In 1865, William Ross Wallace, an American poet,&nbsp;praised the role of women and mothers in his famous poem. Its title and most well-known stanza, “And the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world,” was translated into Thai several decades later and is popularly quoted until today.<img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/7ZGaVKaR7_iStock-1222437025.jpg" style="width: 559px; margin: 5px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Indeed, the importance of Siamese women beyond motherhood has been accepted in family and social structures for centuries. This is reflected in the traits of some traditions still practiced today and even in the Thai language. For instance, many families still expect newly married men to move to live with his wife’s family and prove his worth before the couple can move out to live on their own. The word “mae” meaning “mother,” is used as a prefix to indicate power and respect, e.g., “Mae Thap,” when directly translated means, “mother of an army,” refers to a position leading an army, similar to a general&nbsp;who commands an army region. Influence from foreign cultures later on, however, set social conditions that had not been favourable for Thai women to exercise their full potential. Nevertheless, Siamese women have always been a supportive force and held moral leadership behind the success of men.&nbsp; Over 150 years later, it seems to be the norm for women to assume even more diverse roles and to have careers previously dominated by men. Army generals, pilots, prime ministers, soccer referees and CEOs of automobile companies are some examples. Women have come a long way from the days when their choices were rigidly defined and confined by social norms and mindset. With changes of time, the division of labour between genders no longer holds and women have been able to dump their branded role as “mother and housewife only” in history. In this sense, Thailand’s progress in gender equality has been a naturally smooth process, and therefore recognised internationally. The “Women in Business 2020 Report” by Grant Thornton Services Ltd., 2020, found that the Thai private sector has more women in senior positions than both the Asia-Pacific and the global average. Among mid-market companies, women hold 32% of senior positions, which is higher than the global average of 27% and the Asia-Pacific average of 26%. The number of Thai businesses without women executives is also lower than the regional and global average.&nbsp; <div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/60K0C0Nnz_busayaPermsec.jpg" style="width: 559px; margin: 5px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The first female permanent secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs In diplomatic circles, female diplomats have proven to be as skillful and tactful as their male counterparts. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand for instance, currently has 522 female officers or 66% of officers in the service, as of March 2021. Of this number, 61&nbsp;or 36%&nbsp;of ambassadors and executives are female, which reflects an upward trend of gender equality. Over the past several years, it had been led by Busaya Mathelin, its first female permanent secretary, the highest ranking career officer. This year, it will field another leading executive, Vilawan Mangklatanakul, Director-General of the Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs, as Thailand’s and ASEAN’s first female candidate for the International Law Commission (ILC) for the term 2023 – 2027.&nbsp; Such progress underlines the evolving trend that success is decided by one’s talent and merit over gender. A celebration of diversity is in the making, although many women in the region and beyond remain vulnerable to implicit prejudice and discrimination. It was reported that during the COVID-19 pandemic, more women have lost their jobs and have been kept busy at home than men. That is why UN Women chose “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world” as the theme for International Women’s Day in 2021.&nbsp; But the COVID-19 crisis has&nbsp;opened up&nbsp;an opportunity for Thai women to shine as leaders and contribute to society. For instance, as village health volunteers,&nbsp;they were instrumental in preventing the widespread outbreak of COVID-19 by tirelessly carrying&nbsp;out prevention campaigns,&nbsp;and collecting&nbsp;data&nbsp;for&nbsp;contact tracing. They delivered drugs right to the homes of people with chronic diseases&nbsp;to prevent them from the risk of being exposed to&nbsp;COVID-19.&nbsp;The World Health Organisation even cited this model as an example for other countries to follow in fighting against the disease. Furthermore, Thai female&nbsp;scientists and researchers&nbsp;worked on developing&nbsp;COVID-19 diagnostic tests and vaccine,&nbsp;microbial filtration applications, and&nbsp;DDC-CARE,&nbsp;a system for monitoring people who may be infected with COVID-19.&nbsp; <div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/nD41WFMzp_who.jpg" style="width: 559px; margin: 5px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><a href="http://Gender equality and women empowerment form Goal #5 of the UN SDGs. This should go beyond empowering any particular group, and strive towards eradicating gender barriers and creating a level playing field for all. For Thailand, education and legal measures have been instrumental in advancing gender equality since the ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1985, and the endorsement of the Beijing Platform for Action in 1995. Domestically, Thailand has strengthened relevant legislation and policies to promote equal economic rights and opportunities, such as the Gender Equality Act, the Social Security Act, and the amendment to the Labour Protection Act to ensure equal pay for equal work. A great symbolic feat is the Person Name Act B.E. 2548 (2005) and Female Title Act B.E. 2551 (2008) which gives married Thai women the choice of using either “Miss” or “Mrs.” as their title, and to retain their maiden name. Previously, once they got married, women would be obligated to change their titles to “Mrs.” and adopt the surnames of their husbands. The practice was criticised as discriminatory since men could keep their “Mr.” titles and surname regardless of marital status. In terms of status, roles or achievements, the difference between men and women has progressively receded. To successfully prove oneself, the prevailing determinants are determination, hard work and meritocracy rather than gender. The notion that women can only take lead in household chores and raising their children is a thing of the past. On the contrary, more men are viewing these tasks as shared responsibilities, and modern, progressive dads are happily ready or even proud to assist their well-accomplished wives. What’s next then, for gender equality? We have moved from a gender insensitive society to one where men and women stand on a level plane. We have also moved to gender inclusiveness, enabling people who do not identify themselves as male or female, to learn, work or exert their creativity to their fullest potential. In 2012, Thailand saw its first case of gender change in the official registration when a 25-year-old male, who is an intersex since birth, was permitted to switch his title to “Miss” after passing a medical test and receiving support of the National Human Rights Committee. Last year, Thammasat University allowed students to dress according to their ‘preferred gender’. Who knows, perhaps within this generation gender equality could become an obsolete concept. The world could be genderless, and whether one is from Mars or Venus will bear no significance to their achievements or qualities. The world will also become “genderful” when everyone can freely choose to identify with any gender, is treated with equal respect and receives due recognition from society. By then, it won’t really matter who rocks the cradle or rules the world since all genders can share and shift roles in what might be called our co-working space.">Credit: WHO/พลอย พุฒเพ็ง</a></div>Gender equality and women empowerment&nbsp;form Goal #5&nbsp;of the UN SDGs. This should go beyond empowering any particular group, and strive towards eradicating gender barriers and creating a level playing field for all. For Thailand, education and legal measures have been instrumental in advancing gender equality since the ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1985, and the endorsement of the Beijing Platform for Action in 1995. Domestically, Thailand has strengthened relevant legislation and policies to promote equal economic rights and opportunities, such as the Gender Equality Act, the Social Security Act, and the amendment to the Labour Protection Act to ensure equal pay for equal work.&nbsp;&nbsp;A great symbolic feat is the Person Name Act B.E.&nbsp;2548 (2005) and Female Title Act B.E.&nbsp;2551 (2008) which gives married Thai women the choice of using either “Miss” or “Mrs.” as their title, and to retain their&nbsp;maiden&nbsp;name. Previously, once they got married, women would be obligated to change their titles to “Mrs.” and adopt the surnames of their husbands. The practice was criticised as discriminatory since men could keep their “Mr.” titles and surname regardless of marital status.&nbsp;&nbsp;In terms of status, roles or achievements, the difference between men and women has progressively receded. To successfully prove oneself, the prevailing determinants are determination, hard work and meritocracy rather than gender. The notion that women can only take lead in household chores and raising their children is a thing of the past. On the contrary, more men are viewing these tasks as shared responsibilities, and modern, progressive dads are happily ready or even proud to assist their well-accomplished wives.&nbsp;&nbsp;What’s next then, for gender equality? We have moved from a gender insensitive society to one where men and women stand on a level plane. We have also moved to gender inclusiveness, enabling people who do&nbsp;not&nbsp;identify themselves as male or female, to learn, work or exert their creativity to their fullest potential. In 2012, Thailand saw its first case of gender change in the official registration when a 25-year-old male, who is an intersex since birth, was permitted to switch his title to “Miss” after passing a medical test and receiving support of the National Human Rights Committee. Last year, Thammasat University allowed students to dress according to their ‘preferred gender’.&nbsp;&nbsp;Who knows, perhaps within this generation gender equality could become an obsolete concept. The world could be genderless, and whether one is from Mars or Venus will bear no significance to their achievements or qualities. The world will also become “genderful” when everyone can freely choose to identify with any gender, is treated with equal respect and receives due recognition from society. By then, it won’t really matter who rocks the cradle or rules the world since all genders can share and shift roles in what might be called our co-working space.<div class="fr-img-space-wrap">&nbsp;</div>&nbsp;</div><hr>

Taking stock of Thailand's history and progress on the occasion of International Women's Day and Women's month!

In 1865, William Ross Wallace, an American poet,&nbsp;praised the role of women and mothers in his famous poem. Its title and most well-known stanza, “And the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world,” was translated into Thai several decades later and is popularly quoted until today.Indeed, the importance of Siamese women beyond motherhood has been accepted in family and social structures for centuries. This is reflected in the traits of some traditions still practiced today and even in the Thai language. For instance, many families still expect newly married men to move to live with his wife’s family and prove his worth before the couple can move out to live on their own. The word “mae” meaning “mother,” is used as a prefix to indicate power and respect, e.g., “Mae Thap,” when directly translated means, “mother of an army,” refers to a position leading an army, similar to a general&nbsp;who commands an army region. Influence from foreign cultures later on, however, set social conditions that had not been favourable for Thai women to exercise their full potential. Nevertheless, Siamese women have always been a supportive force and held moral leadership behind the success of men.&nbsp;Over 150 years later, it seems to be the norm for women to assume even more diverse roles and to have careers previously dominated by men. Army generals, pilots, prime ministers, soccer referees and CEOs of automobile companies are some examples. Women have come a long way from the days when their choices were rigidly defined and confined by social norms and mindset. With changes of time, the division of labour between genders no longer holds and women have been able to dump their branded role as “mother and housewife only” in history.In this sense, Thailand’s progress in gender equality has been a naturally smooth process, and therefore recognised internationally. The “Women in Business 2020 Report” by Grant Thornton Services Ltd., 2020, found that the Thai private sector has more women in senior positions than both the Asia-Pacific and the global average. Among mid-market companies, women hold 32% of senior positions, which is higher than the global average of 27% and the Asia-Pacific average of 26%. The number of Thai businesses without women executives is also lower than the regional and global average.&nbsp;The first female permanent secretary of the Ministry of Foreign AffairsIn diplomatic circles, female diplomats have proven to be as skillful and tactful as their male counterparts. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand for instance, currently has 522 female officers or 66% of officers in the service, as of March 2021. Of this number, 61&nbsp;or 36%&nbsp;of ambassadors and executives are female, which reflects an upward trend of gender equality. Over the past several years, it had been led by Busaya Mathelin, its first female permanent secretary, the highest ranking career officer. This year, it will field another leading executive, Vilawan Mangklatanakul, Director-General of the Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs, as Thailand’s and ASEAN’s first female candidate for the International Law Commission (ILC) for the term 2023 – 2027.&nbsp;Such progress underlines the evolving trend that success is decided by one’s talent and merit over gender. A celebration of diversity is in the making, although many women in the region and beyond remain vulnerable to implicit prejudice and discrimination. It was reported that during the COVID-19 pandemic, more women have lost their jobs and have been kept busy at home than men. That is why UN Women chose “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world” as the theme for International Women’s Day in 2021.&nbsp;But the COVID-19 crisis has&nbsp;opened up&nbsp;an opportunity for Thai women to shine as leaders and contribute to society. For instance, as village health volunteers,&nbsp;they were instrumental in preventing the widespread outbreak of COVID-19 by tirelessly carrying&nbsp;out prevention campaigns,&nbsp;and collecting&nbsp;data&nbsp;for&nbsp;contact tracing. They delivered drugs right to the homes of people with chronic diseases&nbsp;to prevent them from the risk of being exposed to&nbsp;COVID-19.&nbsp;The World Health Organisation even cited this model as an example for other countries to follow in fighting against the disease. Furthermore, Thai female&nbsp;scientists and researchers&nbsp;worked on developing&nbsp;COVID-19 diagnostic tests and vaccine,&nbsp;microbial filtration applications, and&nbsp;DDC-CARE,&nbsp;a system for monitoring people who may be infected with COVID-19.&nbsp;Credit: WHO/พลอย พุฒเพ็งGender equality and women empowerment&nbsp;form Goal #5&nbsp;of the UN SDGs. This should go beyond empowering any particular group, and strive towards eradicating gender barriers and creating a level playing field for all. For Thailand, education and legal measures have been instrumental in advancing gender equality since the ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1985, and the endorsement of the Beijing Platform for Action in 1995. Domestically, Thailand has strengthened relevant legislation and policies to promote equal economic rights and opportunities, such as the Gender Equality Act, the Social Security Act, and the amendment to the Labour Protection Act to ensure equal pay for equal work.&nbsp;&nbsp;A great symbolic feat is the Person Name Act B.E.&nbsp;2548 (2005) and Female Title Act B.E.&nbsp;2551 (2008) which gives married Thai women the choice of using either “Miss” or “Mrs.” as their title, and to retain their&nbsp;maiden&nbsp;name. Previously, once they got married, women would be obligated to change their titles to “Mrs.” and adopt the surnames of their husbands. The practice was criticised as discriminatory since men could keep their “Mr.” titles and surname regardless of marital status.&nbsp;&nbsp;In terms of status, roles or achievements, the difference between men and women has progressively receded. To successfully prove oneself, the prevailing determinants are determination, hard work and meritocracy rather than gender. The notion that women can only take lead in household chores and raising their children is a thing of the past. On the contrary, more men are viewing these tasks as shared responsibilities, and modern, progressive dads are happily ready or even proud to assist their well-accomplished wives.&nbsp;&nbsp;What’s next then, for gender equality? We have moved from a gender insensitive society to one where men and women stand on a level plane. We have also moved to gender inclusiveness, enabling people who do&nbsp;not&nbsp;identify themselves as male or female, to learn, work or exert their creativity to their fullest potential. In 2012, Thailand saw its first case of gender change in the official registration when a 25-year-old male, who is an intersex since birth, was permitted to switch his title to “Miss” after passing a medical test and receiving support of the National Human Rights Committee. Last year, Thammasat University allowed students to dress according to their ‘preferred gender’.&nbsp;&nbsp;Who knows, perhaps within this generation gender equality could become an obsolete concept. The world could be genderless, and whether one is from Mars or Venus will bear no significance to their achievements or qualities. The world will also become “genderful” when everyone can freely choose to identify with any gender, is treated with equal respect and receives due recognition from society. By then, it won’t really matter who rocks the cradle or rules the world since all genders can share and shift roles in what might be called our co-working space.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle: Surveying gender equality in Thailand 	

<h2 class="fr-text-bordered">Key to the country’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, the Thai government has been seeking multi-faceted means to secure vaccines for the public, including a local vaccine that is affordable to all.</h2> Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha recently announced that the only solution to overcoming the Covid-19 pandemic is an adequate supply of vaccines. The government is therefore accelerating the procurement of vaccines from several different sources.&nbsp;Thailand has prioritised securing vaccine doses from UK drug manufacturer AstraZeneca.&nbsp;On November 27, the Thai government signed a THB 6 billion (US$200 million) contract to pre-order 26 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from AstraZeneca, which will cover 13 million people or 20 percent of population. Under the premarket purchase agreement, the vaccine technology will be transferred to Siam Bio Science to produce vaccines in the country.<div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><img data-fr-image-pasted="true" src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/y4kHCRI6o_shutterstock_1852227817%20low.jpg" alt="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/y4kHCRI6o_shutterstock_1852227817%20low.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii" style="width: 3000px;">COVID-19 vaccine from AstraZeneca&nbsp; AstraZeneca and Oxford University have applied to the UK health regulator for permission to roll out their Covid-19 vaccine. Oxford University’s Regius Professor of Medicine expects that the vaccine could be approved “shortly after” Christmas. In addition, AstraZeneca also told Reuters that its vaccine candidate should be effective against the new coronavirus variant and said studies were underway to analyse the impact of the variant.</div>Meanwhile, the National Vaccine Institute is planning to set aside THB 2.93 billion (US$93.25 million) to purchase 66 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines by next year, which will cover 33 million people or roughly 50 percent of the population.Nakorn Premsri, director of the National Vaccine Institute, said that Thailand aims to vaccinate as much as 70 per cent of population by 2022, which will be enough to achieve “herd immunity” against the disease.The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) announced that the National Vaccine Institute decided to secure the vaccines through two methods. The first is to reserve them from the global COVAX initiative, run by the Gavi vaccine alliance and the World Health Organisation (WHO). COVAX said earlier this month that all 190 economies that have agreed to participate in the programme will have access to doses in the first half of 2021.The second is to reserve from manufacturers already conducting third-phase human trials. In this regard, Thai officials are in talks with vaccines developers from several countries including China, Russia, India and the UK to secure viable inoculations against the coronavirus as soon as they became available.Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, Director-General of the Disease Control Department (DDC), said the National Vaccine Board’s sub-committee on inoculation will soon come up with a plan to use the limited supply of vaccines with maximum efficiency.“For example, to minimise COVID-19 deaths, we may focus on high-risk groups first, and to minimise the spread we may prioritise those with a high chance of transmission. Healthcare workers will also be among the first to be vaccinated.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Progress on local vaccines &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;According to the WHO, plant-based vaccines are among several different types of potential vaccines for Covid-19, which use recombinant proteins to safely generate an immune response. Today, only Thailand and Canada have shown success in the development of plant-based vaccine candidates.Baiya Phytopharm Co., Ltd., the first plant-produced biologics company in Southeast Asia, began the vaccine development from Nicotiana benthamiana leaves in February 2020. &nbsp; Baiya SARS-CoV Vax 1 has been successfully tested on mice and monkeys. The results showed that the vaccine stimulated the level of neutralising antibodies in the vaccinated animals effectively after just two doses.CEO and Co-founder of Baiya Phytopharm, Dr Waranyu Poolcharoen, revealed that the company is in the process of evaluating toxicology or side effects of the vaccine, which requires high doses. If the results show efficacy and safety of the vaccine candidate with low or no toxicity, the company will submit a proposal to Thailand's Food and Drug Administration and the Research Ethics Review Committee for Research Involving Human Subjects, Chulalongkorn University asking for their authority to undertake human trials. Baiya Phytopharm expects to begin human trials in the middle of 2021, with 6 months needed for the completion of third-phase clinical trial process. <div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><img data-fr-image-pasted="true" src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/9PhcZ-rBL_1609024553740.png" alt="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/9PhcZ-rBL_1609024553740.png" class="fr-fic fr-dii" style="width: 3000px;"><span style='color: rgb(65, 65, 65); font-family: "Bai Jamjuree"; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;'>Suthira Taychakhoonavudh and Waranyoo Phoolcharoen, Baiya Phytopharm Co-founder&nbsp; Baiya Phytopharm Co-founder, Dr Suthira Dejkhunnavuth added that in phases 1 and 2, the vaccine will be given to volunteers in the country. For the final phase, the company might need to enroll volunteers in other countries if Thailand has low rates of infection. The National Vaccine Institute, Thailand is responsible for coordination in this regard.&nbsp;</div>In Phase 1, the vaccines are given to a small number of volunteers and generally tested in young and healthy adults.&nbsp;Phase 2 requires 200-300 volunteers to further assess its safety and ability to generate an immune response. There are usually multiple trials in this phase to evaluate various age groups and different formulations of the vaccine. In Phase 3, the vaccines are given to at least ten thousand people to ensure efficacy and safety.&nbsp;The two researchers are optimistic that the company will begin the production of the plant-based Covid-19 vaccines at the end of next year or early in 2022. In order that Thais are able to benefit from the vaccines, the company expects to set a price of THB500 (US$16.7) per dose, to make the vaccines as accessible as possible to all Thais. &nbsp;Meanwhile, the Thai government has signed a THB 6 billion deal to purchase 26 million doses of the vaccine which would be enough to vaccinate 13 million people. Siam Bioscience is ready to receive the technology developed by Oxford University to produce the vaccine in Thailand. Siam Bioscience has the capacity to produce 180 million to 200 million doses per year, enough to distribute throughout Southeast Asia, and help secure the region from the virus as soon as possible.It is planned to set up vaccination centres in more than 10,000 sub- districts so as to prevent overcrowding at hospitals. Medical staff, young children, elderly people and vulnerable groups will be first in line for the injections. The vaccinations will be free of charge at government facilities while private hospitals can purchase their own supply, according to DDC Director-General Opas Karnkawinpong.In addition, the Chulalongkorn University’s Centre of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development has been making considerable progress in its development of mRNA type called Chula-Cov 19<div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><img data-fr-image-pasted="true" src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/siwdvyCnp_2Nqw8PaQU_CV3.png" alt="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/siwdvyCnp_2Nqw8PaQU_CV3.png" class="fr-fic fr-dii" style="width: 3000px;"><span style='color: rgb(65, 65, 65); font-family: "Bai Jamjuree"; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;'>Vaccine mRNA type called Chula-Cov 19&nbsp; The centre’s Director, Prof Dr Kiat Ruxrungtham, recently announced that following the success in pre-clinical trials, the centre placed an order with a US production facility in October 2020 to produce 10,000 doses of Chula-Cov 19. The centre anticipates beginning the first phase of human trials in April and the second phase in August.</div>Through the utmost efforts in making the vaccines available and widespread immunisations will strengthen Thailand in effectively containing the coronavirus pandemic. It is key to ensuring economic activity bounces back and to moving the country forward.&nbsp;

Key to the country’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, the Thai government has been seeking multi-faceted means to secure vaccines for the public, including a local vaccine that is affordable to all.Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha recently announced that the only solution to overcoming the Covid-19 pandemic is an adequate supply of vaccines. The government is therefore accelerating the procurement of vaccines from several different sources.&nbsp;Thailand has prioritised securing vaccine doses from UK drug manufacturer AstraZeneca.&nbsp;On November 27, the Thai government signed a THB 6 billion (US$200 million) contract to pre-order 26 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from AstraZeneca, which will cover 13 million people or 20 percent of population. Under the premarket purchase agreement, the vaccine technology will be transferred to Siam Bio Science to produce vaccines in the country.COVID-19 vaccine from AstraZeneca&nbsp;AstraZeneca and Oxford University have applied to the UK health regulator for permission to roll out their Covid-19 vaccine. Oxford University’s Regius Professor of Medicine expects that the vaccine could be approved “shortly after” Christmas. In addition, AstraZeneca also told Reuters that its vaccine candidate should be effective against the new coronavirus variant and said studies were underway to analyse the impact of the variant.Meanwhile, the National Vaccine Institute is planning to set aside THB 2.93 billion (US$93.25 million) to purchase 66 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines by next year, which will cover 33 million people or roughly 50 percent of the population.Nakorn Premsri, director of the National Vaccine Institute, said that Thailand aims to vaccinate as much as 70 per cent of population by 2022, which will be enough to achieve “herd immunity” against the disease.The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) announced that the National Vaccine Institute decided to secure the vaccines through two methods. The first is to reserve them from the global COVAX initiative, run by the Gavi vaccine alliance and the World Health Organisation (WHO). COVAX said earlier this month that all 190 economies that have agreed to participate in the programme will have access to doses in the first half of 2021.The second is to reserve from manufacturers already conducting third-phase human trials. In this regard, Thai officials are in talks with vaccines developers from several countries including China, Russia, India and the UK to secure viable inoculations against the coronavirus as soon as they became available.Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, Director-General of the Disease Control Department (DDC), said the National Vaccine Board’s sub-committee on inoculation will soon come up with a plan to use the limited supply of vaccines with maximum efficiency.“For example, to minimise COVID-19 deaths, we may focus on high-risk groups first, and to minimise the spread we may prioritise those with a high chance of transmission. Healthcare workers will also be among the first to be vaccinated.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Progress on local vaccines &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;According to the WHO, plant-based vaccines are among several different types of potential vaccines for Covid-19, which use recombinant proteins to safely generate an immune response. Today, only Thailand and Canada have shown success in the development of plant-based vaccine candidates.Baiya Phytopharm Co., Ltd., the first plant-produced biologics company in Southeast Asia, began the vaccine development from Nicotiana benthamiana leaves in February 2020. &nbsp; Baiya SARS-CoV Vax 1 has been successfully tested on mice and monkeys. The results showed that the vaccine stimulated the level of neutralising antibodies in the vaccinated animals effectively after just two doses.CEO and Co-founder of Baiya Phytopharm, Dr Waranyu Poolcharoen, revealed that the company is in the process of evaluating toxicology or side effects of the vaccine, which requires high doses. If the results show efficacy and safety of the vaccine candidate with low or no toxicity, the company will submit a proposal to Thailand's Food and Drug Administration and the Research Ethics Review Committee for Research Involving Human Subjects, Chulalongkorn University asking for their authority to undertake human trials. Baiya Phytopharm expects to begin human trials in the middle of 2021, with 6 months needed for the completion of third-phase clinical trial process.Suthira Taychakhoonavudh and Waranyoo Phoolcharoen, Baiya Phytopharm Co-founder&nbsp;Baiya Phytopharm Co-founder, Dr Suthira Dejkhunnavuth added that in phases 1 and 2, the vaccine will be given to volunteers in the country. For the final phase, the company might need to enroll volunteers in other countries if Thailand has low rates of infection. The National Vaccine Institute, Thailand is responsible for coordination in this regard.&nbsp;In Phase 1, the vaccines are given to a small number of volunteers and generally tested in young and healthy adults.&nbsp;Phase 2 requires 200-300 volunteers to further assess its safety and ability to generate an immune response. There are usually multiple trials in this phase to evaluate various age groups and different formulations of the vaccine. In Phase 3, the vaccines are given to at least ten thousand people to ensure efficacy and safety.&nbsp;The two researchers are optimistic that the company will begin the production of the plant-based Covid-19 vaccines at the end of next year or early in 2022. In order that Thais are able to benefit from the vaccines, the company expects to set a price of THB500 (US$16.7) per dose, to make the vaccines as accessible as possible to all Thais. &nbsp;Meanwhile, the Thai government has signed a THB 6 billion deal to purchase 26 million doses of the vaccine which would be enough to vaccinate 13 million people. Siam Bioscience is ready to receive the technology developed by Oxford University to produce the vaccine in Thailand. Siam Bioscience has the capacity to produce 180 million to 200 million doses per year, enough to distribute throughout Southeast Asia, and help secure the region from the virus as soon as possible.It is planned to set up vaccination centres in more than 10,000 sub- districts so as to prevent overcrowding at hospitals. Medical staff, young children, elderly people and vulnerable groups will be first in line for the injections. The vaccinations will be free of charge at government facilities while private hospitals can purchase their own supply, according to DDC Director-General Opas Karnkawinpong.In addition, the Chulalongkorn University’s Centre of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development has been making considerable progress in its development of mRNA type called Chula-Cov 19Vaccine mRNA type called Chula-Cov 19&nbsp;The centre’s Director, Prof Dr Kiat Ruxrungtham, recently announced that following the success in pre-clinical trials, the centre placed an order with a US production facility in October 2020 to produce 10,000 doses of Chula-Cov 19. The centre anticipates beginning the first phase of human trials in April and the second phase in August.Through the utmost efforts in making the vaccines available and widespread immunisations will strengthen Thailand in effectively containing the coronavirus pandemic. It is key to ensuring economic activity bounces back and to moving the country forward.&nbsp;

Thailand near the finish line in securing Covid-19 vaccines  

<h2 style="text-align: center;"> </h2><h2 class="fr-text-bordered" style="text-align: center;">Thailand is today known the world over as a potential testing ground for start-ups, thanks to an abundance of affordable resources and a supportive government. Thai start-ups are also attracting both local and overseas venture capitalists with some showing so much promise that they will reach Unicorn status soon.</h2><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/bdFkqukYR_shutterstock_1364085116%20S.jpg" style="width: 1000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Tech start-ups in Thailand have seen tremendous growth in recent years and the current number of entrepreneurs funded by venture capital and investors now totals more than 100. Funding for start-ups has increased at a rapid rate over the past decade, soaring by 4547.6% from USD$2.1 million in 2012 to USD$97.6 million in 2019 according to Techsauce. So far this year, more than USD$130 million has been committed.&nbsp;Access to funding is one of the most important factors if start-ups are to continue to innovate and upgrade their products and services while also expanding their business overseas. This became easier in 2016-2017 when Thailand’s leading commercial banks launched venture capital subsidiaries to promote innovations and redefine banking in the digital era. They are Bualuang Ventures, Krungsri Innovate, Beacon VC, and Digital Ventures. Krungthai Bank followed, establishing KT Ventures in April this year.Other Thai venture capital firms based in Silicon Valley, namely 500 Tuk Tuks and SeaX Ventures, are funding start-ups all over Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, the leading venture capital firms in Asia, Openspace Ventures, Golden Gate Ventures, Insignia Ventures Partners, Vertex Ventures, Gobi Partners and Monk’s Hill Ventures, are adding Thai start-ups to their portfolios. KK Fund, a Singapore-based venture capital fund, launched its first Meet your Match Thailand session in March, aiming to match 20 investors to Thailand-based start-ups.In addition, three state enterprises – PTT, the Electricity Generating Authority, and the Industrial Authority of Thailand – have provided funding to start-ups through InnoSpace Thailand Co., Ltd., a joint venture between the public and private sectors.&nbsp;<h2>&nbsp;Looking to achieve unicorn status&nbsp;</h2>Reaching the unicorn stage with a company value of over USD$1 billion is the dream of every start-up. FinTech is regarded as having the most potential to achieve unicorn status with HealthTech coming in second.<div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WLrI_Fhnpg46EsaQHwM0UAGXq7b4PSpY/view?usp=sharing"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/YGzpNjSAC_startup-01.jpg" style="width: 3000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Source: startupthailand.org</a>SYNQA (formerly Omise Holdings), the leading online payment gateway, is expected to be the first unicorn in Thailand. Founded in 2013, Omise is leading the charge in the next wave of financial innovations, offering a wide range of processing solutions for online businesses.</div>After raising undisclosed funding from Nomura Holdings last year, its parent company SYNQA secured USD$80 million in a series C funding round in June 2020 led by SCB 10X and SPARX Group. This funding will reinforce SYNQA’s capacity to develop services and a technology stack for merchants and businesses across Asia.Finnomena,&nbsp;a leading Thai FinTech start-up in wealth management and one of the strongest startups in Thailand, is planning to expand its business into Asean member countries and has set a goal of increasing assets under management (AUM) from over USD$270 million to USD$3 billion (90 billion baht) by 2023. It raised capital of $13.5 million through a Series B funding round in January this year.Other successful start-ups include FlowAccount, Claim Di, aCommerce, Ookbee, Pomelo, Eatigo, Hubba, Flash Express (Thailand), Freshket, and QueQ. <h3 class="fr-text-bordered" style="text-align: center;">Dr Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, President and CEO of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa), says that in fiscal 2021, it will place major emphasis on strengthening Thai start-ups from seed stage to reach the “Series A” level and has also set the ambitious goal of creating the first Thai unicorn within the next 12 months.</h3> <img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/MldOtYhgd_%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%8C.jpg" style="width: 1000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><span style='color: rgb(65, 65, 65); font-family: "Bai Jamjuree"; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;'>Dr Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, President and CEO of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa)&nbsp;In addition to Fintech, Agricultural Technology (AgTech), Travel and Tourism Technology (Travel Tech), Health Technology (Health Tech), Educational Technology (EdTech) and Food Tech are targetted to achieve exponential growth.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>&nbsp;A home to start-up ecosystems&nbsp;</h2>Thailand’s vibrant start-up ecosystem with state-of-the art infrastructure is creating more communities to connect international start-ups, entrepreneurs, tech companies, accelerators, incubators, academia and government agencies.The depa is developing&nbsp;the Thailand Digital Valley on a 30-rai plot in the Eastern Economic Corridor of Digital (EECd) or Digital Park Thailand.Dr Nuttapon said that the first building, the Digital One Stop Service Centre, is complete and its leasable areas are already fully occupied by startup companies. Another three buildings, the Digital Start-up Knowledge Exchange Centre, the Digital Co-creation &amp; Innovation Centre, and the Digital Edutainment Complex and Digital Go Global Centre are under construction.The Thailand Digital Valley also provides business-matching opportunities for start-ups to partner with global companies.<div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/zhwjyaAoI_1605822439530.png" style="width: 3000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Thailand Digital Valley in the Eastern Economic Corridor of Digital (EECd) In late September, WHA Industrial Development Plc, Thailand's leading developer of industrial estates, and TusHoldings, a top Chinese Science and Technology service group, announced the establishment of a joint venture company, WHA Tus Co., Ltd., as an innovation and incubation centre for start-ups.</div>Located in Chulalongkorn University, TusPark WHA Incubation Centre will create an innovation ecosystem in partnership with Chinese government authorities, universities and research institutes to enhance the development of Thai start-ups and provide a bridge for Thai entrepreneurs to access China's technology, talent, investors and markets.True Digital Park, Thailand's first start-up ecosystem with an “Open Innovation” concept, created the Groundbreakers Club in October last year, the first exclusive community of successful start-up founders who will come together to further elevate the start-up scene in Thailand.<div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/ZXqm8HC02_true%20digital%20park%20S.png" style="width: 3000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">True Digital Park&nbsp;In addition, SPACE-F, the first global FoodTech start-up incubator and accelerator in Thailand, is launching Batch-II of its world class Accelerator and Incubator programme, connecting leading corporates and startups in foodtech.</div>Founded through the cooperation of Thai Union Group, the National Innovation Agency and Mahidol University, SPACE-F serves as a central platform gathering resources from corporates, VCs, CVCs, universities and government to develop and promote deep-tech and innovative FoodTech start-ups with speed and efficiency.&nbsp;<h2>&nbsp;Grooming start-ups&nbsp;</h2>Every start-up has to deal with many issues when setting up - legal, financing, sales and marketing, human resources and more - but gradually that burden is being eased as interest in entrepreneurship is at an all-time high.&nbsp;And it’s not just local start-ups that are leading the way. With a growing number of incubators, accelerators and co-working spaces as well as investors at every level, among them Angel Investors, Venture Capitalists (VC) to Corporate Venture Capital (CVC), Thailand is an appealing destination for young talent from abroad.&nbsp;startupthailand.com&nbsp;has been developed as a national platform to support and encourage the growth and ecosystem of the start-up in Thailand. It provides incubator and accelerator programmes plus funding from the National Innovation Agency (NIA).<div class="fr-img-space-wrap">&nbsp;<div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ClYQdeSnk5l_QAdVFOEEWzN_bwxJqjje/view?usp=sharing"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/7FIh4TVO4_1605823180773.png" style="width: 3000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Ecosystem of the start-up in Thailand : startupthailand.com</a>&nbsp;The NIA has also collaborated with private companies to develop a global hub that serves as &nbsp;a “One-Stop Service” and provides assistance to start-ups from their inception until such time as they are up and running. There are two hubs: District C at True Digital Park in Bangkok and Chiang Mai &amp; Co in Chiang Mai province. &nbsp;</div>Depa’s Digital Start-up Institute is another key government accelerator that focuses on the development of an appropriate ecosystem for the digital start-ups to thrive and capture business opportunities in both the domestic and global markets. &nbsp;</div>Private firms are playing an important role too in nurturing start-ups in various fields. They include True Incube, AIS the Start-up, Krungsri Rise, Kasikorn Katalyst, KT Ventures, Digital Ventures Accelerator, Siri Ventures and Space-F.

Thailand earns recognition as a regional hub for start-ups 

Thailand is today known the world over as a potential testing ground for start-ups, thanks to an abundance of affordable resources and a supportive government. Thai start-ups are also attracting both local and overseas venture capitalists with some showing so much promise that they will reach Unicorn status soon.Tech start-ups in Thailand have seen tremendous growth in recent years and the current number of entrepreneurs funded by venture capital and investors now totals more than 100. Funding for start-ups has increased at a rapid rate over the past decade, soaring by 4547.6% from USD$2.1 million in 2012 to USD$97.6 million in 2019 according to Techsauce. So far this year, more than USD$130 million has been committed.&nbsp;Access to funding is one of the most important factors if start-ups are to continue to innovate and upgrade their products and services while also expanding their business overseas. This became easier in 2016-2017 when Thailand’s leading commercial banks launched venture capital subsidiaries to promote innovations and redefine banking in the digital era. They are Bualuang Ventures, Krungsri Innovate, Beacon VC, and Digital Ventures. Krungthai Bank followed, establishing KT Ventures in April this year.Other Thai venture capital firms based in Silicon Valley, namely 500 Tuk Tuks and SeaX Ventures, are funding start-ups all over Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, the leading venture capital firms in Asia, Openspace Ventures, Golden Gate Ventures, Insignia Ventures Partners, Vertex Ventures, Gobi Partners and Monk’s Hill Ventures, are adding Thai start-ups to their portfolios. KK Fund, a Singapore-based venture capital fund, launched its first Meet your Match Thailand session in March, aiming to match 20 investors to Thailand-based start-ups.In addition, three state enterprises – PTT, the Electricity Generating Authority, and the Industrial Authority of Thailand – have provided funding to start-ups through InnoSpace Thailand Co., Ltd., a joint venture between the public and private sectors.&nbsp;&nbsp;Looking to achieve unicorn status&nbsp;Reaching the unicorn stage with a company value of over USD$1 billion is the dream of every start-up. FinTech is regarded as having the most potential to achieve unicorn status with HealthTech coming in second.Source: startupthailand.orgSYNQA (formerly Omise Holdings), the leading online payment gateway, is expected to be the first unicorn in Thailand. Founded in 2013, Omise is leading the charge in the next wave of financial innovations, offering a wide range of processing solutions for online businesses.After raising undisclosed funding from Nomura Holdings last year, its parent company SYNQA secured USD$80 million in a series C funding round in June 2020 led by SCB 10X and SPARX Group. This funding will reinforce SYNQA’s capacity to develop services and a technology stack for merchants and businesses across Asia.Finnomena,&nbsp;a leading Thai FinTech start-up in wealth management and one of the strongest startups in Thailand, is planning to expand its business into Asean member countries and has set a goal of increasing assets under management (AUM) from over USD$270 million to USD$3 billion (90 billion baht) by 2023. It raised capital of $13.5 million through a Series B funding round in January this year.Other successful start-ups include FlowAccount, Claim Di, aCommerce, Ookbee, Pomelo, Eatigo, Hubba, Flash Express (Thailand), Freshket, and QueQ.Dr Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, President and CEO of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa), says that in fiscal 2021, it will place major emphasis on strengthening Thai start-ups from seed stage to reach the “Series A” level and has also set the ambitious goal of creating the first Thai unicorn within the next 12 months.Dr Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, President and CEO of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa)&nbsp;In addition to Fintech, Agricultural Technology (AgTech), Travel and Tourism Technology (Travel Tech), Health Technology (Health Tech), Educational Technology (EdTech) and Food Tech are targetted to achieve exponential growth.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A home to start-up ecosystems&nbsp;Thailand’s vibrant start-up ecosystem with state-of-the art infrastructure is creating more communities to connect international start-ups, entrepreneurs, tech companies, accelerators, incubators, academia and government agencies.The depa is developing&nbsp;the Thailand Digital Valley on a 30-rai plot in the Eastern Economic Corridor of Digital (EECd) or Digital Park Thailand.Dr Nuttapon said that the first building, the Digital One Stop Service Centre, is complete and its leasable areas are already fully occupied by startup companies. Another three buildings, the Digital Start-up Knowledge Exchange Centre, the Digital Co-creation &amp; Innovation Centre, and the Digital Edutainment Complex and Digital Go Global Centre are under construction.The Thailand Digital Valley also provides business-matching opportunities for start-ups to partner with global companies.Thailand Digital Valley in the Eastern Economic Corridor of Digital (EECd)In late September, WHA Industrial Development Plc, Thailand's leading developer of industrial estates, and TusHoldings, a top Chinese Science and Technology service group, announced the establishment of a joint venture company, WHA Tus Co., Ltd., as an innovation and incubation centre for start-ups.Located in Chulalongkorn University, TusPark WHA Incubation Centre will create an innovation ecosystem in partnership with Chinese government authorities, universities and research institutes to enhance the development of Thai start-ups and provide a bridge for Thai entrepreneurs to access China's technology, talent, investors and markets.True Digital Park, Thailand's first start-up ecosystem with an “Open Innovation” concept, created the Groundbreakers Club in October last year, the first exclusive community of successful start-up founders who will come together to further elevate the start-up scene in Thailand.True Digital Park&nbsp;In addition, SPACE-F, the first global FoodTech start-up incubator and accelerator in Thailand, is launching Batch-II of its world class Accelerator and Incubator programme, connecting leading corporates and startups in foodtech.Founded through the cooperation of Thai Union Group, the National Innovation Agency and Mahidol University, SPACE-F serves as a central platform gathering resources from corporates, VCs, CVCs, universities and government to develop and promote deep-tech and innovative FoodTech start-ups with speed and efficiency.&nbsp;&nbsp;Grooming start-ups&nbsp;Every start-up has to deal with many issues when setting up - legal, financing, sales and marketing, human resources and more - but gradually that burden is being eased as interest in entrepreneurship is at an all-time high.&nbsp;And it’s not just local start-ups that are leading the way. With a growing number of incubators, accelerators and co-working spaces as well as investors at every level, among them Angel Investors, Venture Capitalists (VC) to Corporate Venture Capital (CVC), Thailand is an appealing destination for young talent from abroad.&nbsp;startupthailand.com&nbsp;has been developed as a national platform to support and encourage the growth and ecosystem of the start-up in Thailand. It provides incubator and accelerator programmes plus funding from the National Innovation Agency (NIA).&nbsp;Ecosystem of the start-up in Thailand : startupthailand.com&nbsp;The NIA has also collaborated with private companies to develop a global hub that serves as &nbsp;a “One-Stop Service” and provides assistance to start-ups from their inception until such time as they are up and running. There are two hubs: District C at True Digital Park in Bangkok and Chiang Mai &amp; Co in Chiang Mai province. &nbsp;Depa’s Digital Start-up Institute is another key government accelerator that focuses on the development of an appropriate ecosystem for the digital start-ups to thrive and capture business opportunities in both the domestic and global markets. &nbsp;Private firms are playing an important role too in nurturing start-ups in various fields. They include True Incube, AIS the Start-up, Krungsri Rise, Kasikorn Katalyst, KT Ventures, Digital Ventures Accelerator, Siri Ventures and Space-F.

The Magic Touch of the Unicorns

<pre class="fr-text-uppercase fr-text-spaced fr-text-gray fr-text-bordered" style='margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 21px; font-family: "Cordia New", sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: center;'><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/aMNnVo-Ea_%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%96%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%8B%E0%B8%B7%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%AD%20%2823%29%20re.jpg" style="width: 1000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">
If you live in Bangkok, there is a slim chance that you would miss noticing the extravagant Bang Sue Grand Station while driving on the Sri Rat expressway. If you get stuck up there in a traffic jam, which is common in this city, you could even spend time to carefully study the futuristic structure from different angles.</pre> Its function is explicitly hinted from its exterior that has a New York’s Grand Station-like vibe. The station is Thailand’s next mega infrastructure project which will not only help ease Bangkok’s infamous traffic congestion, but also support the country’s role as a regional transportation hub. It is positioned to strengthen Thailand’s railway system and its connections with the regional transportation network, hence enhancing economic growth. This grand station is on its way to becoming another top attraction in Bangkok – a new landmark with an external design inspired by Hua Lamphong Station but with a modern twist recognizable from miles away. If there is one word to describe the rationale of this project—it is mobility. Thailand has great ambitions to use its railway network to transport passengers and goods more effectively and more economically, particularly to lower its logistics cost which stands around 13.6% of GDP in 2018. Since the inception of the railway system in Thailand in 1893, this is probably the first bold move to upgrade the system at a mega scale. <img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/mOhpX-kmd_Banbg%20Sue_%E0%B9%92%E0%B9%90%E0%B9%91%E0%B9%91%E0%B9%90%E0%B9%99_4%20re.jpg" style="width: 1000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"> Bangsue Grand Station is just one piece of the whole jigsaw puzzle, albeit a major one. It will replace the grande dame Bangkok Station or Hua Lamphong as the capital’s railway hub with a much larger capacity and seamless connectivity to match Thailand’s regional ambitions. Besides intercity trains, it will also serve underground, commuter and high-speed trains that link Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, and U-Tapao international airports. The 220 kilometres train route between Don Mueang in Bangkok and U-Tapao in Rayong province could be traveled in under an hour, ready to transport Bangkokians to hit the Rayong beach in only a heartbeat. <img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/wd6tKEzJc_Banbg%20Sue_%E0%B9%92%E0%B9%90%E0%B9%91%E0%B9%91%E0%B9%90%E0%B9%99_3%20re.jpg" style="width: 1000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"> To date, the external construction of the station has already been completed, and only interior tweeks are required for the station to be fully functional by 2021. &nbsp;The station covers an area of 1,280 acres, and is set to be the largest railway station in Southeast Asia. Standing four stories high, with 12 platforms and 24 tracks, Bang Sue Grand Station can accommodate 26 to 40 trains at the same time, with a daily passenger capacity as high as 600,000 persons or ten times more than its century old predecessor Hua Lamphong Station. Think about it. More trains means less waiting time and faster travels.&nbsp; Designed to be environmentally friendly, the station will have at least 30% green spaces and according to Voravut Mala, former Acting Governor of the State Railway of Thailand, it will be “pollution free since it will serve only electric trains.” Initially, the station was planned as an extension of the Red Line Mass Transit System in the national Infrastructure Development Plan (2015-2022). Later on, authorities expanded the plan, transforming the main terminus platform to accommodate various types of rail services. Similar to&nbsp;Japan’s Tokyo Station and Taiwan’s Taipei Main Station,&nbsp;Bang Sue Grand Station will act as a new transit hub primed with facilities for future installments of hi-tech equipment and system. Once the high speed railway to U-Tapao is completed, it will facilitate travel between Bangkok and the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), a flagship project of Thailand to promote higher valued investments of upgraded industries that are more high-tech-oriented. It will also complement Thailand’s prominent tourism industry, as well as contribute to urbanisation and the decentralisation of cities, expanding economic opportunities beyond city walls. <img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/Ue5NdRfkt_re%20Banbg%20Sue_%E0%B9%92%E0%B9%90%E0%B9%91%E0%B9%91%E0%B9%90%E0%B9%99_1.jpg" style="width: 1000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"> People living in surrounding areas of Bangkok, the next generation of rail services will enable them to skip the traffic and hop on the ‘Red Line’ commuter trains. There are two routes in the Red Line; the north-south ‘Dark Red Line’ from Ayutthaya to Ratchaburi for a distance of 114.3 kilometres, and the west-east “Light Red Line” connecting Nakhon Pathom with Chacheongsao in 127.5 kilometres.&nbsp; For those looking forward to hopping onto the first high-speed train, the journey also starts at Bang Sue Grand Station,&nbsp;as the station will offer a platform for extended high-speed railway projects in the upcoming decades.&nbsp; The first high-speed train project to be materialised is the route from Bangkok to Nong Khai, a Thai-Sino collaboration to connect Thailand with Lao PDR and China. The first phase from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima spanning 250.77 kilometres is under construction right now. The rest of the route linking Nakhon Ratchasima with Nong Khai covers a distance of 356.1 kilometres. Once completed, this project will enable travellers from Bangkok to reach Nong Khai in just three hours’ time instead of the usual 11-hour train ride or the 8-hour drive on the road.&nbsp; Consequently, Bang Sue Grand Station and Thailand’s railway network will enhance ASEAN intraregional connectivity and could, in the foreseeable future, be extended to link with China’s Belt Road Initiative (BRI) or other prospective bilateral or regional logistical projects. The plan for Bang Sue Grand Station is not limited only to trains and tracks. Inspired by the success of Japan in urban development based on railway, Thailand hopes to promote Bang Sue Grand Station as a catalyst for developing a New Central Business District around the station. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) plans to adopt the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) model into the surrounding the area to draw in more investment in business complexes and residential units. This infrastructural elevation will undoubtedly generate a new stream of jobs and income for the local economy. At the same time, the infamous Bangkok traffic will hopefully ease as a result of a more efficient commuting network, subsequently decreasing the number of city dwellers as they spread out to reside outside city areas.&nbsp;Completion of this mega project is timely as Thailand and the world is facing a pandemic. Mass employment and business opportunities both domestically and regionally could offer a chance for the people and the economy to finally pick up and get back on track. <img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/nemuEX24t_Banbg%20Sue_%E0%B9%92%E0%B9%90%E0%B9%91%E0%B9%91%E0%B9%90%E0%B9%99_0%20re.jpg" style="width: 1000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">


If you live in Bangkok, there is a slim chance that you would miss noticing the extravagant Bang Sue Grand Station while driving on the Sri Rat expressway. If you get stuck up there in a traffic jam, which is common in this city, you could even spend time to carefully study the futuristic structure from different angles.Its function is explicitly hinted from its exterior that has a New York’s Grand Station-like vibe. The station is Thailand’s next mega infrastructure project which will not only help ease Bangkok’s infamous traffic congestion, but also support the country’s role as a regional transportation hub. It is positioned to strengthen Thailand’s railway system and its connections with the regional transportation network, hence enhancing economic growth. This grand station is on its way to becoming another top attraction in Bangkok – a new landmark with an external design inspired by Hua Lamphong Station but with a modern twist recognizable from miles away.If there is one word to describe the rationale of this project—it is mobility. Thailand has great ambitions to use its railway network to transport passengers and goods more effectively and more economically, particularly to lower its logistics cost which stands around 13.6% of GDP in 2018. Since the inception of the railway system in Thailand in 1893, this is probably the first bold move to upgrade the system at a mega scale.Bangsue Grand Station is just one piece of the whole jigsaw puzzle, albeit a major one. It will replace the grande dame Bangkok Station or Hua Lamphong as the capital’s railway hub with a much larger capacity and seamless connectivity to match Thailand’s regional ambitions. Besides intercity trains, it will also serve underground, commuter and high-speed trains that link Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, and U-Tapao international airports. The 220 kilometres train route between Don Mueang in Bangkok and U-Tapao in Rayong province could be traveled in under an hour, ready to transport Bangkokians to hit the Rayong beach in only a heartbeat.To date, the external construction of the station has already been completed, and only interior tweeks are required for the station to be fully functional by 2021. &nbsp;The station covers an area of 1,280 acres, and is set to be the largest railway station in Southeast Asia. Standing four stories high, with 12 platforms and 24 tracks, Bang Sue Grand Station can accommodate 26 to 40 trains at the same time, with a daily passenger capacity as high as 600,000 persons or ten times more than its century old predecessor Hua Lamphong Station. Think about it. More trains means less waiting time and faster travels.&nbsp;Designed to be environmentally friendly, the station will have at least 30% green spaces and according to Voravut Mala, former Acting Governor of the State Railway of Thailand, it will be “pollution free since it will serve only electric trains.”Initially, the station was planned as an extension of the Red Line Mass Transit System in the national Infrastructure Development Plan (2015-2022). Later on, authorities expanded the plan, transforming the main terminus platform to accommodate various types of rail services. Similar to&nbsp;Japan’s Tokyo Station and Taiwan’s Taipei Main Station,&nbsp;Bang Sue Grand Station will act as a new transit hub primed with facilities for future installments of hi-tech equipment and system.Once the high speed railway to U-Tapao is completed, it will facilitate travel between Bangkok and the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), a flagship project of Thailand to promote higher valued investments of upgraded industries that are more high-tech-oriented. It will also complement Thailand’s prominent tourism industry, as well as contribute to urbanisation and the decentralisation of cities, expanding economic opportunities beyond city walls.People living in surrounding areas of Bangkok, the next generation of rail services will enable them to skip the traffic and hop on the ‘Red Line’ commuter trains. There are two routes in the Red Line; the north-south ‘Dark Red Line’ from Ayutthaya to Ratchaburi for a distance of 114.3 kilometres, and the west-east “Light Red Line” connecting Nakhon Pathom with Chacheongsao in 127.5 kilometres.&nbsp;For those looking forward to hopping onto the first high-speed train, the journey also starts at Bang Sue Grand Station,&nbsp;as the station will offer a platform for extended high-speed railway projects in the upcoming decades.&nbsp;The first high-speed train project to be materialised is the route from Bangkok to Nong Khai, a Thai-Sino collaboration to connect Thailand with Lao PDR and China. The first phase from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima spanning 250.77 kilometres is under construction right now. The rest of the route linking Nakhon Ratchasima with Nong Khai covers a distance of 356.1 kilometres. Once completed, this project will enable travellers from Bangkok to reach Nong Khai in just three hours’ time instead of the usual 11-hour train ride or the 8-hour drive on the road.&nbsp;Consequently, Bang Sue Grand Station and Thailand’s railway network will enhance ASEAN intraregional connectivity and could, in the foreseeable future, be extended to link with China’s Belt Road Initiative (BRI) or other prospective bilateral or regional logistical projects.The plan for Bang Sue Grand Station is not limited only to trains and tracks. Inspired by the success of Japan in urban development based on railway, Thailand hopes to promote Bang Sue Grand Station as a catalyst for developing a New Central Business District around the station. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) plans to adopt the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) model into the surrounding the area to draw in more investment in business complexes and residential units.This infrastructural elevation will undoubtedly generate a new stream of jobs and income for the local economy. At the same time, the infamous Bangkok traffic will hopefully ease as a result of a more efficient commuting network, subsequently decreasing the number of city dwellers as they spread out to reside outside city areas.&nbsp;Completion of this mega project is timely as Thailand and the world is facing a pandemic. Mass employment and business opportunities both domestically and regionally could offer a chance for the people and the economy to finally pick up and get back on track.

The Next Great Leap in Thailand’s Transportation Infrastructure 

<img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/6uld_VKvJ_1604377689959.png" style="width: 2000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">&nbsp;-Thai medical staff tending to a COVID-19 patient-An exploration of Thailand’s public health system and pre-emptive measures to intercept COVID-19 transmissions along the Myanmar border. Quality healthcare in Thailand is not defined by a high price tag, but rather by its high levels of public accessibility. From birth, Thai citizens instantly become eligible for basic health insurance which enables them to receive subsidized services at their local hospital. “Good health should come at a low cost” according to Suwit Wibulpolprasert, who spent over two decades analyzing Thailand’s health services at the Ministry of Public Health. This scheme has enabled a far reaching system of accessible healthcare in Thailand which has been praised by the World Health Organization as one of the leading models of social insurance schemes in the Southeast Asia Region.&nbsp;Despite not being a Thai citizen, expats will still find that local clinics, dentistry practices, and dermatologists are readily available and can be found operating entirely on a walk-in basis. All health complaints ranging from a common cold to more compromising illnesses are fully addressed by these facilities without question. This method eliminates barriers to medical services such as the conundrums of organizing a GP appointment, waiting weeks for common dental services, or facing inexplicable discrepancies over the cost of health care.The competency of Thailand’s public health system was put to the test in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic which resulted in new schemes such as free treatment of COVID-19 for Thai citizens. As of October 14st 2020, Thailand’s containment of the first wave was largely deemed a success story with only 3,652 positive cases in which 3,457 have been discharged.&nbsp;In spirit and in practice, Thai citizens are all protected by Universal Coverage. However, another statistic provided by a 2006 study on the UC indicates that the number of Thai policyholders reflects but 79% of all residents. The remaining 21% are those who either do not make use of this scheme, or those who lack awareness about their rights to such provisions. These numbers also tend to fluctuate depending on people leaving and entering the country. Along Thailand’s shared borders with Myanmar and Laos, local hospitals would regularly report a large number of stateless patients, unregistered displaced persons, and cross-border patients arriving at their doorstep. These known circumstances have prompted new&nbsp;COVID-19 concerns in border provinces such as Tak and Chiang Mai while cases in Myanmar have climbed to 30,437 as of mid-October 2020. Bangkok residents have therefore started to question whether the second wave of Coronavirus will strike Thailand from the border rather than from international flights carrying home potentially infected Thai passengers.A study conducted in 2012 by the HSRI, a Thai research office on Health Coverage, has shown that cross-border healthcare has been a largely preferred method amongst impoverished Lao and Burmese populations that live along Thailand’s borders. State hospitals in such areas are often forced to admit sick patients that have travelled across natural passageways to seek their assistance. With the majority of patients being unable to pay for their treatment, public hospitals have resolved to utilize their own funds to subsidize the medical fees of vulnerable minority groups. It is important to note that stateless Thais also fall into this group due to their unclear status and lack of identification. Dr. Narin Jaroensubphayanont a lecturer at Khon Khaen University believes that the public health system will also face a “growing burden in expenses” due to the “increase of the elderly and the demands of advancing medical technology.”&nbsp;<img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/xMhS2EYe0_iStock-1141793751%20re.jpg" style="width: 1000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">- Mae Sot Refugee Camp -Nevertheless, Thai authorities have organized insurance schemes which allow registered stateless persons and migrant workers to receive protection regardless of these challenges. The remaining issue which Thailand heavily prioritizes is how to raise awareness about health insurance to the public. It has also been reported that a number of Thai people unaware of this scheme remain hesitant to take their children to the hospital due to their perceived lack of funds. Certain groups such as undocumented urban refugees and illegal migrants still fear prosecution or deportation should they seek aid from hospitals.Based on statistics from 2016 provided by Hfocus, an independent news website focusing on health issues, public hospitals situated in border provinces along the Myanmar border incurred the highest amount of medical debts from stateless and foreign patients who were unable to cover their bills totaling 431,081,275 Baht. This number encompasses 74% of all unpaid medical bills accumulated from this group in Thailand. In this regard,Thai hospitals in border provinces have shown a remarkable sense of responsibility towards any person regardless of their status, nationality, or ability to finance their treatment. Through these unconventional methods, the medical staff in such locations have independently promoted a safer environment for displaced persons and vulnerable minorities.It is important to note that cross-border healthcare is a common world-wide phenomenon that is heavily studied in new members of the European Union. Directives enshrined by the European Court of Justice help ensure that member states receive equal reimbursement for admitting cross-border patients. Concrete authorization systems and national contact points also allow for the exchange of patients in the European Union context to remain mutualistic.&nbsp;The same however cannot be said for Thai, Myanmar, and Lao border hospitals who lack the mechanisms to charge their foreign patients. However, this obstacle has not deterred Thai medical staff from providing healthcare to those who need it. The driver of such actions lies within the spirit of Thailand’s Universal Health Care policy which aims to comprehensively provide everyone with human security.&nbsp;This brings the question of how Thailand should prevent a possible second wave from neighboring countries.The standard disease control procedures have been modified to specifically manage potential risks from local Coronavirus transmissions. The Ministry of Public Health has trained medical personnel to conduct extensive contact-tracing as well as mass testing of individuals in risk areas. The investigation would begin with testing one individual and a web of contacts would be followed to identify paths of transmissions outward into the larger community. The team is always on standby to move into any local areas within a 24 hour notice to conduct investigations.<img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/eMGuVkJTi_1604377970423.png" style="width: 2000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">- Contact tracing and testing on the Myanmar border with the Disease and Control Team -The Thai Border Police have recently identified 2 cases of foreign drivers infected with COVID-19 through systematic screening at the border. Upon hearing this news, 6 COVID testing vehicles were sent to Mae Sot to investigate the potential threat of transmissions.As of mid-October 2020, 3 new cases have been identified from contact tracing and active testing of over 4,187 people. The cases identified were relatives of the driver who lived in Mae Sot Province who are now receiving a second test at Mae Sot Hospital. These results still must be re-confirmed according to medical experts.More recently the Disease and Control Team have been dispatched to Samui Island to urgently investigate the case of a French woman who has correctly followed quarantine procedures but later tested positive during her holiday. Within a few days of contact tracing the team uncovered traces of COVID-19 on gym equipment at the Samut Prakan ASQ facility where the woman stayed. The necessary adjustments to facility protocols were made immediately to prevent any further possibility of transmissions between guests. Over 100 people have been tested by the team in Samui in which all tests have returned negative. <img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/sG_Xpqe6b_1604378043478.png" style="width: 2000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">- Mae Sai Border Crossing, Tak Province -Security patrols on the Thai-Myanmar border have now been increased across 542 kilometers according to Bangkok Post, with some areas already under 24 hour patrols by the Thai Border Police. These measures are to ensure that illegal migrants carrying the virus will not trespass through natural barriers. Tak’s border crossing is now closed to halt possible transmissions while active testing continues in Mae Sot.&nbsp;<h1 class="fr-text-bordered" style='margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 8pt; font-size: 21px; font-family: "TH SarabunPSK", sans-serif; text-align: center;'>Whether the second wave of transmissions will occur from the borders is not the crux of the matter. The real question is whether Thailand’s measures will appropriately tackle such matters. As the pre-emptive measures of the Disease and Control Department have already successfully contained the first set of potential new cases, it is evident that Thailand is ready to face such challenges.</h1>

&nbsp;-Thai medical staff tending to a COVID-19 patient-An exploration of Thailand’s public health system and pre-emptive measures to intercept COVID-19 transmissions along the Myanmar border.Quality healthcare in Thailand is not defined by a high price tag, but rather by its high levels of public accessibility. From birth, Thai citizens instantly become eligible for basic health insurance which enables them to receive subsidized services at their local hospital. “Good health should come at a low cost” according to Suwit Wibulpolprasert, who spent over two decades analyzing Thailand’s health services at the Ministry of Public Health. This scheme has enabled a far reaching system of accessible healthcare in Thailand which has been praised by the World Health Organization as one of the leading models of social insurance schemes in the Southeast Asia Region.&nbsp;Despite not being a Thai citizen, expats will still find that local clinics, dentistry practices, and dermatologists are readily available and can be found operating entirely on a walk-in basis. All health complaints ranging from a common cold to more compromising illnesses are fully addressed by these facilities without question. This method eliminates barriers to medical services such as the conundrums of organizing a GP appointment, waiting weeks for common dental services, or facing inexplicable discrepancies over the cost of health care.The competency of Thailand’s public health system was put to the test in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic which resulted in new schemes such as free treatment of COVID-19 for Thai citizens. As of October 14st 2020, Thailand’s containment of the first wave was largely deemed a success story with only 3,652 positive cases in which 3,457 have been discharged.&nbsp;In spirit and in practice, Thai citizens are all protected by Universal Coverage. However, another statistic provided by a 2006 study on the UC indicates that the number of Thai policyholders reflects but 79% of all residents. The remaining 21% are those who either do not make use of this scheme, or those who lack awareness about their rights to such provisions. These numbers also tend to fluctuate depending on people leaving and entering the country. Along Thailand’s shared borders with Myanmar and Laos, local hospitals would regularly report a large number of stateless patients, unregistered displaced persons, and cross-border patients arriving at their doorstep. These known circumstances have prompted new&nbsp;COVID-19 concerns in border provinces such as Tak and Chiang Mai while cases in Myanmar have climbed to 30,437 as of mid-October 2020. Bangkok residents have therefore started to question whether the second wave of Coronavirus will strike Thailand from the border rather than from international flights carrying home potentially infected Thai passengers.A study conducted in 2012 by the HSRI, a Thai research office on Health Coverage, has shown that cross-border healthcare has been a largely preferred method amongst impoverished Lao and Burmese populations that live along Thailand’s borders. State hospitals in such areas are often forced to admit sick patients that have travelled across natural passageways to seek their assistance. With the majority of patients being unable to pay for their treatment, public hospitals have resolved to utilize their own funds to subsidize the medical fees of vulnerable minority groups. It is important to note that stateless Thais also fall into this group due to their unclear status and lack of identification. Dr. Narin Jaroensubphayanont a lecturer at Khon Khaen University believes that the public health system will also face a “growing burden in expenses” due to the “increase of the elderly and the demands of advancing medical technology.”&nbsp;- Mae Sot Refugee Camp -Nevertheless, Thai authorities have organized insurance schemes which allow registered stateless persons and migrant workers to receive protection regardless of these challenges. The remaining issue which Thailand heavily prioritizes is how to raise awareness about health insurance to the public. It has also been reported that a number of Thai people unaware of this scheme remain hesitant to take their children to the hospital due to their perceived lack of funds. Certain groups such as undocumented urban refugees and illegal migrants still fear prosecution or deportation should they seek aid from hospitals.Based on statistics from 2016 provided by Hfocus, an independent news website focusing on health issues, public hospitals situated in border provinces along the Myanmar border incurred the highest amount of medical debts from stateless and foreign patients who were unable to cover their bills totaling 431,081,275 Baht. This number encompasses 74% of all unpaid medical bills accumulated from this group in Thailand. In this regard,Thai hospitals in border provinces have shown a remarkable sense of responsibility towards any person regardless of their status, nationality, or ability to finance their treatment. Through these unconventional methods, the medical staff in such locations have independently promoted a safer environment for displaced persons and vulnerable minorities.It is important to note that cross-border healthcare is a common world-wide phenomenon that is heavily studied in new members of the European Union. Directives enshrined by the European Court of Justice help ensure that member states receive equal reimbursement for admitting cross-border patients. Concrete authorization systems and national contact points also allow for the exchange of patients in the European Union context to remain mutualistic.&nbsp;The same however cannot be said for Thai, Myanmar, and Lao border hospitals who lack the mechanisms to charge their foreign patients. However, this obstacle has not deterred Thai medical staff from providing healthcare to those who need it. The driver of such actions lies within the spirit of Thailand’s Universal Health Care policy which aims to comprehensively provide everyone with human security.&nbsp;This brings the question of how Thailand should prevent a possible second wave from neighboring countries.The standard disease control procedures have been modified to specifically manage potential risks from local Coronavirus transmissions. The Ministry of Public Health has trained medical personnel to conduct extensive contact-tracing as well as mass testing of individuals in risk areas. The investigation would begin with testing one individual and a web of contacts would be followed to identify paths of transmissions outward into the larger community. The team is always on standby to move into any local areas within a 24 hour notice to conduct investigations.- Contact tracing and testing on the Myanmar border with the Disease and Control Team -The Thai Border Police have recently identified 2 cases of foreign drivers infected with COVID-19 through systematic screening at the border. Upon hearing this news, 6 COVID testing vehicles were sent to Mae Sot to investigate the potential threat of transmissions.As of mid-October 2020, 3 new cases have been identified from contact tracing and active testing of over 4,187 people. The cases identified were relatives of the driver who lived in Mae Sot Province who are now receiving a second test at Mae Sot Hospital. These results still must be re-confirmed according to medical experts.More recently the Disease and Control Team have been dispatched to Samui Island to urgently investigate the case of a French woman who has correctly followed quarantine procedures but later tested positive during her holiday. Within a few days of contact tracing the team uncovered traces of COVID-19 on gym equipment at the Samut Prakan ASQ facility where the woman stayed. The necessary adjustments to facility protocols were made immediately to prevent any further possibility of transmissions between guests. Over 100 people have been tested by the team in Samui in which all tests have returned negative.- Mae Sai Border Crossing, Tak Province -Security patrols on the Thai-Myanmar border have now been increased across 542 kilometers according to Bangkok Post, with some areas already under 24 hour patrols by the Thai Border Police. These measures are to ensure that illegal migrants carrying the virus will not trespass through natural barriers. Tak’s border crossing is now closed to halt possible transmissions while active testing continues in Mae Sot.&nbsp;Whether the second wave of transmissions will occur from the borders is not the crux of the matter. The real question is whether Thailand’s measures will appropriately tackle such matters. As the pre-emptive measures of the Disease and Control Department have already successfully contained the first set of potential new cases, it is evident that Thailand is ready to face such challenges.

Are we ready for a second wave? Thailand’s healthcare vs COVID-19 

Enjoy a mixture of fun and convenient ways to get around the city.They say Bangkok is a city that never sleeps, powered by a world-class public transport infrastructure that whisks residents to virtually any part of the city or even the country at almost any time of the day or night.&nbsp;Like many of the world's leading cities, Thailand’s capital once faced traffic congestion problems. But that changed on December 5, 1999, when the launch of Bangkok’s BTS Skytrain system lifted commuters above the daily battle with gridlocked traffic and air pollution. These days, passengers can glide through the cityscape in airconditioned comfort from 5 am until the last train draws into the end-of-line station at 1am.&nbsp;<img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/GQYJlfWpD_1603732525409.png" style="width: 1000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The Skytrain also offers easy access to the capital’s main airport, Suvarnabhumi, via the Airport Rail Link from BTS Phaya Thai station. However, the Link runs from 5.30 am to midnight so might not be useful if you’re catching an early-morning flight or are overloaded with luggage.&nbsp;In mid-2004, Bangkok opened its subway system, better known as the MRT, which has two lines and runs from 6am to midnight every day. The MRT is great for exploring the city, whisking passengers to some of Bangkok’s best-known destinations such as Chatuchak weekend market, Chinatown and Rattanakosin Island. Moreover, commuters can also get a taste of unique Thai-style artworks on the extended Blue Line or “Heritage Line”. &nbsp;The subway stations including Wat Mangkon, Sam Yot, Sanam Chai and Itsaraphap have been designed as art spaces with artworks that reflect the areas above them.<img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/EgCreUtBZ_1603732550966.png" style="width: 2000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">- Decoration of concourse level at Sanam Chai MRT Station -<div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/aSxQta-zM_1603732561213.png" style="width: 2000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">- Wat Mangkon Station -The MRT also links up with the BTS at several points, creating a light rail network that covers most of the city. A new monorail feeder service known as the Gold Line linking the Krung Thonburi BTS station to Klong San and high-end mall Iconsiam is scheduled to open in October 2020.</div>However, tickets for each system have to be bought separately, though there is talk of them being linked up by single payment soon.&nbsp;Credit cards cannot be used to purchase individual tickets in either system, so it’s advisable to always have cash handy. Users have the option of buying single-journey tickets or a card they can top up with credit for multiple trips.&nbsp;As well as being linked with the MRT, the BTS is also connected to the BRT or Bus Rapid Transport service from Chong Nonsi station in central Bangkok to Talat Phlu across the river.&nbsp; Venice of the East&nbsp;In addition to Bangkok’s broad and still-expanding train network, travellers can also catch a boat to the capital’s historical sights and even new destinations like Asiatique and Iconsiam. Chao Phraya Express boats run below Saphan Taksin BTS from 6 am to 7 pm and fares start from 9 to 32 baht. Alternatively, river-trippers can opt for an all-day pass for 150 baht.&nbsp;<img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/9HWmwPhsn_1603732575335.png" style="width: 1000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Commuter ferries also criss-cross the river, and some will even let you take your bicycle or motorbike across, including the service from Wat Khlong Toey Nok to Bang Krachao – Bangkok’s “green lung”.&nbsp;Another easy way to avoid inner Bangkok’s traffic jams is by hopping aboard one of the water taxis that ply the 18-kilometre-long Saen Saep canal in the city’s heart. They share the canal with commuter boats, which run west to the Golden Mount and east to Wat Si Bunruang in Bang Kapi district. &nbsp;The interchange stop is right in the centre of the city, in Pratunam.&nbsp;<h1 data-automation="ImageDetailsPage_Details" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; margin: 0px; color: rgba(12, 18, 28, 0.87); font-family: Roboto, Shutterstock-NotoSans, Shutterstock-NotoSansThai, Shutterstock-NotoSansJa, Shutterstock-NotoSansKo, Shutterstock-NotoSansSc, Shutterstock-NotoSansTc, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.1; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/6GPDUMHpL_shutterstock_1419252317%20low.jpg" style="width: 1000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">- Transportation by boat at chidlom pierm San Sab canal in Bangkok -&nbsp;</div></h1>The canal boats run from dawn until about 8 pm on weekdays and until 7 pm on the weekends, with fares ranging from 8 baht to 18 baht.&nbsp;Alternatively, if you’re travelling in a group and want to try something different, you can rent a long-tail boat.&nbsp; Zooming around&nbsp;Bangkok also has an extensive public bus network, which comes in all shapes, colours and sizes, ranging from smart airconditioned single-deckers to songthaews (converted trucks) and private vans. If these are your transport choice, downloading the “Via Bus” app will give you live information on bus routes and times. This is probably the cheapest way form of public transport in the city as fares start from as little as 8 baht.&nbsp;The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is now introducing so-called smart bus stops. By the end of this year, BMA plans to install 200 of them and the first has already been set up in front of Central Rama 9 on Rama IX Road. The smart bus stop has a screen displaying the arriving buses and even offers WIFI and a battery charger station.However, if the crowds get too much, you can always flag down one of Bangkok’s ubiquitous airconditioned metered taxis. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can opt for a motorbike taxi or a tuk-tuk – though be prepared to haggle for several minutes to get a good price for the latter. &nbsp;These modes of transport are not advisable for long distances, however.&nbsp;<div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/JNMwwPHME_shutterstock_786785059%20low%20.jpg" style="width: 2000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">- Tuk Tuk &amp; Metered Taxi are a common forms of urban transport in Bangkok, Thailand. - Most areas also have “win motorcy”, or motorbike taxis that service specific locations such as sois or housing estates.&nbsp;</div><h1 data-automation="ImageDetailsPage_Details" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; margin: 0px; color: rgba(12, 18, 28, 0.87); font-family: Roboto, Shutterstock-NotoSans, Shutterstock-NotoSansThai, Shutterstock-NotoSansJa, Shutterstock-NotoSansKo, Shutterstock-NotoSansSc, Shutterstock-NotoSansTc, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.1; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/quyZ__i1E_shutterstock_1553265260%20%281%29%20low.jpg" style="width: 2000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">- a line of motorcycle taxi drivers, waiting for customers -&nbsp;&nbsp;</div></h1>However, if you’re looking for safety, comfort and convenience – and if you still haven’t mastered the language – an app like GrabTaxi may be the best bet. This service runs 24 hours and offers a choice of metred taxi, which costs 20 baht above the fare, or a private car at a predetermined fare.&nbsp;This service is a godsend if you have a flight to catch at an ungodly hour or need to get to your hotel safely from a night venue. The GPS usually shows the driver where you’re waiting and where you want to go, though it is not fool proof – the maps are not always accurate and you may have to give the driver directions.&nbsp;Grab Taxi also has a self-drive option, allowing you to rent a car at an affordable price.&nbsp;Apart from driving you around the city, some cabbies are also happy to take you to nearby provinces. Private hire options are also plentiful on the net. A car from your Bangkok hotel to the seaside in Hua Hin can cost as little as 1,800 baht and much less if you’re going somewhere closer.&nbsp;For a cheaper alternative, you can take a local long-distance bus from one of the three main bus terminals in the city. Though these services make plenty of stops, they are airconditioned or at the very least usually have windows you can open.&nbsp;Another easy, cheap and comfortable way to get around Thailand – or even to Malaysia and Singapore – is to take a train from Hua Lamphong Station. Bangkok’s historic railway hub is housed in an impressive neo-Renaissance façade and offers everything from overnight chuggers to luxury trains like the Eastern and Oriental Express.&nbsp;However, Hua Lamphong will close its doors next year when the State Railway of Thailand moves to the giant and futuristic Bang Sue Grand Station across town.<div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/_cENucTYq_shutterstock_252748048%20low.jpg" style="width: 3000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">- Trains at Hualamphong railway station in Bangkok -Thanks to its geographical location, Bangkok is a regional transport hub boasting two international airports – Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang – with flights linking nearly every major and not so major city in the world.&nbsp;</div>The sprawling Suvarnabhumi Airport, which opened in 2006, serves most international commercial airlines, while the older Don Mueang Airport services budget and domestic airlines. A railway linking Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang to U-Tapao airport in Rayong on the eastern seaboard will be up and running in the next few years, providing even greater convenience for travellers in Thailand. &nbsp;

Enjoy a mixture of fun and convenient ways to get around the city.They say Bangkok is a city that never sleeps, powered by a world-class public transport infrastructure that whisks residents to virtually any part of the city or even the country at almost any time of the day or night.&nbsp;Like many of the world's leading cities, Thailand’s capital once faced traffic congestion problems. But that changed on December 5, 1999, when the launch of Bangkok’s BTS Skytrain system lifted commuters above the daily battle with gridlocked traffic and air pollution. These days, passengers can glide through the cityscape in airconditioned comfort from 5 am until the last train draws into the end-of-line station at 1am.&nbsp;The Skytrain also offers easy access to the capital’s main airport, Suvarnabhumi, via the Airport Rail Link from BTS Phaya Thai station. However, the Link runs from 5.30 am to midnight so might not be useful if you’re catching an early-morning flight or are overloaded with luggage.&nbsp;In mid-2004, Bangkok opened its subway system, better known as the MRT, which has two lines and runs from 6am to midnight every day. The MRT is great for exploring the city, whisking passengers to some of Bangkok’s best-known destinations such as Chatuchak weekend market, Chinatown and Rattanakosin Island. Moreover, commuters can also get a taste of unique Thai-style artworks on the extended Blue Line or “Heritage Line”. &nbsp;The subway stations including Wat Mangkon, Sam Yot, Sanam Chai and Itsaraphap have been designed as art spaces with artworks that reflect the areas above them.- Decoration of concourse level at Sanam Chai MRT Station -- Wat Mangkon Station -The MRT also links up with the BTS at several points, creating a light rail network that covers most of the city. A new monorail feeder service known as the Gold Line linking the Krung Thonburi BTS station to Klong San and high-end mall Iconsiam is scheduled to open in October 2020.However, tickets for each system have to be bought separately, though there is talk of them being linked up by single payment soon.&nbsp;Credit cards cannot be used to purchase individual tickets in either system, so it’s advisable to always have cash handy. Users have the option of buying single-journey tickets or a card they can top up with credit for multiple trips.&nbsp;As well as being linked with the MRT, the BTS is also connected to the BRT or Bus Rapid Transport service from Chong Nonsi station in central Bangkok to Talat Phlu across the river.&nbsp;Venice of the East&nbsp;In addition to Bangkok’s broad and still-expanding train network, travellers can also catch a boat to the capital’s historical sights and even new destinations like Asiatique and Iconsiam. Chao Phraya Express boats run below Saphan Taksin BTS from 6 am to 7 pm and fares start from 9 to 32 baht. Alternatively, river-trippers can opt for an all-day pass for 150 baht.&nbsp;Commuter ferries also criss-cross the river, and some will even let you take your bicycle or motorbike across, including the service from Wat Khlong Toey Nok to Bang Krachao – Bangkok’s “green lung”.&nbsp;Another easy way to avoid inner Bangkok’s traffic jams is by hopping aboard one of the water taxis that ply the 18-kilometre-long Saen Saep canal in the city’s heart. They share the canal with commuter boats, which run west to the Golden Mount and east to Wat Si Bunruang in Bang Kapi district. &nbsp;The interchange stop is right in the centre of the city, in Pratunam.&nbsp;- Transportation by boat at chidlom pierm San Sab canal in Bangkok -&nbsp;The canal boats run from dawn until about 8 pm on weekdays and until 7 pm on the weekends, with fares ranging from 8 baht to 18 baht.&nbsp;Alternatively, if you’re travelling in a group and want to try something different, you can rent a long-tail boat.&nbsp;Zooming around&nbsp;Bangkok also has an extensive public bus network, which comes in all shapes, colours and sizes, ranging from smart airconditioned single-deckers to songthaews (converted trucks) and private vans. If these are your transport choice, downloading the “Via Bus” app will give you live information on bus routes and times. This is probably the cheapest way form of public transport in the city as fares start from as little as 8 baht.&nbsp;The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is now introducing so-called smart bus stops. By the end of this year, BMA plans to install 200 of them and the first has already been set up in front of Central Rama 9 on Rama IX Road. The smart bus stop has a screen displaying the arriving buses and even offers WIFI and a battery charger station.However, if the crowds get too much, you can always flag down one of Bangkok’s ubiquitous airconditioned metered taxis. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can opt for a motorbike taxi or a tuk-tuk – though be prepared to haggle for several minutes to get a good price for the latter. &nbsp;These modes of transport are not advisable for long distances, however.&nbsp;- Tuk Tuk &amp; Metered Taxi are a common forms of urban transport in Bangkok, Thailand. -Most areas also have “win motorcy”, or motorbike taxis that service specific locations such as sois or housing estates.&nbsp;- a line of motorcycle taxi drivers, waiting for customers -&nbsp;&nbsp;However, if you’re looking for safety, comfort and convenience – and if you still haven’t mastered the language – an app like GrabTaxi may be the best bet. This service runs 24 hours and offers a choice of metred taxi, which costs 20 baht above the fare, or a private car at a predetermined fare.&nbsp;This service is a godsend if you have a flight to catch at an ungodly hour or need to get to your hotel safely from a night venue. The GPS usually shows the driver where you’re waiting and where you want to go, though it is not fool proof – the maps are not always accurate and you may have to give the driver directions.&nbsp;Grab Taxi also has a self-drive option, allowing you to rent a car at an affordable price.&nbsp;Apart from driving you around the city, some cabbies are also happy to take you to nearby provinces. Private hire options are also plentiful on the net. A car from your Bangkok hotel to the seaside in Hua Hin can cost as little as 1,800 baht and much less if you’re going somewhere closer.&nbsp;For a cheaper alternative, you can take a local long-distance bus from one of the three main bus terminals in the city. Though these services make plenty of stops, they are airconditioned or at the very least usually have windows you can open.&nbsp;Another easy, cheap and comfortable way to get around Thailand – or even to Malaysia and Singapore – is to take a train from Hua Lamphong Station. Bangkok’s historic railway hub is housed in an impressive neo-Renaissance façade and offers everything from overnight chuggers to luxury trains like the Eastern and Oriental Express.&nbsp;However, Hua Lamphong will close its doors next year when the State Railway of Thailand moves to the giant and futuristic Bang Sue Grand Station across town.- Trains at Hualamphong railway station in Bangkok -Thanks to its geographical location, Bangkok is a regional transport hub boasting two international airports – Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang – with flights linking nearly every major and not so major city in the world.&nbsp;The sprawling Suvarnabhumi Airport, which opened in 2006, serves most international commercial airlines, while the older Don Mueang Airport services budget and domestic airlines. A railway linking Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang to U-Tapao airport in Rayong on the eastern seaboard will be up and running in the next few years, providing even greater convenience for travellers in Thailand. &nbsp;

Travelling around Bangkok has never been better 

<h2> </h2><h2>&nbsp; From top to bottom, a whole-of-society effort has been the key to prevention. &nbsp;</h2> The fear was palpable. The predictions were dire. In early January, Thailand detected the first case outside China of a new, highly transmissible and deadly coronavirus (COVID-19) with no known cure. The Kingdom is a favorite destination for Chinese tourists: nearly 11 million visited in 2019, and in January 2020 alone, over 7,000 arrived from Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak. Public health professionals diagnosed Thailand as a country poised for disaster. That disaster never happened. Today, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations and global health experts are praising Thailand for preventing COVID-19 from becoming an epidemic. Since January, the Kingdom of over 69 million people has recorded fewer than 3,600 infections, 59 deaths, and just one locally transmitted case in over 100 days. Journalists, economists and analysts have been advancing theories about how Thailand succeeded in stopping the virus. Some credited lockdowns and border closures. Others point to widespread mask-wearing. More than one wondered if it could just be luck.Luck is always welcome, but Thailand’s effective response is built on a more solid foundation. &nbsp;The Kingdom “is reaping the benefits of 40 years of health system strengthening,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom said in a recent speech. Thailand’s public health system, cited by the U.N. as a model for developing countries, has been central to preventing the spread of COVID-19. But the Kingdom’s approach is even more holistic. It is a whole-of-society effort in which everyone from the upper echelons to village volunteers are playing important parts. “I call it the Bang Rajan spirit,” says Dr. Tanarak Plipat of the Department of Disease Control, referring to a celebrated chapter in Thai history. In 1765, villagers in the hamlet of Bang Rajan banded together and staved off an invading foreign army for months, rallying a divided Kingdom. In 2020, health volunteers in villages and towns across Thailand have been inspiring fellow Thais by selflessly working on the front lines of the response. <div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/dbXhUsYKD_St2EPrUKE_image%20no%20caption.png" style="width: 2000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">- The Village Health Volunteer in rural areas of Thailand / Picture: www.prachachat.net -&nbsp;In most societies, it is rare to see someone at the very top getting involved in the trenches. But Thailand’s public health system originated with one such individual. A century ago, Prince Mahidol of Songkhla abandoned life at the royal court, earned degrees in public health and medicine at Harvard, and treated poor patients as a doctor in Chiang Mai. He helped upgrade Siriraj, the first modern hospital in the Kingdom and is regarded as the Father of Thai Medicine. He instilled in his family a devotion to public health and service. Prince Mahidol was a visionary and knew that a strong, accessible Thai public health system would be a decisive factor for the country’s future.</div> <div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/j5N1i3jqE_shutterstock_670092124%20low.jpg" style="width: 3000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">-Siriraj hospital, Thailand -&nbsp;His son, the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great, carried on that commitment, as has his grandson King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua. &nbsp;Many of His Majesty King Bhumibol’s royal projects focused on public health and he granted hundreds of scholarships to medical students to study overseas.</div>While still Crown Prince, His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua funded the building of 21 hospitals across Thailand, mostly in remote and impoverished areas. These hospitals filled the gap in the network of public health services and complemented the endeavour of the government to provide the people with equal access to such crucial services. More recently during the COVID-19 pandemic, Their Majesties the King and the Queen donated ventilators, personal protective equipment, and ambulances, to assist communities in far-flung districts. In addition, His Majesty provided modular swab units and COVID-19 testing systems to hospitals nationwide.<img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/hGdmT0f5w_Crown%20Prince%20Hospital%20Map%20low.jpg" style="width: 1000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Successive Thai governments have consistently prioritized public health. Thanks to sustained and widespread building of hospitals, clinics, and medical schools and universities, the Kingdom scores highly on many health indicators, including extremely low levels of maternal and child mortality despite being a developing country. Life expectancy is long at 75+ years and still increasing. The system had become so robust in 2001 that the government introduced universal health care, allowing anyone to receive treatment at public hospitals for about a dollar. The program, which is periodically refined and improved, remains enormously popular.Thai governments have also consistently funded medical schools, universities and their research. Mahidol and Chulalongkorn universities have been at the forefront and scientists at Chulalongkorn are fast at work on a COVID-19 vaccine. Thailand also has successful attempts in conducting large clinical vaccine trials, including treatments for HIV.<div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/l5qvzi1P9_2Nqw8PaQU_CV3.png" style="width: 3000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">- The Chula-COVID-19, a prototype vaccine being developed through mRNA method -Experience with pandemics is another key to Thailand’s response to COVID -19. Since the 1990s, the Kingdom has a sterling record of protecting its people from SARS, MERS, Avian Influenza, and other viruses. Its public health professionals have learned from every outbreak or potential threat and sharpened their skills and protocols. But they didn’t do it completely alone.</div>Partnerships have also been essential. Most Americans don’t realize that the Center for Disease Control’s largest office outside the United States is in Bangkok. And for 60 years, the U.S. Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences in Thailand has worked with the Kingdom’s doctors and scientists to prevent, control and cure diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, dengue fever, and HIV/AIDS.But the most important partnership of all is between Thailand’s people, from top to bottom. In the 1970s, when the public health infrastructure was still limited, the government filled the gaps with a program of Village Health Volunteers. In every community, someone was trained in basic health care. That person would relay health information to their neighbors, check on the ill and the elderly, keep family health records, and act as an interface with clinics or hospitals in the province.Today, the WHO hails them as the “unsung heroes” of the COVID-19 response. The roughly one million Village Health Volunteers are serving as sentinels to spot, prevent, track and trace COVID-19 infections in their communities. Sometimes they are at risk of contracting the illness themselves. ‘I do it because I want to help my neighbors,” 60-year-old volunteer Arunrat Rukthin in Nong Khai province told Khaosod newspaper. “The Kingdom’s COVID-19 success was built on this record of cooperation between public health authorities and civil society that goes back 50 years,” wrote professor Walden Bello.As in many countries, politics can be divisive. But Thailand adopted a wise approach, acting early and decisively, and letting public health authorities take the lead. Those decisions engendered trust. As a result, when the government ordered a soft lockdown and a curfew, issued rules on wearing masks and appealed for unity and cooperation on other preventive measures, it got it. &nbsp;Thailand’s success in tackling COVID-19 can provide worthwhile lessons. The Kingdom doesn’t have the wealth or resources comparable to developed nations. &nbsp;But by adopting an honest, practical, and science-based approach, leadership won the trust and cooperation of the people who responded as a community. Doctors and scientists warn that a second wave of the virus could strike Thailand. If it does, Thailand and its people will be up to the challenge. <div id="_com_5" language="JavaScript"> </div>Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

&nbsp; From top to bottom, a whole-of-society effort has been the key to prevention. &nbsp;The fear was palpable. The predictions were dire. In early January, Thailand detected the first case outside China of a new, highly transmissible and deadly coronavirus (COVID-19) with no known cure. The Kingdom is a favorite destination for Chinese tourists: nearly 11 million visited in 2019, and in January 2020 alone, over 7,000 arrived from Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak. Public health professionals diagnosed Thailand as a country poised for disaster.That disaster never happened. Today, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations and global health experts are praising Thailand for preventing COVID-19 from becoming an epidemic. Since January, the Kingdom of over 69 million people has recorded fewer than 3,600 infections, 59 deaths, and just one locally transmitted case in over 100 days. Journalists, economists and analysts have been advancing theories about how Thailand succeeded in stopping the virus. Some credited lockdowns and border closures. Others point to widespread mask-wearing. More than one wondered if it could just be luck.Luck is always welcome, but Thailand’s effective response is built on a more solid foundation. &nbsp;The Kingdom “is reaping the benefits of 40 years of health system strengthening,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom said in a recent speech. Thailand’s public health system, cited by the U.N. as a model for developing countries, has been central to preventing the spread of COVID-19. But the Kingdom’s approach is even more holistic. It is a whole-of-society effort in which everyone from the upper echelons to village volunteers are playing important parts.“I call it the Bang Rajan spirit,” says Dr. Tanarak Plipat of the Department of Disease Control, referring to a celebrated chapter in Thai history. In 1765, villagers in the hamlet of Bang Rajan banded together and staved off an invading foreign army for months, rallying a divided Kingdom. In 2020, health volunteers in villages and towns across Thailand have been inspiring fellow Thais by selflessly working on the front lines of the response.- The Village Health Volunteer in rural areas of Thailand / Picture: www.prachachat.net -&nbsp;In most societies, it is rare to see someone at the very top getting involved in the trenches. But Thailand’s public health system originated with one such individual. A century ago, Prince Mahidol of Songkhla abandoned life at the royal court, earned degrees in public health and medicine at Harvard, and treated poor patients as a doctor in Chiang Mai. He helped upgrade Siriraj, the first modern hospital in the Kingdom and is regarded as the Father of Thai Medicine. He instilled in his family a devotion to public health and service. Prince Mahidol was a visionary and knew that a strong, accessible Thai public health system would be a decisive factor for the country’s future.-Siriraj hospital, Thailand -&nbsp;His son, the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great, carried on that commitment, as has his grandson King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua. &nbsp;Many of His Majesty King Bhumibol’s royal projects focused on public health and he granted hundreds of scholarships to medical students to study overseas.While still Crown Prince, His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua funded the building of 21 hospitals across Thailand, mostly in remote and impoverished areas. These hospitals filled the gap in the network of public health services and complemented the endeavour of the government to provide the people with equal access to such crucial services. More recently during the COVID-19 pandemic, Their Majesties the King and the Queen donated ventilators, personal protective equipment, and ambulances, to assist communities in far-flung districts. In addition, His Majesty provided modular swab units and COVID-19 testing systems to hospitals nationwide.Successive Thai governments have consistently prioritized public health. Thanks to sustained and widespread building of hospitals, clinics, and medical schools and universities, the Kingdom scores highly on many health indicators, including extremely low levels of maternal and child mortality despite being a developing country. Life expectancy is long at 75+ years and still increasing. The system had become so robust in 2001 that the government introduced universal health care, allowing anyone to receive treatment at public hospitals for about a dollar. The program, which is periodically refined and improved, remains enormously popular.Thai governments have also consistently funded medical schools, universities and their research. Mahidol and Chulalongkorn universities have been at the forefront and scientists at Chulalongkorn are fast at work on a COVID-19 vaccine. Thailand also has successful attempts in conducting large clinical vaccine trials, including treatments for HIV.- The Chula-COVID-19, a prototype vaccine being developed through mRNA method -Experience with pandemics is another key to Thailand’s response to COVID -19. Since the 1990s, the Kingdom has a sterling record of protecting its people from SARS, MERS, Avian Influenza, and other viruses. Its public health professionals have learned from every outbreak or potential threat and sharpened their skills and protocols. But they didn’t do it completely alone.Partnerships have also been essential. Most Americans don’t realize that the Center for Disease Control’s largest office outside the United States is in Bangkok. And for 60 years, the U.S. Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences in Thailand has worked with the Kingdom’s doctors and scientists to prevent, control and cure diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, dengue fever, and HIV/AIDS.But the most important partnership of all is between Thailand’s people, from top to bottom. In the 1970s, when the public health infrastructure was still limited, the government filled the gaps with a program of Village Health Volunteers. In every community, someone was trained in basic health care. That person would relay health information to their neighbors, check on the ill and the elderly, keep family health records, and act as an interface with clinics or hospitals in the province.Today, the WHO hails them as the “unsung heroes” of the COVID-19 response. The roughly one million Village Health Volunteers are serving as sentinels to spot, prevent, track and trace COVID-19 infections in their communities. Sometimes they are at risk of contracting the illness themselves. ‘I do it because I want to help my neighbors,” 60-year-old volunteer Arunrat Rukthin in Nong Khai province told Khaosod newspaper. “The Kingdom’s COVID-19 success was built on this record of cooperation between public health authorities and civil society that goes back 50 years,” wrote professor Walden Bello.As in many countries, politics can be divisive. But Thailand adopted a wise approach, acting early and decisively, and letting public health authorities take the lead. Those decisions engendered trust. As a result, when the government ordered a soft lockdown and a curfew, issued rules on wearing masks and appealed for unity and cooperation on other preventive measures, it got it. &nbsp;Thailand’s success in tackling COVID-19 can provide worthwhile lessons. The Kingdom doesn’t have the wealth or resources comparable to developed nations. &nbsp;But by adopting an honest, practical, and science-based approach, leadership won the trust and cooperation of the people who responded as a community. Doctors and scientists warn that a second wave of the virus could strike Thailand. If it does, Thailand and its people will be up to the challenge.Powered by Froala Editor

How Thailand turned the tide on COVID-19

Did you just enjoy your stay in Thailand and are now leaving the country with a heavy heart?&nbsp;Here is a rundown of the 7 things that you, as a visitor to Thailand, will probably miss when you go home, along with the 8th, the reason why you are probably coming back.1. The food<figure><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/eay3bwZBu_shutterstock_731210413.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></figure>Whatever you eat in Thailand, except desserts, of course, is spicy. Neophytes to Thai food may find it “too hot”, but once you’ve acquired tolerance for that chilli kick, you will have a higher appreciation and regard for the national cuisine.Thai food is absolutely delicious, which you will realise once you have trained your palate to cope with the spiciness. In the meantime, whether you’re dining in an upscale restaurant or at food stalls in the street, don’t hesitate to ask for your meal to be toned down to suit your taste.&nbsp;Visitors come back to Thailand for the authentic dishes they miss so much at a fraction of the price they pay at Thai restaurants in their home countries.2. The night markets<figure><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/DGYgU8xKJ_shutterstock_781347532.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></figure>As evening draws in and the temperature drops, Thais head to the night markets, usually just a group of makeshift stalls offering clothes, bags, shoes, accessories and plenty more besides. Wander around and you are sure to find some surprises including mysterious-looking amulets and interesting jewellery.3. Transportation<figure><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/kKgjP247L_shutterstock_1444266617.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></figure>Modes of transportation in Thailand are varied and most cities offer a profusion of both modern and traditional transportation. Metropolitan Bangkok has one of the most modern elevated train and subway systems in the world. Railway travel is an experience in itself and air travel is top-notch.&nbsp;Meanwhile, along the streets, the mighty tuk-tuk&nbsp;still gets its share of attention. To avoid traffic, boat rides along the canals can be both stress-relieving and thrilling.&nbsp;4. The language<figure><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/0ucMKZ36M_shutterstock_472150225.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></figure>The Thai language is very melodic, with varying intonations and nasal variations. But don’t be fooled! It may sound very monosyllabic but, in reality, a slight change in the way the tongue is placed gives an altogether different meaning to a word.To foreign ears, Thai sounds courteous, friendly, soothing, and most of all, accommodating.5. The temples<figure><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/sdZVUN34S_shutterstock_698378932.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></figure>Thailand is synonymous with temples and vice versa. And who can resist the sight of these magnificent structures peering out from the rolling hills? They are stunning! Both imposing and majestic, temples bring serenity to the viewer. Going inside is a one-of-a-kind experience – a feeling beyond description!6. The beaches<figure><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/Fu5LpL7kM_shutterstock_126333494.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></figure>In nearby Pattaya and the southern provinces, nature lovers enjoy sandy beaches and picture-perfect locations. For a more eclectic sand-and-sea enjoyment, Pattaya and its beaches are a must-visit. For a more esoteric and romantic excursion, Phuket, Krabi and Samui are the places to go.7. The festivals and celebrations<figure><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/YAx_tHd8u_shutterstock_406706530.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></figure>Thailand has a celebration or reason for merry-making almost every month. The most popular is Songkran, the water festival that marks Thai New Year. It signals the start of summer and is celebrated by splashing people with water.&nbsp;&nbsp;Thailand has a celebration or reason for merry-making almost every month. The most popular is Songkran, the water festival that marks Thai New Year. It signals the start of summer and is celebrated by splashing people with water.&nbsp;These are the 7 things most visitors miss about Thailand. They are also the reasons why they come back. And the 8th reason?They come back to rekindle friendships built with the locals. It may be with the Thai noodle vendor, the girl selling handicrafts in the night market, the tuk-tuk driver who took them around, the neighbour who taught them the proper way to wai, the monk in the nearby temple, the girl selling Thai sweets at the beach, or the boy who doused them with water during Songkran. It’s easy to make friends in the Land of Smiles where the locals are amongst the friendliest folk on Earth.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Thailand will leave a mark in you and entices you to be back 

Did you just enjoy your stay in Thailand and are now leaving the country with a heavy heart?&nbsp;Here is a rundown of the 7 things that you, as a visitor to Thailand, will probably miss when you go home, along with the 8th, the reason why you are probably coming back.1. The foodWhatever you eat in Thailand, except desserts, of course, is spicy. Neophytes to Thai food may find it “too hot”, but once you’ve acquired tolerance for that chilli kick, you will have a higher appreciation and regard for the national cuisine.Thai food is absolutely delicious, which you will realise once you have trained your palate to cope with the spiciness. In the meantime, whether you’re dining in an upscale restaurant or at food stalls in the street, don’t hesitate to ask for your meal to be toned down to suit your taste.&nbsp;Visitors come back to Thailand for the authentic dishes they miss so much at a fraction of the price they pay at Thai restaurants in their home countries.2. The night marketsAs evening draws in and the temperature drops, Thais head to the night markets, usually just a group of makeshift stalls offering clothes, bags, shoes, accessories and plenty more besides. Wander around and you are sure to find some surprises including mysterious-looking amulets and interesting jewellery.3. TransportationModes of transportation in Thailand are varied and most cities offer a profusion of both modern and traditional transportation. Metropolitan Bangkok has one of the most modern elevated train and subway systems in the world. Railway travel is an experience in itself and air travel is top-notch.&nbsp;Meanwhile, along the streets, the mighty tuk-tuk&nbsp;still gets its share of attention. To avoid traffic, boat rides along the canals can be both stress-relieving and thrilling.&nbsp;4. The languageThe Thai language is very melodic, with varying intonations and nasal variations. But don’t be fooled! It may sound very monosyllabic but, in reality, a slight change in the way the tongue is placed gives an altogether different meaning to a word.To foreign ears, Thai sounds courteous, friendly, soothing, and most of all, accommodating.5. The templesThailand is synonymous with temples and vice versa. And who can resist the sight of these magnificent structures peering out from the rolling hills? They are stunning! Both imposing and majestic, temples bring serenity to the viewer. Going inside is a one-of-a-kind experience – a feeling beyond description!6. The beachesIn nearby Pattaya and the southern provinces, nature lovers enjoy sandy beaches and picture-perfect locations. For a more eclectic sand-and-sea enjoyment, Pattaya and its beaches are a must-visit. For a more esoteric and romantic excursion, Phuket, Krabi and Samui are the places to go.7. The festivals and celebrationsThailand has a celebration or reason for merry-making almost every month. The most popular is Songkran, the water festival that marks Thai New Year. It signals the start of summer and is celebrated by splashing people with water.&nbsp;&nbsp;Thailand has a celebration or reason for merry-making almost every month. The most popular is Songkran, the water festival that marks Thai New Year. It signals the start of summer and is celebrated by splashing people with water.&nbsp;These are the 7 things most visitors miss about Thailand. They are also the reasons why they come back. And the 8th reason?They come back to rekindle friendships built with the locals. It may be with the Thai noodle vendor, the girl selling handicrafts in the night market, the tuk-tuk driver who took them around, the neighbour who taught them the proper way to wai, the monk in the nearby temple, the girl selling Thai sweets at the beach, or the boy who doused them with water during Songkran. It’s easy to make friends in the Land of Smiles where the locals are amongst the friendliest folk on Earth.&nbsp;&nbsp;

You’ll miss many things about Thailand and you’ll be missed. 

The continued growth of high-quality international schools in Thailand coupled with a broad range of innovative learning approaches and competitive fees are cementing the country’s position as a hub for international education in Asia.The past decade has seen a sharp rise in demand from local wealthy families, expatriate parents and students around the world, especially from China and the ASEAN member countries, who prefer schools for undergraduate and graduate studies in the region rather than those in Europe or the United States, which are expensive and far away from home.Also driving the demand for quality educational institutes is the government's economic initiative known as Thailand 4.0 and in particular, the development of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) and Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in 10 provinces around Thailand to connect with neighbouring countries in terms of trade, economy, and investment.For expatriates planning to migrate with their families, finding the right school for their children is one of the most important factors. They have to consider their children’s needs and balance these with the availability of exceptional educational institutions that offer more than just schooling, by also supporting each individual child through a thriving learning experience.The bright prospects for international education are luring more leading companies as well as some of the world's best-known universities to move into the lucrative private education business in Thailand, mainly in Bangkok and the surrounding area.VERSO International School and King’s College International School Bangkok are the latest players, both opening for their first semesters in August 2020. Country Group Development will launch a premium international school in Bangkok next year.U City Public Company Limited, an affiliate of one of Thailand's largest infrastructure developers, BTS Group Holdings Public Company Limited, in partnership with Fortune Hand Ventures from Hong Kong, invested 5-billion Baht to offer a new choice of innovative learning. Located on 168 rai in Bang Na district, VERSO is the largest international school in Bangkok with a capacity of up to 1,800 students.&nbsp;<figure><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/qbL5HkfB6_VERSO_3.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii" style="width: 2000px;"></figure>Mr. Cameron Fox, Head of VERSO International School, says that the starting point for the project was a simple question: How can we design a new international school that will truly prepare its students for a world that is changing faster than at any other time in human history?In addition to a new teaching approach, VERSO represents a paradigm shift in physical design. It is the first international school in the world to be designed in partnership with IDEO, which is recognised globally for using Design Thinking, a methodology based on a human-centred design process to find solutions to a problem creatively and innovatively. <img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/1Fu3Wy8ME_Lowerloop%20class.JPG" style="width: 2000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"> King's College International School Bangkok (King's Bangkok) is a King's College School Wimbledon's international school. King's College School, Wimbledon, ranked in the top 5 schools in the UK, selected Bangkok as the destination to establish its third international school in Asia and first in South East Asia.<figure><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/9udS61of3_King%27s_collage_1.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii" style="width: 2000px;"></figure>Headmaster Mr. Thomas Banyard explains that the school offers a unique curriculum that goes beyond academics with students able to explore their potential in sports, music, and a host of cocurricular activities. Situated in the Ratchada-Rama 3 area of Bangkok with a capacity of 1,500 students, the state-of-the-art facilities will soon include a sports complex boasting an Olympic-size swimming pool, a 600-seat auditorium, and specialist science, music and art resources.<figure><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/nT9IAxVO__King%27s_collage_2.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii" style="width: 2000px;"></figure> Wellington College, one of the world's top co-educational independent day and boarding schools, opened Wellington College International School Bangkok last year, its first branch in Southeast Asia. Starting from pre-prep and prep levels, the school is also opening a senior school running from Year 9 to Year 13, with the first Year 9 class available from September 2020.The Thongsima Family, owner of the Nakornthon Hospital, joined with BASIS International Education Holdings to establish BASIS International School Bangkok on Rama 2 Road last year as the first campus in ASEAN.&nbsp;For the early years, each classroom has two teachers - an Early Education Teacher and a Teaching Fellow - both experts in early childhood education. The campus believes that this co-teaching model allows teachers to offer focussed attention to each student.<figure style="width:100%;"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/znj40qeRQ_international%20schools.jpg" style="width: 2000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dii"> </figure> According to the International School Association of Thailand (ISAT), the number of member schools has grown continuously, going from only 5 schools in 1994 when ISAT was established to 141 today. The majority are in Bangkok and the Greater Bangkok area, with others in Chon Buri, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Udon Thani.The main international curricula offered in Thailand are British, American, and International Baccalaureate (IB), but French, German, Australian, Singaporean, and Chinese curricula are also available.In addition to the international schools, local leading public and private universities also provide international programmes from pre-prep to undergraduate and higher education.&nbsp;Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

Thailand aspires to be Asia’s education hub for the citizens of the world.	

The continued growth of high-quality international schools in Thailand coupled with a broad range of innovative learning approaches and competitive fees are cementing the country’s position as a hub for international education in Asia.The past decade has seen a sharp rise in demand from local wealthy families, expatriate parents and students around the world, especially from China and the ASEAN member countries, who prefer schools for undergraduate and graduate studies in the region rather than those in Europe or the United States, which are expensive and far away from home.Also driving the demand for quality educational institutes is the government's economic initiative known as Thailand 4.0 and in particular, the development of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) and Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in 10 provinces around Thailand to connect with neighbouring countries in terms of trade, economy, and investment.For expatriates planning to migrate with their families, finding the right school for their children is one of the most important factors. They have to consider their children’s needs and balance these with the availability of exceptional educational institutions that offer more than just schooling, by also supporting each individual child through a thriving learning experience.The bright prospects for international education are luring more leading companies as well as some of the world's best-known universities to move into the lucrative private education business in Thailand, mainly in Bangkok and the surrounding area.VERSO International School and King’s College International School Bangkok are the latest players, both opening for their first semesters in August 2020. Country Group Development will launch a premium international school in Bangkok next year.U City Public Company Limited, an affiliate of one of Thailand's largest infrastructure developers, BTS Group Holdings Public Company Limited, in partnership with Fortune Hand Ventures from Hong Kong, invested 5-billion Baht to offer a new choice of innovative learning. Located on 168 rai in Bang Na district, VERSO is the largest international school in Bangkok with a capacity of up to 1,800 students.&nbsp;Mr. Cameron Fox, Head of VERSO International School, says that the starting point for the project was a simple question: How can we design a new international school that will truly prepare its students for a world that is changing faster than at any other time in human history?In addition to a new teaching approach, VERSO represents a paradigm shift in physical design. It is the first international school in the world to be designed in partnership with IDEO, which is recognised globally for using Design Thinking, a methodology based on a human-centred design process to find solutions to a problem creatively and innovatively.King's College International School Bangkok (King's Bangkok) is a King's College School Wimbledon's international school. King's College School, Wimbledon, ranked in the top 5 schools in the UK, selected Bangkok as the destination to establish its third international school in Asia and first in South East Asia.Headmaster Mr. Thomas Banyard explains that the school offers a unique curriculum that goes beyond academics with students able to explore their potential in sports, music, and a host of cocurricular activities. Situated in the Ratchada-Rama 3 area of Bangkok with a capacity of 1,500 students, the state-of-the-art facilities will soon include a sports complex boasting an Olympic-size swimming pool, a 600-seat auditorium, and specialist science, music and art resources.Wellington College, one of the world's top co-educational independent day and boarding schools, opened Wellington College International School Bangkok last year, its first branch in Southeast Asia. Starting from pre-prep and prep levels, the school is also opening a senior school running from Year 9 to Year 13, with the first Year 9 class available from September 2020.The Thongsima Family, owner of the Nakornthon Hospital, joined with BASIS International Education Holdings to establish BASIS International School Bangkok on Rama 2 Road last year as the first campus in ASEAN.&nbsp;For the early years, each classroom has two teachers - an Early Education Teacher and a Teaching Fellow - both experts in early childhood education. The campus believes that this co-teaching model allows teachers to offer focussed attention to each student.According to the International School Association of Thailand (ISAT), the number of member schools has grown continuously, going from only 5 schools in 1994 when ISAT was established to 141 today. The majority are in Bangkok and the Greater Bangkok area, with others in Chon Buri, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Udon Thani.The main international curricula offered in Thailand are British, American, and International Baccalaureate (IB), but French, German, Australian, Singaporean, and Chinese curricula are also available.In addition to the international schools, local leading public and private universities also provide international programmes from pre-prep to undergraduate and higher education.&nbsp;Powered by Froala Editor

A destination for international education   

The government is reinventing its human capital development policy to prepare the workforce for the future work environment. To address the rising challenges brought by the promotion of 10 targeted S-curve industries based on the new economic model of Thailand 4.0, disruptive technologies, the flow of foreign direct investment, as well as the ageing population, new approaches are required to ensure that the workforce can continuously improve their skills throughout their lives.<figure><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/tfyxf_w9K_s-curve-01.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></figure> In June 2020, Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan announced a new national educational strategy called the Thailand Education Eco-System (TE2S) as a key mechanism in building strong human capital. The initiative consists of 3 main components: the Human Capital Excellence Centre (HCEC), the Digital Education Excellence Platform (DEEP), and the Excellence Individual Development Plan (EIDP).&nbsp;This is an investment in twenty-first century learning that will create opportunities and ecosystems where people of all ages can thrive and become part of a productive and agile workforce for the future.At the end of August 2020, the Ministry of Education introduced the DEEP at Wat Rajabopit School in Bangkok, as a national classroom to promote lifelong learning. The DEEP enables students, teachers, school administrators, and practitioners to have access to reskilling or upskilling at all stages of life. <figure><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/vru2rhMS5_DE550DE5-D15C-4127-B950-5B1E145D45EF.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></figure>source: facebook NatapholBKKMr Nataphol said DEEP will allow the private sector to become content creators on the platform, which will generate a wide range of learning material. In the initial stage, additional resources from public and private efforts for the DEEP will be aimed solely at building English language skills and digital literacy. In the future, the platform is expected to create a culture of self-learning through which students can acquire knowledge, analyse, and share ideas with their teachers.The Ministry of Education launched the HCEC model in September 2020, at Satri Witthaya 2 School in Lat Phrao, Bangkok. In the fiscal year 2021, the Ministry plans to establish the HCEC in 185 schools and another 100 centres in vocational colleges to develop teachers' skills in the fields that will meet the market demand. The HCEC has been designed as a Train the Trainer platform to accelerate improvements in teaching standards nationwide.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC) has partnered with the private sector to establish excellence centres to support the demand for human resources, especially in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). Initially, the OVEC will set up six excellence centres in technical colleges located in the EEC to develop human resources in the fields of next-generation automotive, digital technology, automation, robotics, rail system, logistics, aviation, and tourism.In addition, 12 vocational colleges in the EEC have collaborated with the EEC Policy Committee in redesigning the programme to produce high vocational certificate students in line with EEC Model Type A (human resources with a high vocational certificate and higher education degree). They are required to produce EEC model students representing at least 30% of the total number of students graduating with a high vocational certificate in 2023.&nbsp;The EEC Policy Committee is applying a Demand-Driven concept to propel human resource production towards Vocational Education 4.0. A survey revealed that more than 475,000 new workers will be needed during the five-year period of 2019-2023 to support 10 targeted S-curve industries and three key basic infrastructure projects (rail, maritime and logistics).<figure><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/WAheNHHyi_Thailand-Education.png" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></figure>Of these positions, 53.2% will be vocational education-level workers and 46.8% will be higher education-level workers, while the sectors with the greatest job demands will be digital technology, logistics, and smart electronics. For years, Thailand has been trying to strengthen the vocational education programmes and foster a new perception that students can have a good job in the digital economy without paying for university education.The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation meanwhile is moving forward with a human resource and knowledge development platform that will respond to an innovation-driven economy. The Ministry has created a programme to develop a high-skilled workforce, encompassing graduates from vocational colleges and universities, to support the industries located in the EEC, especially first and new S-curve industries.Lifelong learning and a future skills-set programme are also aimed at improving knowledge, skills and competencies of the current and future workforces to meet the demand. Moreover, the Ministry has also introduced Artificial Intelligence (AI) in all programmes to develop human capital and awareness of AI at all levels from children to educators with the ultimate objective of developing a workforce with AI and machine learning skills.The Ministry also recently launched the Future Skill x New Career Thailand project to increase the opportunities for undergraduates to develop careers through reskilling, upskilling and new skilling. In the first phase, the Ministry has collaborated with 19 universities to design courses in eight skills much in demand in today's workforce; namely, smart innovative entrepreneur, smart farming, caregiver, smart tourism, digital data, creative content, food for the future, and robotics and AI. New graduates can search for jobs from the more than 10,000 positions now available on the platform.&nbsp;Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI), meanwhile, is offering additional tax incentives called ‘Thailand Plus’ to support STEM human resource development. Employers will be eligible for a special deduction of training expenses related to advanced technology endorsed by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation to expedite reskilling and upskilling of the workforce. Expenses incurred hiring new highly skilled human resources in the fields of science and technology will also be entitled to a special deduction.The BOI will also upgrade its incentives scheme to encourage the industry to be actively engaged in STEM training.

Building the NEXT human capital by overhauling education to enhance skills and knowledge NOW

The government is reinventing its human capital development policy to prepare the workforce for the future work environment. To address the rising challenges brought by the promotion of 10 targeted S-curve industries based on the new economic model of Thailand 4.0, disruptive technologies, the flow of foreign direct investment, as well as the ageing population, new approaches are required to ensure that the workforce can continuously improve their skills throughout their lives.In June 2020, Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan announced a new national educational strategy called the Thailand Education Eco-System (TE2S) as a key mechanism in building strong human capital. The initiative consists of 3 main components: the Human Capital Excellence Centre (HCEC), the Digital Education Excellence Platform (DEEP), and the Excellence Individual Development Plan (EIDP).&nbsp;This is an investment in twenty-first century learning that will create opportunities and ecosystems where people of all ages can thrive and become part of a productive and agile workforce for the future.At the end of August 2020, the Ministry of Education introduced the DEEP at Wat Rajabopit School in Bangkok, as a national classroom to promote lifelong learning. The DEEP enables students, teachers, school administrators, and practitioners to have access to reskilling or upskilling at all stages of life. source: facebook NatapholBKKMr Nataphol said DEEP will allow the private sector to become content creators on the platform, which will generate a wide range of learning material. In the initial stage, additional resources from public and private efforts for the DEEP will be aimed solely at building English language skills and digital literacy. In the future, the platform is expected to create a culture of self-learning through which students can acquire knowledge, analyse, and share ideas with their teachers.The Ministry of Education launched the HCEC model in September 2020, at Satri Witthaya 2 School in Lat Phrao, Bangkok. In the fiscal year 2021, the Ministry plans to establish the HCEC in 185 schools and another 100 centres in vocational colleges to develop teachers' skills in the fields that will meet the market demand. The HCEC has been designed as a Train the Trainer platform to accelerate improvements in teaching standards nationwide.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC) has partnered with the private sector to establish excellence centres to support the demand for human resources, especially in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). Initially, the OVEC will set up six excellence centres in technical colleges located in the EEC to develop human resources in the fields of next-generation automotive, digital technology, automation, robotics, rail system, logistics, aviation, and tourism.In addition, 12 vocational colleges in the EEC have collaborated with the EEC Policy Committee in redesigning the programme to produce high vocational certificate students in line with EEC Model Type A (human resources with a high vocational certificate and higher education degree). They are required to produce EEC model students representing at least 30% of the total number of students graduating with a high vocational certificate in 2023.&nbsp;The EEC Policy Committee is applying a Demand-Driven concept to propel human resource production towards Vocational Education 4.0. A survey revealed that more than 475,000 new workers will be needed during the five-year period of 2019-2023 to support 10 targeted S-curve industries and three key basic infrastructure projects (rail, maritime and logistics).Of these positions, 53.2% will be vocational education-level workers and 46.8% will be higher education-level workers, while the sectors with the greatest job demands will be digital technology, logistics, and smart electronics. For years, Thailand has been trying to strengthen the vocational education programmes and foster a new perception that students can have a good job in the digital economy without paying for university education.The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation meanwhile is moving forward with a human resource and knowledge development platform that will respond to an innovation-driven economy. The Ministry has created a programme to develop a high-skilled workforce, encompassing graduates from vocational colleges and universities, to support the industries located in the EEC, especially first and new S-curve industries.Lifelong learning and a future skills-set programme are also aimed at improving knowledge, skills and competencies of the current and future workforces to meet the demand. Moreover, the Ministry has also introduced Artificial Intelligence (AI) in all programmes to develop human capital and awareness of AI at all levels from children to educators with the ultimate objective of developing a workforce with AI and machine learning skills.The Ministry also recently launched the Future Skill x New Career Thailand project to increase the opportunities for undergraduates to develop careers through reskilling, upskilling and new skilling. In the first phase, the Ministry has collaborated with 19 universities to design courses in eight skills much in demand in today's workforce; namely, smart innovative entrepreneur, smart farming, caregiver, smart tourism, digital data, creative content, food for the future, and robotics and AI. New graduates can search for jobs from the more than 10,000 positions now available on the platform.&nbsp;Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI), meanwhile, is offering additional tax incentives called ‘Thailand Plus’ to support STEM human resource development. Employers will be eligible for a special deduction of training expenses related to advanced technology endorsed by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation to expedite reskilling and upskilling of the workforce. Expenses incurred hiring new highly skilled human resources in the fields of science and technology will also be entitled to a special deduction.The BOI will also upgrade its incentives scheme to encourage the industry to be actively engaged in STEM training.

Invent the NEXT by Reinventing the NOW 

The second home of choice for the elderly is hopefully booming.Over the past five years, local leading property developers and joint ventures have been expanding into the retirement home market and building various types of investment projects in Bangkok and major tourism destinations. Today, Thailand is one of the best places for retirees to enjoy their golden years. <figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/vSzZugyLL_image.png" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></figure> According to a UN report, the greying population is now a global phenomenon and one of the most significant social transformations of the 21st century. The number of older persons aged 65 years or over is projected to double to 1.5 billion in 2050 from 703 million in 2019.&nbsp;For its part, Thailand will officially become an aged society next year when the proportion of elderly, defined as aged 60 or over, reaches 20% of the total population, and a super-aged society in 2031, with those aged 65 or older accounting for at least 20%.CBRE Thailand, a leading property consultant, predicts that seniors living in Thailand will represent a key growth sector in the elderly care business over the next decade. Its survey revealed the most popular destinations for retirement communities include Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Hua Hin, and Chiang Mai with Ayutthaya, Khao Yai in Nakhon Ratchasima, Chiang Rai and Nong Khai also showing potential.Retirees usually want to live in a place that offers a good quality of life and the opportunity to remain active. Their priorities include climate, local lifestyle, cost of living, healthcare, access to long-term visas, and modern facilities. A lot of senior citizens dream of moving to a tropical city where they will not have to shovel snow or put up with cold freezing weather. <hr> Over the past few years, several leading property developers have made a head start in the wellness market. The four big players; namely, Nye Estate, Chewathai, L.P.N. Development, and CH. Karnchang, formed a joint venture to develop the Kamala Senior Living project in Phuket with a total value of 3.5 billion Baht. Managed and operated by Otium Living, an international senior living specialist, the developer says that Kamala will create a benchmark for luxury retirement property in Asia.<div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><a href="https://www.otium-living.com/phuket/"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/D07DhV_rE_1601812787478.png" style="width: 2000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Otium Phuket, Source: otium-living.com/phuket/&nbsp;</a>Magnolia Quality Development Corporation (MQDC) is developing the Forestias, the largest mixed-use development project in Thailand with an investment value of 125 billion Baht. Located on 300-rai of land on Bangna-Trat Road Km 7 in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), it is the first project to provide a massive, seedling- and sapling-planted 30-rai forest area at its core that anchors a diverse and rich ecological system. MQDC expects to launch the project early in 2021 on the concept “For All Wellbeing”.&nbsp;</div><div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><a href="https://theaspentree.com/"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/lQ3oh7pTJ_1601813096788.png" style="width: 2000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The Aspen Tree under the Forestias, Source: theaspentree.com</a>M.K. Real Estate Development recently announced a plan to move into the senior living property sector. It will partner with Bumrungrad International Hospital to develop its first wellness villas with the project details expected to be announced in the last quarter of 2020.</div>With 40 years of experience in medical care, Thonburi Healthcare Group created Jin Wellbeing County as Thailand's first comprehensive residential complex with superior healthcare services and lifestyle facilities for retirees and their families. Located on a 140-rai plot on Phahonyothin Road in Khlong Luang district, Pathum Thani, the first phase of the project worth four billion Baht features residential buildings, aged care, and a wellness centre.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/vq4lOgXfQ_image.png" class="fr-fic fr-dii" style="width: 2000px;"></figure>-Jin Wellbeing County-Meanwhile, Japanese real estate developers are also eyeing business opportunities in Thailand through joint ventures with local firms. Tokyo Corporation partnered with Sansiri and Samitvej Hospital to develop a Wellness Residence in Bangkok’s Krungthep Kreetha area. Thanks to Tokyo's well-being solutions and Samitivej's world-standard healthcare service, the residence features an aesthetic universal design with a combination of space planning and ergonomic functions.Anabuki Kosan Group, a Japanese firm specialising in assisted living management and nursing care, formed a joint venture with Tanasiri Group in June 2020, to develop a residential project for local and foreign retirees. The joint venture, Anabuki Thanasiri (Thailand), will introduce its first residential project near the Chao Phraya River in Nonthaburi in the last quarter of this year. <hr> <h3 style="text-align: center;">At present, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam are listed as the best countries in which to retire, according to rankings by the International Living magazine. According to the Immigration Bureau, the number of applicants aged 50 years and over for Non-Immigrant Visa O-A (one year) in 2019, totalled 80,950 foreigners. The top 10 nationalities applying for a retirement visa in Thailand (as of 2018) were American, Australian, British, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Japanese, Norwegian, and Swiss.&nbsp;</h3> <figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/XMnvEBvEJ_image.png" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></figure>&nbsp;&nbsp;Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

The second home of choice for the elderly is hopefully booming.Over the past five years, local leading property developers and joint ventures have been expanding into the retirement home market and building various types of investment projects in Bangkok and major tourism destinations. Today, Thailand is one of the best places for retirees to enjoy their golden years.According to a UN report, the greying population is now a global phenomenon and one of the most significant social transformations of the 21st century. The number of older persons aged 65 years or over is projected to double to 1.5 billion in 2050 from 703 million in 2019.&nbsp;For its part, Thailand will officially become an aged society next year when the proportion of elderly, defined as aged 60 or over, reaches 20% of the total population, and a super-aged society in 2031, with those aged 65 or older accounting for at least 20%.CBRE Thailand, a leading property consultant, predicts that seniors living in Thailand will represent a key growth sector in the elderly care business over the next decade. Its survey revealed the most popular destinations for retirement communities include Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Hua Hin, and Chiang Mai with Ayutthaya, Khao Yai in Nakhon Ratchasima, Chiang Rai and Nong Khai also showing potential.Retirees usually want to live in a place that offers a good quality of life and the opportunity to remain active. Their priorities include climate, local lifestyle, cost of living, healthcare, access to long-term visas, and modern facilities. A lot of senior citizens dream of moving to a tropical city where they will not have to shovel snow or put up with cold freezing weather.Over the past few years, several leading property developers have made a head start in the wellness market. The four big players; namely, Nye Estate, Chewathai, L.P.N. Development, and CH. Karnchang, formed a joint venture to develop the Kamala Senior Living project in Phuket with a total value of 3.5 billion Baht. Managed and operated by Otium Living, an international senior living specialist, the developer says that Kamala will create a benchmark for luxury retirement property in Asia.Otium Phuket, Source: otium-living.com/phuket/&nbsp;Magnolia Quality Development Corporation (MQDC) is developing the Forestias, the largest mixed-use development project in Thailand with an investment value of 125 billion Baht. Located on 300-rai of land on Bangna-Trat Road Km 7 in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), it is the first project to provide a massive, seedling- and sapling-planted 30-rai forest area at its core that anchors a diverse and rich ecological system. MQDC expects to launch the project early in 2021 on the concept “For All Wellbeing”.&nbsp;The Aspen Tree under the Forestias, Source: theaspentree.comM.K. Real Estate Development recently announced a plan to move into the senior living property sector. It will partner with Bumrungrad International Hospital to develop its first wellness villas with the project details expected to be announced in the last quarter of 2020.With 40 years of experience in medical care, Thonburi Healthcare Group created Jin Wellbeing County as Thailand's first comprehensive residential complex with superior healthcare services and lifestyle facilities for retirees and their families. Located on a 140-rai plot on Phahonyothin Road in Khlong Luang district, Pathum Thani, the first phase of the project worth four billion Baht features residential buildings, aged care, and a wellness centre.-Jin Wellbeing County-Meanwhile, Japanese real estate developers are also eyeing business opportunities in Thailand through joint ventures with local firms. Tokyo Corporation partnered with Sansiri and Samitvej Hospital to develop a Wellness Residence in Bangkok’s Krungthep Kreetha area. Thanks to Tokyo's well-being solutions and Samitivej's world-standard healthcare service, the residence features an aesthetic universal design with a combination of space planning and ergonomic functions.Anabuki Kosan Group, a Japanese firm specialising in assisted living management and nursing care, formed a joint venture with Tanasiri Group in June 2020, to develop a residential project for local and foreign retirees. The joint venture, Anabuki Thanasiri (Thailand), will introduce its first residential project near the Chao Phraya River in Nonthaburi in the last quarter of this year.At present, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam are listed as the best countries in which to retire, according to rankings by the International Living magazine. According to the Immigration Bureau, the number of applicants aged 50 years and over for Non-Immigrant Visa O-A (one year) in 2019, totalled 80,950 foreigners. The top 10 nationalities applying for a retirement visa in Thailand (as of 2018) were American, Australian, British, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Japanese, Norwegian, and Swiss.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Powered by Froala Editor

There’s always a silver lining for the silver age.     

&nbsp;In normal times, people tend to think of leading private hospitals and those attached to large medical schools when the subject of healthcare services in Thailand crops up. But when the new coronavirus or Covid-19 spread from China and went on to claim so many lives, Bamrasnaradura Infectious Disease Institute (BIDI) came into its own, becoming the light at the end of the tunnel and sparing Thailand the worst of this deadly pandemic.This medical institute was established to fight against the cholera outbreak at the end of the 1950’s. Its success along with its vast experience in leading the country’s infectious disease control teams and efforts throughout the past seven decades have put BIMI at the centre of all the country’s major decisions. The clear and concise instructions issued by the Emergency Operation Centre reflect the sound strategy of putting the right man on the job.<figure class="image"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/TcZx1nsaQG_image.png" alt="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/0_1a40C3R_wzQvmAP1p_image.png" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></figure>-Picture:&nbsp;Cholera outbreak at the end of the 1950’s-&nbsp;Back in 1958-1959, Thailand’s public health was at risk from a serious cholera outbreak. With more than 2,000 deaths, the government was looking for a capable person to help it bring the disease under control.&nbsp;One name came up: Dr. Long Vejjajiva aka Phra Bamrasnaradura.A young boy from a fishing family in Rayong, Long Vejjajiva first came to Bangkok to pursue his studies and became a student at Thailand’s first medical school when he was only 14. After graduation, he was sent to Lopburi and later to Ayutthaya to look after patients when the cholera outbreak hit the province.<figure class="image"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/xcEgYewmG_image.png" alt="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/8ZnanrzZ3_Ndyv4Wjwz_image.png" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></figure>-Dr. Long Vejjajiva aka Phra Bamrasnaradura-&nbsp;After seeing so many cholera patients being rejected due to insufficient beds in the patient ward, Dr. Long had a new infectious disease ward built. He introduced a new policy under which no patient could be rejected. He also improved treatment standards and brought the spread of cholera in the province to an end.&nbsp;Dr. Long or Phra Bamrasnaradura (a royal title similar to Lord in English) retired in the late 50s from his position as Permanent Secretary of the Public Health Ministry. A few years after he retired, cholera hit the country once again and this time spread nationwide. The government named him Public Health Minister and tasked him with fighting cholera. &nbsp;He travelled all over the country helping local hospitals and medical teams fight the epidemic. A hospital specialising in infectious disease was also established and named Bamrasnaradura in recognition of his efforts. The cholera situation was finally under control.Sixty years later, the high standards, care, commitment to well-being of patients and people and excellence in infectious disease treatment remain firmly entrenched in the DNA of Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute. It has been the center of all the country’s efforts to fight against contagious diseases, including plague, AIDS and more recently SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) and even Ebola.&nbsp;In January 2020, Bamrasnaradura received a call asking the institute to pick up a patient suspected of being infected by Covid-19. &nbsp;The country’s first case was later confirmed and successfully treated. The patient returned to full health and went back home.Later, with Thailand’s surveillance and prevention measures raised to the highest level, Bamrasnaradura played a crucial role in treating Covid-19, adopting, where feasible, new treatments including the anti-viral Favipiravir and Remdesivir.As the centre for controlling the virus, Bamrasnaradura saw its capacity challenged. The institute, which in the early days of the outbreak, was handling up to 300 Covid-19 patients under investigation a day, saw the number of patients top 800 during its peak.The institute, therefore, had to pool all its resources, equipment and people, as well as professional doctors and medical teams from other medical centres who volunteered to help to make sure that the screening, investigation and treatment processes were efficient and met with infectious disease control standards. A normal patient ward was cleared to make way for Covid-19 patients.&nbsp;A nurse at Bamrasnaradura told a local TV news program that she hadn’t gone back home for months. But she didn’t mind because she, and indeed all her colleagues, wanted the patients to get well and go back to their families. &nbsp;The support from the institute’s management also gave everyone strength and imbued them with a strong spirit to keep going.Unsurprisingly, the institute’s dedication to fighting Covid-19 has played a key role in making Thailand one of the top countries best prepared for a pandemic. The Global Health Security (GHS) Index presented by the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) and the Johns Hopkins Centre for Health Security (JHU) placed Thailand 6th out of 195 countries and the first in Asia, with a score of 73.5 against the global average of just 40.2.With Covid-19 still looming in Thailand, Bamrasnaradura will remain on full alert and ready to do its part in combatting the new virus, continuing to work on its core tasks -- education, treatment and research into infectious diseases. This DNA will be passed on to the new generation to ensure the nation is always ready for any contagious diseases.&nbsp;

&nbsp;In normal times, people tend to think of leading private hospitals and those attached to large medical schools when the subject of healthcare services in Thailand crops up. But when the new coronavirus or Covid-19 spread from China and went on to claim so many lives, Bamrasnaradura Infectious Disease Institute (BIDI) came into its own, becoming the light at the end of the tunnel and sparing Thailand the worst of this deadly pandemic.This medical institute was established to fight against the cholera outbreak at the end of the 1950’s. Its success along with its vast experience in leading the country’s infectious disease control teams and efforts throughout the past seven decades have put BIMI at the centre of all the country’s major decisions. The clear and concise instructions issued by the Emergency Operation Centre reflect the sound strategy of putting the right man on the job.-Picture:&nbsp;Cholera outbreak at the end of the 1950’s-&nbsp;Back in 1958-1959, Thailand’s public health was at risk from a serious cholera outbreak. With more than 2,000 deaths, the government was looking for a capable person to help it bring the disease under control.&nbsp;One name came up: Dr. Long Vejjajiva aka Phra Bamrasnaradura.A young boy from a fishing family in Rayong, Long Vejjajiva first came to Bangkok to pursue his studies and became a student at Thailand’s first medical school when he was only 14. After graduation, he was sent to Lopburi and later to Ayutthaya to look after patients when the cholera outbreak hit the province.-Dr. Long Vejjajiva aka Phra Bamrasnaradura-&nbsp;After seeing so many cholera patients being rejected due to insufficient beds in the patient ward, Dr. Long had a new infectious disease ward built. He introduced a new policy under which no patient could be rejected. He also improved treatment standards and brought the spread of cholera in the province to an end.&nbsp;Dr. Long or Phra Bamrasnaradura (a royal title similar to Lord in English) retired in the late 50s from his position as Permanent Secretary of the Public Health Ministry. A few years after he retired, cholera hit the country once again and this time spread nationwide. The government named him Public Health Minister and tasked him with fighting cholera. &nbsp;He travelled all over the country helping local hospitals and medical teams fight the epidemic. A hospital specialising in infectious disease was also established and named Bamrasnaradura in recognition of his efforts. The cholera situation was finally under control.Sixty years later, the high standards, care, commitment to well-being of patients and people and excellence in infectious disease treatment remain firmly entrenched in the DNA of Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute. It has been the center of all the country’s efforts to fight against contagious diseases, including plague, AIDS and more recently SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) and even Ebola.&nbsp;In January 2020, Bamrasnaradura received a call asking the institute to pick up a patient suspected of being infected by Covid-19. &nbsp;The country’s first case was later confirmed and successfully treated. The patient returned to full health and went back home.Later, with Thailand’s surveillance and prevention measures raised to the highest level, Bamrasnaradura played a crucial role in treating Covid-19, adopting, where feasible, new treatments including the anti-viral Favipiravir and Remdesivir.As the centre for controlling the virus, Bamrasnaradura saw its capacity challenged. The institute, which in the early days of the outbreak, was handling up to 300 Covid-19 patients under investigation a day, saw the number of patients top 800 during its peak.The institute, therefore, had to pool all its resources, equipment and people, as well as professional doctors and medical teams from other medical centres who volunteered to help to make sure that the screening, investigation and treatment processes were efficient and met with infectious disease control standards. A normal patient ward was cleared to make way for Covid-19 patients.&nbsp;A nurse at Bamrasnaradura told a local TV news program that she hadn’t gone back home for months. But she didn’t mind because she, and indeed all her colleagues, wanted the patients to get well and go back to their families. &nbsp;The support from the institute’s management also gave everyone strength and imbued them with a strong spirit to keep going.Unsurprisingly, the institute’s dedication to fighting Covid-19 has played a key role in making Thailand one of the top countries best prepared for a pandemic. The Global Health Security (GHS) Index presented by the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) and the Johns Hopkins Centre for Health Security (JHU) placed Thailand 6th out of 195 countries and the first in Asia, with a score of 73.5 against the global average of just 40.2.With Covid-19 still looming in Thailand, Bamrasnaradura will remain on full alert and ready to do its part in combatting the new virus, continuing to work on its core tasks -- education, treatment and research into infectious diseases. This DNA will be passed on to the new generation to ensure the nation is always ready for any contagious diseases.&nbsp;

Bamrasnaradura’s Infectious Disease Expertise, Key to Saving Thailand 

&nbsp;In response to community transmission of COVID-19, Thailand introduced a whole of society response, implementing a range of measures to contain the virus, including extensive testing, contact tracing, clear and consistent communications to the public, and nationwide mobilization of health workers. This video tells the story of Thailand’s response.&nbsp;More information: www.who.int/COVID-19Source: World Health Organization (WHO)&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;In response to community transmission of COVID-19, Thailand introduced a whole of society response, implementing a range of measures to contain the virus, including extensive testing, contact tracing, clear and consistent communications to the public, and nationwide mobilization of health workers. This video tells the story of Thailand’s response.&nbsp;More information: www.who.int/COVID-19Source: World Health Organization (WHO)&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sharing COVID-19 experiences: The Thailand response

&nbsp;BANGKOK, June 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Thailand's success&nbsp;in containing the spread of COVID-19 has been attributed to many features&nbsp;found in many other countries, such as a robust healthcare system and active public cooperation.&nbsp;But one unique feature in Thailand, that is equally important, if not more, is the work done behind the scenes by the legion of over one million village health volunteers, who have effectively expanded public healthcare system to each and every remote village across the country, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand states.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/jibmFIY3p_image.jpeg" alt="https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1196828/MFA_Photo.jpg?p=publish&amp;w=950"></figure>&nbsp;Local health volunteers providing health information to villagers on a personal basis, which is a simple but highly effective preventive measure. (Photo provided by the Ministry of Public Health, Thailand)This volunteer network was established in 1977 as part of a primary health care system&nbsp;to raise awareness and encourage community participation. Back in the 1970s, poverty, illiteracy and illness were the main obstacles of Thailand's development, particularly in remote localities, the frontline in battling diseases. However, Thailand's ratio of physicians per population back then made universal access to decent healthcare difficult. This is why the Ministry of Public Health initiated the ingenious village health volunteer programme, recruiting people from the local communities themselves, to fill in the shortage of medical personnel.Primary health care development, including health volunteers, was incorporated into the 4th National Economic and Social Development Plan (1977-1981). Since then, the initiative has continued to flourish. Health volunteers have become one of the key components behind the overall picture of Thailand's economic and social development in the last four decades.The project was built on the spirit of volunteerism and sense of kinship among community members. Therefore, trust and cooperation were easily gained. Volunteers must be literate, have an occupation, live and work in the village, be respected by others, and be willing to help the community. They would be trained and supervised by provincial health officials.To date, there are approximately 1,055,000 volunteers throughout the country, an extensive and proficient network that has strengthened public health capacity during crises. Being one with the communities, the volunteers can detect potential problems and alert the government before the problems escalate. They also provide vital health information to villagers on a personal basis, a simple yet highly effective preventive measure, particularly when access to the internet is limited. The volunteers also serve as an excellent intermediary between the authorities and the communities who are more likely to listen and trust one of their own.Chatchai Phongpornpaisal, head of the health volunteers in Ban Namtuang Village&nbsp;in the northern mountains of Nan province, elaborated that when people started returning home during the COVID-19 outbreak, the volunteers were tasked to collect information from those returnees, especially whether they came from high risk areas. Had this task been undertaken by the authorities, it would have been much more difficult due to the lack of trust and confidence.Another interesting example is Narathiwat province. Volunteers were able to persuade Muslim communities to take precautionary health measures against COVID-19 by informing the villagers that they should cherish their bodies, as given by Allah, as much as possible.When Thailand applied measures that led to temporary closures of many businesses, several thousand people became jobless and moved back home. Such exodus from the capital aroused concerns that COVID-19 could spread dispersedly. However, this mishap did not happen, partly because of the dedicated and resourceful volunteers who screened returnees and set up local quarantine systems in spite of the shortage of facilities.Some even argued that it was actually beneficial for people to go back to their hometowns since local health volunteers could screen and monitor them more closely than would have been the case if they had stayed in Bangkok.Scholars like Francis Fukuyama mentioned that this pandemic underlines the indispensable role of the state in managing crises. Other observers noted that the competent civil service plays a great role in the Thai case. However, the success of Thailand's village health volunteers reminds us that when a crisis befalls, the more stakeholders, the merrier. Besides being a perfect complement to existing state mechanisms, this initiative entails a simple but necessary participatory approach, empowering the people to take ownership of their own health status.The health volunteer model can certainly be applied anywhere. The&nbsp;value&nbsp;of volunteerism and social service is universal and inspirational in this perilous time. Given their willingness to risk themselves for the greater good, the volunteers are Thailand's unsung heroes who expect nothing in return but the smile and laughter of people who appreciate their selfless deeds.&nbsp;

&nbsp;BANGKOK, June 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Thailand's success&nbsp;in containing the spread of COVID-19 has been attributed to many features&nbsp;found in many other countries, such as a robust healthcare system and active public cooperation.&nbsp;But one unique feature in Thailand, that is equally important, if not more, is the work done behind the scenes by the legion of over one million village health volunteers, who have effectively expanded public healthcare system to each and every remote village across the country, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand states.&nbsp;Local health volunteers providing health information to villagers on a personal basis, which is a simple but highly effective preventive measure. (Photo provided by the Ministry of Public Health, Thailand)This volunteer network was established in 1977 as part of a primary health care system&nbsp;to raise awareness and encourage community participation. Back in the 1970s, poverty, illiteracy and illness were the main obstacles of Thailand's development, particularly in remote localities, the frontline in battling diseases. However, Thailand's ratio of physicians per population back then made universal access to decent healthcare difficult. This is why the Ministry of Public Health initiated the ingenious village health volunteer programme, recruiting people from the local communities themselves, to fill in the shortage of medical personnel.Primary health care development, including health volunteers, was incorporated into the 4th National Economic and Social Development Plan (1977-1981). Since then, the initiative has continued to flourish. Health volunteers have become one of the key components behind the overall picture of Thailand's economic and social development in the last four decades.The project was built on the spirit of volunteerism and sense of kinship among community members. Therefore, trust and cooperation were easily gained. Volunteers must be literate, have an occupation, live and work in the village, be respected by others, and be willing to help the community. They would be trained and supervised by provincial health officials.To date, there are approximately 1,055,000 volunteers throughout the country, an extensive and proficient network that has strengthened public health capacity during crises. Being one with the communities, the volunteers can detect potential problems and alert the government before the problems escalate. They also provide vital health information to villagers on a personal basis, a simple yet highly effective preventive measure, particularly when access to the internet is limited. The volunteers also serve as an excellent intermediary between the authorities and the communities who are more likely to listen and trust one of their own.Chatchai Phongpornpaisal, head of the health volunteers in Ban Namtuang Village&nbsp;in the northern mountains of Nan province, elaborated that when people started returning home during the COVID-19 outbreak, the volunteers were tasked to collect information from those returnees, especially whether they came from high risk areas. Had this task been undertaken by the authorities, it would have been much more difficult due to the lack of trust and confidence.Another interesting example is Narathiwat province. Volunteers were able to persuade Muslim communities to take precautionary health measures against COVID-19 by informing the villagers that they should cherish their bodies, as given by Allah, as much as possible.When Thailand applied measures that led to temporary closures of many businesses, several thousand people became jobless and moved back home. Such exodus from the capital aroused concerns that COVID-19 could spread dispersedly. However, this mishap did not happen, partly because of the dedicated and resourceful volunteers who screened returnees and set up local quarantine systems in spite of the shortage of facilities.Some even argued that it was actually beneficial for people to go back to their hometowns since local health volunteers could screen and monitor them more closely than would have been the case if they had stayed in Bangkok.Scholars like Francis Fukuyama mentioned that this pandemic underlines the indispensable role of the state in managing crises. Other observers noted that the competent civil service plays a great role in the Thai case. However, the success of Thailand's village health volunteers reminds us that when a crisis befalls, the more stakeholders, the merrier. Besides being a perfect complement to existing state mechanisms, this initiative entails a simple but necessary participatory approach, empowering the people to take ownership of their own health status.The health volunteer model can certainly be applied anywhere. The&nbsp;value&nbsp;of volunteerism and social service is universal and inspirational in this perilous time. Given their willingness to risk themselves for the greater good, the volunteers are Thailand's unsung heroes who expect nothing in return but the smile and laughter of people who appreciate their selfless deeds.&nbsp;

Thailand's Ungowned and Unsung Heroes Play Significant Roles in Battling COVID-19

Let's stroll down the street and enjoy <a href="https://guide.michelin.com/th/en/bangkok/bib-gourmand/asian/street-food/restaurants/page/1?max=30&amp;sort=relevance&amp;order=desc&amp;fbclid=IwAR16mU08BZOIWGRhjeAuStJmiuODA5lUQGyGuWvLZlh0gvv-YwNMLH6-zjU">the Bib Gourmand Michelin-starred street food</a> in Bangkok!&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:74.53%;"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/gqWwBzpXX_somtum-s_0.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;The Michelin Bib Gourmand Guide has highlighted restaurants since 1995, offering exceptionally good food at moderate prices, a feature now called Bib Gourmand.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="http://www.thailandtoday.in.th/sites/default/files/larbmoo-thumb_1.jpg" alt=""></figure><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:73.99%;"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/2JKUAVX-5_thaifood_0.jpg"></figure> The restaurants must offer menu items priced below a maximum determined by the local standards.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75.2%;"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/Ar9zQ6wYX_porklegstew-thumb_0.jpg"></figure><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75.35%;"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/gJ-RdLp7l_namprik2.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;List of Bib Gourmand restaurants in Bangkok<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/Q5xVthIzj_kTOycaaUq_MICHALIN_GUIDE.png"></figure>&nbsp;Source : <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-11-12/thailand-s-wait-for-michelin-three-starred-restaurant-continues">Bloomberg</a>

Let's stroll down the street and enjoy the Bib Gourmand Michelin-starred street food in Bangkok!&nbsp;&nbsp;The Michelin Bib Gourmand Guide has highlighted restaurants since 1995, offering exceptionally good food at moderate prices, a feature now called Bib Gourmand.&nbsp;The restaurants must offer menu items priced below a maximum determined by the local standards.&nbsp;List of Bib Gourmand restaurants in Bangkok&nbsp;Source : Bloomberg

The Bib Gourmand Michelin-starred street food in Bangkok

After living in Thailand for some time, you might notice that things seem pretty different to you now, compared to the days when you first arrived in the land of smiles. The initial culture shock over local myths, traditions, and superstitions might become more or less normal to you now. Here are some signs that you’ve probably been “Siamised” or turned into a Thai in spirit:&nbsp;You prefer to take a motorcycle taxi instead of walking short distancesThais take a motorcycle taxi even if they are only going just a few hundred metres. You were surprised at first but after staying in Thailand for a long time, you’ve started adopting the same habit. After all, Thailand’s weather can make just standing in a queue waiting for your Somtum (papaya salad) at your favourite street vendor, a total work out on its own.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/_MphYLWC5_shutterstock_185007770.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;You feel totally at ease with a toilet roll on the table, and don’t hesitate to wipe your mouth and face with itRemember how shocked you were when you saw toilet paper on dining tables? Those were the days. Now, you have no objection. Like your Thai counterparts, you know it can be used to wipe everything and its association with the bathroom is nothing to worry about.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/mNrvSOsDI_shutterstock_369220889%20low.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;You put seasonings like vinegar in your noodlesYou used to be puzzled about what sugar, vinegar and chilli were doing on the table when you dined at a noodle shop. But now you don’t enjoy the food without them. Once you start putting vinegar and sugar in your noodles, there is no going back. Yum.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/xCJw_X0Lj_shutterstock_1151343308%20low.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;You put chili powder on your pizzaOf course, you know not all Thai dishes are spicy and you will point that out if someone says otherwise. But when it comes to some western dishes, you have no problem spicing them up, no matter the look on the faces of your non-Thai friends. To you, one of pizza’s seasonings is chilli and it’s a must! Even glares from your Italian friends won’t deter you from your chilli ventures.<figure class="image"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/KMN50k1hj_chilli.png"></figure>&nbsp;Take off you shoes before entering a house or any buildingWhen you enter any house, the first thing you do so naturally and with ease is to take off your shoes and walk barefoot. Ahh… so relaxing.<figure class="image"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/FWNZ6HrHI_%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%97%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B2.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;Your appreciation for slushy beer goes beyond words&nbsp;You don’t care what master brewers say, but in your view, slushy beer is the best beer ever invented&nbsp;in the world. And you can enjoy this beer every where in Thailand, but no where else in the world.&nbsp;You plan the next meal virtually immediately after finishing a mealThe food scene in Thailand is simply too exciting to resist, and immediately after you order something delectable online, another delicious image of the next mouth-watering meal pops up on your screen, even with a full belly you’ll unconsciously look through the menu once again.<figure class="image"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/QCfhKeqw1_Picture1.png"></figure>&nbsp;

After living in Thailand for some time, you might notice that things seem pretty different to you now, compared to the days when you first arrived in the land of smiles. The initial culture shock over local myths, traditions, and superstitions might become more or less normal to you now. Here are some signs that you’ve probably been “Siamised” or turned into a Thai in spirit:&nbsp;You prefer to take a motorcycle taxi instead of walking short distancesThais take a motorcycle taxi even if they are only going just a few hundred metres. You were surprised at first but after staying in Thailand for a long time, you’ve started adopting the same habit. After all, Thailand’s weather can make just standing in a queue waiting for your Somtum (papaya salad) at your favourite street vendor, a total work out on its own.&nbsp;&nbsp;You feel totally at ease with a toilet roll on the table, and don’t hesitate to wipe your mouth and face with itRemember how shocked you were when you saw toilet paper on dining tables? Those were the days. Now, you have no objection. Like your Thai counterparts, you know it can be used to wipe everything and its association with the bathroom is nothing to worry about.&nbsp;&nbsp;You put seasonings like vinegar in your noodlesYou used to be puzzled about what sugar, vinegar and chilli were doing on the table when you dined at a noodle shop. But now you don’t enjoy the food without them. Once you start putting vinegar and sugar in your noodles, there is no going back. Yum.&nbsp;You put chili powder on your pizzaOf course, you know not all Thai dishes are spicy and you will point that out if someone says otherwise. But when it comes to some western dishes, you have no problem spicing them up, no matter the look on the faces of your non-Thai friends. To you, one of pizza’s seasonings is chilli and it’s a must! Even glares from your Italian friends won’t deter you from your chilli ventures.&nbsp;Take off you shoes before entering a house or any buildingWhen you enter any house, the first thing you do so naturally and with ease is to take off your shoes and walk barefoot. Ahh… so relaxing.&nbsp;Your appreciation for slushy beer goes beyond words&nbsp;You don’t care what master brewers say, but in your view, slushy beer is the best beer ever invented&nbsp;in the world. And you can enjoy this beer every where in Thailand, but no where else in the world.&nbsp;You plan the next meal virtually immediately after finishing a mealThe food scene in Thailand is simply too exciting to resist, and immediately after you order something delectable online, another delicious image of the next mouth-watering meal pops up on your screen, even with a full belly you’ll unconsciously look through the menu once again.&nbsp;

7 Signs that show you’ve turned Thai

For most, the New Normal is a phenomenon that will take a bit of getting used to. And some people will find it incredibly challenging to adopt and adapt to this new way of life. But for most Thais, the New Normal is not that much different from what they normally do in daily life. In fact, the similarities between the New Normal and the Thai way of life are so great that a lot of Thais are not really frustrated by it. You might even hear some saying, “what New Normal? I’ve been doing this for as long as I can remember!”Take a look at how the typical Thai lifestyle fits seamlessly into the New Normal practices.No touching, just Wai The iconic gesture of putting two hands together between the chest and bowing, known as the Wai, is a general and widely accepted way of greeting among Thais. Body 4contact is very minimal, even non-existent, and it is considered improper to touch other people unless you’re particularly close to them, or the situation requires tactile contact. The Wai is a way of saying hello, goodbye, thanks and even sorry. No need for a firm handshake, stepping in for a hug, leaning in for a kiss on the cheek or even considering which gesture to go for in certain situations – Thais just do it all with a Wai. Members of the typical Thai family do not embrace each other and hugging is generally alien to every family unit and across society.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/TJI1vT95U_shutterstock_1112265248%20low.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;Distance means respect&nbsp;If you’re in a presence of Phoo Yai (someone of authority, seniority or worthy of respect), it’s polite to keep a distance. Even when you’re walking with them, you maintain distance and don’t talk straight to their faces. Kids are taught not to stand “too close” to a Phoo Yai, unless they are called to come closer. Being physically too close to a Phoo Yai or a complete stranger is seen as disrespectful, threatening even.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/ZjL9n4HVU_v1Yr9-6S0_shutterstockW1.1_Pra_1393833641low.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;No shoes in the house&nbsp;Feet (and shoes) are considered lowly and dirty, which in most cases they are. Shoes are kept by the door, farthest away from everything inside the house and a lot of Thais wash their feet when they first arrive home. It is also believed that dirty feet bring filth and bad luck from outside into the home. In the old days when Thai people walked around barefoot and many of them worked in the fields, every Thai house would have a small water jar at the entrance for the residents and guests to wash their feet before entering. Taking off one’s shoes and walking barefoot inside the house became the norm for all Thais and continues today.&nbsp;&nbsp;Daily shower(s) is a must&nbsp;While on the topic of cleanliness, showering is a daily practice that Thais religiously adhere to, not only once but at least twice a day. It’s general practice to take a shower in the morning before going out, and again at the end of the day before going to bed. It’s perfectly fine to take more showers during the day, especially when it’s really hot or if you get really sweaty, but it’s unacceptable to go through a day without a single shower!&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/PgRdtVK0e_VYNUBMl5p_shutterstock_W1.1_shower1098861611%20%28low%29.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;Washing hands, a tradition from the old daysIn the old days, Thai people, like many of their Asian counterparts, ate with their hands. Rice and food were made into bitesize morsels and put in the mouth. So, it has always been quite normal for Thai people to adopt the habit of washing their hands, particularly before a meal. Thais started using spoons when the country began trading with other nations in the Ayutthaya era. So washing hands regularly is not a big deal and easily followed.<figure class="image"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/o8hY1gouX_sXvRECANK_double.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;The common spoon&nbsp;Thai food is meant for sharing, and every dish to share usually comes with a serving spoon. It’s rude to use your own spoon to scoop the food in a shared dish. Firstly, it’s unhygienic. And secondly, you’re mixing up food from different plates, making them unappetizing. And this goes for all shared dishes of any type of cuisine, too. Don’t be surprised to see serving spoons in pasta dishes, salads or hummus when Thais are eating.&nbsp; So next time you’re dining with Thai friends in a restaurant, do ask for a serving spoon if there isn’t one.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/oMsI6hXHM_7.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;

For most, the New Normal is a phenomenon that will take a bit of getting used to. And some people will find it incredibly challenging to adopt and adapt to this new way of life. But for most Thais, the New Normal is not that much different from what they normally do in daily life. In fact, the similarities between the New Normal and the Thai way of life are so great that a lot of Thais are not really frustrated by it. You might even hear some saying, “what New Normal? I’ve been doing this for as long as I can remember!”Take a look at how the typical Thai lifestyle fits seamlessly into the New Normal practices.No touching, just WaiThe iconic gesture of putting two hands together between the chest and bowing, known as the Wai, is a general and widely accepted way of greeting among Thais. Body 4contact is very minimal, even non-existent, and it is considered improper to touch other people unless you’re particularly close to them, or the situation requires tactile contact. The Wai is a way of saying hello, goodbye, thanks and even sorry. No need for a firm handshake, stepping in for a hug, leaning in for a kiss on the cheek or even considering which gesture to go for in certain situations – Thais just do it all with a Wai. Members of the typical Thai family do not embrace each other and hugging is generally alien to every family unit and across society.&nbsp;Distance means respect&nbsp;If you’re in a presence of Phoo Yai (someone of authority, seniority or worthy of respect), it’s polite to keep a distance. Even when you’re walking with them, you maintain distance and don’t talk straight to their faces. Kids are taught not to stand “too close” to a Phoo Yai, unless they are called to come closer. Being physically too close to a Phoo Yai or a complete stranger is seen as disrespectful, threatening even.&nbsp;&nbsp;No shoes in the house&nbsp;Feet (and shoes) are considered lowly and dirty, which in most cases they are. Shoes are kept by the door, farthest away from everything inside the house and a lot of Thais wash their feet when they first arrive home. It is also believed that dirty feet bring filth and bad luck from outside into the home. In the old days when Thai people walked around barefoot and many of them worked in the fields, every Thai house would have a small water jar at the entrance for the residents and guests to wash their feet before entering. Taking off one’s shoes and walking barefoot inside the house became the norm for all Thais and continues today.&nbsp;&nbsp;Daily shower(s) is a must&nbsp;While on the topic of cleanliness, showering is a daily practice that Thais religiously adhere to, not only once but at least twice a day. It’s general practice to take a shower in the morning before going out, and again at the end of the day before going to bed. It’s perfectly fine to take more showers during the day, especially when it’s really hot or if you get really sweaty, but it’s unacceptable to go through a day without a single shower!&nbsp;&nbsp;Washing hands, a tradition from the old daysIn the old days, Thai people, like many of their Asian counterparts, ate with their hands. Rice and food were made into bitesize morsels and put in the mouth. So, it has always been quite normal for Thai people to adopt the habit of washing their hands, particularly before a meal. Thais started using spoons when the country began trading with other nations in the Ayutthaya era. So washing hands regularly is not a big deal and easily followed.&nbsp;The common spoon&nbsp;Thai food is meant for sharing, and every dish to share usually comes with a serving spoon. It’s rude to use your own spoon to scoop the food in a shared dish. Firstly, it’s unhygienic. And secondly, you’re mixing up food from different plates, making them unappetizing. And this goes for all shared dishes of any type of cuisine, too. Don’t be surprised to see serving spoons in pasta dishes, salads or hummus when Thais are eating.&nbsp; So next time you’re dining with Thai friends in a restaurant, do ask for a serving spoon if there isn’t one.&nbsp;&nbsp;

How the typical Thai lifestyle fits perfectly into the New Normal

<figure class="image"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/fQh6TBCxT_robocovid1.jpg"></figure>Chulalongkorn University Alumni Association under His Majesty the King's Patronage and the Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University have jointly invented new assistant robots to facilitate medical workers. The robots are known as the “CU-RoboCOVID” series and will help reduce the risk of medical workers being in close contact with COVID-19 patients. The CU-RoboCOVID series has three prototypes: the Ninja robot, Pinto robot, and Krajok robot. The Ninja robot is used for telecommunicating between bedridden patients and doctors, who are able to control vital signs equipment in the robot to diagnose the symptoms. The Pinto robot is shaped like a tray cart, and is used for food and medical supply delivery. The robot is equipped with a telepresence system, which allows patients to communicate with nurses or doctors from their rooms. The last one, the Krajok robot, comes with a tablet and is used for immediate communication, and also for calling a nurse when necessary.<figure class="image"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/ErGJu-cIO_robocovid2.jpg"></figure>Photo: <a href="https://www.chula.ac.th/news/29345/">Chulalongkorn University</a>&nbsp;Source : <a href="https://www.matichon.co.th/education/news_2127854">Matichon</a>

Chulalongkorn University Alumni Association under His Majesty the King's Patronage and the Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University have jointly invented new assistant robots to facilitate medical workers. The robots are known as the “CU-RoboCOVID” series and will help reduce the risk of medical workers being in close contact with COVID-19 patients. The CU-RoboCOVID series has three prototypes: the Ninja robot, Pinto robot, and Krajok robot. The Ninja robot is used for telecommunicating between bedridden patients and doctors, who are able to control vital signs equipment in the robot to diagnose the symptoms. The Pinto robot is shaped like a tray cart, and is used for food and medical supply delivery. The robot is equipped with a telepresence system, which allows patients to communicate with nurses or doctors from their rooms. The last one, the Krajok robot, comes with a tablet and is used for immediate communication, and also for calling a nurse when necessary.Photo: Chulalongkorn University&nbsp;Source : Matichon

CU-RoboCOVID, assistant robots to facilitate medical workers

During the second phase of easing restrictions to reduce the risk of Covid-19 infections in Thailand, shopping malls have reopened with specific precautionary disease control measures in place. Customers are required to check-in and out multiple times, so that public health authorities may keep records of their whereabouts, which will be necessary for contact tracing if a new infection occurs. To accommodate the public health measures more effectively in this new normal, Thailand’s futuristic shopping malls have adopted new IT solutions. New robots controlled over 5G networks, for example, have been introduced in major malls to help perform thermal scanning before entering establishments. The first model, True 5G Temi Thermal ScanBot, Robot for Care (ROC), and AIS K9, comes with a temperature checking function, also able to display alert signals on a screen if someone’s temperature is above 37.5 degree Celsius. The robots are also equipped with a hand sanitizer dispenser. The other model, True 5G PatrolBot, features face-detection technology, can remind people to have their face masks on at all times. Another creative solution is various versions of hands-free elevators. One model provides a sensor box, for customers to hover their finger over instead of pressing a button, to summon an elevator or choose the floor number. Another model has foot pedals installed inside the elevator, replacing the usual button controls by hand. There are also walk-through disinfection machines and handrail UV sterilizers for disinfecting escalator handrails.<figure class="image"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/94d5Y85Jp_c17b3f60-9c09-11ea-aa0e-817278eb73c2_original.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/KWSTiyn6i_20200420-102038-06.jpg"></figure>Photo: (left)&nbsp;<a href="https://news.trueid.net/detail/KGJ5Z3d3LbXq">TrueID</a>, (right) <a href="http://advanc.listedcompany.com/news.html/id/773367/group/newsroom_press">AIS</a>Source : <a href="https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1922444/tech-show-at-malls-reopening">Bangkok Post</a>

During the second phase of easing restrictions to reduce the risk of Covid-19 infections in Thailand, shopping malls have reopened with specific precautionary disease control measures in place. Customers are required to check-in and out multiple times, so that public health authorities may keep records of their whereabouts, which will be necessary for contact tracing if a new infection occurs. To accommodate the public health measures more effectively in this new normal, Thailand’s futuristic shopping malls have adopted new IT solutions. New robots controlled over 5G networks, for example, have been introduced in major malls to help perform thermal scanning before entering establishments. The first model, True 5G Temi Thermal ScanBot, Robot for Care (ROC), and AIS K9, comes with a temperature checking function, also able to display alert signals on a screen if someone’s temperature is above 37.5 degree Celsius. The robots are also equipped with a hand sanitizer dispenser. The other model, True 5G PatrolBot, features face-detection technology, can remind people to have their face masks on at all times. Another creative solution is various versions of hands-free elevators. One model provides a sensor box, for customers to hover their finger over instead of pressing a button, to summon an elevator or choose the floor number. Another model has foot pedals installed inside the elevator, replacing the usual button controls by hand. There are also walk-through disinfection machines and handrail UV sterilizers for disinfecting escalator handrails.&nbsp;Photo: (left)&nbsp;TrueID, (right) AISSource : Bangkok Post

Thailand’s futuristic shopping malls have adopted new IT solutions

<figure class="image"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/yAwU7if-h_telemedic.jpg"></figure>Since physical distancing measures were carried out to counter the Covid-19 pandemic, Ramathibodi Hospital has been offering telemedicine services to treat patients from afar, preventing overcrowding at the hospital. Under telemedicine practices, the hospital classifies patients into three groups using colour coding. Green is used for those in stable condition, who will receive medical consultation via telephone, and drugs by mail from local pharmacies. Patients who require specialised medicine, such as, temperature-controlled drugs and drugs containing addictive substances, are classified in the yellow group. The hospital sets a schedule to let patients or their relatives come to pick up drugs on agreed dates. For those in the red group whose symptoms need to be closely monitored, hospital visits are necessary for health checking until their symptoms get better, and be categorised to other milder symptom groups. The billing system has also been adjusted to facilitate the practices. Patients can pay their medical fees via e-banking, credit card or bank transactions. After payment, the medication data will be dispatched to pharmacists to prepare and mail the required drugs to the patients immediately, while an SMS will be sent to the patient’s mobile phone to explain details of the medicine.&nbsp;&nbsp;Source : <a href="https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30388845?utm_source=category&amp;utm_medium=internal_referral">The Nation</a>

Since physical distancing measures were carried out to counter the Covid-19 pandemic, Ramathibodi Hospital has been offering telemedicine services to treat patients from afar, preventing overcrowding at the hospital. Under telemedicine practices, the hospital classifies patients into three groups using colour coding. Green is used for those in stable condition, who will receive medical consultation via telephone, and drugs by mail from local pharmacies. Patients who require specialised medicine, such as, temperature-controlled drugs and drugs containing addictive substances, are classified in the yellow group. The hospital sets a schedule to let patients or their relatives come to pick up drugs on agreed dates. For those in the red group whose symptoms need to be closely monitored, hospital visits are necessary for health checking until their symptoms get better, and be categorised to other milder symptom groups. The billing system has also been adjusted to facilitate the practices. Patients can pay their medical fees via e-banking, credit card or bank transactions. After payment, the medication data will be dispatched to pharmacists to prepare and mail the required drugs to the patients immediately, while an SMS will be sent to the patient’s mobile phone to explain details of the medicine.&nbsp;&nbsp;Source : The Nation

Ramathibodi Hospital has been offering telemedicine services to treat patients from afar

<figure class="image"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/_dik833-l_covidtest.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></figure>Siam Bioscience Co., Ltd., the first biopharmaceutical company in Thailand, in collaboration with the Department of Medical Sciences, has developed and manufactured the first RT-PCR COVID-19 test kits in the country, which meet World Health Organisation (WHO) standards and quickly deliver test results. Over 120,000 test kits have been distributed to the government and forwarded to medical laboratories nationwide.&nbsp;&nbsp;Source :&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bangkokbiznews.com/news/detail/876958?utm_source=category&utm_medium=internal_referral&utm_campaign=life">Bangkok Biz News</a>Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

Siam Bioscience Co., Ltd., the first biopharmaceutical company in Thailand, in collaboration with the Department of Medical Sciences, has developed and manufactured the first RT-PCR COVID-19 test kits in the country, which meet World Health Organisation (WHO) standards and quickly deliver test results. Over 120,000 test kits have been distributed to the government and forwarded to medical laboratories nationwide.&nbsp;&nbsp;Source :&nbsp;Bangkok Biz NewsPowered by Froala Editor

Public private partnership winning against Covid

<figure class="image"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/R3GaFShi7_rt-lamp.jpg"></figure>The Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University has invented a more efficient and convenient solution to detect the COVID-19&nbsp;virus through the use of RT-LAMP technology to test saliva samples. Not only is collecting saliva samples more convenient and pain-free, but the method also yields accurate results in a shorter period of time. On the other hand, nasopharyngeal swabs frequently irritate patients and trigger coughing and sneezing, which significantly increases the risk of virus transmission. To start the test, patients are required to collect their saliva, which is then placed in a test tube already filled with a saliva preservative. The test tube will then be sent to a laboratory. Results can be available within 45 minutes and costs five times less than the conventional RT-PCR test. At present,&nbsp;50,000&nbsp;RT-LAMP test kits have been developed and delivered to the government.&nbsp;&nbsp;Source : <a href="https://www.banmuang.co.th/news/bangkok/189771">Banmuang</a>

The Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University has invented a more efficient and convenient solution to detect the COVID-19&nbsp;virus through the use of RT-LAMP technology to test saliva samples. Not only is collecting saliva samples more convenient and pain-free, but the method also yields accurate results in a shorter period of time. On the other hand, nasopharyngeal swabs frequently irritate patients and trigger coughing and sneezing, which significantly increases the risk of virus transmission. To start the test, patients are required to collect their saliva, which is then placed in a test tube already filled with a saliva preservative. The test tube will then be sent to a laboratory. Results can be available within 45 minutes and costs five times less than the conventional RT-PCR test. At present,&nbsp;50,000&nbsp;RT-LAMP test kits have been developed and delivered to the government.&nbsp;&nbsp;Source : Banmuang

The Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University has invented a more efficient and convenient solution to detect the COVID-19 virus, through the use of RT-LAMP technology

<figure class="image"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/SPgqjl3ZM_vaccinedev.jpg"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/0_itfQO2J_primate.jpg"></figure>The National Primate Research Centre of Thailand&nbsp;as the first primate research centre in Thailand shows impressive strides in&nbsp;COVID-19 vaccine&nbsp;research and&nbsp;is going to begin&nbsp;the first dose&nbsp;of the&nbsp;human&nbsp;trials in October.&nbsp;After the second injection on monkeys in June,&nbsp;researchers found satisfying results of a&nbsp;neutralising antibody in every sample.&nbsp;Thus, the next step&nbsp;on a human trial&nbsp;is expected to begin this October.This progress enables&nbsp;Thailand to be more self-reliant in pharmaceutical and vaccine production, supporting medical research for not only Thailand, but also some other ASEAN member countries.The&nbsp;Centre established by Chulalongkorn University, located in Saraburi province,&nbsp;is the third primate research centre in Southeast Asia, following the previous ones in Indonesia and the Philippines. The Centre has two main buildings housing 406 long-tailed macaques. Other buildings are used for the Centre’s own research and studies on infectious and non-infectious diseases. The Centre’s researchers are currently working on a game-changing project on a mRNA vaccine for protection against COVID-19.The NPRCT-CU was granted accreditation and recognition from the AAALAC International-Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (the only internationally recognised institution to approve standards for animal testing in medical research) in February 2020. The accreditation certifies and confirms that the programme and operations conducted in the NPRCT-CU comply with the world-class standard. The National Primate Research Centre of Thailand aims to be a world-class centre for exchanging expertise and cooperation in this field in Asia.Source : <a href="https://www.bangkokbiznews.com/news/detail/882199?utm_source=category&amp;utm_medium=internal_referral&amp;utm_campaign=innovation">Bangkok Biz News</a>

The National Primate Research Centre of Thailand&nbsp;as the first primate research centre in Thailand shows impressive strides in&nbsp;COVID-19 vaccine&nbsp;research and&nbsp;is going to begin&nbsp;the first dose&nbsp;of the&nbsp;human&nbsp;trials in October.&nbsp;After the second injection on monkeys in June,&nbsp;researchers found satisfying results of a&nbsp;neutralising antibody in every sample.&nbsp;Thus, the next step&nbsp;on a human trial&nbsp;is expected to begin this October.This progress enables&nbsp;Thailand to be more self-reliant in pharmaceutical and vaccine production, supporting medical research for not only Thailand, but also some other ASEAN member countries.The&nbsp;Centre established by Chulalongkorn University, located in Saraburi province,&nbsp;is the third primate research centre in Southeast Asia, following the previous ones in Indonesia and the Philippines. The Centre has two main buildings housing 406 long-tailed macaques. Other buildings are used for the Centre’s own research and studies on infectious and non-infectious diseases. The Centre’s researchers are currently working on a game-changing project on a mRNA vaccine for protection against COVID-19.The NPRCT-CU was granted accreditation and recognition from the AAALAC International-Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (the only internationally recognised institution to approve standards for animal testing in medical research) in February 2020. The accreditation certifies and confirms that the programme and operations conducted in the NPRCT-CU comply with the world-class standard. The National Primate Research Centre of Thailand aims to be a world-class centre for exchanging expertise and cooperation in this field in Asia.Source : Bangkok Biz News

The accredited National Primate Research Centre of Thailand aims to inject COVID-19 vaccine on human trials 

<figure class="image"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/BAheDU6d1_covid19.jpg"></figure>As the on-going battle against the Novel Coronavirus 2019 or ‘COVID-19’ continues to expand globally, Thailand is standing strong and prepared, in face of this new adversary.&nbsp;&nbsp;Thailand’s experience in handling epidemic situations ranging from Avian Flu to SARS and MERS-CoV has strengthened the country’s&nbsp;ability to manage epidemic situations. Thailand’s readiness to work closely with the World Health Organisation (WHO), paired with development of national preparedness at all fronts, has placed Thailand as the sixth most prepared country in the world for an epidemic or a pandemic in the Johns Hopkins University’s 2019 Global Health Security Index.Therefore, when the authorities in Wuhan confirmed on 31 December, 2019, that numerous pneumonia cases of an unknown cause had occurred, Thailand was already on alert. The Thai Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) immediately set up a surveillance protocol as from 3 January, 2020, and activated the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) on 4 January. This was why, on 8 January, Thailand became the first country to detect a COVID-19 case outside of China, an imported case from Wuhan City, even before the virus was made known to the world.At that time, a medical team at the Thai Red Cross Emerging Infectious Diseases Health Science Centre, Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University was able to detect the virus, and initially identify it as an unknown coronavirus. They kept it isolated, and as soon as China shared the genome of COVID-19 on 11 January, they were able to confirm a match and disclose this information on 12 January.To contain the spread of the virus, Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute (BIDI), a renowned institute in epidemiology under the supervision of the Department for Disease Control, MOPH, was tasked to spearhead patient treatment and conduct research on COVID-19.In early February, the team of physicians at Rajavithi Hospital, under the supervision of the Department of Medical Services, MOPH, took an assertive approach in COVID-19 treatment. The combination of anti-influenza (Oseltamivir) and anti-HIV medications (Lopinavir and Rotonavir) successfully treated severe COVID-19 cases within 48 hours. Although the treatment was done on a trial basis, this finding has helped pave the way for future research on antiviral medication to treat COVID-19 patients and was noted world-wide.The capacity to confirm infected cases on a timely basis is also crucial. Thailand can have diagnostic laboratory examinations for suspected cases done within 24 hours.According to&nbsp;the WHO,&nbsp;recently&nbsp;Thailand has&nbsp;a “One Lab One Province-24-hour reporting policy”, having at least one laboratory in each of the country’s 77 provinces to test for the novel coronavirus,&nbsp;which has provided timely results. This&nbsp;has helped to quickly identify local hotspots of infection.&nbsp;Testing is available at 203 laboratories in Thailand, which have now been certified to confirm COVID-19 test results using the RT-PCR method.&nbsp;The treatment of patients is also effective, with a high recovery rate.On 23 August, 2020,&nbsp;Thailand’s&nbsp;Department of Disease Control announced&nbsp;a total of 3,221 cases have recovered or 94.87% of the total number of the confirmed 3,395 cases and 116 were being treated in hospitals (3.42% of the total number&nbsp;of confirmed cases).&nbsp;The total number of deaths remained at 58 cases.&nbsp;The MOPH has kept the public, WHO, ASEAN member states, and other partner countries informed early in the stages of the COVID-19 situation. The public have access to information on personal hygiene, preventive measures, as well as situation reports and measures through press briefings twice a day. A dedicated MOPH website, Facebook and Twitter accounts disseminate the information simultaneously. There is a telephone hotline to also respond to public queries.The above-mentioned&nbsp;efforts have enabled Thailand to gradually move down the list of countries with the highest numbers of infected persons outside China. Thailand is working relentlessly to maintain its&nbsp;current status, where all cases of infections can be accounted for and traceable to imported cases or tourists.&nbsp;Effective SystemWhile screening measures have been put in place at all ports of entry, the MOPH has pushed forward with the implementation of a contact tracing system ever since the first infection was detected, on suspected individuals and people they have come into close contact. This has enabled authorities to identify virus carriers even before symptoms appear and prevent them from unknowingly spreading the virus.Since the beginning of February, the MOPH has stepped up measures to ensure that there are no gaps in Thailand’s surveillance system. On 17 February, 2020, the MOPH upgraded screening patients with pneumonia from unknown causes in eight popular tourist destinations (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Krabi, Phuket, Prachuap Khiri Khan, and Samut Prakan), as well as people who had close contact with travellers from COVID-19 outbreak areas. Such cases will be automatically referred to as Patients under Investigation (PUI). Following the introduction of the elevated screening, the PUI cases increased significantly, which has raised the level of confidence that Thailand is indeed leaving no carpets unturned.&nbsp;Thailand’s effective system encompasses early detection, comprehensive patient treatment, &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; and assertive action coupled by the transparent nature of its approach. All efforts are made to ensure that this effective system continues with no obstacles.&nbsp;Latest MeasuresAs the COVID-19 situation continues to spread globally, we need to be prepared for the likelihood of an epidemic phase in Thailand. On 24 February, 2020, Thailand’s National Committee on Communicable Diseases declared the COVID-19 a dangerous communicable disease to enable health authorities to respond more quickly and effectively, step up precautionary measures, and enforce tougher rules to contain the situation when necessary. Thailand will continue to maintain open communication with the public in full confidence and transparency. &nbsp;Through close cooperation with the WHO and partners in the region, through vigilance and preparedness, we are confident that we will overcome the disease together.&nbsp;Source :<a href="http://www.thailandtoday.in.th/"> Thailand Today</a>

As the on-going battle against the Novel Coronavirus 2019 or ‘COVID-19’ continues to expand globally, Thailand is standing strong and prepared, in face of this new adversary.&nbsp;&nbsp;Thailand’s experience in handling epidemic situations ranging from Avian Flu to SARS and MERS-CoV has strengthened the country’s&nbsp;ability to manage epidemic situations. Thailand’s readiness to work closely with the World Health Organisation (WHO), paired with development of national preparedness at all fronts, has placed Thailand as the sixth most prepared country in the world for an epidemic or a pandemic in the Johns Hopkins University’s 2019 Global Health Security Index.Therefore, when the authorities in Wuhan confirmed on 31 December, 2019, that numerous pneumonia cases of an unknown cause had occurred, Thailand was already on alert. The Thai Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) immediately set up a surveillance protocol as from 3 January, 2020, and activated the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) on 4 January. This was why, on 8 January, Thailand became the first country to detect a COVID-19 case outside of China, an imported case from Wuhan City, even before the virus was made known to the world.At that time, a medical team at the Thai Red Cross Emerging Infectious Diseases Health Science Centre, Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University was able to detect the virus, and initially identify it as an unknown coronavirus. They kept it isolated, and as soon as China shared the genome of COVID-19 on 11 January, they were able to confirm a match and disclose this information on 12 January.To contain the spread of the virus, Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute (BIDI), a renowned institute in epidemiology under the supervision of the Department for Disease Control, MOPH, was tasked to spearhead patient treatment and conduct research on COVID-19.In early February, the team of physicians at Rajavithi Hospital, under the supervision of the Department of Medical Services, MOPH, took an assertive approach in COVID-19 treatment. The combination of anti-influenza (Oseltamivir) and anti-HIV medications (Lopinavir and Rotonavir) successfully treated severe COVID-19 cases within 48 hours. Although the treatment was done on a trial basis, this finding has helped pave the way for future research on antiviral medication to treat COVID-19 patients and was noted world-wide.The capacity to confirm infected cases on a timely basis is also crucial. Thailand can have diagnostic laboratory examinations for suspected cases done within 24 hours.According to&nbsp;the WHO,&nbsp;recently&nbsp;Thailand has&nbsp;a “One Lab One Province-24-hour reporting policy”, having at least one laboratory in each of the country’s 77 provinces to test for the novel coronavirus,&nbsp;which has provided timely results. This&nbsp;has helped to quickly identify local hotspots of infection.&nbsp;Testing is available at 203 laboratories in Thailand, which have now been certified to confirm COVID-19 test results using the RT-PCR method.&nbsp;The treatment of patients is also effective, with a high recovery rate.On 23 August, 2020,&nbsp;Thailand’s&nbsp;Department of Disease Control announced&nbsp;a total of 3,221 cases have recovered or 94.87% of the total number of the confirmed 3,395 cases and 116 were being treated in hospitals (3.42% of the total number&nbsp;of confirmed cases).&nbsp;The total number of deaths remained at 58 cases.&nbsp;The MOPH has kept the public, WHO, ASEAN member states, and other partner countries informed early in the stages of the COVID-19 situation. The public have access to information on personal hygiene, preventive measures, as well as situation reports and measures through press briefings twice a day. A dedicated MOPH website, Facebook and Twitter accounts disseminate the information simultaneously. There is a telephone hotline to also respond to public queries.The above-mentioned&nbsp;efforts have enabled Thailand to gradually move down the list of countries with the highest numbers of infected persons outside China. Thailand is working relentlessly to maintain its&nbsp;current status, where all cases of infections can be accounted for and traceable to imported cases or tourists.&nbsp;Effective SystemWhile screening measures have been put in place at all ports of entry, the MOPH has pushed forward with the implementation of a contact tracing system ever since the first infection was detected, on suspected individuals and people they have come into close contact. This has enabled authorities to identify virus carriers even before symptoms appear and prevent them from unknowingly spreading the virus.Since the beginning of February, the MOPH has stepped up measures to ensure that there are no gaps in Thailand’s surveillance system. On 17 February, 2020, the MOPH upgraded screening patients with pneumonia from unknown causes in eight popular tourist destinations (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Krabi, Phuket, Prachuap Khiri Khan, and Samut Prakan), as well as people who had close contact with travellers from COVID-19 outbreak areas. Such cases will be automatically referred to as Patients under Investigation (PUI). Following the introduction of the elevated screening, the PUI cases increased significantly, which has raised the level of confidence that Thailand is indeed leaving no carpets unturned.&nbsp;Thailand’s effective system encompasses early detection, comprehensive patient treatment, &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; and assertive action coupled by the transparent nature of its approach. All efforts are made to ensure that this effective system continues with no obstacles.&nbsp;Latest MeasuresAs the COVID-19 situation continues to spread globally, we need to be prepared for the likelihood of an epidemic phase in Thailand. On 24 February, 2020, Thailand’s National Committee on Communicable Diseases declared the COVID-19 a dangerous communicable disease to enable health authorities to respond more quickly and effectively, step up precautionary measures, and enforce tougher rules to contain the situation when necessary. Thailand will continue to maintain open communication with the public in full confidence and transparency. &nbsp;Through close cooperation with the WHO and partners in the region, through vigilance and preparedness, we are confident that we will overcome the disease together.&nbsp;Source : Thailand Today

Thailand vs. COVID-19: Early Detection and Treatment, Assertive Approach and National Preparedness

<figure class="image"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/1EpD7InI3_thaimassage%20%282%29.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></figure>On 12 December 2019, “Nuad Thai” or Thai massage has been added to UNESCO’s ‘intangible cultural heritage’ list. The UNESCO praised the traditional Thai massage as part of Thai arts, science, and culture. Without using medicine, the massage is an antique remedy that helps balance patients’ energy and body structure, and, also, cure diseases.&nbsp;Source :&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pptvhd36.com/news/%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%94%E0%B9%87%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%99/115848">PPTV</a>Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

On 12 December 2019, “Nuad Thai” or Thai massage has been added to UNESCO’s ‘intangible cultural heritage’ list. The UNESCO praised the traditional Thai massage as part of Thai arts, science, and culture. Without using medicine, the massage is an antique remedy that helps balance patients’ energy and body structure, and, also, cure diseases.&nbsp;Source :&nbsp;PPTVPowered by Froala Editor

“Nuad Thai” or Thai massage has been added to UNESCO’s ‘intangible cultural heritage’ list

Hala-Bala Lake or Bala-Hala Lake is a natural wonder worthy of exploration for nature enthusiasts. The Lake is surrounded by the largest tropical rainforest in the Southern border provinces of Thailand. Its total area is approximately 800,000 rai (1,280 square kilometres) covering Bannang Sata, Than To, and Betong Districts in Yala province, Sukhirin, Waeng, Chanae, and Si Sakhon Districts in Narathiwat province, as well as the border with Malaysia.<figure class="image"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/1XWNp-cQ9_halabalalake.jpg"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/mimilGDp8_halabalalife.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;For those who enjoy cruising for leisure, you may start by boarding a boat at Ta Phayao Pier, Than To District, Yala province. In addition to learning first-hand about the way of life and the exquisite scenery along the lakeshore, one can also see a spectacular school of jumping halfbeaks leaping from the water, which is a rare phenomenon and a one of a kind experience as the fish can only be found in Hala-Bala Lake. Moreover, one can listen to the history of Ban To, an ancient village submerged under the Bang Lang Dam. The remnants of the village, including the temple and the mosque, can be seen when the water in the Dam recedes; such as, in 2016 when the water level dropped until Ban To became visible.After cruising for about 20 minutes, one will arrive at Ko Tuad, a small freshwater island situated in the centre of Hala-Bala Lake, where authorities will facilitate your visit. Prarom Slumseng, Deputy Village Chief of Ta Phayao, recommends visitors to check-in at Ta Phayao Pier then visit the New Bridge or the Kho Yae Bridge. After that, one may visit the submerged village, or the former Ban To, before enjoying the cool water of the Bo Hin Nai Waterfall. For Buddhists, there are Buddha statues and a shrine on the island for worshipping. As for those who like canoeing while gazing upon the beauty of nature, canoe rentals are provided by villagers at the rate of 100 Baht for 2 hours.<figure class="image"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/aZ4MJ26iW_keangsom.jpg"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/zaMVHmTJ9_deepfriedfish.jpg"></figure>Brimming with natural elegance, it is time to come ashore and enjoy lunch. Those who visit Ban Ta Phayao will be able to taste jumping halfbeaks, a locally renowned dish. Orapin Phromsak, Chairperson of Ban Ta Phayao’s Processed Marine Animals Group, guarantees that there is no need to worry about food when visiting this area, as the food here is one of the best, especially the jumping halfbeak dishes prepared in rich varieties. These include turmeric jumping halfbeaks and Thai curries with jumping halfbeaks as the main ingredient; such as, Kaeng Pa, Kaeng Som, and Tom Som. This fish has a unique flavour different from other fish. Meanwhile, dried jumping halfbeaks are used to mix with torch ginger for Thai spicy salads. Anyone who visits and does not taste this fish is considered to have seriously missed out.After finishing the meal and before returning, dried jumping halfbeaks are available for sale at the price of 400 Baht per kilogramme. Those interested in visiting Hala-Bala Lake can contact Tel. 085-590 1495 for more information, as the villagers warmly welcome everyone.&nbsp;Source: NBT Yala

Hala-Bala Lake or Bala-Hala Lake is a natural wonder worthy of exploration for nature enthusiasts. The Lake is surrounded by the largest tropical rainforest in the Southern border provinces of Thailand. Its total area is approximately 800,000 rai (1,280 square kilometres) covering Bannang Sata, Than To, and Betong Districts in Yala province, Sukhirin, Waeng, Chanae, and Si Sakhon Districts in Narathiwat province, as well as the border with Malaysia.&nbsp;For those who enjoy cruising for leisure, you may start by boarding a boat at Ta Phayao Pier, Than To District, Yala province. In addition to learning first-hand about the way of life and the exquisite scenery along the lakeshore, one can also see a spectacular school of jumping halfbeaks leaping from the water, which is a rare phenomenon and a one of a kind experience as the fish can only be found in Hala-Bala Lake. Moreover, one can listen to the history of Ban To, an ancient village submerged under the Bang Lang Dam. The remnants of the village, including the temple and the mosque, can be seen when the water in the Dam recedes; such as, in 2016 when the water level dropped until Ban To became visible.After cruising for about 20 minutes, one will arrive at Ko Tuad, a small freshwater island situated in the centre of Hala-Bala Lake, where authorities will facilitate your visit. Prarom Slumseng, Deputy Village Chief of Ta Phayao, recommends visitors to check-in at Ta Phayao Pier then visit the New Bridge or the Kho Yae Bridge. After that, one may visit the submerged village, or the former Ban To, before enjoying the cool water of the Bo Hin Nai Waterfall. For Buddhists, there are Buddha statues and a shrine on the island for worshipping. As for those who like canoeing while gazing upon the beauty of nature, canoe rentals are provided by villagers at the rate of 100 Baht for 2 hours.Brimming with natural elegance, it is time to come ashore and enjoy lunch. Those who visit Ban Ta Phayao will be able to taste jumping halfbeaks, a locally renowned dish. Orapin Phromsak, Chairperson of Ban Ta Phayao’s Processed Marine Animals Group, guarantees that there is no need to worry about food when visiting this area, as the food here is one of the best, especially the jumping halfbeak dishes prepared in rich varieties. These include turmeric jumping halfbeaks and Thai curries with jumping halfbeaks as the main ingredient; such as, Kaeng Pa, Kaeng Som, and Tom Som. This fish has a unique flavour different from other fish. Meanwhile, dried jumping halfbeaks are used to mix with torch ginger for Thai spicy salads. Anyone who visits and does not taste this fish is considered to have seriously missed out.After finishing the meal and before returning, dried jumping halfbeaks are available for sale at the price of 400 Baht per kilogramme. Those interested in visiting Hala-Bala Lake can contact Tel. 085-590 1495 for more information, as the villagers warmly welcome everyone.&nbsp;Source: NBT Yala

“Good life along the Southern border”: Visiting Ta Phayao: Cruising along the lake and tasting jumping halfbeaks

The southern border of Thailand, besides the glamour of the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, is also endowed with enticing forests. Budo - Su-Ngai Padi National Park is another recommended tourist attraction. The Park is in Ban Pajo, Bacho Subdistrict, Bacho District, Narathiwat province. Inside the Park, there is the Pajo Waterfall, which is a beautiful natural site.<figure class="image"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/iyUqFdfKT_waterfall-nara.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;-Photo credit: <a href="http://www2.narathiwat.go.th/nara2016/travel/detail/1">Narathiwat Province</a>-His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother once visited this park, took a photo, and engraved His Majesty’s acronym and Her Majesty’s name “Sirikit” in gold on a large rock near the cliff of Pajo Waterfall. The people of Narathiwat have been overjoyed about this visit and engraving to this very day.Budo - Su-Ngai Padi National Park houses another astonishing wonder hidden deep in the forest. According to research from 2015 - 2018, there are more than 100 species of butterflies, and it is the only location in Thailand with rare wild butterflies, which usually inhabit lush forests. Tourists who love butterfly watching usually visit the Park on their own to take photos of the breath-taking scenery, as memorable souvenirs from their visit to Narathiwat province.<figure class="image"><img src="https://thailandnow-dev.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/production/AvuPWU4Mb_butterfly-Pierrot.jpg"></figure>As you venture round the natural paths by Pajo Waterfall, you will see butterflies, which fly over on a regular basis to lay their eggs on various plants in the area. Map butterflies, Judy butterflies, oakblue butterflies, Helen butterflies, Pan butterflies, five-ring butterflies, chocolate grass yellow butterflies, and Pierrot butterflies, will show themselves, rendering us amazed as we take photos to show everyone.This is another miraculous elegance hidden within the forest along the Southern border. Everyone is invited to visit the Park and experience its natural wonder&nbsp;Reported by: Pollada Shusing – Photographed by: Worawit Jaemu

The southern border of Thailand, besides the glamour of the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, is also endowed with enticing forests. Budo - Su-Ngai Padi National Park is another recommended tourist attraction. The Park is in Ban Pajo, Bacho Subdistrict, Bacho District, Narathiwat province. Inside the Park, there is the Pajo Waterfall, which is a beautiful natural site.&nbsp;-Photo credit: Narathiwat Province-His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother once visited this park, took a photo, and engraved His Majesty’s acronym and Her Majesty’s name “Sirikit” in gold on a large rock near the cliff of Pajo Waterfall. The people of Narathiwat have been overjoyed about this visit and engraving to this very day.Budo - Su-Ngai Padi National Park houses another astonishing wonder hidden deep in the forest. According to research from 2015 - 2018, there are more than 100 species of butterflies, and it is the only location in Thailand with rare wild butterflies, which usually inhabit lush forests. Tourists who love butterfly watching usually visit the Park on their own to take photos of the breath-taking scenery, as memorable souvenirs from their visit to Narathiwat province.As you venture round the natural paths by Pajo Waterfall, you will see butterflies, which fly over on a regular basis to lay their eggs on various plants in the area. Map butterflies, Judy butterflies, oakblue butterflies, Helen butterflies, Pan butterflies, five-ring butterflies, chocolate grass yellow butterflies, and Pierrot butterflies, will show themselves, rendering us amazed as we take photos to show everyone.This is another miraculous elegance hidden within the forest along the Southern border. Everyone is invited to visit the Park and experience its natural wonder&nbsp;Reported by: Pollada Shusing – Photographed by: Worawit Jaemu

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