reader

From MSN / AP China vaccinates its people in Thailand BANGKOK (AP) — Chinese citizens living in Thailand began being vaccinated on Thursday as part of China's global campaign to inoculate its nationals living and working abroad. China recently donated 500,000 vaccine doses, and Thailand agreed in turn to inoculate Chinese nationals as it slowly rolls out shots for its own citizens to contain a coronavirus surge that has sickened tens of thousands in the past two months. Yang Xin, minister counsellor at the Chinese Embassy, said Beijing's “Spring Sprout” program would benefit tens of thousands of Chinese in the country. An estimated 150,000 Chinese citizens live in Thailand. China has so far supplied millions of vaccine doses to the country, most of which Thailand purchased. The Thai government has said it will vaccinate Thais before inoculating most other foreigners, regardless of risk factors or age. In downtown Bangkok, a Chinese volunteer with a white mask, transparent shield and blue gloves stood in front of a red banner reading “Spring Sprout Action” flanked by the flags of China and Thailand at a vaccination center. Groups representing Americans living in Thailand sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week asking the government to supply some of the millions of unused vaccine doses available in the U.S. to inoculate American citizens in Thailand. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/china-in-global-campaign-vaccinates-its-people-in-thailand/ar-AAKbBB3

From Channel News Asia KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia reported a record of 6,806 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday (May 20), as the country continues to battle a third wave of infections. This is the second consecutive day that Malaysia has logged record numbers of daily cases since the pandemic began. On Wednesday, the country saw 6,075 new COVID-19 cases, the highest since Jan 30. Of the 6,806 infections reported on Thursday, 2,277 cases were from Selangor and 615 cases from Johor. Kuala Lumpur saw 655 new cases, the health ministry said. There were also a record 59 fatalities, bringing the national death toll to 2,099. This is the fourth time Malaysia has logged record daily numbers for COVID-19 deaths in less than two weeks, surpassing the previous high of 47 deaths on May 18. As of Thursday, Malaysia's tally of COVID-19 cases stands at 492,302, of which 50,171 are active or infectious. There are 587 patients in the intensive care unit. Health authorities in recent days have implored members of the public to stay at home and minimise non-essential activities. On Wednesday night, the Health Ministry posted a tweet, urging residents to conduct their own "self lockdown". Measures include not inviting guests to their homes and only heading out to buy groceries once a week. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/malaysia-covid19-record-high-daily-2nd-consecutive-day-6806-14848562

From The Thaiger 70% of people to have first dose of Covid-19 vaccine by September By September, 70% of the population in Thailand is expected to have received at least their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. An accelerated rollout of vaccines is expected to takeoff next month when the locally produced AstraZeneca vaccine is ready for public use. Thailand’s Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul says the government will focus on administering the first shot to the majority of the populations within the next 3 to 4 months and assures the public that doses will be available for a second shot. As of yesterday, just over 1.5 million people had received their first dose of the vaccine while 819,961 people were fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. The population of Thailand is around 70 million people. In a previous statement, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha said the Thai government aims to vaccinate 50 million people by the end of the year. Many have criticised the Thai government for being too slow on its nationwide vaccination programme, saying they relied too heavily on the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is being produced locally by Siam Bioscience.

From South China Morning Post Socially-conservative Singapore on Wednesday said it “noted with regret” that the US embassy in the city state had co-hosted a webinar with a local LGBT support group earlier this week. Multi-ethnic Singapore has strict laws regulating public assembly. Foreigners are prohibited from taking part in events dealing with a political cause. “Ministry of foreign affairs has reminded the US Embassy that foreign missions here are not to interfere in our domestic social and political matters, including issues such as how sexual orientation should be dealt with in public policy,” it said in a statement. “These are choices for only Singaporeans to debate and decide.” The May 17 webinar marked the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia and focused on the economic advantages of LGBTQI+ equality and inclusion around the world, the US embassy in Singapore said. “The US Embassy regularly works with civil society partners on a wide range of issues to build awareness and advance the human rights of all persons,” it added. The event was co-hosted with support group Oogachaga. Under a rare colonial-era law, Section 377A of the penal code, sex between men is punishable by up to two years in jail, though prosecutions are rare. Previous attempts to overturn the legislation have failed. The episode comes ahead of this year’s edition of Pink Dot Sg – Singapore’s main lesbian, gay bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) affirming rally. The June 13 event, now in its 13th year and which has previously drawn crowds of over 20,000 people, will be online-only for the second year running due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Previous in-person editions took place at Hong Lim Park, the republic’s sole free-speech zone. Amid the rise in Pink Dot’s stature, the government in 2017 imposed restrictions on foreign participation, with non-citizens barred from taking part in the rally. Foreign companies like Facebook, JP Morgan and Google which had previously been sponsoring the event were also told not to do so. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loonghad previously said he was prepared to live with the “uneasy compromise” of living with Section 377A “until social attitudes change”. Along with the retention of Section 377A, which the government says it retains on the books for “symbolic” purposes but will not enforce, LGBTQ people in Singapore say they are disadvantaged by certain policies aimed at incentivising heterosexual marriage and childbearing. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3134091/singapore-warns-us-embassy-over-webinar-lgbt-group .

This quote stayed with me: "I hope this frees me so that I can experience real, unadulterated joy, so that I can experience peace, so that I can experience intimacy, so that I can have sex without shame. This is for me. I’m doing this for me. I have too much shit to do, and I don’t have any fear about it anymore." At one time or another, I think we've all been there. It's our common denominator, and one we're frequently prone to forget.

From Vietnam News HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam is expected to receive 31 million COVID-19 vaccine doses developed by US-based firm Pfizer in the second half of 2021, said the Ministry of Health (MoH). The MoH and relevant agencies have taken measures to accelerate negotiations towards signing an agreement to purchase the vaccine. According to Health Minister Nguyễn Thanh Long, the ministry has coordinated with the Government Office, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the Ministry of Justice, to consult Cabinet members on the purchase of the Pfizer vaccine, and prepare to sign an agreement for 31 million doses as soon as possible. The MoH has also negotiated with many COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers such as Astra Zeneca, Moderna, Gamelaya with the goal of having enough COVID-19 vaccines to serve the country. It is also working with foreign partners on the transfer of vaccine production technology. Currently, four Vietnamese vaccines are under development, produced by Nagogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC, the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC), Vaccine and Biological Production Company No. 1 (Vabiotech) and the Center for Research and Production of Vaccines and Biologicals (Polyvac). — VNS https://vietnamnews.vn/society/952066/viet-nam-to-purchase-31-million-pfizer-vaccine-doses.html

From Bloomberg News Thai Airways International Pcl’s creditors approved the airline’s debt restructuring plan, paving the way for payment extension and unpaid interest waiver on at least 170 billion baht ($5.41 billion) of its debt. The plan was backed by 91% of creditors at an online meeting, Kitipong Urapeepatanapong, chairman of Baker & McKenzie in Bangkok, the airline’s legal adviser, said by phone on Wednesday. Five people have been appointed as its administrators including acting Chief Executive Officer Chansin Treenuchagron and former CEO Piyasvasti Amranandthe, Thai Airways said in a statement after the meeting. The airline in March proposed a three-year freeze on loan payments and a deferment of bond repayments for six years. To help it return to profitability after posting a record loss of 141 billion baht last year, Bangkok-based Thai Air also plans to cut its workforce by half, sell property and is seeking to raise 50 billion baht in new capital. The issues faced by the airline have become more acute as the country has been hit by its deadliest outbreak of the coronavirus so far. Thailand this week slashed its growth outlook for this year, citing a delay in reopening borders to foreign tourists and slow vaccination. New cases reached a record this week, prompting a government’s plan for additional borrowing of 700 billion baht to fund new stimulus. While Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha has rejected calls to extend direct financial support to Thai Air, the finance ministry as the airline’s largest shareholder has pledged its support for the restructuring plan. A lack of government support may make it difficult for Thai Air to survive the current slump in global aviation, according to Shukor Yusof, founder of aviation consulting firm Endau Analytics. “I don’t think any national carriers in this region can survive without significant government support as well as 3-4 years extension to their aircraft leases,” Yusof said. “The flare up in infections is certainly working against the creditors too. The longer the pandemic goes the less chance creditors and lessors have of getting their money back.” https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-19/thai-air-gets-creditors-approval-for-debt-restructuring-plan-kov5c9t7

Everywhere you look, signs of a self-inflicted crisis are evident. The crowded conditions in migrant worker camps were identified more than a year ago as major breeding grounds for new infections yet little or nothing was done. In one location, infections were linked to having to deposit coins to gain access to a public toilet. From the Thai Enquirer Infighting between the public health ministry and the BMA is slowing Thailand’s Covid response Disagreements and infighting between the Ministry of Public Health and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has intensified in recent days as both try to charter a course out of the current Covid crisis, sources told Thai Enquirer on Wednesday. The third wave of the pandemic continues unchecked in Thailand as the total number of people infected since April 1 approaches 100,000. Bangkok continues to be worst hit area in the country with high daily infection rates that have not gone down despite lockdown measures imposed by the local and national government. Now, sources within the public health ministry and inside parliament tell Thai Enquirer that disagreements between the two largest organizations responsible for managing the situation in Bangkok are threatening the capital’s recovery. “The governor’s office have basically told the MoPH that Bangkok is their jurisdiction and to butt out,” said a senior advisor to the Ministry of Public Health. “They have their own health advisors and are charting their own path – a path which is sometimes at odds with the ministry’s guideline.” One such example is the decision by the governor to only focus vaccinations initially on outbreak sites. According to the source within the MOPH, the rate of vaccination inside the capital is actually slower than other outbreak sites like Samut Sakhon and Rayong because of the BMA’s mismanagement. “I think the governor and his team think that this is a public relations opportunity and are putting their name on every billboard at vaccination sites or proudly proclaiming their covid success,” said the source. “It is tone deaf.” “We are facing the worst part of the crisis right now and Bangkok is at the epicenter,” said the MP from Bangkok. “If the two most relevant government agencies can’t even see eye-to-eye and work together then what hope does the country have?” “Right now speed is of the essence but this fight for who gets to take credit is actually costing us time and lives.” https://www.thaienquirer.com/27671/infighting-between-the-public-health-ministry-and-the-bma-is-slowing-thailands-covid-response/ =========================================== From Bangkok Post Construction camps major cause for concern Bangkok has five new Covid-19 clusters, raising the total to 34, health authorities announced on Wednesday. Unhygienic construction camps, many housing more than 1,000 workers, are a major cause of concern. Situation Administration, said the new clusters were at Bang Kapi market, a construction workers' camp in Bang Kholaem district, an ice factory in Chatuchak district, a construction workers' camp of Italian-Thai Development Plc in Don Muang district, and a cargo warehouse in Bang Sue district. "There are concerns about construction workers' camps, which exist in all 50 districts of Bangkok. Some districts have more than 20 camps each, including Bang Kapi, Bang Khen, Lat Phrao and Huai Khwang," she said. Dr Apisamai said some camps housed more than 1,000 workers. One camp in Bang Khoaem had 1,374 workers. There were seven construction camps in the district. "In some camps, workers share buckets and cups of drinking water. They must be informed that cannot be allowed. In addition, transport to and from the camps of infected workers must be restricted, to prevent disease transmission to other camps," Dr Apisamai said. ======================================== From the Thaiger / Thai PBS Restroom turnstile linked to hundreds of Covid infections at Pathum Thani market The turnstile at a public restroom is said to be linked to hundreds of Covid-19 infections at a Pathum Thani produce market, just north of Bangkok. Health officials tested 10,480 vendors and workers at the Simmummuang fruit and vegetable market and say 867 tested positive with many believed to have contracted the virus by inserting coins in the slot and touching the gate before using the public toilets at the market. The market is sectioned off into 10 zones, with 2 of them closed off following the outbreak while the other 8 zones remain open. A field hospital has been set up in the closed section of the market to house 400 Covid-19 patients. Another field hospital with 400 beds is being set up and planned to open tomorrow. https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/restroom-turnstile-linked-to-hundreds-of-covid-infections-at-pathum-thani-market

From the BBC We earlier posted on reports that Palestinian rockets launched into southern Israel had struck a packaging factory in the Eshkol region and killed two Thai workers. Thailand's foreign ministry has now confirmed that two of its citizens died - while eight others were wounded - in the attack at 14:50 local time (11:50 GMT) some 14km (about nine miles) from the border with Gaza. The two Thai men had been working at the Obad farming estate in Eshkol town, the ministry said. One eyewitness, Adirek Jinseng, a Thai worker at the estate, told the BBC's Thai service that the attack happened as people were resting during their lunch break. "I heard two explosions in the sky, but there was no warning siren. More than 10 workers then rushed... to hide in the bunkers," Adirek said, adding that he saw one person killed at the scene and several others with serious injuries. A senior Thai diplomat in Israel told the BBC that around 4,000 of the country's citizens had been working within a 100km radius of Gaza. Some were relocated to safer areas over the weekend.

From AFP Thailand Multiple online posts have shared a claim that Thai citizens can get inoculated against Covid-19 with their vaccine of choice when they visit as tourists in neighbouring Laos. This claim is false: as of May 18, 2021 foreign tourists were not permitted to enter Laos; the country only administers the Chinese-made Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine to those eligible for jabs. The Thai-language claim was shared in this Facebook post on May 3, 2021. It reads in part: “Whoever wishes to get a Pfizer jab abroad but has insufficient funds to travel far, you can try to go to Laos. “They see how Thai nationals don’t want to take Sinovac, but the Thai government refuses to import Pfizer, so they announced that tourists are able to receive free vaccinations in Laos, with a choice of Pfizer, Astra [Zeneca] Sputnik and Sinopharm.” The misleading post links to a registration page for Covid-19 vaccination run by the Laos Ministry of Health. https://factcheck.afp.com/online-posts-falsely-claim-thai-tourists-get-free-covid-19-vaccines-neighbouring-laos

From Reuters By Nanchanok Wongsamuth, Thomson Reuters Foundation * Lockdown seen fuelling chemsex parties among gay, bi men * Campaigners warn of risks from unprotected sex, drugs * Chemsex users seeking help find scant official support BANGKOK, May 18 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Beam, a gay sex worker, used to go to a “chemsex” party about once a month before the coronavirus pandemic shut Thailand’s bars and clubs. But since then, the drug-fuelled gatherings have become much more frequent. As Thailand grapples with a third COVID-19 wave, campaigners are warning of the health risks posed by an apparent increase in chemsex - where mainly gay and bisexual men meet to take drugs such as crystal meth or GHB and unprotected sex is common. Beam, 34, who also works as a porn actor and regularly meets his clients at the parties, said changes to people’s working routines under lockdown had made the gatherings more popular. “It’s now a golden opportunity for partygoers,” Beam, who asked not to give his full name to protect his identity, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Chemsex users are at risk of drug addiction or overdoses, as well as mental health problems, campaigners said, and Thai media have recently carried reports about chemsex-related violence including physical assault. As in other parts of the world, where authorities have voiced concern over the phenomenon, the parties are widely advertised on Twitter and gay dating apps like Blued and Grindr. At Bangkok Rainbow Organization, an LGBT+ NGO, the president, Nikorn Chimkong, said chemsex was “now a new normal” and that the trend was evident in an increase in inquiries about the pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) anti-HIV drug. He said about 30 or 40 people per month contact the group every month nowadays to ask about the drug, a once-daily pill that protects people from becoming infected with the virus. That compares to less than 10 before the pandemic, with the majority taking the pills before chemsex parties, he said. LACK OF SUPPORT Three current and former chemsex partygoers, and experts supporting users, said Thai public health providers lack the knowledge needed to support those seeking help for chemsex use. Elsewhere in Asia, too, there are no harm reduction programmes that simultaneously address the risk of drug use and the sexual activity of gay and bisexual men and transgender women, found a recent report by APCOM, a health advocacy group for gay and bi men. In Europe, where surveys in Britain, Spain and the Netherlands have found that 30-45% of gay and bi men have engaged in chemsex at least once, doctors warned in 2019 that the practice was refuelling epidemics of HIV in urban areas. Earlier this year, Britain increased penalties for GHB following two high-profile trials, one of which detailed the drug’s use in the rape of almost 50 men. In Thailand, where gay sex and drug use is widely frowned upon, people who want support for chemsex issues are often reluctant to seek help for fear of being stigmatised, campaigners said. “There are very few service providers that make users feel like they are another human being,” said Midnight Poonkasetwattana, APCOM executive director. “These are the groups that we must provide services for in order to reduce their risks of HIV.” ASSAULTS, OVERDOSES One place that does offer help is KRUBB Bangkok, a gay social club and community centre, which opened about nine months ago and provides chemsex counselling services for gay men. Sergeant Shaowpicha Techo, a psychologist at a Bangkok health centre who also sees patients at KRUBB, said he was seeing up to a dozen patients per week compared with one or two before the pandemic. Thailand does not have official statistics on chemsex, but the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration said up to 90% of gay and bisexual men who have used their healthcare services have experimented with chemsex. Most are aged between 20 and 40. Anggoon Patarakorn, deputy director of the government’s Princess Mother National Institute on Drug Abuse Treatment, said he had not noticed a surge in chemsex during the pandemic, but acknowledged officials did not yet have expertise on the issue. “We’re not giving special priority (to this group) at this time, but we may focus on them more in the future,” he said. The Royal Thai Police’s anti-narcotics bureau declined to comment. News reports of assaults and fatal overdoses at chemsex parties prompted a group of campaigners to form a network called Safety Net in June last year to support chemsex users. Aiming to raise awareness among government officials and health workers, it is also working on a first aid handbook for users including advice on what to do if someone overdoses. Arthur, a 32-year-old actor and model who asked to be identified only by his nickname, has had less work during the pandemic and said he had been attending chemsex parties more often as a result. But the regular drug use took a toll on his mental health and he is now seeking treatment and helping Safety Net. "I have hurt myself (from cutting) and attempted suicide many times in the past," he said. "About five of my friends have died from drugs ... and now I want to help other people." (Reporting by Nanchanok Wongsamuth @nanchanokw; Editing by Helen Popper and Rachel Savage. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers the lives of people around the world who struggle to live freely or fairly. Visit news.trust.org) https://www.reuters.com/article/thailand-lgbt-drugs-idUSL8N2BP44C

A report from Thailand Overseas Americans Are Desperate To Get COVID-19 Vaccines Audio story from National Public Radio's Morning Edition: Millions of Americans live abroad in places where vaccine rollouts are slow and cases rampant. They're pleading with the U.S. government to send surplus shots overseas. The answer so far is no. But now the White House has taken notice. https://www.npr.org/2021/05/18/997783450/overseas-americans-are-desperate-to-get-covid-19-vaccines

From CBS 60 Minutes 60 Minutes has tackled many strange stories on 60 Minutes, but perhaps none like this. It's the story of the U.S. government's grudging acknowledgment of unidentified aerial phenomena— UAP—more commonly known as UFOs. After decades of public denial the Pentagon now admits there's something out there, and the U.S. Senate wants to know what it is. The intelligence committee has ordered the director of national intelligence and the secretary of defense to deliver a report on the mysterious sightings by next month. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ufo-military-intelligence-60-minutes-2021-05-16/

From Bangkok Post Key tourism scam suspect turns self in A key suspect in an investment scam which included a well-known tourism project turned himself in to police on Monday to face charges of defrauding the public of about 1 billion baht. Well-known businessman Prasit Jeawkok, chairman of the Kuen Khun Pandin ("Paying Back the Land") project, showed up at the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) with his lawyer to answer charges of colluding with five others to swindle the public. Four of them -- Major Amaraphon Wisetsuk, who is an army doctor and chairwoman of the Tiew Puea Chart (Travel for the Nation) project, Nuttawan Uttamaprakrom, Sirima Naovarat, and Kittiwat Oum-aree -- had already been arrested while the other, Kittisak Yenyanond, remains at large. Police raided locations in greater Bangkok last week, acting on complaints filed by thousands of victims who were lured to invest in various schemes with offers of high returns. The investors received initial dividends and were persuaded to invest more, at which point the payments stopped. A group of 20 complainants led by fellow victim Atichart Laohapibulkul on Monday gave further statements to the CSD. Mr Atichart said he thought he could trust Mr Prasit who is a high-profile public figure and had been part of every investment scheme offered by Mr Prasit's group. He said he had ended up losing about 80 million baht over the course of two years. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2117291/key-tourism-scam-suspect-turns-self-in

From The Bangkok Post 50,000 inmates set for release as Covid explosion hits Thai prisons Justice Minister Somsak Thepsutin says about 50,000 prisoners could be released next month as part of urgent plans to tackle the explosion of Covid-19 in Thai prisons. Somsak was speaking on Monday as overcrowded prisons logged 6,853 new cases, accounting for 71 per cent of Thailand’s daily caseload. The Department of Corrections is continuing its proactive testing programme in prisons, which have so far recorded a total of 10,384 infections. All prisons will now give weekly reports on the number of inmates infected and recovered from infection, the minister said. The department has also informed the ministry that it needed stocks of Favipiravia and fah talai jone (Andrographis paniculata) to treat infected prisoners. Meanwhile, a new drugs law before Parliament would enable about 50,000 inmates convicted of non-serious drugs offences to be released wearing electronic monitoring (EM) bracelets, said Somsak. https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000986

From The Thaiger Action against corruption in Thailand is now a “national agenda” and a 20-year plan, backed by the National Anti-Corruption Commission, is set to be rolled out to promote transparency in the Thai government, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha announced today. On a scale of 0 to 100, with 0 being “highly corrupt” and 100 being “very clean,” Thailand’s score is 36, according to the Corruption Perceptions Index by the global coalition Transparency International. Each year, the organisation ranks countries by their levels of public sector corruption. Out of 180 countries, Thailand ranks 104. South Sudan and Somalia both ranked last as the most corrupt countries. Prayut mentioned the Thailand’s ranking on the Index during a broadcast today, adding that the Thai government is working on solving the problem of corruption in the public sector. To help with plans to improve transparency, government agencies in Thailand are told to complete a self-assessment by Integrity and Transparency Assessment. The results will be used to improve the management of government agencies. “I’d like to encourage all Thai citizens in government offices in every department nationwide to take part in improving Thailand’s transparency to meet international standards by jointly completing the transparency assessment online via NACC website or ITAS application from now until May 31, 2021.” https://thethaiger.com/news/national/pm-prayut-chan-o-cha-announces-20-year-plan-to-take-action-against-corruption

From The Thai Enquirer Transparency and clarity needed in government’s digital response to Covid Metaphors about going to war have been used widely in discussions about COVID-19. China’s President Xi Jinping vowed to wage a “people’s war.” “COVID-19 war zone” posters with a bomb-shaped red germ were displayed in South Korea. Expressions like “enemy”, “frontline,” and “battle plan” framed discussions on the need to “combat” COVID-19 in many places, including Thailand. Sacrifices of civil and political rights are justified during this “wartime.” Over the last year, this has resulted in the suspension of the separation of powers, principles like due process, and checks and balances, for maximization of efficiency and effectiveness. We should do “whatever it takes, fast,” or die. This wartime mentality has also shaped the way authorities handle information. The flow of information is very asymmetric. It tends to be more difficult for the citizens to get information from the government, and the citizens tend to have less protection when the government wants to collect their data. Around this time last year, there was a debate over suitable approaches for apps intended to facilitate COVID-19 containment efforts. Should it be mandatory or voluntary, who can see what data, should the database be centralized or decentralized, is GPS location accurate enough, what about the Personal Data Protection Act that was soon to be enforced (at the time)? And so on. There were names like “Sydekick for ThaiFightCOVID”, “PedKeeper”, “AOT Airports”, “COSTE”, and many others from Chana-family and Prompt-family. Dozens of apps and chatbots for immigration control, symptom screening, contact tracing, and quarantine enforcement were released since, both publicly to general audiences and internally to staff at healthcare and quarantine facilities. Some of them were run by for-profit companies with endorsement from government agencies like the Digital Government Development Agency and Department of Disease Control. Many of them were announced without clear data governance in place. Today, many of those apps are no longer in operation and it is unclear where the personal data that was collected ended up. While digital technology that enables the faster, bigger, and more sophisticated collection of data may make citizens worry about their privacy, the technology itself is not the only source of concern. In some cases, it’s not about overcollection, but oversharing of data. For example, provincial and local governments post infected individual detailed timelines on their social media outlets. These timelines can include date, time, place, activities, age, gender, nationality, and profession of each individual. With privacy protection in mind, agencies exclude individual names from the timeline. Unfortunately, with that amount of information, it may still be possible to reidentify the person by name, especially for people close to the individuals. It is understandable that authorities want to share this data with the public so anyone who found they may have been in contact with the infected person can report themselves to the public health authority and start any necessary processes. But to meet the same goal, a smaller amount of data can be published. It may be sufficient to just announce the specific place and time, without publicizing “anonymized” personal timelines. Nationality, age, gender, and profession for example, seem not necessary to announce publicly for contact tracing purposes. If there is anything statistically significant about a category of people, the information should be carefully communicated statistically and not at the individual level. We need public trust for a successful public health measure. Trust cannot be forced, it is earned, for example, through Rule of Law. Comments and criticism must be taken positively and constructively as an observation from the field. It make not be entirely accurate, but it’s also not “fake news” to be entirely dismissed. The government must guarantee transparency and facilitate an informed decision by all stakeholders. And, yes, everybody is a stakeholder in this pandemic. We’re all in this together. https://www.thaienquirer.com/27551/feature-transparency-and-clarity-needed-in-governments-digital-response-to-covid/ ============================================== Daily new Covid cases hit record of more than 9,600 Thailand reported a new single-day record of more than 9,600 coronavirus cases on Monday following a discovery of new clusters at eight prisons. “Of the cases reported today, 6,853 were in prisons,” said Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, the spokesperson of the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). The CCSA reported 9,635 confirmed cases and 25 related deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases found in the third wave between April 1 and May 17 to 82,219 cases and 520 deaths. Of the 2,773 local cases (excluding the 6,853 cases in prisons) that were found in the past 24 hours, the highest numbers by province were 1,843 in Bangkok, followed by 155 in Samut Prakan, 146 in Pathum Thani, 129 in Nonthaburi and 53 in Samut Sakhon. Bangkok, the hardest hit province in the third wave which started at entertainment venues in the capital and surrounding provinces since April 1, has reported on Monday that they have found 28 clusters in 19 districts so far, the CCSA said. https://www.thaienquirer.com/27578/daily-new-covid-cases-hit-record-of-more-than-9600/

From Pattaya Mail Buriram province in northeast Thailand requires everyone to get vaccinated Buri Ram governor Thatchakorn Hatathathayakul has issued an order requiring everyone in the province to get vaccinated against COVID-19, or risk being fined or jailed for up to two years. According to the order, people aged 18 and over, who live or work in the province, must assess their risk of COVID-19 infection, with the help of village health volunteers, via an online system or through a vaccination coordination center, before the end of this month. Disease control and public health officials will have the authority to force people at high risk of infection to be vaccinated and provide dates and places for their inoculation. Violations carry a maximum of one month in prison and/or fines that could be as high as 20,000 baht, under the 2015 Communicable Disease Act. Those who actively refuse to get vaccinated may also be liable to a maximum of two years in prison and/or a fine up to 40,000 baht for breaching the emergency decree. (NNT)

From The Irrawaddy Myanmar People Fleeing Conflict Won’t Be Pushed Back by Thailand Karen villagers displaced by fighting between the regime's troops and KNU wait on a riverbank to flee Thailand in March. / The Irrawaddy Prime Minister Prayut Chan-Ocha pledged Friday to UN Special Envoy to Myanmar, Mrs. Christine Schraner Burgener, that Thailand will not push back people fleeing from conflict in Myanmar. Prayut gave the guarantee during the meeting at the Government House with Burgener Friday morning. He also took the opportunity to congratulate Burgener, whom he met previously when she served as the ambassador from Switzerland (2009-2015), and lauded her diplomatic ability, which led her to be tasked with overseeing the situation in Myanmar. Prayut said that Thailand will do everything possible to ensure that the situation in Myanmar moves in the right direction. On humanitarian assistance, he said that the country has long been providing such assistance to neighboring countries. “We will not push back people fleeing conflicts if they face danger,” he emphasized. Following the coup in Myanmar on Feb. 1, there were reports of sporadic fighting between various armed ethnic groups based along the Thai-Myanmar borders, which have caused thousands of peoples to flee the areas opposite Mae Sot, Tak province and cross over to the Thai side. According to the Ministry of Defense, most of those who fled Myanmar have returned to their villages because the situation has returned to normal. Burgener, who has been in Bangkok since April 9, has met with Bangkok-based diplomats and stakeholders to exchange views and learn about the situation in Myanmar. Before she arrived in Bangkok, she urged the UN Security Council on March 31 to consider “potentially significant action” to reverse the course of events as “a bloodbath is imminent.” On the sideline of the Association of South East Asian Nations Leaders’ Meeting in Jakarta at the ASEAN Secretariat, she had the opportunity to meet for one-hour and a half with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, chief of the State Administrative Council. She also made another request to visit Myanmar with Min Aung Hlaing. During the meeting with Burgener, Prayut told the special envoy that Thailand fully supports the five-point consensus agreed at the leaders’ meeting in Jakarta. He also reiterated Thailand’s position of Myanmar’s crisis through the “D4D” principles, which calls for de-escalation of violence, delivery of humanitarian and medical assistance, discharge of political detainees and dialogue participation. These four Ds, he said, would lead Myanmar back to normalcy and sustainable development. The “D4D” principles were put forward by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai at the ASEAN meeting. Don spoke on behalf of Prayut as his special envoy. At the meeting, he also proposed the setting up “Friends of the Chairs,” which will allow the ASEAN chair to appoint representatives to help out with the challenge facing the bloc. Thailand shares a 2401 kilometer porous border with Myanmar, which has yet to be demarcated. Currently, there are approximately 100,000 displaced persons from Myanmar living in nine camps along the Thai-Myanmar border. As of the first quarter of this year, Thailand hosts more than 2.3 million migrant workers from Myanmar who have registered with the Ministry of Labor. https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-people-fleeing-conflict-wont-be-pushed-back-by-thailand.html

From The Nation Chonburi, Chiang Mai set to exit red zone The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has proposed removing Chonburi and Chiang Mai from the red zone, or maximum control area, due to an improvement in the Covid-19 situation there, CCSA spokesman Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin said on Saturday. “If this proposal is approved by the prime minister, there would only be four provinces designated as red zone, namely Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan,” he said. “This could come into effect the earliest at midnight on Saturday or the latest on Sunday.” Based on the latest infection report, Chonburi, with 33 new cases on Saturday, will be moved to the orange zone, or medium control area, joining 16 other provinces, namely Kanchanaburi, Chachoengsao, Tak, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, Prachuab Khiri Khan, Ayutthaya, Phetchaburi, Yala, Ranong, Rayong, Ratchaburi, Samut Sakhon, Songkhla and Surat Thani. Meanwhile Chiang Mai, which reported only 10 new cases on Saturday, will be moved to yellow zone, or low control area, joining 55 provinces. Taweesilp said the CCSA is also considering easing restrictions on provinces under strict control as follows: ▪︎ Restaurants Red zone: A limited number of people (25 per cent of total seats) will be allowed to dine in until 9pm and takeaways will allowed until 11pm. Orange zone: People can dine in until 11pm. Yellow zone: Open as usual. Sale of alcoholic beverages is still not allowed. ▪︎ Schools and tutoring centres Orange zone: Students allowed to attend class provided the school has received approval from relevant provincial public health offices. Yellow zone: Classes can be held as normal, but schools must comply with measures to curb the spread of Covid-19. ▪︎ Public assembly Red zone: Public assembly of less than 20 people is allowed. Orange and yellow zones: Public assembly of less than 50 people is allowed. https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000914

From Channel News Asia TAIPEI: Taiwan's capital on Friday (May 14) announced an indefinite closure of entertainment venues in the wake of a widening outbreak of local COVID-19 infections. The self-ruled island has been hailed as a global leader in containing the COVID-19 pandemic, with just 1,290 confirmed cases, 12 deaths and minimal social distancing needed once the initial outbreak was quelled. But an outbreak first detected among pilots has spread into the community and forced the reimposition of restrictions in a place that has so far weathered the pandemic unscathed. The Taipei city government's decision, effective from Saturday, covers bars, dance clubs, karaoke lounges, nightclubs, saunas and Internet cafes as well as hostess clubs and teahouses. Municipal facilities including libraries and sports centres will also be closed. Last year Taiwan recorded 253 straight days without any local infections. https://www.gayguides.com/forums/forum/25-gay-china-taiwan-hong-kong-macau/?do=add

From The Thaiger Expat vaccination in Thailand likely to be delayed An official from the Bangkok Metropolitan Association says foreigners may face a slight delay in receiving their Covid-19 vaccines. Panruedee Manomaipiboon, director of the BMA’s health department says while the Health Ministry aims to vaccinate everyone living in Thailand, foreigners may have to wait until August. “As I have said before, the Health Ministry plans to vaccinate Thais first. We will try our best to vaccinate Thais within 2 months, namely June and July, and then try to open foreign resident registration in August.” https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/expat-vaccination-likely-to-be-delayed

Silom district has highest rate From Bangkok Post People in Bangkok have been warned to take Covid-19 prevention measures seriously, after group testing in some areas found an average five in every 100 were infected with the virus. Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said on Friday that active case finding at many locations in the capital on Wednesday had returned positive rates ranging from 0.79% to 10.53%, or 4.95% on average. "Tests on May 12 covered 7,247 people and 359 of them were positive. The rate is almost five percent. "Now, in some areas of Bangkok, five in 100 people around us are infected on average. The data shows that it is very close to you. "Please take the best care of yourself. No matter how measures may be eased, please continue to follow good hygienic practice," he said. Community testing on Wednesday was done at Thupatemi stadium, the Thai-Japanese youth centre and a central market in Din Daeng district, schools and communities in Klong Toey district, Silom community and other locations in Huai Khwang, Rong Muang and Laksi areas. The lowest positive rate was in Laksi (0.79%) and the highest in Silom (10.53%). "The infections in Silom are from the cluster started by a gem trader who travelled between Chanthaburi and Bangkok and a community of Guinean traders. Tests on 1,016 people found 107 infected people, for a positive rate of 10.53%, which is high," Dr Taweesilp said. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2115883/average-5-infected-in-bangkok-communities ================================================ From The Thaiger Thailand urged to join in reducing global prisoners for Covid-19 PHOTO: Overcrowding plagues the Thai prison system and has created a Covid-19 crisis. (via Youtube) After it was revealed that nearly 3,000 inmates in Thailand’s prison system have Covid-19, criticism and calls are mounting to follow the global trend of reducing the total number of prisoners in the country. Human rights groups are calling for the release of inmates held on minor charges, with Amnesty International Thailand requesting those in “unnecessary custody to be minimised” in an open letter sent to the Supreme Court president and Justice Ministry on Tuesday. Covid-19 outbreaks in prison have been a problem for many countries, with the United Kingdom identifying 12,000 infections and considering plans to prioritise vaccinations for those incarceration facilities. The United States, a country with one of the worst Covid-19 outbreaks and the largest prison population in the world, saw 612,000 prisoner infections. Amnesty International argued that over 600,000 inmates had been scheduled for release in 100 countries to minimise Covid-19 risk by reducing overcrowded prisoners. In New South Wales, Australia 14,000 non-felony inmates are scheduled for release, and in New Jersey in the US 1,000 releases are being considered. Even in Iran, prison populations were thinned with the March release of 85,000 prisoners. In Thailand, plans for reducing the number of incarcerated prisoners by freeing more than 50,000 inmates are being enacted. Suspending sentences, requesting Royal pardons, and even amending laws to free those serving on drug offences are avenues being pursued, according to Thailand’s Justice Minister. He also denied rumours of a Covid-19 cover-up, saying that the Department of Corrections just received complete data on Wednesday and released it then. Only six staff members of Thai prisons have been infected while 1,795 prisoners at Bangkok Remand Prison and 1,040 prisoners at the Central Women’s Correctional Institution now have Covid-19. Inmates have reported dire conditions, with symptomatic prisoners found in nearly every holding cell. Field hospitals have been set up within prisons to treat mild infections and those more seriously afflicted have been moved to hospitals. Overcrowding is a major problem for prisons in Thailand, a country with one of the highest incarceration rates worldwide. The maximum capacity for Thailand’s 143 incarceration centres is 217,000 people but the World Prison Brief reports that Thailand’s prison system now houses over 377,000 inmates, highlighting the need for reducing the number of prisoners in the country. Authorities at these institutions say that prisoners returning from attending court hearings are responsible for bringing in infections. But prisoners have reported that all inmates returning on any given day are held together for their 14 day isolation period instead of separated to avoid Covid-19 spread. Vaccines are expected to arrive in prisons next month where, just like the general population, they will first be given to those with chronic diseases and other high-risk inmates. The Department of Corrections expects to receive enough jabs for the entire prison population. https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/thailand-urged-to-join-in-reducing-global-prisoners-for-covid-19

I discovered Babylon on my second trip to Bangkok in late 2002 when it was enjoying its salad days. That first visit was like being transported to a parallel universe hitherto unimaginable to me. You could spend a few hours--or much of the afternoon and evening--in an atmosphere that encouraged indulgence not only in anonymous sex but in the amenities of a tropical resort. I think admission was about 250 bht but was slightly higher on weekends. Closing time was about 11p.m. Queues of motorbikes and taxis waited by the entrance to whisk patrons fresh from the communal showers to Silom where many made for the dance clubs or bars. It's now been about seven years since my final visit. Over time it had become increasingly less of a lure to young locals. The once meticulous maintenance had fallen off. Nevertheless it remained an imposing place. The following chapter from Imaging Gay Paradise (2012, Hong Kong University Press) traces the development and architecture of Babylon. The sauna was first located at the corner of the same road (Soi Nantha), in the embassy district. https://imagininggayparadise.com/chapter-excerpts-to-read/read-thailands-babylon-sauna/

From Channel News Asia SINGAPORE: Jewel Changi Airport as well as Terminals 1 and 3 will be closed to members of the public from Thursday (May 13) for 14 days after a COVID-19 cluster with 25 cases was identified there. All workers in Terminals 1 and 3, as well as Jewel Changi Airport have been undergoing mandatory COVID-19 tests in a special testing operation that began on Sunday. Terminal 2 has been closed since May 1, 2020. While the special testing operation is ongoing, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and Changi Airport Group (CAG) said on Wednesday that the passenger terminals buildings will be closed to members of the public from Thursday. As a precaution, passenger terminal buildings will be reopened 14 days later on May 27. Jewel will also be closed for 14 days, said the authorities. Changi Airport remains open for air travel during this period, said CAAS and CAG, adding that passengers may also continue to be dropped off and picked up from the airport. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/covid-19-jewel-changi-airport-terminals-1-3-closed-public-14795582