FILE PHOTO: A view of Bangkok's port along Chao Phraya River is photographed during sunset in Bangkok, Thailand, June 2, 2021. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand will speed up vaccinations and introduce urgent stimulus measures to mitigate the impact of its most severe coronavirus outbreak, its prime minister said on Wednesday.

 

Thailand has reported more than 1.5 million infections and 15,000 deaths, about 99% of those since April this year, after a year of successful containment during which its key tourism sector collapsed.

 

The government expects the situation to normalise quickly, Prayuth Chan-ocha told a news conference hosted by the state planning agency.

 

"The government will make full efforts to resolve the crisis so that people can return to normal life as soon as possible," he said.

 

So far, only 22% of the estimated 72 million people living in Thailand have been fully vaccinated. Authorities want a higher inoculation rate before reopening fully to tourists.

 

The government has introduced a series of measures to cope with the pandemic, with 1.5 trillion baht ($45 billion) in borrowing, including 500 billion baht approved this year.

 

Earlier this week, it raised the public debt ceiling for more borrowing if needed.

 

Thailand needs a further 1 trillion baht to support the economy, the central bank's governor said last month.

 

The planning agency forecast the economy will grow 0.7% to 1.2% this year after a 6.1% contraction last year.

 

Recovery will be "K shaped" with some industries improving and some still not, particularly the service sector, said the agency's head, Danucha Pichayanan.

 

"The number of the poor tends to rise because of job losses and income declines caused by the crisis," he said.

 

Government revenue collection faces limitations with businesses unable to fully operate, restraining fiscal ability to develop the country, Danucha said.

 

Thailand is preparing an economic and social development plan for the next five years from October 2022 to transform the country with technology and innovation, he said.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-09-22

 

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Spending but not helping the poor and downtrodden. Saving vaccines by stretching them out by using less for each inoculation given just under the skin. Helping those

31 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Recovery will be "K shaped" with some industries improving and some still not, particularly the service sector, said the agency's head, Danucha Pichayanan.

who help themselves at the trough. The recovery will be pear-shaped not K Shaped.

Those numbers look like just over 2% of the population has caught Covid. Doesn't seem like that many to me. Sure, if you were a catcher then it could have been  bad but vast majority are doing okay now.

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The government expects the situation to normalise quickly, Prayuth Chan-ocha told a news conference hosted by the state planning agency.

What? By injecting a useless vaccine under the skin thereby diluting the amount injected  by a fifth.  This person and his 'health minister' are a disgrace.

Hold up. I thought the vaccinations were already 'accelerating' a month or so ago.

One paragraph:  "Situation will normalise soon" 

Two paragraphs later:  "Only 22% of population fully vaccinated" 

...... Sigh!   

2 hours ago, IAMHERE said:

Those numbers look like just over 2% of the population has caught Covid. Doesn't seem like that many to me. Sure, if you were a catcher then it could have been  bad but vast majority are doing okay now.

 

Statistics are interesting things.

 

I calculated this to my own satisfaction last week , that using the simplest of equations you could say that if you are in Thailand you currently have a 50/1 chance of catching covid and a 500/1 chance of dying of it. ( approximately.)

 

Of course, this must be a wildly inaccurate extrapolation because it does not take into account the many variables such as age , location, health etc etc.  A prison inmate will be very lucky indeed if he doesn't get covid whereas somebody living  at the edge of a small isolated village , mixing with very few people must have a greater chance of avoiding infection.

 

The problem with the vaccination program so far has been the apparent lack of getting the vaccine to those that need it most , first ,  and then working through the population from there to the lower risk groups.

21 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

development plan

Another day......another plan...????

"The government will make full efforts to resolve the crisis so that people can return to normal life as soon as possible," he said.

Yes, and there was no coup. 

 

2 hours ago, lujanit said:

What? By injecting a useless vaccine under the skin thereby diluting the amount injected  by a fifth.  This person and his 'health minister' are a disgrace.

The Chuckle Brothers at it again.