Record 51 Covid deaths, 3,174 new cases
Record 51 Covid deaths, 3,174 new cases"Permanently closed" signs on stalls on Tuesday at Bang Kapi fresh market, which has been shuttered after a Covid-19 outbreak. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)A record 51 Covid-19 fatalities and 3,174 new cases were reported over the past 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry said on Wednesday morning. The previous daily high of Covid-19 fatalities was 47 on May 27, when the country logged 3,323 new infections. Since the pandemic started early last year, there have been 228,539 Covid-19 cases, 189,777 of whom recovered. The 3,174 new Covid-19 cases over the past 24 hours included 3,112 local infections in 65 provinces and 26 imported cases.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 23, 2021 01:14 UTC
Colombia has the world's largest variety of butterfly species
BOGOTA: Colombia is home to the world's largest variety of butterflies, approximately 20% of all known species, according to a study published Tuesday by the Natural History Museum in London. An international team of scientists cataloged 3,642 species and 2,085 subspecies, registering them in a document titled "Checklist of Colombian Butterflies." More than 200 butterfly species are found only in Colombia, said Blanca Huertas, the senior butterfly collection curator at the Natural History Museum in London, who was part of the research team. Project researchers traveled widely in Colombia, analyzed more than 350,000 photographs, and studied information collected since the late 18th century, the museum said. Protecting butterflies in Colombia will also help protect its forests as well as other, less likeable species, Huertas said.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 22, 2021 23:48 UTC
Cabinet approves Phuket sandbox
The reopening scheme would be scrapped if there are more than 90 infections reported per week in tourism areas. He said vaccinated foreign visitors are allowed to travel to Phuket without state quarantine requirements. However, they are required to stay in Phuket for 14 days before travelling to other provinces in Thailand. If they stay in Phuket for fewer than 14 days, they are required to fly back via a direct flight. Those who travel to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao are required to travel only via a "sealed" route scheme.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 22, 2021 23:26 UTC
Migrant workers must get shots too
Migrant workers must get shots tooMyanmar migrant workers at the central shrimp market in Samut Sakhon province where Thailand's second wave of Covid-19 began are seen in December last year. Now, three-and-a-half months later, neither has a formal announcement been made as to the status of migrant workers who will be included in the vaccination programme, nor is there a system in place for the registration of migrant workers to receive Covid-19 vaccines. Last year, when the outbreak happened among thousands of migrant workers in Samut Sakhon province, many people in society were surprised to learn that Thailand hosted such a high number of migrant workers. This shows that migrant workers are somehow invisible to many Thais, despite the fact that they contribute to the national economy enormously. The series of outbreaks in Thailand, with some involving migrant workers, suggests that it is time to properly address the health and safety of migrant workers during this pandemic.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 22, 2021 23:26 UTC
Jab drive far too opaque
Jab drive far too opaqueIf the Interior Ministry's approval of a request by Thai Beverage Public Company Limited (ThaiBev) to provide free Covid-19 vaccines to its employees and their families is lawful, why did it make a U-turn and cancel it? Under the guidelines dated May 18, the public and private sectors can request vaccine doses for their personnel, especially in at-risk areas. The scandal shows the high level of distrust that the public have for the government and its handling of the vaccination drive so far. Once distributed, the type of organisations, number of people and doses allocated are also posted online for everyone to check. The ThaiBev scandal should remind the government that it is best to shine the light on matters and make everything transparent when doubt arises.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 22, 2021 20:15 UTC
New referendum law sails through Parliament
New referendum law sails through Parliament(Parliament photo)Parliament has passed a new referendum law, paving the way for amendments or a rewrite of the constitution. Under the law, a referendum can be held in five cases:constitution amendmentsissues deemed necessary by a cabinet resolutionissues required by law that a referendum be held onissues Parliament votes to be put to a referendumat least 50,000 voters propose to the cabinet for approvalThe law allows for the first time Thais living abroad to vote in a referendum by registering in the countries in which they reside. On other issues decided by the cabinet, the timeframe for a referendum is also 90-120 days from the date the cabinet approves it. Their names must also be on house registers not less than 90 days before a referendum date. Related information must be propagated in advance, 15 days after the referendum is announced on issues related to a constitution.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 22, 2021 11:39 UTC
Need space for your work-from-home schedule?
Need space for your work-from-home schedule? Well, now you can, for half a day, a full day or even longer. Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok offers a “WORK FROM KIMPTON” package, inclusive of everything from deskspace to playspace for up to five people. Due to popular demand, “WORK FROM KIMPTON” package is now extended till 31 December 2021. - Check out Kimpton pet policy and pet accessibility areas to ensure you and your pet enjoy fur-ever memories!
Source:Bangkok Post
June 22, 2021 08:48 UTC
Boosters may be needed
Dr Opas, however, insisted it was still too soon to say whether a booster shot is actually needed and if the shot can come from a different manufacturer. As for other Covid-19 vaccines that induce lower rates of immune responses, he said, third shots may need to be used as boosters while the kingdom waits for new vaccines to be developed to specifically deal with the Delta variant. "In the meantime, Thailand needs to closely monitor how each existing coronavirus variant is spreading to keep track of them all, especially the fast-spreading Delta variant," Dr Yong said. In response to growing public concern over lower immune responses induced by Covid-19 vaccines, Dr Opas said the ministry is also monitoring information taken from the ongoing mass vaccination drive. However, everyone in the country will be vaccinated as promised, Dr Yong said.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 21, 2021 21:33 UTC
Govt dials in to 'reopen' from Planet Clueless
Govt dials in to 'reopen' from Planet CluelessAre Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha and his team from another planet? The next day, Deputy Prime Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow said the reopening in 120 days would start on July 1.Who on earth would "starting today" mean starting in two weeks? Reopening the country when the number of new infections still stands at more than 3,000 a day? But hey, it's just like the countdown for reopening the country in four months from today doesn't mean "today", but July 1. To jump ahead and set the goal for reopening the country when the vaccination drive remains extremely sketchy seems out of place.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 21, 2021 21:22 UTC
End misery in Myanmar
End misery in MyanmarThailand's decision to abstain from voting to adopt the United Nations' General Assembly (UNGA) resolution on the situation in Myanmar on Friday was not surprising. History has shown that the Myanmar military, also known as the Tatmadaw, is fiercely stubborn and unflinching in the face of international condemnation and economic sanctions. Thailand's military was criticised for siding with the Myanmar junta after it was found to have supplied rice to Myanmar soldiers along the border. Time is of the essence when it comes to peace building in Myanmar. But now, Asean must show the world it can bring Myanmar out of its misery.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 21, 2021 21:22 UTC
Europe pushes to slash emissions within a decade
Europe pushes to slash emissions within a decadeThe European Union is set to take the lead in climate policy action among the world's biggest greenhouse gas emitters this week, with a raft of ambitious plans designed to cut emissions drastically over the next decade. - REUTERSPublished: 09:24
Source:Bangkok Post
June 21, 2021 06:45 UTC
Sydney enters hard COVID lockdown
Sydney enters hard COVID lockdownSydney and some surrounding areas are entering a hard two-week coronavirus lockdown, as authorities struggle to control a fast-spreading outbreak of the highly infectious Delta variant. - REUTERSPublished: 07:54
Source:Bangkok Post
June 21, 2021 06:45 UTC
TEST YOURSELF: A Thai taxi timeline
TEST YOURSELF: A Thai taxi timelinePhoto: Bangkok Post photo archiveDo you know when Thailand got its first taxis? It's not unusual for taxi drivers to refuse passengers, citing traffic jams or returning their vehicles to the taxi cooperatives. 2018 -- The All Thai Taxi app introduces Mercedes-Benz cars to offer VIP taxi services in June. Taxi drivers have …9… with Grab drivers out of fear of losing customers. All Thai Taxi.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 16, 2021 08:03 UTC
42 Covid deaths, 3,995 new cases
42 Covid deaths, 3,995 new casesA worker cleans an area at the Future Park Rangsit shopping mall in Thanya Buri district of Pathum Thani to be used as a vaccination centre on Tuesday. (Photo: Apichit Jinakul)Health authorities on Sunday reported 42 more Covid-19 fatalities on Saturday and another 3,995 new transmissions, bringing the accumulated toll to 1,912 deaths and the number of cases since the start of the pandemic to 244,447. The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration said 3,950 of the new infections were in the general population and 45 in prisons. More details later from the daily afternoon briefing.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 15, 2021 08:03 UTC
Indonesian exports, imports surge in May
Indonesian exports, imports surge in MayIn this file photo taken on Aug 20, 2015, a shipment of about 500 Toyota vehicles, transported by cargo from the Toyota manufacturing plant in Jakarta, arrive at Surabaya port in eastern Java for distribution to their local outlets. (AFP)JAKARTA: Indonesia's export growth shot up on a yearly basis to an 11-year high in May, supported by high commodity prices and a low base effect, while imports also jumped as domestic demand rose, official data showed on Tuesday. Exports rose 58.76% to $16.60 billion, the biggest increase since January of 2010 due to a strong rise in shipments of oil and gas and mining products. There was a $2.37 billion trade surplus in May, the highest in six months. The poll had expected a $2.30 billion surplus and April's surplus was $2.19 billion.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 15, 2021 04:30 UTC