April 26, 2021 Thai Enquirer Summary General News Today’s unofficial numbers are out. The data source has so far been on the spot for the past week but it is not final until 11:30 am when the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) announces the numbers. The data shows that there are 2,048 new infections as of yesterday 8 new deaths Sunday’s data that was released yesterday showed 2,438 new infections and 11 deaths and Sunday’s data suggested that the number of deaths in Thailand is rising sharply and most are younger people. Sunday’s data suggested that 11 people died and most of the dead were from 27- 40 years of age. The government is looking to ‘targeted’ lockdown certain areas and the measures would be implemented within this week (April 28th) The lockdown is likely to be specific to areas where the virus is spreading such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Prachuap Kirikan, Chonburi and others. Opposition MPs have come out to reveal that Natthaphon Natthasomboon, Director- General of the Meteorological Department has been infected with COVID-19 and has kept his timeline a secret as he may have gone to Krystal Pub in Thonglor. He had checked-in to Phramongkutklao Hospital where he was diagnosed with Covid-19 but never revealed his timeline of where he had gone and when he had gone there. These details were released by Yuttaphong Jaratsathien, MP Mahasarakham Pheu Thai party. Thailand bans entry of non-Thai citizens from India as the strain of the virus in India is very strong. The number of days for quarantine for those coming from India/Pakistan and Bangladesh has been raised to 21-days from 15-days earlier. Nonthaburi municipality has come out to ask those who visited ‘The Mall’ Ngam Wong Wan should get themselves tested as 4 of the staff in the ‘bakery’ zone have tested positive and 40 of the staff in the supermarket are now under watch. Bangkok and provinces around the country have come out with a ‘fine’ of 20,000 baht for anyone found not wearing a mask when venturing outside the house. Nonthaburi officials caught some motorcycle drivers not wearing mask but as they could not afford 20,000 baht in fine, they were asked to do push-up or else pay the fine. A total of 48 provinces have now implemented measures to wear mask and/or pay fines This includes the likes of Bangkok /Kanchanaburi /Nonthaburi /Chiang Mai/Chonburi /Chanthaburi /Saraburi /Prachuab Kirikhan /Lopburi /Loei/ Yala/ Surat Thani etc. Over the weekend the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration ordered the closure of all the venues listed below from today (Monday) until May 9 (total of 14-days). While all this has been ongoing, as many as 28 people were caught partying. The people partying were from various foreign nationals be it Philippines, Thai, and some western countries. The party was in a pool villa with as many as 28 people was busted after the police raided and some of those apprehended said that they did not know if the country was under ‘Emergency’ for Covid-19 outbreak. Political News Calls have been made for the resignation of Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, as this move was prompted by doctors who were not happy with the way Anuthin has been handling the Ministry and the 3rd wave of the outbreak. As many as 143,644 signatures were gathered within the weekend when the petition was filed by www.change.org but the Ministry of Digital Economy has come out to say that this was in breach of the law and pulled down the signature gathering campaign. Calls have been made to Prayut Chan-o-cha and his Phalang Pracharat Party to sacrifice Bhumjai Thai party but no such decision has been made yet. When asked by reporters, Anuthin said that he had asked for this position himself but when it is time, he will walk away himself when he feels it is right time to move on. Students across the country held protests with social distancing and with masks on their face. They all stood in-front courts to show their displeasure of not granting bail to the student movement leaders. To make matters worse some of the student leaders have been diagnosed with Covid-19 infection. Cracks are appearing in the coalition as Phalang Pracharat Party has assigned Thamanat Prompaow, the deputy leader of the party who was convicted of drug dealing in Australia nearly a decade ago. Thamanat has been assigned Songkla, Nakon Si Thammarat and Phuke, a move that has irked the Democrat party which has a stronghold in the southern province. Democrat party leader – Jurin Laksanawisit, has raised his opposition to this move as it was something that he and the party feels is a way to possibly eat into the Democrat party’s turf in the south. Opposition parties are set to discuss the planned 2022 budget issues via online video conference as the virus spreads. Pheu Thai party’s Member of Parliament - Chaiya Promma, from Nong Bua Lam Phu, came out to predict that the government may opt to dissolve the parliament by November or December 2021 as Prime Minister Prayut Cha-o-cha has failed in his management of the country in both social and economic management. The outbreak of Covid-19 has pushed the government to be exposed to its failures of management from every aspect. Pheu Thai’s Nakorn Machim, a person reportedly close to Thaksin Shinawatra, has come out to say that the house dissolution is likely to come after the current government makes its cash handouts to the public and that there may already be people who are lining up to be the next Prime Minister which includes the likes of Prayut Chan-o-cha Prawit Wongsuwon Anutin Charnviruakul Thamanat Prompaow Thailand’s ordinance factories are continuing to produce arms and keeping the people entertained with their artistry. This is one of the ordinance factories that has some of its arms on display at the entrance. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Economic News Thailand’s unemployment rate is likely to surge as those seeking benefit from the Social Security Office (SSO) has been on the rise. The rise in unemployment is likely to rise from the 2020 figures which saw as many as 1.21 million people use their benefit from the SSO. The 1.21 million people who used the right was 67 per cent out of the 2.21 million people who opted out of the SSO system last year. The numbers are likely to rise as more businesses are likely to close shop amid impact from the Covid-19 outbreak. The SSO expects as many as 5,000 more businesses to shutter during this year which could add to the rising number of layoff of employees. Covid-19 is a boon for businesses such as hospitals and Vibhavadi Hospital Plc (VIBHA), says that it expects its overall performance in 2021 to see improvement of 30- 40 per cent because the situation has improved from the previous year. VIBHA said that it was likely to recognize revenues from new hospitals and earn more income from COVID-19 treatment. The company plans to expand the business both through acquisitions and new investments. VIBHA said that in the past 1-2 years, the company has not acquired new hospital business but invested through the purchase of shares in the hospital business group that the company raised funds through Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) such as Sikarin Hospital Plc (SKR), Thai Nakarin Hospital (TNH), Ramkhamhaeng Hospital Plc (RAM). Thailand’s Rice Exports have hit a decade low with data showing that for the month of April 2021 Thailand’s rice export were at a mere 300,000 tonnes, the lowest in 10-years. One of the biggest reason for the fall in exports was the shortage of containers to ship the rice even though the exporters were willing to pay 2x the normal freight rates, there were no containers to take the rice to the destination. The private sector has come out to offer a helping hand and have offered to give the country all that it can to get through this period of severe outbreak. The biggest businesses in the country have come out to offer their help prompting Krungthep Thurakij to run this as its front page this morning. During the past week, the private sector announced 10 locations to be used as vaccination sites as a pilot project. After a meeting on the progress of vaccine procurement plan by the private sector via Google Hangouts Meet, TCC chairman Sanan Angubolkul revealed 10 vaccine sites approved by the private sector as follows: 1) Siam Cement Group 2) Central Ladprao Department Store 3) Samyan Mitrtown 4) Fashion Island shopping mall 5) Central Pinklao 6) The Mall Bangkae 7) True Digital Park 8) Asiatique 9) Thanya Park 10) Icon Siam The TCC plans to discuss the idea of these sites with Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) medical service team on April 27. Given the economic turbulence brought about by the pandemic, the government may need to rethink its fiscal sustainability framework, which caps public debt at 60 per cent of GDP, says the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO). Patricia Mongkhonvanit, PDMO's director-general, said with the current economic crisis, government borrowing is instrumental in shoring up the economy. The government has insisted its plan to reopen Phuket to foreign tourists on July 1 remains on course despite the country facing a third wave of Covid-19. Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit admitted the current infection rate is threatening the reopening but doubled down on the target, stressing the government would try by all means to see the first foreign arrivals set foot on the island on July 1.