The pandemic preparedness testThe Covid-19 pandemic has instilled many harsh lessons. If efforts to change that by establishing new funding and monitoring mechanisms for pandemic preparedness are to succeed, half measures won't cut it. Rather, it calls for scientific collaboration, resilient health systems, and long-term investments in global health networks. The global solution to the vaccine distribution problem is the Covid-19 Vaccine Global Access (Covax) facility established last year. To avoid a repeat of Covid-19, we need more expansive pandemic preparedness mechanisms built around the model of globalised resources that COVAX pioneered.

Medical workers hit hard by bugMore than 4,000 medical workers have been infected with Covid-19 since February last year, a senior health official said yesterday. "At 198, the number of infected doctors is high. Other infected medical workers were nurses, nurse assistants, dentists, pharmacists, health academics, hospital porters, health volunteers and back office workers such as maids and people in laboratories, drug storerooms and patient registration rooms, Dr Sumanee said. Meanwhile, there were 5,857 new Covid-19 cases and 55 more fatalities registered during the previous 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry reported yesterday. Since the pandemic started early last year, there have been 2,081,992 Covid-19 cases, with 1,979,871 complete recoveries so far.

Deputy Minister of Public Health Sathit Pitutecha talks with tourists visiting the Andaman Medical Centre for an RT-PCR test. The Andaman Medical Centre has been offering RT-PCR tests for tourists who need to test negative before taking flights back home. He said the centre welcomed any walk-in tourists or registered tourists for RT-PCR tests. Chayabol Hirankanokkul, president of the Phangnga Tourism Association, hoped the tourism business will get back to normal by early next year, judging from the increase in advance room bookings. "We are confident the tourism business can live together with the disease so there is no need to shut down the country again."

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha attends the 28th AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Economic Leaders Week, a virtual event hosted by New Zealand, from Government House on Nov 12. Gen Prayut was responding to reporters' questions after chairing a meeting of the Defence Council on Wednesday. "Looking after low-income people is close to the heart of the prime minister," Gen Prayut said, referring to himself. Asked by reporters on Wednesday whether he will stay on until he completes his four-year term in March 2023, Gen Prayut nodded and said he will. Gen Prayut went on to say that he was ready to attend a banquet to be held by government coalition parties if they invite him.

CP and Telenor are the parent firms of True and DTAC, respectively. Meanwhile, the merged company will be almost three times the size of the merged firm in Malaysia, according to an investor call held recently by Telenor. According to her, the proposed merger will create a company with around 55 million customers and pro forma 2020 revenue of US$6.9 billion. The two will be asked to explain the reason for the merger and need to give details and timeline of the process as well as possible impacts and remedies for consumers and related parties from such impacts. CP and DTAC have significant differences in terms of management, decision making, operation and connections, the source added.

Man dies after Moderna jab following SinovacEmergency medical staff from Paolo Hospital Samutprakarn perform CPR on a man who developed chest pains, fell unconscious and died after receiving a second dose of Covid-19 vaccine on Tuesday. (Photo: Sutthiwit Chayutworakan)SAMUT PRAKAN: A man died at his home in Muang district late on Tuesday night shortly after receiving a second dose of Covid-19 vaccine, Moderna, following an initial dose of Sinovac in September. He had also placed an order for Moderna vaccine with Synphaet Theparak Hospital. He went to the hospital on Tuesday afternoon and was inoculated with the Moderna vaccine. However, late on Tuesday night, while playing on his phone on the second floor of the house, Sithipol began experiencing chest pain and breathing difficulties.

Contestant accused of flag abuseA picture of Miss Universe Thailand Anchilee Scott-Kemmis standing on what appears to be a Thai flag. (Photo: Miss Universe Thailand)Police action has been sought against Miss Universe Thailand Anchilee Scott-Kemmis for standing on what looks like a Thai flag in a picture featured on the pageant organiser's website. Mr Sonthiya accused Anchilee of breaching the 1979 Flag Act and the PM's Office announcement banning the use of national flags for commercial purposes. He said the reigning Miss Universe Thailand may be unaware that standing on a national flag is deemed inappropriate. He insisted he would not be seeking any jail terms, but was merely taking measures to protect the prestige of the national flag.

Shippers expect year-end orders to beef up exportsPeople browse New Year gift items at Sampeng market in Bangkok. The FTI expects new purchase orders will also help increase Thailand's capacity utilisation. From January to October, Thailand's export value increased by 15% to $222.73 million. Despite the good export prospects, high freight rates and a container shortage are still problems that affect exporters, according to the FTI. The federation is concerned about logistics costs as freight rates continue to increase.

Heavy trucks are heading for the Energy Ministry in Bangkok on Nov 16 as truck operators demanded the government cap the diesel price at 25 baht per litre. "The PM also stressed that diesel prices must be brought lower than 30 baht per litre," said Mr Anutin after the meeting. On Tuesday, Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow said it would be impossible to lower the diesel price that much even though it has already fallen below 30 baht per litre. As of Tuesday, the average price of diesel nationwide was 28 baht per litre. Diesel prices globally have dropped considerably after the United States, China, India, Japan and a number of other large countries began releasing their strategic petroleum reserves in lieu of importing oil, he said.

Pro-monarchy group to rally against Amnesty Nov 25FILE PHOTO: Political activist Panusaya "Rung" Sithijirawattanakul (left) speaks outside the Constitutional Court in Bangkok as supporters throw paper signs on Nov 10, 2021, after the court ruled that three protesters' demands on monarchy reform amounted to calls to overthrow the constitutional monarchy. The ruling was cited in a letter from a pro-monarchy group calling for a ban on Amnesty International Thailand. (AFP)A group of Thai citizens claiming to protect the monarchy plans to rally in front of Government House on Nov 25 to demand that Amnesty International cease its operations in Thailand. For these reasons, the government should immediately take action to remove this organisation from Thailand, the group wrote. The letter said at 10am on Nov 25, members of the group would rally in front of Government House and deliver speeches denouncing Amnesty International Thailand.

Six drug smugglers killed in clash with army patrolSoldiers of the Pha Muang Task Force with bags containing 1.8 million meth pills, after a clash in which six drug smugglers were shot dead in Mae Fa Luang district of Chiang Rai early on Tuesday. (Photo: Pha Muang Task Force)CHIANG RAI: Six drug smugglers were killed and 1.8 million methamphetamine pills seized in a clash between traffickers and an army border patrol in Mae Fa Luang district early on Tuesday. Col Sutkhet Srinilthin, commander of the 3rd Cavalry Company of the Pha Muang Force, said the shootout occurred about 4am. In adjoining Chiang Mai province, three couriers were arrested and 200,000 meth pills seized in Mae Ai district on Tuesday morning. The soldiers found 200,000 meth pills in the rucksacks and later arrested three suspects.

5,126 new Covid cases, 53 more deathsA woman gets a vaccine shot at Bang Sue Grand Station in Bangkok on Monday. (Photo: Arnun Chonmahatrakool)There were 5,126 new Covid-19 cases and 53 more fatalities registered during the previous 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry reported on Tuesday morning. Since April 1, when the third wave of Covid-19 began, Thailand has treated 2,047,272 Covid-19 patients, 1,945,127 of whom have recovered to date. Since the pandemic started early last year, there have been 2,076,135 Covid-19 cases, with 1,972,553 complete recoveries so far. Thailand ranked 23rd globally with 2,076,135 accumulated Covid-19 cases, up from 24th on Monday.

Pandemic Year 3: Old and new risks lie aheadAt the start of 2021, UOB's outlook for the regional economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic hinged on three things -- the wide availability of vaccines, aggressive fiscal stimulus and accommodative monetary policies. However, the reopening will also bring with it a set of risks for businesses to consider. China and the US are still expected to lead the growth recovery from the pandemic, even as the Delta variant drags down their previously rosy forecasts. With an exceptionally sharp demand in recovery, prices will jump even more acutely. This would also avoid risks to social and financial stability, ahead of the Winter Olympics in February.

EA to open battery factory as it bets on green vehiclesSET-listed Energy Absolute Plc (EA), a renewable energy developer and operator, will officially open its battery and energy storage system (ESS) production facility on Dec 12 as part of its plan to become a leader in electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing. EA's lithium-ion battery production factory in Chachoengsao has passed a trial run, following a delay caused by lockdown measures to contain the spread of Covid-19. The annual capacity will increase to 4GWh as Thailand is expected to gradually shift from oil-powered car manufacturing to EV production, he said. Mr Vasu said the new battery factory, operated by the company's subsidiary Amita Technology (Thailand) Co, will serve its new EV assembly factory, expected to start commercial operations in the first quarter of next year. EA is developing a battery-run truck and expects to roll it out in the first half of next year.

BoT unveils new debt consolidation measuresThe Bank of Thailand (BoT) has trumpeted its success in helping pandemic-hit borrowers consolidate their debt, with its latest move designed to further ease their repayment burdens. The BoT will now support individuals in consolidating their mortgage and retail loan debt held at different lenders into a single institution via refinancing. Previously the central bank supported such debt consolidation only within individual financial institutions from which customers had borrowed. The BoT expects to see most financial institutions offering the debt consolidation packages to customers by next month, according to Oramone Chantapant, deputy director of the BoT. Interest rates for mortgages are currently based on the minimum retail rate, or the minimum home loan lending rate of around 6-8% per year.