Thailand approves new measures to mitigate coronavirus impact

[webfact]

Thailand approves new measures to mitigate coronavirus impact

 

FILE PHOTO: Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha wipes his face during a family photo session with new cabinet ministers at the Government House in Bangkok, Thailand August 13, 2020./File Photo

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand has approved more measures to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic after its biggest outbreak yet, including soft loans and lower utility bills, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Tuesday.

 

The new measures aim to boost liquidity for businesses, provide debt relief and support for unemployment, Prayuth said, adding that an additional sum of a monthly 3,500 baht ($116) per person for two months would be considered next week.

 

Electric and water expenses would be subsided until March, Prayuth told a briefing, and higher Internet speeds and data would also be supported to promote working from home.

 

Thailand's case numbers, which are among the world's lowest in relation to its population, have more than doubled to 10,834 since a month ago, when a big outbreak was found among migrant workers in a province near Bangkok.

 

Cases have since been found in more than half of its provinces and some containment measures have been re-imposed and people urged to stay home.

 

The government has 638 billion baht ($21.16 billion) ready for low-interest loans from state banks and the central bank for business owners and freelance workers, Finance Minster Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said.

 

Deputy Prime Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow said new measures were still within the government's budget and there was no need for more borrowing.

 

"If everybody cooperates, we will be able to manage the outbreak by March," he said.

 

For most of 2020, Thailand kept daily cases low, in part due to strict entry requirements that have devastated tourism-related businesses.

 

(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat, Satawasin Staporncharnchai and Chayut Setboonsarng; Editing by Martin Petty)

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-01-12

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

 

[YetAnother]

8 minutes ago, webfact said:

 Thailand has approved more measures to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic after a recent outbreak in the country

no mention of 100 baht testing, yes, that includes EVERYone; maybe that 100 baht idea wouldnt include enough corruption????

[starky]

Good to see the government has set aside additional funds for "freelance" workers which should come as great news for many around the nana car park and beach road areas of Thailand.

[Misterwhisper]

35 minutes ago, starky said:

Good to see the government has set aside additional funds for "freelance" workers which should come as great news for many around the nana car park and beach road areas of Thailand.

Indeed. There also will be joyful singing and dancing along the fences of Lumpini Park and a similarly festive mood along the whole length of Sukhumvit Soi 22.

[smedly]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Thailand's case numbers, which are among the world's lowest in relation to its population, have more than doubled to 10,834 since a month ago, when a big outbreak was found among migrant workers in a province near Bangkok.

 

no mention of the infected Thai lady who crossed the border illegally 6 weeks ago from a sleazy hotel in Myanmar where she worked and was the first report of a positive test in Thailand and started the first spread - have they totally forgotten about her - did she visit a certain market 

 

Migrants and foreigners seem to get the blame for everything in Thailand 

[graemeaylward]

16 hours ago, webfact said:

"If everybody cooperates, we will be able to manage the outbreak by March," he said.

A couple of days ago it was by the end of January!  Why don't they do everyone a favour and admit that no-one knows when this plague will be over instead of making ridiculous claims and promises.

[Bundooman]

Now I could be wrong and not really understanding what I see.

In the picture above, Thailand's Prime minister is having a photo shoot. He is hot and needs to wipe his face.

It appears that he is using a face mask to wipe that face.

 

Now, if it is a face mask, is it the one he was wearing before he got hot?

If so, then he has just wiped any contamination on the outside of the mask, all over his face.

And presumably, this picture gets wide coverage by the press?

 

So now, everyone else thinks it's OK to use the outside of your mask as a sweat rag. 

But haven't we all been told - since from when this Pandemic started, not to touch the outside of said mask,

and change it regularly, disposing of the potentially contaminated article?

 

Great example to the Thai people, eh?

[saminoz]

What's the betting that the silly little general gives a huge order for the Sino Vaccine, despite it proving only about 60% efficacy in the field?