Covid travel permit 'impractical'
People are waiting for travel permits in Trat province on Thursday. Within the first hour of opening, the district office at Rayong's Muang district saw more than 100 people stream in to apply for travel permits. Just like in Rayong, the Muang district office in Chon Buri was packed with people seeking to get a travel permit, and very few people maintained social distancing, it was observed. Prakasit Sueksongkram, assistant chief of Muang district office, said the office has opened a dedicated booth to process the permit applications, adding the booth operates around the clock. She said while more than 200 people sought to apply for travel permits on Thursday, many did not understand the application steps, which needed explaining.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 07, 2021 23:15 UTC
Covid-19 vaccination begins next month | Bangkok Post: learning
People apply for inter-provincial travel permits in Khao Saming district of Trat on Thursday, to comply with travel restrictions imposed in Covid-19 maximum control "red" zones, including the eastern province. (Photo: Jakkrit Waewklaihong)The government has set three phases of Covid-19 vaccination for citizens, with the first phase to cover 1 million people from February to April. Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, the chief of the Disease Control Department, said the first phase would involve 2 million doses. The 2-million-dose vaccination was set from February to April. The second phase would involve 26 million doses to be given to people in vulnerable groups nationwide in May and June.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 07, 2021 11:26 UTC
National heritage sites get smart app boost
The Fine Arts Department has launched an AR Smart Heritage app which will allow visitors to explore national heritage sites in a more fun way and with more knowledge. The app consists of four historical parks, including 10 ruins in Sukhothai Historical Park, nine locations in Sri Satchanalai Historical Park, six sites in Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park, and 11 ruins in Ayutthaya Historical Park. AR Smart Heritage is available for free download on both the Google Play Store and App Store for iPhone. TAT unveils new platform to spur tourismThe Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has launched "The Thailand Smart Tourism Platform" to promote domestic tourism. In Thailand, guests can experience Soul at Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square, Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, Novotel Suites Bangkok Sukhumvit 34, Novotel Hua Hin Cha Am Beach Resort & Spa, Novotel Phuket City Phokeethra, and Novotel Phuket Kamala Beach.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 07, 2021 03:56 UTC
Online deliveries skyrocket, competition heats up
Online deliveries skyrocket, competition heats upOnline food delivery drivers have seen increased food delivery orders amid the surge in Covid-19 cases across the country. That of food merchants rose 4 times. According to her, online food delivery will continue to grow this year in terms of users and merchants while the competition will remain energetic. The Department of Internal Trade has told online food delivery platforms to assist local vendors at fresh markets. According to him, food orders through Robinhood surged 30% before and after New Year break, driven by the fresh outbreak.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 06, 2021 23:03 UTC
New rail links to ease jams
Then, the BTS Skytrain Green Line extension between Wat Phra Si Mahathat and Khu Khot stations opened in mid-December. "But we'll have no real figure [on revenue losses] until the Yellow Line extension opens. Meanwhile, Bombardier Transportation Holding (Thailand) is contracted to supply 42 monorail carriages and their engines for the Pink Line and 30 carriages for the Yellow Line. Red Lines: Bang Sue-Taling Chan, Bang Sue-Rangsit (Test run: November)The other two rail links which are scheduled to open next year are the Bang Sue-Taling Chan and Bang Sue-Rangsit routes. Collectively, they are known as the State Railway of Thailand's (SRT) Red Line.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 06, 2021 22:52 UTC
Government still plays the virus blame game
Government still plays the virus blame gameAlmost three weeks after the first Covid infection in a Samut Sakhon seafood market was detected, the government still plays the blame game, with migrant workers as a convenient target. During the first outbreak, Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul called the deadly virus just a type of flu. The government asked Thais to avoid travelling to and from Samut Sakhon unless necessary. Obviously, the government applied the wrong approach in dealing with migrants in Samut Sakhon. It's not a secret that almost all the services we receive these days are provided by migrant workers.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 06, 2021 22:52 UTC
Stars prepare for big Bangkok battles
Players practise at Muang Thong Thani ahead of next week's Yonex Thailand Open. Local players, staff and personnel based in Thailand were also tested and quarantined as part of the Green Zone bubble. The quarantine measures will be in place throughout the mandatory 14-day observation period including during the staging of the Yonex Thailand Open," the BWF said. The Yonex Thailand Open will be held from Jan 12-17, followed by the Toyota Thailand Open from Jan 19-24 and the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals from Jan 27-31. The list of players qualified for the World Tour Finals will be determined at the conclusion of the Toyota Thailand Open.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 06, 2021 22:52 UTC
Troubling bus rides
This has made it necessary for the agency to cut back its bus fleet in response to what is deemed to be 'lower demand'. On the surface, the adjustment may be justifiable as the city administration has re-launched its "new normal" measures, in response to the virus resurgence. The agency's assurances that the lower bus numbers would not have a big impact -- there are already fewer commuters travelling on the road -- may be partially true. It is probably too early for the bus agency to attribute the lower demand in ridership to having something to do with the mass exodus out of town during the festive season. Some bus drivers, to maintain distancing measures, simply passed by waiting crowds at certain spots, forcing commuters to wait for the next bus.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 06, 2021 22:52 UTC
Covid will stifle, not halt, rallies
Political observers say the Prayut administration will face a tough year this year as it has to face the impact of the Covid-19 and charter amendments. He went on to say that charter amendments remain a controversial political issue this year. Of seven charter amendment bills, only two, one sponsored by the government and another by the opposition bloc, were passed in the first reading in November. Most senators have also opposed the proposal to set up a CDA to draw up a new charter, he said. "However, people are suffering the economic impact of the pandemic and this will ratchet up pressure on the government," Mr Sutin said.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 06, 2021 22:52 UTC
Qualified hope
The DDC under the Ministry of Public Health is overseeing the Covid-19 vaccine campaign due to begin next month. The first shots will be available next month when the first 200,000 of two million doses ordered from China arrive. However, Dr Opas said a national programme won't begin until May when 26 million doses of vaccines purchased from AstraZeneca's collaboration with Oxford University arrive. Negotiations are at an advanced level for another 35 million doses to be shipped in soon after. So we can expect this [Covid-19] vaccine only to reduce fatalities and relieve the symptoms.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 05, 2021 23:26 UTC
Galaxy of stars descend on city for events
Galaxy of stars descend on city for eventsCarolina Marin of Spain reacts during a match last year. All top players have arrived in Thailand to prepare for the final three tournaments of the 2020 season, organisers said yesterday. The women's stars include top-ranked Tai Tzu-ying of Taiwan, No.6 Carolina Marin of Spain, and No.7 PV Sindhu from India. All Japanese players, including women's world No.3 Akane Yamaguchi and No.4 Nozomi Okuhara, did not travel to Bangkok after men's No.1 Kento Momota tested positive for Covid-19. The Thai challenge will be led by women's world No.5 Ratchanok Intanon, and world No.3 mixed doubles pair Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 05, 2021 23:26 UTC
Virus bungles need fixing
Virus bungles need fixingWho should the public listen to regarding Covid-19 regulations? The prime minister? The Public Health Ministry? Later that evening, however, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha overruled the order and extended table service hours to 9pm. Are key decisions being made in the interests of public health, or do the interests of lobby groups and businesses carry too much weight?
Source:Bangkok Post
January 05, 2021 23:26 UTC
Thailand's 'make or break' jobs in 2021
Thailand's 'make or break' jobs in 2021Thailand's future is now at the edge of a precipice due to the recent virus outbreak in Samut Sakhon that has now spread to over 50 out of 77 provinces. The measures employed have yielded positive results, especially in protecting the country from a complete lockdown and economic stagnation. As such Thailand needs fresher narratives, as existing ones are quite misleading and scandalous. Thailand today needs to do a soul-searching for new narratives that can capture the country's economic, political and social dynamism against the background demographic shifts. In the case of Thailand the country must, for example, find appropriate measures to facilitate cross-border business with neighbouring countries.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 05, 2021 00:33 UTC
Building bridges to heal US-China rift
Founded in 1989, APEC was envisioned as a platform for 21 member economies in the Pacific Rim to discuss free trade and economic cooperation. This year, New Zealand is chair of APEC, after picking up the baton from last year's chair, Malaysia. As such, "we will work with [APEC] member economies to resolve it in a constructive manner, and for mutual benefits," he said. He noted that 12 RCEP signatories and 11 CPTPP participants are also APEC members. Mr Cherdchai said Thailand will press ahead with the trilateral highway project and upgrade its seaports to improve connectivity.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 05, 2021 00:22 UTC
Plenty in store for Thai athletes, fans
The Thai national football team, meanwhile, will resume their World Cup qualifying campaign for the 2022 finals. Medal hopefuls in TokyoSeventeen Thai athletes have earned berths at the Tokyo Olympics including taekwondo fighter Panipak Wongpattanakit, boxer Chatchai-decha Butdee and shooter Sutiya Jiewchaloemmit. Nicknamed 'Tennis', the Surat Thani native has won two world titles and an Asian Games gold medal at the 2018 tournament. She won gold at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia among other achievements. Thai footballer Chanathip Songkrasin, centre, in action against Vietnam in a World Cup qualifier in Rangsit in 2019.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 03, 2021 23:26 UTC