamas Ratanavaraporn, the lead researcher of the team at the university's Biomedical Engineering Research Center. "The extra 20% that we get means that if we have AstraZeneca for 1 million people, this machine can increase the number of doses to 1.2 million people," said Juthamas. While some health workers using low dead space syringes (LDSS) that aim to reduce wastage can draw up to 12 doses per vial, it requires manpower and a high level of skill, she said. "This could drain a lot of the health workers' energy. They would have to do this every day for many months," Juthamas said. Thailand had kept COVID-19 largely under control for much of the pandemic, but more virulent variants like Delta have sent cases and deaths soaring since April, ramping up pressure on authorities to increase the pace of vaccinations. So far, around 9% of Thailand's population of more than 66 million have been fully vaccinated, with the rollout hindered by lower-than-anticipated vaccine supplies. The research team say they should be able to produce 20 more AutoVacc units within three or four months, but that government funds and support would be needed to expand across the country. The prototype machine costs 2.5 million baht ($76,243), including other materials like syringes, said Juthamas, adding that while they were open to export opportunities, that was something for the future. They also plan to make similar machines to use with the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, she added. Juthamas said the machine was aimed at removing burdens on health workers. Thailand has reported around 1.1 million COVID-19 infections and 10,085 deaths in total, pushing parts of the health system to the brink. "When the health workers are too tired, there are also chances of human error, so we should let the machines work on this," she said. ($1 = 32.7900 baht) (Writing by Ed Davies; Editing by Ana Nicolaci da Costa) Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view -- © Copyright Reuters 2021-08-25 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Thai domestic car sales drop 11.6% y/y in July FILE PHOTO: A general view during the media day of the 41st Bangkok International Motor Show after the Thai government eased measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Bangkok, Thailand July 14, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge Silva BANGKOK (Reuters) - Domestic car sales in Thailand declined 11.62% in July from a year earlier to 52,442 vehicles, the lowest level in seven months, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) said on Wednesday. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1228743-thai-domestic-car-sales-drop-116-yy-in-july/

FILE PHOTO: A general view during the media day of the 41st Bangkok International Motor Show after the Thai government eased measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Bangkok, Thailand July 14, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge Silva BANGKOK (Reuters) - Domestic car sales in Thailand declined 11.62% in July from a year earlier to 52,442 vehicles, the lowest level in seven months, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) said on Wednesday. Sales were hurt by COVID-19 lockdown measures, tighter auto loans and delayed production of some car models, the FTI said. In June, sales rose 15.07% year-on-year. (Reporting by Kitiphong Thaichareon; Editing by Ed Davies) -- © Copyright Reuters 2021-08-25 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates