Ministry considers closing hospitels, hotel isolation facilities for Covid
Thares said the latest survey revealed that only 11 hospitels and six hotel isolation centres remain open, compared to 76 hospitels and 31 hotel isolation centres available when the outbreak had reached its peak in Thailand last year. These 17 establishments that are still open have a combined capacity of only 4,720 beds. “Currently most of the infected patients are having mild or no symptoms and can be treated under the OPSI system or via home isolation, therefore the need for these hospitels and hotel isolation is growing smaller,” he added. Thares added that besides OPSI, patients also have the option to receive Covid-19 treatment via the National Health Security Office (NHSO)’s telemedicine system. Currently three applications have been commissioned by the NHSO to treat Covid patients.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
August 10, 2022 09:58 UTC
Thailand records 3,001 Covid-19 cases and 30 deaths on Saturday
The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 4,463,557 – 4,399,358 of whom have recovered, 34,056 are still in hospitals and 30,143 have died. Separately, another 16,589 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 41,546 their second shot and 73,760 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 138,103,194. According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 534.85 million on Saturday, 505.63 million of whom have recovered, 22.9 million are active cases (36,693 in severe condition) and 6.32 million have died (up by 1,161). Thailand ranks 24th in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 86.45 million, followed by India with 43.17 million, Brazil with 31.14 million, France with 29.6 million and Germany with 26.51 million.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
August 10, 2022 08:51 UTC
Vietnam needs $8bn-$14bn power investment a year through 2030
Vietnam needs $8bn-$14bn power investment a year through 2030Power-generating windmill turbines are pictured at a wind park in Bac Lieu province, Vietnam, on July 8, 2017. Of the amount, 75% would be spent on new power plants, with priority given to renewable sources, and 25% on grid expansion, the deputy minister said in a statement. He said the country will seek to raise funds from private investors for the new power projects, without elaborating. Vietnam, a regional manufacturing hub, needs to increase its installed power generation capacity by around 10% a year to support its fast-growing economy and population. "Vietnam will not add new coal-fired power plants to its master power development plan, and will only continue coal projects that are under construction until 2030," An said.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 10, 2022 08:10 UTC
Taiwan Excellence Wonder Miles 2022 giving back to society & helping the environment with by two ESG activities
The first ESG activity, “Taiwan Excellence Wonder Miles – Art Therapy for Children with Autism”was held on July 22, Many participants,including runners, autistic children with their families, and Taiwaese officials, joined the activity. The second ESG activity, “Taiwan Excellence Wonder Miles - Plastic Caps Transform to Wealth”, was held on August 5. The activity attracted many participants, including runners, Taiwan Excellence fans, and Taiwanese officials. Overall, “Taiwan Excellence Wonder Miles” not only successfully increased people’s health awareness, but also gave back to society and the environment by holding these two activities with the Thai Autistic Foundation and Precious Plastic Bangkok of the Green World Foundation. This is in line with the principles Taiwan Excellence values: supporting society and communities, to help each other achieve sustainable well-being.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
August 10, 2022 03:01 UTC
Doctor’s prescription still needed to get Covid antiviral drugs
The move, which aims to make Covid-19 treatment and medicine more easily and widely available, will include four antiviral drugs approved by Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA), namely Favipiravir, Remdesivir, Molnupiravir and Paxlovid. “From September 1, people will still not be allowed to buy Covid-19 antiviral drugs themselves,” said Public Health deputy permanent secretary Dr Thongchai Kirattihatthayakorn on Tuesday. Medical Services Department director-general Dr Somsak Akkasilp said antiviral drugs are approved by the FDA for use in emergency situations, and long-term side effects have yet to be thoroughly studied. “People should therefore be careful and use these drugs only under doctor’s orders, especially among ‘rebound’ patients who had recovered from Covid-19 and then got reinfected despite having taken antiviral drugs,” he added. Clicknic CEO Neil Nilwichian insisted that patients would be diagnosed by 40 to 50 doctors via the app to prevent the antiviral drug from being misused or wrongly prescribed.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
August 10, 2022 02:19 UTC
Labour Ministry eyes 5-8% increase in minimum wages, TCC airs concern
Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) chairman Sanan Angubolkul said the agency agreed with moves to boost the minimum wage because rising inflation has triggered a surge in the cost of living. However, TCC vice chairman Visit Limlurcha said the impact of rising production costs in each business sector is different. Also, he said, the increase in the minimum wage may subsequently increase the price of goods and services, thus resulting in an impact on consumers. Visit said the minimum wage increase will boost production costs by 5 to 20 per cent, depending on the number of workers a business has. For instance, he said, industries that are automated may only face a 5 per cent increase in production costs.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
August 09, 2022 08:35 UTC
Thailand to import 10,500 tonnes of shrimp as domestic yield sinks
The board has targeted domestic production of 320,000 tonnes of white shrimp this year, rising to 400,000 tonnes next year. This year, Thailand has produced 138,733 tonnes of shrimp up to the end of July – 129,100 tonnes of Pacific white shrimp and 9,632 tonnes of black tiger prawns, Chalermchai said. He said his association members would focus on processing shrimps for export so their imports would not affect domestic shrimp prices. Thailand now has about 30,000 shrimp farms covering 600,000 rai of land, according to the Federation of Thai Aquaculture. However, it confirms that production has dropped to 250,000-350,000 tonnes per year due to persistent outbreaks of early mortality syndrome (EMS).
Source:The Nation Bangkok
August 08, 2022 10:33 UTC
Rural doctors group wants state hospitals to be free to buy Covid drugs
“It was right to free the medicine [from the control of the Public Health Ministry]. This move will definitely end the situation of inadequate medicine,” the group said in the post. “But what is still confusing is whether hospitals under the Public Health Ministry will be able to buy Covid medicine on their own. It said full liberalisation would end inadequate drug supplies caused by the GPO’s monopoly and troublesome logistics management. He said his family members had got Covid and they had to buy the drug online as doctors would not administer the drug.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
August 08, 2022 07:40 UTC
Sri Lanka syndrome: Is Bangladesh out of danger?
Sri Lanka syndrome: Is Bangladesh out of danger? Sri Lanka in particular remains mired in a crisis driven by a mix of high indebtedness, soaring inflation and poor economic management. Sri Lanka may not be alone. If the pain becomes too much for the long-suffering public to bear, they may take to the streets and turn Pakistan into the next Sri Lanka. Like Sri Lanka, the Maldives is heavily reliant on tourism, which suffered a big blow from the pandemic.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 08, 2022 04:13 UTC
Borrowers prepare to take a hit
GRIPPED WITH CONCERNSThe Federation of Thai SMEs is worried about a higher policy rate and is calling for authorities to prepare measures to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) deal with the impact. The rising inflation rate, on a year-to-date basis, has increased the expenses of the household sector by 3.6%. The governor said an interest rate increase would not affect existing retail borrowers significantly because around 60% of total retail loans are charged at a fixed rate. Meanwhile, the rising inflation rate, on a year-to-date basis, has increased the expenses of the household sector by 3.6%. Banks may not react immediately to the interest rate increases in order to support borrowers amid the gradual economic recovery, Payong Srivanich, chairman of the Thai Bankers' Association (TBA), said last week at the JSCCIB panel meeting.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 08, 2022 01:34 UTC
Gaza death toll rises as Israel, Palestinian militants trade fire
Gaza death toll rises as Israel, Palestinian militants trade fireSmoke billows from the site of a reported Israeli strike in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, on Saturday. (Photo: AFP)The death toll from violence in Gaza had risen to 24 on Sunday, including six children, as Israel pressed on with its bombardment of Palestinian militants who have retaliated with barrages of rockets. But Israel said it had "irrefutable" evidence that a stray rocket from Islamic Jihad militants had been responsible for the death of multiple children in Jabalia, northern Gaza, on Saturday. - Jerusalem -Islamic Jihad is aligned with Hamas, but often acts independently. A flare-up with Islamic Jihad came in 2019, following Israel's killing of Baha Abu al-Ata, Jabari's predecessor.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 07, 2022 09:19 UTC
Fire breaks out in PTTEP headquarters in Energy Ministry complex
Firefighters and rescue officials from Sutthisan Fire Station rushed to the scene and managed to have the flames under control in 10 minutes. By 1pm the fire had been completely extinguished. No casualties were reported. Police said the cause of the fire will be investigated.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
August 07, 2022 06:59 UTC
Govt incentives inspire top EV distributor to invest big in manufacturing
“The company is also seeking investment support from the Board of Investment,” he said, adding that this investment was inspired by the government’s move to promote the use and production of EVs in the country. The government is offering many incentives, subsidies and tax breaks to EV manufacturers, with the aim of matching one imported EV with a locally manufactured one by the end of 2024.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
August 07, 2022 05:14 UTC
SCB 10X Appoints Mukaya (Tai) Panich as The New CEO
SCB 10X, (https://scb10x.com/), the digital technology investment and venture building arm of SCBX, announced the appointment of Mukaya (Tai) Panich as its new CEO, succeeding former CEO, Arak Sutivong. She will continue to hold the position of Chief Venture and Investment Officer, along with the newly appointed CEO position. SCB 10X also announced the promotion of Pailin (Pie) Vichakul, SCB 10X’s Partner & Head of Strategic Planning to Chief Operating Officer, who will report directly to Tai. Tai will lead SCB 10X’s initiatives to invest in and build the ecosystem of disruptive technologies in Southeast Asia and continue growing the SCB 10X team to achieve their moonshot mission. The appointment of Tai as the CEO of one of Southeast Asia’s most active venture firms is a historic moment for women in finance.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
August 07, 2022 02:06 UTC
More than 300 illegal fishing traps seized in South
Illegal collapsible fishing traps, called ai ngo by local residents, are loaded onto a longtailed boat on Saturday in in Pak Phanang Bay off Nakhon Si Thammarat. (Photo: Nujaree Rakrun)NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: More than 300 illegal fishing traps were seized in Pak Phanang Bay in this southern province on Saturday, raising concerns about the depletion of marine resources. During a five-hour operation that lasted until 5am on Saturday, the team seized more than 300 of the collapsible traps, which are classified as destructive fishing gear. Local fishermen were earning more income, and the number of illegal fishing boats had dropped to about 500, said Mr Pornsak. However, the number of unlicensed fishing boats has since risen to 2,000 and many of them were fitted with illegal traps, he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 06, 2022 11:17 UTC