Northern Thailand
Health Ministry Rules Out Covd-19 Lockdowns for Northern Thailand
Thailand’s Public Health Ministry has ruled out covid-19 lockdown for northern Thailand’s Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai provinces as a result of a covid-19 scare involving a Thai returnee from Myanmar.
“The health ministry has been testing all those who came into contact with the patient and there has yet to be a positive result,” Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Department of Disease Control told the Bangkok Post. His comments come to relieve fears of an outbreak in provinces that rely on domestic tourism for income. Especially in the absence of foreign arrivals.
“Widespread Covid-19 transmission is unlikely because people in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai are still wearing masks on a daily basis. The health ministry will continue monitoring the situation for a further 14 days,”he said.
Of the 328 people believed to have come into close contact with the 29-year-old Thai woman who worked in Myanmar who tested positive, 107 were initially classified as being at high risk of contagion. Of those, 65 have already seen negative test results returned.
Cautioned against “overreacting”
Dr Opas asked people to remain calm and cautioned against “overreacting” after some schools announced their immediate temporary closure after the news first broke at the weekend, and reassured the media that all necessary precautions were being taken in northern Thailand.
In Chiang Rai public health chief, Dr Thossathep Boonthong gave further details about how two young women aged 26 and 23, were able to illegally enter Mai Sai district from Tachileik in Myanmar under the cover of darkness on Thursday night.
Both worked at the same entertainment venue as the 29-year-old woman who tested positive in Chiang Mai. All three had gone to work in the Myanmar border town last month, but decided to return to Thailand after authorities imposed a midnight to 4am curfew to contain the local outbreak.
“We are less worried about the situation in Chiang Rai because the pair did not go out in public,” Dr Opas said.
The 26-year-old woman decided to seek a test at Bangkok Hospital Chiang Rai in Muang district on Saturday after hearing that her colleague now in Chiang Mai had contracted the disease. Two tests confirmed she was Covid-19 positive on Sunday, and she was later transferred to Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital in Muang district.
Four people at high risk
Public health officials on Sunday ordered her 23-year-old friend, who was also staying in Mae Sai, to get tested. At around midnight on Monday her covid-19 test came back positive.
The Chiang Rai public health office has identified four people as being at high risk of contracting the disease and another 22 who should also be tested as a precautionary measure.
Chiang Rai governor Prachon Pratsakul said while some additional people, including food delivery workers, may have had minimal exposure to the pair, the total number of tests needed would not exceed 30.
The new cases have prompted authorities to stiffen security measures along the border with Myanmar.
“Many Thais working across the border are returning with the virus in order to receive treatment in Thailand,” the governor said. The two Chiang Rai cases were included in the 21 new infections reported by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration on Monday.
The Governor of Mae Hong Son province in northern Thailand has sought stricter rules for tourist tubing on the Pai River, following allegations of tourists sneaking into resort areas to engage in sexual activities, which prompted police reports and considerable criticism online.
After a resort owner in Pai protested about the existing situation of tubing activities along the Pai River, the Governor became aware of the matter. According to the accusations, wine and beer are discreetly offered to tourists while disguised in plastic water bottles to prevent detection.
After their tubing adventures, these tourists, both men and women, would walk around Pai town in their swimsuits. Men often wear one pair of swim briefs, but most women wear two-piece swimsuits or bikinis.
This behavior was considered derogatory to local culture. Recently, there were instances of tourists slipping into resort areas to engage in sexual activities, which prompted police investigations and considerable online criticism.
Following the complaint, provincial governor Chuchip Pongchai requested a meeting of the police and allied authorities on July 16 to explore further tourism restrictions.
The province already restricts the selling of alcohol to tourists who go tubing, which involves floating down a river on inner tubes made of rubber tires. Most people observe the guidelines, but others, including some store owners, break them by concealing the alcohol by pouring it in water bottles.
According to TNA, Pai is one of Northern Thailand’s most popular tourist spots, attracting 40,000 visitors each year and strengthening Thailand’s economy.
Tubing in the Pai River has become a favorite activity among foreigners. However, the governor stated that the attitude of some tourists has jeopardised the province’s image.
Tourists Tubing on Pai River
People Also Reading:
Girl 16 Arrested in Thailand for Defaming Royalty on Facebook
Girl 16 Arrested in Thailand for Defaming Royalty on Facebook
Police in northern Thailand’s Phayao province have arrested a 40-year-old pregnant mother for attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to create bodily harm.
Phayao Police report they were called after a woman and her daughter had been stabbed and beaten by a family member to a house number 206, Soi 7, Village No. 3, Ban San Nong Niao Subdistrict. Tom, Mueang District.
When officers arrived they found Ms. Chayada Chaiyawan, age 45, and her daughter Ms. Patida Chaiyawan, age 19, with injuries to their bodies and heads. Blood was spread all over the bedroom, and they found Mrs. Sakulkarn, aged 40 years, who was a relative living next door, tied up.
The police then transported all of them to Phayao Hospital for treatment. Ms. Chayada was stabbed thirteen times and her daughter twice. Both also sustained head injuries, according to Phayao police.
Ms. Chayada told police the incident occurred around 4:00 a.m. She was sleeping in the room with her young son, when she heard someone opened the bedroom door. She said at that time it was still dark and all she saw a shadow of a person lifting what she though was a hammer.
She said the got up and fought until she fell after being hit in the head and stabbed with a knife, in fear for her life she screamed for her daughter to come and help. When the daughter entered the room the assailant proceeded to hit her in the head and stabbed her also.
The assailant ran out of the room and was immediately restrained by a neighbour who heard the screaming and ran into the house to help. Mrs. Sakulkarn who was 7 months pregnant was tied up and police and rescue workers were called to the scene. The neighbour told police that all the time they were waiting for the police.
Police said Mrs. Sakulkarn is being held in Hospital and is under psychiatric care. Ms. Chayada and her daughter were treated for their injuries and sent home.
According to Thai Media, Police said charges of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to create bodily harm will be filed against Mrs. Sakulkarn after she is released from Hospital.
People also reading:
Phayao Gets City-Class Air Purification Tower for Air Pollution
Phayao Gets City-Class Air Purification Tower for Air Pollution
Five people were killed and two others badly injured when a pickup truck was hit by a north-bound train at an unguarded railway crossing in Phitchit province on Monday evening.
Phitchit police reported the horrific crash occurred around 6 pm at Moo 1 village in tambon Pak Thang of Muang district of Phitchit.
Police said the 201 passenger train from Bangkok to Phitsanulok approached the crossing, which was unguarded and had no safety barriers.
A four-door pickup truck plates drove across the tracks and into the path of oncoming the train which was was unable to stop or slowdown in time to avoid hitting the pickup truck.
The force of the crash drove the pickup about 30 metres down the railway crossing and off to the side. All passengers on the pickup were thrown from the vehicle.
Three women passengers died immediately and two more passengers died later at Phichit Hospital. Two others including the driver of the pickup were seriously injured.
Police investigators said truck driver Pratya Khongthat, 40, was taking relatives, including a 14-yea-old girl, to a funeral at Wat Ratchangkhwan in tambon Pak Thang, approximately one kilometer from the accident scene.
People Also Reading:
Bangkok-Vientiane Inaugural Train Service Launches July 19
-
News3 years agoLet’s Know About Ultra High Net Worth Individual
-
Entertainment1 year ago
Mabelle Prior: The Voice of Hope, Resilience, and Diversity Inspiring Generations
-
Health3 years agoHow Much Ivermectin Should You Take?
-
Tech2 years agoTop Forex Brokers of 2023: Reviews and Analysis for Successful Trading
-
Lifestyles2 years agoAries Soulmate Signs
-
Health2 years agoCan I Buy Ivermectin Without A Prescription in the USA?
-
Movies2 years agoWhat Should I Do If Disney Plus Keeps Logging Me Out of TV?
-
Learning2 years agoVirtual Numbers: What Are They For?