Month: August 2021

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has stepped up sanitation measures in 29 large fresh markets in the capital, where 18,963 merchants and workers are based.

BMA deputy city clerk Chawin Sirinak said the BMA has told operators in 11 districts of Bangkok that the tougher rules at fresh markets are to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Traders at any stall who suffer an infection will have to stop trading for 14 days and COVID-19 tests will be conducted on all those who operate adjacent stalls.

He said suitable quarantine facilities will also be sought in the neighborhoods, where the BMA will also ramp up vaccinations.

All stall owners, staff and customers must follow the DMHTTA (Distancing, Mask-wearing, Hand washing, Temperature-Testing Application) protocol and the BMA will seek antigen test kits from the Public Health Ministry and other sources to carry out regular testing.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) plans to allow resumption of air travel in the country’s COVID-19 “dark red” areas from September 1st, after the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) announced permission for interprovincial travel in those areas.

According to Airports of Thailand, domestic air travel will resume in “dark red” zones with some restrictions. Air passengers will still have to comply with the restrictions imposed by destination airports, ranging from the use of some tracking mobile apps and full-vaccination certificates to COVID-19 test results.

Airlines are also allowed to increase load factors to 70%, from 50%, to help lower airfares. In-flight drinks and food are still prohibited.

Meanwhile, most airlines have announced that they are returning to service from September 1st. The Thai Smile airline said it is resuming flights on select routes, while Nok Air is operating out of Don Mueang airport. Thai AirAsia said it will restart flights on September 3rd from Don Mueang airport. Thai Lion Air will also restore flights from the airport on Sept 1st.

The Chinese embassy in Bangkok said on Saturday that the Chinese government has pledged to donate medical supplies worth 10 million yuan (about 50 million baht) to Thailand, to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Chinese embassy’s Facebook post, China will stand with Thailand in overcoming the crisis and the donation is to express the goodwill that the Chinese government has for the Thai people and to strengthen the friendship between the two countries. The donated equipment will include oxygen concentrators, fingertip pulse oximeters and other medical supplies.

Chinese ambassador to Thailand Han Zhiqiang said bilateral exchanges and cooperation have brought the countries closer together. China and Thailand are fighting the pandemic shoulder to shoulder and helping each other through a challenging time.

Mr. Han Zhiqiang stressed the need to strengthen cooperation in the fight against COVID-19, saying all sectors have been making concerted efforts to eradicate infections and he is confident the pandemic will eventually be overcome.

Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has revealed that South Korea is likely to provide COVID-19 vaccines to Thailand at the end of September.

Ministry spokesperson Tanee Sangrat said Foreign Affairs Minister Don Pramudwinai discussed collaboration on COVID-19 vaccines with South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong during his visit to Thailand between August 26th and 28th, adding that this was the first visit by Mr. Chung after being appointed Foreign Minister.

The South Korean Minister said his country could provide vaccines to Thailand at the end of September, after fully vaccinating 70% of its population.

Thailand’s Department of Health is proposing a new regulation which will require all pregnant women to work from home, to help curb COVID-19 infections and death rates among this vulnerable group.

Dr. Sophon Mekthon, assistant to the public health minister, said the proposal will be submitted to the Public Health Ministry’s committee on emergency medical and public health operations after the ministry discussed problems associated with caring for pregnant women, who face a COVID-19 death rate 2.5 times higher than most other people.

He said the main problem now is fear among pregnant women about the possible side effects of COVID-19 vaccines. Another problem is that healthcare facilities, which offer prenatal care services, are failing to refer COVID-19 infected pregnant women to larger facilities capable of handling their deliveries.

A group of health advocates is also calling for better care of pregnant women during the pandemic, saying many infected women have been rejected by their prenatal care providers, who claim they were not able to handle deliveries for COVID-19 infected mothers.