August 11, 2021 Thai Enquirer Summary COVID-19 News
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August 11, 2021 Thai Enquirer Summary COVID-19 News Thailand recorded yet another day of record infection today Today’s numbers are as follows: Total New Infections = 21,038 Community Infection = 20,865 Prison Infection = 173 Total positive cases (ATK/Antigen) = 2,081 Total New Death = 207 Total New Recovery = 22,012 Total Infection including ATK = 23,119 Total infections so far since outbreak = 816,989 Total deaths so far since outbreak = 6,795 Details of data for each day can be found @ https://ddc.moph.go.th/covid19-dashboard/ The Move Forward party has come out to question the reason why Thailand ‘positive’ cases are far higher than those seen in the United States or India at its peak of the pandemic. The data released showed how the USA had a mere 15% positive cases as a percentage of the tests undertaken, while in India it was about 23% but in Thailand it is around 24% at the current moment. Bangkok was once again the epicentre for the spread of the virus according to data released at noon yesterday. A total of 4,226 new cases were registered in Bangkok alone 2nd to Bangkok was Samut Sakorn province, which recorded an all-time high infection of 1,639 cases. 3rd was Samut Prakarn with 1,006 new cases and total of 50,485 cases from April 1 until August 10th. Those in intensive care unit and on life support (ventilators) continued to rise. As of yesterday 5,450 people were in ICU and 1,106 people on ventilators. To make matters worse, Dr Prasit Watanapa, dean of Mahidol University's Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital has come out to say that Thailand’s problems are yet to peak and that the current rate of positive cases are likely to remain high for a few more weeks before it starts to taper off. The scenario will continue for at least the end of August and into 1st week of September before it starts to taper off. Delta Variant has become the dominant variant in Bangkok and now the entire country. Out of 1,157 samples in Bangkok 95.4% of the cases are Delta variant Out of 475 samples outside Bangkok, 83.2% were Delta Throughout the country 91.9% was Delta Variant The government has come out to say that all those who are supposed to be getting the Pfizer, will get the Pfizer. A complaint to media by Thammasart University hospital and by a hospital in Khon Kaen, prompted the authorities to send more doses to these hospitals. Inoculation Drive The drive to inoculate people continues to be erratic as each day with yesterday the numbers being a little more optimistic with total of 501,330 doses of 1st, 2nd and 3rd dose. Out of this 46,457 doses were 3rd dose of both AstraZeneca (2,947 doses) and Pfizer (43,510 doses). The 1st & 2nd dose that is the one that is being counted in the 100 million targeted inoculation by the end of the year is still far from being achieved. In the next 144 days 549,285 doses needs to be administered each day to achieve that 100 million doses goal by December 31, 2021. Vaccination for this month has remained erratic as evident from the daily inoculation numbers listed below In yet another damaging revelation against the incompetent Public Health Minister Anutin Charnviruakul, Asia Times has come out with a story on why Thailand had not ordered Pfizer vaccines since 2020. https://asiatimes.com/2021/08/covid-blame-game-spreads-like-a-virus-in- thailand/ Anutin has also come out to say that it was not the government that was making the purchase of the vaccines. “I have nothing to do with the policy to buy vaccines, I only give them morale support and told them to follow regulations,” Anutin said yesterday. As for the only alternative vaccine available in Thailand at the moment, SinoPharm, has opened its doors for general public to register for the 3rd time today at 11:11 hrs. Public Service Announcement Listed below are the numbers to call in case there is a need for those infected Political News Although the country is still recovering from yesterday’s ‘Car Mob’, a new protest was called this morning, possibly a last-minute call to avoid barriers being set up by the authorities. The new protest is being called by the more violent ‘Thalufa’ group The protest is being called at ‘Victory Monument’ area at 15:00 hrs. The plan is to march to the residence of Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister, which is located within the compounds of the 1st Infantry Regiment division on Vibhavadee Rangsit road. Yesterday’s expected peaceful ‘Car Mob’ protest turned violent as the protestors headed towards King Power on Laang Naam road which had to cross the Din Daeng intersection. The Din Daeng intersection is crucial as it is near the Army’s 1st Infantry division where 2014 coup leader and current Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha lives. The clashes turned violent with scored injured among them was Thapanee ‘Yaam’ Eadsrichai, the renowned founder of The Reporters, an online vernacular Thai language media house. As many as 6 police officers were also injured. Protest continued until late into the night until it was time for curfew at 21:00 hrs. Government came out to say that 6 police officers were injured, with as many as 100 motorcycles seized. The police said that they have arrested as many as 40 people. Protest ended at around 21:00 right around the time of the curfew. Out of the 6 police officers who were treated at a police hospital, one of whom was shot in the left thigh with a gunshot wound in the left thigh, while three others received shrapnel. The police said that 2 police boxes (booths) had been damaged as well. The violence continued despite the calls by the leaders of the ‘Car Mob’ calling for end of the protest as early as 17:00 hrs. Panassaya Sitthichirawatanakul, a key leader had said that “Whoever is in the front line, please withdraw. This is not our goal!!” But the youth continued to throw firecrackers at the Din Daeng intersection. while another part of the people followed the lead. Nattawut Saikua, a former key leader of the United front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), and now an independent campaigner for the ousting of Prayut government, has come out to post a VDO clip to ask people to join in yet another ‘Car Mob’ that he says would end by 18:00 hrs on August 15th. This he said was going to be a nationwide gathering of people and people can tune in on YouTube / Clubhouse etc to listen to the speeches and various music bands that would be playing to keep people entertained. The ‘Medical Amnesty’ bill that is become the talk of the town, has 9 clauses and the contentious clause is the clause 4, which could be used to protect the politicians and decision makers who have been in position since February 2020. The blanket amnesty bill by the Prayut government has been heavily criticized by the people as it absolves those who have mismanaged the Covid-19 outbreak in Thailand, especially during the 3rd wave that still continues to ravage the country. Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health has come out to say that the amnesty issue for healthcare workers on vaccine administration was still a work in progress. Recently, Anutin confirmed that this law is still just a draft and there are still many steps left to be looked into. Many voices must be heard, and as for the concern that political parties are obsessed with amnesty for themselves, this law does not come from political parties, and that the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health pushed to protect workers in his sector and it was done with honesty. The opposition has come out to say that they would not accept anything that is to do with the ‘blanket amnesty’ such as the one being proposed by the Prayut government. Suthin Klangsaeng, the key member of the opposition Pheu Thai party, came out to say that the opposition would not accept this move and that such a move could see a repeat of what has happened in the past (when Yingluck Shinawatra passed the blanket amnesty to absolve her brother Thaksin Shinawatra and clearing for hs way to return to Thailand). Anucha Burachaisri, spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office, said that it was necessary and this bill was still under consideration and no decision has been made yet. Meanwhile the government of Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday rescinded the anti-fake news bill that he had issued late last month and was shot down by the courts as being illegal. General Prayut who had seized power in 2014 in a coup against Yingluck’s government, yesterday issued a decree to repeal his own decree that he had issued against ‘fake news’. The opposition parties are set to take this rescinding of the bill to the judiciary to file a case against General Prayut and his administration for dereliction of duty. It yet to be seen if the courts will accept this move by the opposition or not. Sutin Klangsang, chairman of the opposition whip, revealed that on August 11 there will be a meeting of the opposition parties to knock on the names of ministers to debate no- confidence. The framework and all contents are complete.