How Covid-19 Might Spread to You

[S Landreth]

• Coronavirus Cases: 372,621,285

Deaths: 5,674,062

Under reported US death count: 906,469

American Civil War Battle Deaths and In Theater (north and south) - 498,332

it's been blown way out of proportion.

• Thailand - 8,444 new Covid cases, 12 more deaths

Nature's way of thinning out the weary herd.

The country registered 8,444 more Covid-19 cases and 12 new fatalities during the previous 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry announced on Sunday morning. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...12-more-deaths

Nature's way of thinning out the weary herd.

[S Landreth]

Thailand - 8,008 new Covid cases, 16 more deaths

Nature's way of thinning out the weary herd.

The country registered 16 more Covid-19 fatalities and 8,008 new cases during the previous 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry announced on Monday morning. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...16-more-deaths

Nature's way of thinning out the weary herd.

• All Suvarnabhumi staff to get 4th Covid jab by end of February

All 25,000 Suvarnabhumi airport staff are expected to get their fourth vaccination against Covid-19 by the end of February, as Thailand prepares to resume the 'Test & Go' quarantine waiver for vaccinated arrivals from Feb 1, airport director Kittipong Kittikachorn said in a press release.

Mr Kittipong said airport staff are also being randomly tested for Covid-19 with antigen test kits (ATKs) on a weekly basis to build new arrivals' confidence.

From Nov 1 -- when the country first reopened to foreign arrivals -- until Jan 29, Suvarnabhumi airport admitted a total of 381,871 people from other countries. Of them, 317,754 arrived on the Test & Go platform; 22,918 via the Sandbox programme; 30,418 under 7-day quarantine; 9,950 under 10-day quarantine and 831 under 14-day quarantine.

He said Suvarnabhumi airport staff had strictly abided by the Public Health Ministry's Covid Free Setting rules in collaboration with other agencies such as the airport's Covid-19 Emergency Operation Centre, the International Communicable Disease Control, the Immigration Police Bureau, the Tourist Police Bureau, airlines and hotel operators.

The airport had also prepared taxis and limousines with SHA Plus certificates to take passengers admitted under the Thailand Pass programme to the hotels they had made previously booked, in case those hotels did not have enough transportation.

In summary, Mr Kittipong said, Suvarnabhumi airport is ready to provide services with strict enforcement of Covid-19 prevention measures, helping the government restore tourism and the country's economy. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...nd-of-february

Perhaps a blessing in disguise for the Golden Land.

[S Landreth]

Thailand - 7,422 new Covid cases, 12 more deaths

Nature's way of thinning out the weary herd.

The country registered 12 more Covid-19 fatalities and 7,422 new cases during the previous 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry announced on Tuesday morning. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...12-more-deaths

Nature's way of thinning out the weary herd.

• Over 2,000 medical personnel contracted Covid in Jan

A total of 2,025 medical personnel were infected with Covid-19 in January, around 66 people per day on average, Dr Thira Woratanarat from Chulalongkorn University posted on his Facebook page on Monday.

He said the number of the Omicron variant BA.2 cases had increased after they were infected with BA.1, while the number of new cases in South Africa is stable.

He said the increase in BA.2 cases was in line with research that it was more contagious than BA.1. However, BA.2 is no more likely to escape immunity than BA.1, according to current information. The information on severity and reinfection is not enough at the moment, he said.

Thira added that each country should be able to analyse the cause and fix it after learning from the past to create an efficient system and mechanism.

The process of deciding on a crisis must be based on empirical data and knowledge of international standards.

Thira said every citizen must have the right to access in-depth information on policies and measures. They will not understand the effect of the decision if they do not have enough information.

He added that there must be inspection and a balancing mechanism for the government which is responsible for citizens’ health, welfare and safety. Society will be able to handle a crisis in the future if we have this mechanism and citizens have information. Citizens will be able to take care of themselves and become a health-literate society. https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40011743

Perhaps a blessing in disguise for the Golden Land.

• Thailand begins vaccinating children aged 5-11, hospitals offer guide for parents

Thailand kicked off its vaccination programme for children aged 5-11 on Monday.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul presided over the launch at Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health in Bangkok, where at-risk children with seven underlying diseases were first in the queue for jabs.

Anutin said the youngsters will receive Pfizer vaccine from a batch of 300,000 doses that have already arrived. Another 300,000 doses per week will be sent to fill Thailand’s order of 10 million Pfizer doses within the next three months, he added.

Anutin said the total shipment should arrive one month ahead of schedule.

Children will receive two Pfizer (Comirnaty) jabs three to 12 weeks apart. The favoured gap between injections is 8-12 weeks, which offers higher immunity and fewer side effects. https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40011747

Perhaps a blessing in disguise for the Golden Land.

[S Landreth]

Thailand - 8,587 new Covid cases, 22 more deaths

Nature's way of thinning out the weary herd.

The country registered 22 more Covid-19 fatalities and 8,587 new cases during the previous 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry announced on Wednesday morning. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...22-more-deaths

Nature's way of thinning out the weary herd.

Another Covid infection at parliament, 30th this year

Another parliament official has been diagnosed with Covid-19, raising the number of personnel in the complex found infected this year to 30, including 12 MPs.

Dr Sukij Atthapokorn, adviser to the parliament president, said on Tuesday that 12 MPs, 12 government officials, two cleaners and four other employees were infected since Jan 1.

From April 1 last year to Jan 31, there had been 128 people working in the parliament diagnosed with the virus - 22 MPs, 71 government officials, 20 cleaners and 15 other employees. He said 108 had already recovered and there was one death. Nineteen were still under treatment.

House Speaker Chuan Leekpai had said that parliament must continue to function and learn to co-exist with Covid-19, the adviser said.

Parliament staff had been following the coronavirus situation closely and adjusting schedules to cope with it and would suspend the meeting if necessary.

Dr Sukij said there had been no Covid-19 infections transmitted during parliamentary meetings. Most infections occurred outside, and MPs admitted they had meals together. Parliamentary meetings would continue, he said.

There will be a joint meeting of the two Houses on Feb 8 to consider a bill on national reform. On Feb 9-11, there will be a regular parliament meeting. Feb 16 is Makha Bucha Day, a public holiday. On Feb 17-18 and Feb 23-25, parliament meetings will continue, he said.

He said all parliament meetings will be subject to strict health measures and asked that all people involved comply with them. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...30th-this-year

Perhaps a blessing in disguise for the Golden Land.

Reminder: wear a face mask or face an up to THB20,000 fine

The government’s Public Relations Department posted on its Facebook page an announcement by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) regarding fines for people who still fail to wear face masks in public.

“If you are caught without a face mask in public for the first time, the fine will not exceed 1,000 baht,” said the post.

For a second offence, the fine will range from 1,000 baht to 10,000 baht.

For a third offence and so forth, the fine starts from 10,000 baht but will not exceed 20,000 baht.

The CCSA had imposed a fine on people who do not wear face masks in public since April last year in red and orange zone provinces, or areas with high infection rates. As infections continued to climb, the face mask mandatory zones had been expanded to cover the entire country in June 2021.

The fine is based on the punishment clause stipulated in the Communicable Disease Act. https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40011820

Perhaps a blessing in disguise for the Golden Land.

Low-dose boosters on offer at Bang Sue

People who want to have a third or fourth Covid-19 shot at the vaccination centre at Bang Sue Grand Station can choose to have a lighter-dose intradermal injection instead, as the centre adds more options for booster shots.

It has arranged intramuscular injections with either 15mcg or 30mcg of vaccine per dose, and intradermal injections with a 10mcg/dose.

Administering half a dose under the skin has been found to maintain a high level of efficacy while causing fewer side effects, according to Dr Mingkwan Wichaidit, director of the Institute of Dermatology.

However, recipients may develop skin irritation for a few days before they recover, she noted.

These results have all been confirmed by domestic and overseas studies, Dr Mingkwan said.

Dr Mingkwan, who supervises the vaccination centre, said it began administering fourth shots on Tuesday for people who pre-booked online. Pfizer and AstraZeneca shots are available, she said.

Covid-free classes: A saliva sample is taken from a young student before class commences at Intarumpun Anusorn School in Samut Prakan. The school has returned to on-site teaching in a Covid-free setting. The students sit apart and have their temperatures taken in the afternoon. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)

Director-general of the Department of Disease Control, Opas Karnkawinpong, said once Sinovac is approved for children aged 3-17, shots will be administered immediately.

Sinovac has a six-month shelf life and the stockpile in Thailand has not expired, he said.

Thailand has at least 1.5 million doses left, including those donated by China.

The department chief said he believed the government would not have to buy more Sinovac shots to vaccinate this young age demographic.

Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said 150 children aged 5-11 with underlying conditions, who received the vaccine on Monday, had not experienced any undesirable symptoms, save for a few reports of mild allergic reactions.

The Education Ministry is arranging shots for young students. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...er-at-bang-sue

Perhaps a blessing in disguise for the Golden Land.

[S Landreth]

Thailand - 9,172 new Covid cases, 21 more deaths

Nature's way of thinning out the weary herd.

There were 21 more Covid-19 fatalities and 9,172 new cases reported during the previous 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry announced on Thursday morning. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...21-more-deaths

Nature's way of thinning out the weary herd.

Covid cluster at Korat school rises to 30

NAKHON RATCHASIMA: Three more students at a quarantined public boarding school in Muang district have tested positive for Covid-19, raising the cluster of infections there to 30.

More than 300 at-risk students and teachers are confined in the dormitories at the school.

The provincial communicable disease committee said on Thursday that 209 new coronavirus cases were reported in the province on Wednesday. This brought the provincial total to 38,917, of which 36,501 had already recovered. Accumulated deaths stood at 298. A total of 2,118 patients remained in hospitals.

The panel said health officials were keeping a close watch on clusters of infections at six schools in the province. The latest cluster was Triam Udom Suksa Nom Klao School in tambon Khok Kruad of Muang district, where three more students were diagnosed infected. This raised total infections among students and teachers at the boarding school to 30.

The public school was implementing the approved school isolation procedure, using school dormitories as quarantine facilities. A total of 317 people, infected students, teachers and other at-risk people, were quarantined there.

The school's director, Thanong Khiewkaew, said some Mathayom Suksa 4 (Grade 10) students tested positive for the virus two days ago. The school quickly contacted health officials and antigen tests were organised for students and teachers who had come into contact with the infected students.

On Wednesday, the number of infections at the school rose to 27. On Thursday, three more students were diagnosed with Covid-19, raising the total to 30, Mr Thanong said.

Of the infected people, 27 were Mathayom Suksa 4 students, one Mathayom Suksa (Grade 11) 5 student and two teachers. All had mild symptoms.

Health officials were investigating the source of the infections. All students were studying online, but there would be no learning problems because it was a boarding school, he said.

He was confident the school could control the spread of the disease. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...ol-rises-to-30

Perhaps a blessing in disguise for the Golden Land.

Market-related COVID-19 infection clusters found in 21 Thai provinces

Clusters of infections related to market places have been reported in Bangkok and 20 other provinces, as the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) warns of a possible surge in infections in the next 1-2 weeks related to the Chinese New Year.

CCSA assistant spokesperson Dr. Apisamai Srirangsan said today (Thursday) that market-related clusters have been reported in Saraburi, Chon Buri, Kanchanaburi, Si Sa Ket, Ubon Ratchathani, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Nan, Roi-et, Nakhon Ratchasima, Pathum Thani, Surin, Lop Buri, Prachin Buri, Tak, Khon Kaen, Ang Thong, Chiang Mai, Ayutthaya, Udon Thani, Samut Sakhon and Bangkok.

She urged governors of provinces with clusters to ensure that all markets strictly comply with the Health Department’s universal preventive measures, which include, among other things, all vendors being fully inoculated, the cleansing of all contact points with disinfectant and maintaining a clean market.

She said that members of the public can report to the provincial communicable disease committee any market not up to the required standard.

Another issue of concern are the clusters of infections related to religious activities and weddings found in some provinces, such as Ubon Ratchathani, Si Sa Ket, Phetchaburi, Chanthaburi, and Udon Thani.

The CCSA also unveiled guidelines for dealing with infections in schools:

If only 1 or 2 students are found to be infected, only their classroom will be closed for three days. The infected are to be sent for treatment and those at high-risk should study online. The school can remain open for the rest of the students.
If more than two students are infected or infections are found in more than one classroom, due to activities between students from different classes, the school must consult the provincial communicable disease committee if it wants to suspend all classes.

Vaccination of children aged 5-11 with the Pfizer vaccine has commenced, starting with those suffering from underlying diseases in hospitals. Students who do not have health issues will receive their vaccine doses at school, starting from Primary year 6 down to Primary year 1.

The daily COVID-19 infections were fluctuating between 6,000 and fewer than 9,000 since the New Year, but the figure became higher today at 9,172, with 21 deaths reported. https://www.thaipbsworld.com/market-...hai-provinces/

Perhaps a blessing in disguise for the Golden Land.

[S Landreth]

Thailand - 9,909 new Covid cases, 22 more deaths

Nature's way of thinning out the weary herd.

The country registered 22 more Covid-19 fatalities and 9,909 new cases during the previous 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry announced on Friday morning. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...22-more-deaths

Nature's way of thinning out the weary herd.

• Small doses of mRNA vaccines provide high immunity, low side effects, says virologist

In a Facebook post on Friday, leading virologist Dr Yong Poovorawan explained that many countries in the West are administering half the dose of mRNA vaccines as booster shots and that they are proving just as effective.

He said Chulalongkorn University’s Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology has studied the administration of 10 micrograms of Pfizer subcutaneously and 15 to 30mcg through intramuscular injection. The centre has also studied the delivery of the full dose (100mcg) and half dose (50mcg) of Moderna vaccines.

Both studies revealed that immunity to both Delta and Omicron variants remains similar regardless of the doses.

He said vaccination centres under the Public Health Ministry, such as Bang Sue Grand Station, are administering Pfizer vaccines of 10mcg subcutaneously and 15-30mcg intramuscularly.

Yong said studies show that the administration of small doses reduces side effects but provides a high level of immunity. https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40011922

Perhaps a blessing in disguise for the Golden Land.

[S Landreth]

Thailand - 10,490 new Covid cases, 21 more deaths

Nature's way of thinning out the weary herd.

The country registered 10,490 more Covid-19 cases and 21 new fatalities during the previous 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry announced on Saturday morning. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...21-more-deaths

Nature's way of thinning out the weary herd.

[S Landreth]

Thailand - 10,879 new Covid cases, 20 more deaths

Nature's way of thinning out the weary herd.

The country registered 10,879 more Covid-19 cases and 20 new fatalities during the previous 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry announced on Sunday morning. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...20-more-deaths

Nature's way of thinning out the weary herd.

• Call to keep calm despite surge in cases

The Department of Disease Control (DDC) has called on the public not to panic after the kingdom recorded over 10,000 new daily coronavirus cases on Saturday.

"The number is in line with our observation that the Omicron variant of [the coronavirus] is highly transmissible," said Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the DDC.

The Covid-19 situation will only be considered severe if infections spike to 30,000 cases per day, he said.

"The most important thing is the protective measures that prevent the spread of the virus."

Thailand has largely vaccinated its population, he said, adding that people understand the Covid-19 situation and are taking extra care when holding ceremonies such as weddings, ordinations and funerals.

Most recent infections were detected in small clusters, where people had face-to-face interactions without face masks, he said.

Dr Opas said people should analyse the Covid-19 situation by focusing on the number of infections, severe cases and deaths.

Some 500 Covid-19 patients also suffered from pneumonia, with about 20–30 deaths, he said.

Total infections have yet to reached the "dangerous line" on graphs, he said.

Thailand on Saturday logged 10,490 new cases, including 217 imported ones, and 21 new deaths.

The country registered 10,879 more Covid-19 cases and 20 new fatalities during the previous 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry announced on Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, a committee has approved a plan to give 6-year-old children the Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines, said Dr Paisarn Dunkum, secretary-general of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Sinovac doses are being imported by the Government Pharmaceutical Organization, while Sinopharm jabs are being brought in by Biogenetech Co, he said.

The vaccines were previously approved for people over 18, he said.

The FDA has told the agencies to submit additional information to expand inoculation to young children aged 3–5 years old, he said. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...surge-in-cases

Perhaps a blessing in disguise for the Golden Land.

[S Landreth]

Thailand records 10,470 Covid-19 cases and 12 deaths on Monday

Nature's way of thinning out the weary herd.

Ministry of Public Health reported on Monday (February 7) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 10,470 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 166 of whom have arrived in Thailand from abroad. https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012005

Nature's way of thinning out the weary herd.

• Long Covid may have hit 1 million people in Thailand, survey shows

Up to 1 million people in Thailand may be suffering from long Covid, which may create labour shortages in the future, research shows.

Researcher Thira Woratanarat said the number of reinfections has significantly surged thanks to the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

Hence, he said, people need to take steps to protect themselves and pay no attention to fake news and claims that Covid-19 is like normal flu.

Long Covid may have hit 1 million people in Thailand, survey showsResearch shows that there is a 20 to 40 per cent chance of people who have recovered from Covid-19 to develop long-term health problems or long-Covid, such as inflammation of certain organs or gastrointestinal problems, etc.

Long Covid can range from mild to severe and may hit both asymptomatic people as well as those with severe symptoms. It is believed that women face a greater risk of long Covid.

According to Brookings Metro, a US-based policy tracker, long Covid will mostly affect people of working age and subsequently create labour shortages.

As many as 2.5 million people in Thailand have been infected by Covid-19, and it is estimated that up to 40 per cent of them have developed long Covid. https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/life/40011992

Perhaps a blessing in disguise for the Golden Land.

[S Landreth]

Thailand - 10,398 new Covid cases, 17 more deaths

Nature's way of thinning out the weary herd.

The country registered 17 more Covid-19 fatalities and 10,398 new cases during the previous 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry announced on Tuesday morning. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...17-more-deaths

Nature's way of thinning out the weary herd.

• CCSA may relax more Covid-19 restrictions at next meeting

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration will consider further easing restrictions despite rising number of Covid-19 cases, Government Spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Monday.

Thanakorn said the CCSA is expected to review the measures for controlling the spread of SARS-CoV 2 virus and is likely to relax restrictions so that all businesses can resume and people can resume their normal life as much as possible.

The review of measures is expected at the next meeting of the CCSA, he said.

The spokesman said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed all concerned government agencies to monitor the Covid-19 situation after the number of new daily cases passed the 10,000 mark.

But the Public Health Ministry has assured the prime minister that although the Omicron variant can spread much faster than the previous Delta strain, the new strain did not cause serious illness and the number of fatalities and seriously ill patients had not increased much.

The ministry has assured the prime minister that the public health system can cope with seriously ill patients to prevent more fatalities while people with asymptomatic disease or mild conditions can enter home isolation programme, he said.

Since he has been assured that the situation is under control, Prayut has instructed all agencies to explain to the people that they can live with the Covid-19 virus with safety when they strictly comply with protection measures, the spokesman added. https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012023

Perhaps a blessing in disguise for the Golden Land.

• Bangkok to speed up vaccination of vendors, workers at 488 markets

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is speeding up the vaccination of vendors and workers in 488 fresh markets in the capital this month, Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang said today (Monday), the third consecutive day the daily Covid-19 cases nationwide have surpassed 10,000 again after several months.

He also said that 12 markets, under the supervision of the BMA, will be cleaned up every week, after being inspected by health officials, to ensure that they meet the COVID free setting standard.

Governor Aswin urged members of the public to report, via the BMA’s 1555 hotline or the Department of Disease Control at hotline 1422, if they come across any market which does not comply with the strict safety measures of both the Ministry of Public Health and the BMA.

Meanwhile, the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) reported today that 66 people were found among clusters of infection related to markets in Bangkok, 29 in Chon Buri, 23 in Ubon Ratchathani, 22 in Prachuap Khiri Khan, 13 in Khon Kaen and 11 in Nan province.

The causes of market-related clusters are poor air circulation, crowding, the failure to wear face masks, a lack of sanitizer gel available and employees working at several different markets. https://www.thaipbsworld.com/bangkok...t-488-markets/

Perhaps a blessing in disguise for the Golden Land.

[S Landreth]

Thailand - 13,182 new Covid cases, 24 more deaths

Nature's way of thinning out the weary herd.

The country registered 24 more Covid-19 fatalities and 13,182 new cases during the previous 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry announced on Wednesday morning. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...24-more-deaths

Nature's way of thinning out the weary herd.

• Booster shots necessary to keep severe Covid-19 symptoms, death at bay, says DDC

Two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine can boost the recipient’s immunity against the virus by 65 per cent and reduce the chance of developing severe symptoms or death by 88 per cent, the Department of Disease Control (DDC) said on Monday.

“Those who received two jabs and then a booster are 94 per cent less likely to contract the virus, and 98 per cent less likely to develop severe symptoms or die from the infection,” DDC expert Dr Thaweesub Sirapraphasiri said.

The DDC has been studying data from vaccine recipients and Covid-19 patients in Thailand from July to December 2021, when Delta was the dominant variant and had sparked a third and fourth wave of infections in the country.

The study also found that those who had received two jabs of the vaccine in July and August are likely to have their immunity against the virus drop to around 50 per cent by November or December. However, their immunity shot up to over 90 per cent after receiving a booster shot in November or December.

The DDC conducted another study in January 2022, when the highly transmissible Omicron became the dominant strain and began spreading across Thailand.

This study, which was only conducted in Chiang Mai, showed that people who had received three Covid-19 vaccines found their immunity against Omicron rise by 68 per cent on average. Also, there was no significant difference in efficacy among vaccines.

For instance, two jabs of Sinovac followed by an AstraZeneca booster increased the recipient’s immunity by 78 per cent.

Two Sinovac shots followed by a Pfizer booster gave recipients 63 per cent immunity. Two Sinopharm shots and a Pfizer booster increased immunity by 66 per cent. Two AstraZeneca shots and a Pfizer booster increased immunity by 62 per cent. A combo of Sinovac and AstraZeneca followed by AstraZeneca booster increased recipients’ immunity by 68 per cent.

All combinations still help reduce the chance of death from the virus by 96 per cent.

“These studies show that two doses of the vaccine are effective against Covid-19, but the efficacy will reduce after a few months,” Thaweesub said. “Therefore, people who have received their two shots should get a booster of any kind as that will help reduce the chance of them developing severe symptoms and death in case of infection.” https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012060

Perhaps a blessing in disguise for the Golden Land.

• Covid crisis drives rise in long-term unemployment

The number of long-term unemployed people or those without a job for more than a year has risen sharply since the arrival of Covid-19 in January 2020, the National Statistical Office of Thailand (NSOT) announced on Tuesday.

NSOT director Piyanuch Wutthisorn said the long-term unemployed group expanded to 118,000 people in the last quarter of last year compared to 35,000 in the same period of 2020.

Most of those in the long-term unemployment group are between the ages of 15 and 30, Piyanuch said, adding that the numbers in the fourth quarter of 2021 improved slightly from the previous quarter. For instance, she said, the situation for 15- to 24-year-olds improved from 8.6 per cent in the third quarter of 2021 to 7.2 per cent unemployed in the fourth quarter.

She added that the number of “semi-unemployed” in the fourth quarter of 2021 rose to 2.61 million from 2.56 million from the previous quarter. The semi-unemployed are those that work no more than 20 hours a week in the agricultural sector and no more than 24 hours per week in non-agricultural sectors.

However, Piyanuch said, this semi-unemployed group may lose their hours or become completely unemployed soon.

She said the employment situation improved in the last quarter of 2021 because the government eased Covid-19 restrictions and more workers returned to the service, trade and manufacturing sectors. The employment rate in the last quarter of 2021 stood at 6.63 per cent with most of the jobs based in service and trade sectors, she said. https://www.nationthailand.com/business/40012072

Perhaps a blessing in disguise for the Golden Land.

• Health volunteers to be given THB500 more to boost morale

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved a central budget of 3.15 billion baht to be paid to village health and public health volunteers in a bid to raise their morale in the battle against Covid-19.

Deputy government spokesperson Traisulee Traisoranakul said 1,039,729 village health volunteers and 10,577 public health volunteers would receive 500 baht each for six months from October 2021 to March 2022 in addition to the current 1,000 baht per month.

She said these volunteers would perform additional duties to contain the spread of Covid-19, such as informing the public about the situation as it develops, creating awareness about Covid-19 vaccines and boosters, conducting surveys to enable people to receive their jabs and monitoring patients at home or in community isolation facilities.

“This aims to ensure community safety, create awareness among people and boost the volunteers’ morale,” she added.

The Public Health Ministry appointed village health and public health volunteers to monitor and contain the spread of Covid-19 in communities since February 2020.

So far, the volunteers have created awareness of the situation among 7.42 million people, screened 1.09 million at risk of infection, contacted 14 million households, sent 3,514 patients to public health facilities, reported Covid-19 ATK test results 37,643 times and invited precisely 14,864,145 people aged 60 or above and people with chronic diseases to receive their first jabs and 9,638,559 to get a second jab. https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012116

Perhaps a blessing in disguise for the Golden Land.

[S Landreth]

99,.......

[S Landreth]

100........

[S Landreth]

Coronavirus Cases: 404,004,737

Deaths: 5,797,486

Under reported US death count: 935,922

American Civil War Battle Deaths and In Theater (north and south) - 498,332

it's been blown way out of proportion.

• Thailand - 14,822 new Covid cases, 20 more deaths

Nature's way of thinning out the weary herd.

The country registered 20 more Covid-19 fatalities and 14,822 new cases during the previous 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry announced on Thursday morning. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...20-more-deaths

Nature's way of thinning out the weary herd.

[S Landreth]

Thailand - 15,242 new Covid cases, 23 more deaths

Nature's way of thinning out the weary herd.

The country registered 23 more Covid-19 fatalities and 15,242 new cases during the previous 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry announced on Friday morning. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...23-more-deaths

Nature's way of thinning out the weary herd.

• Covid cases in city surge to 2,000 a day

Covid-19 infections in the capital are surging, with approximately 2,000 cases per day, says the Department of Disease Control (DDC).

Many of the infections are among adolescents and the working-age population, it said.

Dr Suthat Chottanapund, director of the department's Institute for Urban Disease Control and Prevention, said daily infections are increasing in all areas of the capital to 1,800-2,000 cases per day.

The main cause has been close contact with infected patients through group activities conducted in venues with poor airflow, such as pubs and bars which have obtained restaurant licences.

The DDC recorded 28,256 Covid-19 cases in the capital from Dec 12 to Feb 8, of which 31% were in the 20-29 age group. Some 21% were aged 30-39 and 15% were 40-49.

"We have found the main cause of infections remains unchanged, and we have seen more infections within families as the Omicron variant is easily spread," Dr Suthat said.

He said the number of daily deaths had dropped from five to 10 to just one or two cases a day.

Senior citizens, unvaccinated people and those living with chronic diseases still account for most deaths.

Department of Health chief Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai warned people who frequent fresh markets to ensure they take precautions, as many clusters have been found there.

He said fresh markets should follow ministry guidelines in terms of preventive measures, especially social distancing, wearing masks and frequent hand washing.

The latter is still considered important as the virus can remain on banknotes, coins, products and plastic bags, he added. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...to-2-000-a-day

Perhaps a blessing in disguise for the Golden Land.