THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Tuesday 4 May 2021

[webfact]

Interest in moving out of Thailand takes Internet by storm

 

 

In just two days, over half a million Thais have joined a new Facebook group called “Let’s Move Abroad”, amid increasing criticism of the Thai government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic and political issues.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1215859-interest-in-moving-out-of-thailand-takes-internet-by-storm/

[webfact]

Single dose of AstraZeneca vaccine could result in 96.7% immunity in 4 weeks

 

At-risk people linked to a Covid-19 coronavirus cluster traced to entertainment venues, wait to be vaccinated with the CoronaVac vaccine, developed by China’s Sinovac firm, at a makeshift clinic at Saeng Thip sports ground in Bangkok on April 7, 2021. (Photo by Mladen ANTONOV / AFP)

 

A study of 61 patients shows that people who received the first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine have achieved 96.7% immunity within a month, compared to those who had recovered from the disease for 1-2 months, who have 92.4% immunity.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1215862-single-dose-of-astrazeneca-vaccine-could-result-in-967-immunity-in-4-weeks/

 

[webfact]

Moderna COVID-19 vaccine waits for approval from Thai FDA

 

(FILES) In this file photo Dr. Nita Patel, Director of Antibody discovery and Vaccine development, lifts a vial with a potential coronavirus, COVID-19, vaccine at Novavax labs in Gaithersburg, Maryland on March 20, 2020, one of the labs developing a vaccine for the coronavirus, COVID-19. – The CEOs of nine companies developing vaccines against Covid-19 on September 8, 2020 pledged to “uphold the integrity of the scientific process” amid concern Donald Trump will pressure regulators to approve a vaccine ahead of the presidential election in November. “We, the undersigned biopharmaceutical companies, want to make clear our ongoing commitment to developing and testing potential vaccines for COVID-19 in accordance with high ethical standards and sound scientific principles,” said the CEOs.The statement was signed by AstraZeneca, BioNTech, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Moderna, Novavax, Pfizer and Sanofi. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP)

 

Thailand’s Public Health Ministry is looking to procure the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine through the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO), after a discussion with a Moderna representative today.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1215877-moderna-covid-19-vaccine-waits-for-approval-from-thai-fda/

 

[webfact]

2nd field hospital for Klong Toey COVID-19 patients is in the works

 

 

A second field hospital, to accommodate COVID-19 patients from Bangkok’s Klong Toey slum area, is being planned, with an old building next to the Port Authority head office as the first choice of location. After conversion, the former warehouse would be able to accommodate 200 patients.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1215878-2nd-field-hospital-for-klong-toey-covid-19-patients-is-in-the-works/

 

[webfact]

COVID-19 situation in Thailand is nearing critical point – Dr. Prasit Wattanapha

 

 

The COVID-19 situation in Thailand is approaching a critical level, with daily new infection and fatality rates on the rise, said Dr. Prasit Wattanapha, dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Mahidol University, as he urged cooperation from everyone by keeping their guard up and wearing face masks all the time, even at home.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1215879-covid-19-situation-in-thailand-is-nearing-critical-point-–-dr-prasit-wattanapha/

 

[webfact]

Bangkok to open its first ICU equipped field hospital on Tuesday

 

Photo from Facebook page ผู้ว่าฯ อัศวิน

 

Thailand’s first field hospital equipped with intensive care unit facilities will be officially opened Tuesday, to receive COVID patients with severe symptoms.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1215880-bangkok-to-open-its-first-icu-equipped-field-hospital-on-tuesday/

 

[webfact]

Government Urges Protection of Elderly in Family from Covid-19

By Woraprat Lerpaisal

 

   

The government is urging families to protect elderly members of their households from the risk of infection while others family members probably travel working in areas where Covid-19 outbreaks are prevalent.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1215881-government-urges-protection-of-elderly-in-family-from-covid-19/

 

[webfact]

Commerce Minister confident exports to Laos will hit 200 million baht after seafood ban lifted

By Woraprat Lerpaisal

 

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - Laos PDR has finally lifted a ban on seafood and frozen food imported from countries with a coronavirus outbreak including Thailand. The revocation has been in effect since 1st of May. It is expected that Thailand’s seafood and frozen food exported to Lao PDR will soon regain their previous position.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1215882-commerce-minister-confident-exports-to-laos-will-hit-200-million-baht-after-seafood-ban-lifted/

 

[webfact]

^{Suvarnabhumi Airport turns check-in area into vaccination facility for staff}

By Woraprat Lerpaisal

 

   

BANGKOk (NNT) - Suvarnabhumi Airport has turned part of the check-in area into a vaccination facility for its staff, targeting all 30,000 of its workers. Meanwhile, arrivals from foreign countries number fewer than 1,000 people a day.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1215883-suvarnabhumi-airport-turns-check-in-area-into-vaccination-facility-for-staff/

 

[webfact]

Phuket drug raid nets 3.2kg of ya ice

By Eakkapop Thongtub

 

Photo: Phuket Provincial Police

 

PHUKET: A series of drug raids in Phuket resulted in the arrests of three people with a total of 3.2 kilogrammes of crystal meth (ya ice) and 5,105 pills of methamphetamine (ya bah) seized. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1215884-phuket-drug-raid-nets-32kg-of-ya-ice/

 

[webfact]

Thailand’s latest quarantine blooper puts tourism in jeopardy

By Joe Cusmano 

Guest Writer

 

 

The pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges and risks for everyone and for countries that rely heavily on tourism putting the goal post in the right spot has been more challenging, to strike a stable balance between maintain the country and people safe and getting the business to restart for which part of the country depends on. Unfortunately, it seems that Thailand after several attempts, still cannot get it right.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1215885-thailand’s-latest-quarantine-blooper-puts-tourism-in-jeopardy/

 

[webfact]

Expats over 60 and with underlying conditions can register for free Covid vaccinations in June & July

by Carla Boonkong & Pranee O' Connor

 

Expats over 60 and with underlying health conditions are being advised to contact their hospitals or medical facilities to register for the second phase of the Thai government’s vaccination programme which will see free vaccines rolled out in June and July primarily driven by the AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured in Thailand. It comes as Dr Yong Poovorawan (centre) is warning the government that the South African variant of the virus, B1351, is circulating in Malaysia and that it must not be allowed to cross into Thailand across its southern border as it is problematic for vaccines especially the AstraZeneca jab.

 

Despite the assurance of unity this week from government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri, there is tension at a political level both within parliament and even among the coalition partners in the government

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1215887-expats-over-60-and-with-underlying-conditions-can-register-for-free-covid-vaccinations-in-june-july/

 

[webfact]

'Worth it': American expat in Thailand travels to Guam for vaccine, vacation

Haidee Eugenio Gilbert | The Guam Daily Post

 

Reuben Sushman

Haidee Eugenio Gilbert

 

Like most Americans, Reuben Sushman is eligible to get his COVID-19 vaccine shot. But he's living in Thailand, where only 1% of the population has so far been vaccinated, so there's no telling when he will be able to get his shot.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1215892-worth-it-american-expat-in-thailand-travels-to-guam-for-vaccine-vacation/

 

[webfact]

Phuket officials request ‘stay home’ nightly from 10pm to 4am

By The Phuket News

 

Image: Phuket Anti-COVID19 / Facebook

 

PHUKET: Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew has issued a formal request for people staying in Phuket to stay at home or their place of accommodation from 10pm at night through to 4am in the morning in a bid to prevent COVID-19 from spreading across the island.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1215897-phuket-officials-request-‘stay-home’-nightly-from-10pm-to-4am/

 

[webfact]

Is murky past about to catch up with govt ‘fixer’ Thamanat?

By Thai PBS World’s Political Desk

 

 

When General Prawit Wongsuwan took control of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party in June last year, among his core tasks was to manage the internal power struggle between party factions.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1215935-is-murky-past-about-to-catch-up-with-govt-‘fixer’-thamanat/

 

[webfact]

Thailand reports 1,763 new coronavirus cases, 27 new deaths

 

A healthcare worker takes a nasal swab sample from a person for a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) test, at a temple near Klong Toey slum community in Bangkok, Thailand, May 3, 2021. REUTERS/Juarawee Kittisilpa

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand on Tuesday reported 1,763 new coronavirus cases and 27 deaths, as the country grapples with a third wave of infections.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1215944-thailand reports-1763-new-coronavirus-cases-27-new-deaths/

 

[webfact]

Ugandan and Thai wife face prosecution for deliberately concealing COVID-19 timeline

 

Picture: Sanook

 

Sanit Srithaweee, the district chief of Serng Sang in Nakhon Ratchasima, went to the police to file a report against a Ugandan man and his Thai wife, from Non Somboon.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1215945-ugandan-and-thai-wife-face-prosecution-for-deliberately-concealing-covid-19-timeline/

 

[webfact]

Vaccine rollout: Anutin denies standing in the way of VAX companies selling to private sector

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Thailand's DPM and health minister Anutin Charnvirakul yester denied that the government were standing in the way of vaccine companies selling to the private sector. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1215950-vaccine-rollout-anutin-denies-standing-in-the-way-of-vax-companies-selling-to-private-sector/

 

[webfact]

 Thai travel agent offers “Vaccine Tour" to US for 76,000 baht 

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Daily News reported that comment online was rife after a tour company promoted a trip to the United States with a Johnson and Johnson vaccine as part of the deal.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1215957-thai-travel-agent-offers-“vaccine-tour-to-us-for-76000-baht/

 

[webfact]

Pattaya beach vendors bemoan third COVID wave, look to better future

 

Picture: Sanook

 

Thai media Sanook became the latest news organisation to visit Pattaya and find it very quiet during the third wave of the pandemic.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1215960-pattaya-beach-vendors-bemoan-third-covid-wave-look-to-better-future/

 

[webfact]

THA: 80% of hotels shut till October - won't be back to normal until 2023

 

 

The chief of the Thai Hoteliers' Association painted a grim picture of the current situation in Thailand in an interview with Channel 3. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1215962-tha-80-of-hotels-shut-till-october-wont-be-back-to-normal-until-2023/

 

[webfact]

Bangkok Speeds up Vaccination Rollout after Widespread COVID-19 Transmission

By Woraprat Lerpaisal

 

 

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has accelerated its vaccination rollout in Khlong Toei district, amid fears that the COVID cluster of infections in the district’s communities could overwhelm the public health system if left unchecked.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1215965-bangkok-speeds-up-vaccination-rollout-after-widespread-covid-19-transmission/

 

[webfact]

Thai policy of hospitalization after positive Covid test prompts change after stress on system

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Thailand's policy of admitting anyone to a hospital or field hospital who tests positive to Covid-19 is now being reassessed after far more positive cases in recent days.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1215966-thai-policy-of-hospitalization-after-positive-covid-test-prompts-change-after-stress-on-system/

 

[webfact]

Thai travel stimulus schemes to be put on hold indefinitely, says TAT governor

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Thailand Tourism Authority chief Yutthasak Suphasorn told Daily News yesterday that he will be meeting with tourism minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan to discuss delaying two travel stimulus schemes.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1215967-thai-travel-stimulus-schemes-to-be-put-on-hold-indefinitely-says-tat-governor/

 

[webfact]

Moderna Insists to Directly Sell Covid-19 Vaccine to Thai Government

By Woraprat Lerpaisal

 

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - Representatives of Zuellig Pharma Ltd, the importer of Moderna vaccine in Thailand, insist that the manufacturer of Moderna vaccine is willing to sell its COVID-19 vaccine to the Thai government, but not directly to private companies.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1215968-moderna-insists-to-directly-sell-covid-19-vaccine-to-thai-government/

 

[webfact]

Push to vaccinate 16 million vulnerable Thais suffers early setbacks

By Thai PBS World’s General Desk

 

A Royal Thai Army soldier waiting for her turn to receive the Covid-19 coronavirus Sinovac vaccine at the Pattani Hospital in Thailand’s southern province of Pattani. (Photo by Tuwaedaniya MERINGING / AFP)

 

Only about 5 percent of Thailand’s vulnerable population have so far booked a free COVID-19 vaccination jab since the government’s appointment process was launched on Saturday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1215969-push-to-vaccinate-16-million-vulnerable-thais-suffers-early-setbacks/

 

[webfact]

Thai pretty denies she's a gold digger responsible for the death of well known resort owner

 

Picture: Amarin TV

 

Amarin TV published a long investigation following the death of Nakhon Nayok resort owner Thanan Saksamutranan.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1215972-thai-pretty-denies-shes-a-gold-digger-responsible-for-the-death-of-well-known-resort-owner/

 

[webfact]

Pattaya: Exodus of tourists begins as Koh Larn prepares for two week closure

 

 

Sophon Cable TV reported that Koh Larn was mostly quiet yesterday as tourists began leaving the island to return home.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1215974-pattaya-exodus-of-tourists-begins-as-koh-larn-prepares-for-two-week-closure/

 

[webfact]

PM forbids food delivery firms from ramping up prices 

 

Picture: Thansettakij

 

PM's office spokeswoman Rachada Thanadirek said that prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha cares passionately about the people and has not been idle in putting into place measures for their benefit.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1215975-pm-forbids-food-delivery-firms-from-ramping-up-prices/

 

[snoop1130]

Specific CCSA to be set up for Bangkok as fight against COVID-19 intensifies

 

 

The Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has intensified efforts to contain the continuing surge of COVID-19 infections in Bangkok and its peripherals by setting up an “area CCSA”, also headed by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1215990-specific-ccsa-to-be-set-up-for-bangkok-as-fight-against-covid-19-intensifies/