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August 23, 2021 Thai Enquirer Summary COVID-19 News

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August 23, 2021 Thai Enquirer Summary COVID-19 News August 23, 2021 Thai Enquirer Summary COVID-19 News Thailand witnesses 2nd consecutive day of decline in the number of infections but warning by Rural Doctors that the numbers are not accurate representation as the actual numbers are much higher. Total New Infections = 17,491 Community Infection = 17,093 Prison Infection = 398 Total positive cases (ATK/Antigen) = 901 Total New Death = 242 Total New Recovery = 22,134 Total Infection including ATK = 18,392 Total infections so far since outbreak = 1,066,786 Total deaths so far since outbreak = 9,562 Details of data for each day can be found @ https://ddc.moph.go.th/covid19-dashboard/ The number of RT-PCR tests undertaken for 7-days average until Saturday August 21 was 50,859 tests The average testing positive for the same 7-days averaged at 20,503 cases Giving a percentage testing positive of 43.10% of all RT-PCR tests undertaken. There are a few other good news in the Covid-19 front There are reports that UK based AstraZeneca has agreed to ship a million more doses for the month of September Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration on Saturday announced that during the month of September the country could receive 7.2 million doses of AstraZeneca, up from the current 5.5 to 6 million doses that it gets currently. There is also some other good news that those in intensive care unit (ICU) and on Ventilators had been going down until yesterday when it started to rise slightly. Inoculation Drive There is also a rise in inoculation, although during the weekend there was a slight dip in the number of doses administered, but this weekend was the highest vaccination weekend. If you are one of those wondering when you would get your 2nd dose or even the 1st, well there are some people in Thailand who have surpassed other countries in the world to get their 4th dose already. The data released by the CCSA suggests that as below (219 people in Thailand have had their 4th dose already). As for inoculation drive to have 100 million (1st and 2nd doses) administered by the end of the year, the country needs to administer 26.4 million more doses in the next 131 days. The need is for inoculation of 561,624 doses per day to achieve that target. This also means that the planned opening of the Thai borders as per the televised address to the country on June 16th by General Prayut, is still an uphill battle. With just over 51 days remaining for the deadline, the border opening looks impossible to achieve. The Ministry of Commerce revealed that currently, manufacturers, importers and traders of self-testing kits (ATK) registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have submitted cost information. The selling price has been considered by the Department for 9 brands from a total of 34 brands, with the CIF import cost price, including product cost, insurance and shipping costs, at 124-277 baht per piece, but the retail price is as high as 219.35-425 baht per piece. The profit margin is as high as 72-198 baht per piece and the Ministry of Commerce will speed up the price control. Public Service Announcement Listed below are the numbers to call in case there is a need for those infected Economic News Former governor of Bank of Thailand (BoT), Veerathai Santiprabhob, came out to warn that the country’s economy was facing a structural damage as covid ravages the country. Veerathai who was the governor until 2020 when he declined to take an extension came out to warn that the economy was in bad shape and the government of Prayut needs to implement measures to revive the economy. Read more details of the issues raised by Veerathai in our story https://www.thaienquirer.com/31588/former-bot-governor-warns-govt-to- be-more-proactive-or-see-structural-damages-to-economy/ Thai Bankers' Association reportedly sent a letter signed by Phayong Srivanich, Chairman of the Thai Bankers Association, to the Governor of the Bank of Thailand (BoT) expressing concern about the BoT's circular letter to commercial banks and institutions financial assistance to debtors for a reduction of principal and interest (Hair cut) that will lead to severe damage to the financial position of financial institutions. This the letter said, this measure could create behavior intentionally distorted debt (moral hazard) and a better option could be to flag or entering an account status code to show the facts about getting hair cut during the Covid-19 crisis at the National Credit Information Center (NCB). By doing so, other financial institutions would get to know and consider the risks before approving debtors to incur additional debts that the borrower had failed to pay up. Phayong Srivanich, Chairman of the Thai Bankers Association later gave an interview on the current economic conditions saying that the banking sector greatly affected and was facing more risks, having to open and close branches, while there are still debtors who these financial institutions need to help out under the BOT's debt restructuring measures of up to 1.89 million accounts, or about 2 trillion baht, which may become bad debts. Thaniwan Kulmongkol, president of the Thai Restaurant Association, revealed that on August 24, the association and private businesses will meet with General Prayut Chan-o- cha, Prime Minister and Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health to ask for clarity on the way to resume business again. As early as September 1 or at the latest on September 15, after the lockdown measures and a ban on dining at restaurants since July, sales have dropped by as much as 80 percent of the total in the past month. The has made the industry lose as much as 34.1 billion baht in revenues. Singapore listed - Thai Beverage Plc reported its performance for Q3 2021 and despite the Covid-19 crisis, the company reported that its 9 months operating results saw sales grow 1.1%, totaling 192.12 billion baht. The liquor business group still saw a growth in sales in both value and quantity, reflecting that consumers can still buy products or drink. Especially the white liquor group, the four liquor, the price is in 100s of baht . ThaiBev revealed that EBITDA was at 36.638 billion baht, an increase of 11%. Chatchawin Phiphatchottham Assistant Executive Chairman, Forth Corporation Plc (FORTH) revealed that the company has bid and received a project to supply electronic tracking devices (EM) or EM bracelets attached to prisoners' ankles, which generates good regular income because it is the only manufacturer and manufacturer of EM bracelet tracking system in Thailand. The company said that it has received 35,000 EM in the first phase and has more opportunities to get jobs since there are 350,000 prisoners in the system, but prisons of the Department of Corrections can only accommodate 120,000 prisoners. The government has a policy to control the release of prisoners to live outside using EM bracelets and therefore this EM business has a good potential for growth. The weekend also saw the budget debate in the parliament and the passage of many of the budgets. The 3rd reading of the budget was passed while the budget for the royal family saw a slight cut as reported by Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thai-monarchy-budget- survives-rare-calls-cuts-parliament-2021-08-22/ Reverse investing by people in Laos. It has been reported that a Laos based investor has purchased more than 80% of a Market for Alternative Investment (MAI) listed company - T Engineering Corp Plc., for a possible backdoor listing. The Laos based investor invested over a 1 billion baht to buy the firm and it is yet to be known what the actual reason for the purchase is. Meanwhile the Srettha Thavisin, Chief Executive Officer of Sansiri Plc, one of the country’s leading real-estate developers, has come out to criticize the Deputy Prime Minister & Energy Minister – Supattanapong Punmeechaow, who he said was not managing the country’s economy properly. Srettha came out to say that the seniors or elderly should listen to the people’s voices and not listening and trying to control could only lead to a ‘revolution’. He added that there are various platforms to talk to each other and it is best to talk clear things out. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Political News 2014 coup leader seems to be on the path of becoming untouchable as the Ministry of Digital Economy & Society has come out to ban the ‘Popyut’ a game that was initiated last week which was to click and open Prayut’s mouth by touching the screen of the mobile phone. Popyut got as many as 360 billion clicks. The weekend saw more protests from the Thalu Fah group of more radial protestors with some clashes around the Din Daeng area. The clashes were mainly as these young protestors were riding their motorcycles around the 1st infantry division and were kicked to fall off their bikes so that the police could then nab them. Pictures of the police undertaking such actions went viral on social media. Pol Maj Gen Piya Tawichai, spokesman for the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said there was a disturbance in the Din Daeng area saw 2 police officers injured and initially, 35 people were arrested and as many as 20 motorcycles were seized with a number of guns and explosives were also seized. Among those who were present at yesterday’s protest was Tanat Thanakitamnuary, the 29-year-old who is known as ‘Hi-so Luk Nut’, the person who was blinded by the reportedly tear gas shot at him on August 13th The challenges to Prime Minister Prayut from various people is starting to receive some response from his minions.
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