Headlines summary as of 25 August 2021

News

Newly confirmed case(s)	Total Cases	Patients under severe conditions and those using ventilators	Discharged from hospital	From 1 April, totally confirmed cases (third wave)	1st dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)	3rd dose vaccine recipients (from 16 July)
18,417  (146 from prisons); (excluding ATK 1,185)	1,102,368 (last seven days: 133,411)	5,189/1,096	903,015 (+21,186)	1,073,505	21,231,498 (+400,825) BKK: 6,557,409 (+15,161)	560,624 (+9,363) BKK: 146,145 (+1,964)
Local transmission	From abroad	Being hospitalised/ in field-hospital/ quarantined	Confirmed cases in Bangkok	Death toll	Total vaccination (doses)	2nd dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)	Average tests in the last seven days
18,261 [15,953  (get tested in hospital) + 2,308 (active case finding)]	10 (in SQ)	189,268 [161,577 in field hospital]	254,977 (+4,139)	10,085 (+297) (last seven days: 1,800)	28,197,659 (+585,214) BKK: 8,224,909 (+26,432)	6,405,537 (+175,026) BKK: 1,521,355 (+9,307)	50,569

• FDA’s secretary-general said once having the full approval from the US FDA, Pfizer (Thailand) will be able to sell it to the private sector like other vaccines after getting the Thai FDA approval. The process could be done within 30 days.—Thai Enquirer

Politics

• There is nothing more bigger a news than the publicly leaked CCTV footage of what is seen to be a suffocation of a drug suspect to death by a superintendent at Meung Nakhon Sawan Provincial Police Station and other police officers.
  • The hospital’s post-mortem report suggested that the man died due to ‘suggestive of amphetamine intoxication’
  • The Police Chief has ordered Deputy Police Chief and Inspector-General to look into the issue. In the media conference last evening, the Police Chief has pledged to restore confidence of the public in Police. He revealed that the PM has ordered to prosecute the perpetrators without any exception.—Thai Rath
  • Last night, the Police Chief has signed an order to strip the superintendent in question out of position as it is reported that the superintendent threatened the drug dealer for two million THB.—Khao Sod
  • It is reported that later this morning, the investigative officers will seek an arrest warrant of the superintendent from court. However, the superintendent cannot be reached out.—Khao Sod
    • There has been unconfirmed talks that the superintendent has fled the Kingdom.
  • The superintendent is reportedly dating the daughter of Region 6 Police Chief. The police also joined the prestigious Royal Volunteer Training Project ‘Jit Asa’ and has usually claimed to know several higher members of the Royal Police.—Inside Thailand
  • The shocking video has raised the call for the passage of protracted Draft bills on prevention and persecution of torture and enforced disappearance against state officials which is now in Parliamentary discussion.—Krungthep Turakij  
  • Vocal Democrat figure and former MP Nipit Intarasombat has voiced his opinion on the news saying that he has seen worse when he was practising laws. Nipit said, however, that the superintendent might not be charged with attempt murder as the video saw the police officer trying to do CPR for the drug suspect.—Krungthep Turakij
  • In response to the CCTV video, the newly established anarchic-prone ‘Talu Gas’ group has called for the gathering in front of the Police HQ in Pathum Wan from 3.55pm.—Talu Gas
• Today, there will be the other gathering of Talu Fah Group at the Parliament from 4.00pm.
• Ratchavithi Hospital has announced that the 15-year-old boy who was shot with live bullet on 16 August is still in coma and still in need of ventilator. The hospital said that the teen patient is having arms and legs paralysis. His eyes are not responsive.—Prachachat Turakij
• There have been major developments on the constitutional amendment issue after the amendment Committee led by PPRP Deputy leader Paiboon Nititawan has withdrew five clauses from the amendment motion before going to the second and third readings:
  • The five clauses are
    • Section 85 on the announcement of election results within 30 days.
    • Article 92 on the requirements for winning a ‘No Vote’ or an electoral vote that does not elect anyone to be a member of the House of Representatives, if any constituency which elects a member of the House of Representatives gets less votes than a ‘No Vote’ then there is a need to hold new elections and prohibit applicants existing contestants for the MP in that constituency to run for new elections.
    • Section to repeal Section 94 on calculating the electoral vote to find a list of MPs.
    • Section to repeal paragraph 3 of Section 105 concerning the calculation of party-list MP proportions.
    • Transitional provisions sections on the determination of time period for the National Assembly to enact Organic Act (Act) governing the election of members of the House of Representatives within 120 days.—Krungthep Turakij
  • Deputy PM and Democrat leader announced that the party has its stance in supporting two ballots (one for constituency; the other for party-list).—Krungthep Turakij
• It is reported that in the cabinet meeting, the Human Security Minister from Democrat Party has proposed a delay in censure debate into early to mid-September as the Covid situation might be better and will strip the opposition of one major issue to grill the government.—Krungthep Turakij
• Yesterday, the cabinet has appointed the former Centre for Economic Situation Administration and Palang Pracharat Party spokesperson Mr Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana as the new government spokesperson. Senior source in the Government House said that the new appointment aimed to better quell ‘fake news’.—Prachachat Turakij
• A political movement close to former PM Thaksin CARE Group has launched its newest campaign in Change.org to ‘hold people referendum’ ousting the PM and call for the unified action in wearing black costumes or hang black flag at home as a symbolic gesture against the administration.–CARE
• The Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry blocked Thailand’s answer to “Popcat” – “Popyut” – on Sunday, citing it allegedly violated the Computer Crime Act. The game which works along the lines of “Popcat”, uses Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s face, which shifts every time a player clicks on it.—Nation Thailand

Analysis/ opinion

• Political communication pundit Nantana Nantavaropas gave an interview saying that the appointment of ‘hawkish’ persona like Mr Thanakorn as the new spokesperson could be read as the PM attempt to confront with the people than to provide information. She said that the best way of quelling fake news is to make sure that the government is doing effective things amid the pandemic, not spinning or giving ‘alternative fact’ to the people. The specialist also pointed out to the appointment of former conservative PDRC leader as the editor-in-chief for the Covid-administer CCSA as alarming and that the PM is making the government communication as propaganda and antagonistic to the people.—Matichon TV

Economic

Cabinet’s Decisions, 24 August 2021

• Approved of extending the 7 percent VAT rate for another 2 years, until 30 September 2023, to reduce financial burden for consumers.  The extension is unlikely to affect the state revenue collection during FY 2022 and 2023.
• Instructed the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Tourism and Sports Ministry (MOST) to review the domestic tourism subsidy campaigns “Rao Tiew Duay Kan” (We Travel Together) and “Tour Teaw Thai”, which were delayed from April.  If the new phases of both schemes cannot be implemented by October this year, the cabinet will re-allocate the budget for other uses to stimulate the economy.  Source: Prachachart Turakij Bangkok Post
• Allowed the Export-Import Bank of Thailand (EXIM Bank) to raise its registered capital by 4.18 billion Baht to support the investments of SMEs in Thailand and abroad, especially CLMV countries and as new markets such as Indonesia, Malaysia and the Maldives.  EXIM Bank will also promote investments in the EEC and the BCG Economy.  This is the first time in 12 years that EXIM Bank will be raising its registered capital.  Source:  Prachachart Turakij

Others

• The Thai Commerce Ministry signed a mini-FTA with the Chinese province of Hainan on 20 August.  The mini-FTA will boost trade for 3 products namely agricultural, food and industrial items for 2 years, from 20 Aug 2021 – 20 Aug 2023.  Trade between Thailand Hainan stood at 9.2 billion baht (295 million USD), which the mini-FTA should help increase to 12 billion Baht.  Source:  Thansettakij
• At an online seminar ‘Keep An Eye on WTO Reform in the New Normal Era’, Supachai Panitchpakdi, the former WTO Director-General, said the group needs to reform its work structure to increase cooperation.  He also urged the WTO to step up its role in tackling new trade barriers and facilitating trade for essential products to cope with COVID-19 such as vaccines, medicines, medical supplies and medical equipment.  Meanwhile, the Department of Trade Negotiations added that the WTO members are in intense discussions to prepare for the conclusion of the 12th Ministerial Conference to be held from Nov 30 – Dec 3 this year in Geneva, Switzerland.  Source:  Thansettakij Bangkok Post
• Bank of Thailand (BOT) announced that it had asked commercial banks and financial institutions to restructure the debts of those afflicted by COVID-19 rather than to implement ‘debt haircut’ (slash the debt principal and interest owed by debtors) as previously understood.  BOT reiterated that debt haircut should only be implemented as agreed by the creditors and debtors on a case by case basis.  BOT issued the statement after receiving a letter from the Thai Bankers Association (TBA) which voiced the concerns of banks on the implications of debt haircut on the banking sector’s stability and on creating moral hazard (ie: incentivizing clients to exploit debt haircut when they could service their debts).  The BOT and TBA had discussed this issue and agreed that the debt haircut is an option for the many product programs offered under debt restructuring scheme.  Sources: Krungthep Turakij The Nation Prachachart Turakij Thansettakij
• Dr Anusorn Tammajai, the former Ministry of Finance’s debt management Committee and former Dean of Rangsit University’s Economic Faculty suggested the government borrow another 300 billion Baht if the lockdown is extended until the end of 2021 and to disburse them to the right target groups.  Dr Anusorn spoke out against the establishment of a single command center on COVID-19 because it is slow in making decisions.  He suggested the government open up the business sector strategically, by allowing the thousands of large companies to operate within the conditions set by Public Health Ministry.  For smaller SMEs which total around 3 million, the government should subsidise the costs for the rapid antigen tests.  He also proposed ways to reform the public health system such as by allocating more budget to the sector and adopting the concept of self-governing hospitals.  Source:  Krungthep Turakij  Thansettakij

Headlines summary as of 24 August 2021

News

Newly confirmed case(s)	Total Cases	Patients under severe conditions and those using ventilators	Discharged from hospital	From 1 April, totally confirmed cases (third wave)	1st dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)	3rd dose vaccine recipients (from 16 July)
17,165  (192 from prisons); (excluding ATK 314)	1,083,951 (last seven days: 135,509)	5,229/ 1,095	881,829 (+20,059)	1,055,088	20,830,673 (+400,645) BKK: 6,498,619 (+39,915)	551,261 (+7,293) BKK: 142,030 (+2,481)
Local transmission	From abroad	Being hospitalised/ in field-hospital/ quarantined	Confirmed cases in Bangkok	Death toll	Total vaccination (doses)	2nd dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)	Average tests in the last seven days
16,970 [15,226  (get tested in hospital) + 1,744 (active case finding)]	3 (in SQ)	192,334 [161,404 in field hospital]	250,838 (+4,025)	9,788 (+226) (last seven days: 1,815)	27,612,445 (+573,446) BKK: 8,133,941 (+68,509)	6,230,511 (+165,508) BKK: 1,493,292 (+26,113)	50,718

• Medical Science Department announced that they has discovered a new sub-Delta variant in Thailand, affirming that it is not a new variant. The Department said that 92.9% of the confirmed cases are that of Delta variant; meanwhile the Beta variant dominating the Malaysian-bordering area.—Khao Sod
• In contrast to what the dean of prestigious medical faculty, Mahidol University who concurrently sits as an advisor to the government on COVID said that mid-September could be the best timing for the ease of lockdown, deputy government spokesperson said that should the pandemic situation keeps on as it is, there will surely be the ease of lockdown in early September.–Matichon
• On Monday, the PM held a teleconference with AstraZeneca CEO who pledged that the company will surely deliver the rest of the 61 million ordered vaccines by the end of this year. The government spokesperson also said that the government is planning to secure 60 million more doses in 2022. The procurement agreement is expected to be concluded in September 2021. It was earlier reported that the vaccine producer will deliver 41.7 million doses to the Kingdom this year.—all media outlet and Krungthep Turakij Reuters
• The Director-general of the Disease Control Department held a press conference after the National Communicable Disease Committee meeting announcing the committee resolutions as followed:
  • The resolution of Smart control and living with COVID 19: a paradigm shift from suppressing the newly confirmed cases to coexisting with the virus. This can be done through:
    • A comprehensive inoculation in risk groups, elders, underlying conditions and seeking new vaccines;
    • The step-up of disease prevention measures;
    • Proactive measures in active case findings and inoculations
  • The resolution of target quarantine or ‘Bubble and Seal’ in densely infected areas such as factories and premises.
  • The resolution to recognise tourists who got Russian Sputnik V vaccines as a requirement to enter Phuket Sandbox scheme.—Krungthep Turakij
• The American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has fully approve Pfizer vaccine to inoculate its 16 years old and older citizen.– FDA
  • The director-general of the Disease Control Department said that despite the approval, private hospitals cannot purchase the vaccine from the producers, but Pfizer must get approval from Thai FDA first.–Matichon
• ABC Correspondent covered volunteers from ‘Saimai Will Survive Group’ in the outer rim of Bangkok who claimed that the apparent peak of the most recent surge is just the start and that the real war is about to happen. The article asked former Op-Ed editor for the Bangkok Post who said that volunteers have felt compelled to step up because they have lost confidence in Thai authorities. The author also reached out to the government spokesperson who said in a written statement that Thai government was “doing all it can [and] leaving no stones unturned” to manage the outbreak.–ABC

Politics

The Cabinet Decision

• It is reported that the PM has reversed his earlier resolution in procuring only the WTO-approved Antigen test kits. As the ATK will be for home usages, it is no longer required to get the WTO-approved ones.—Krungthep Turakij
• The cabinet has appointed Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana as the new government spokesperson effective from today. Mr Thanakorn was the former secretary to Mr Uttama when he served as the Finance Minister. Meanwhile, the former spokesperson Mr Anucha has been appointed as the vice secretariat of the Prime Minister—Naew Na, Thai Post
• The cabinet also has appointed media-sensationalised Samut Prakan Governor as the new central Ang Thong Governor. The Governor has earlier submitted resignation letter citing his health concerns. The cabinet resolution has also revoked his resignation letter.—Krungthep Turakij

Constitutional amendment

• On Tuesday morning, the Constitutional Amendment Committee has called for an urgent meeting to hammer out the issues that has been of contention, including the suspending clause which stated that the Election Commission has the authority in holding in election should the organic law cannot be finalised in the time of election. Main ruling PPRP deputy leader and head of the committee dismissed the report that the sudden shift is due to coalition Bhumjaithai Party threat to overthrow the proposal. —Krungthep Turakij
• Bhunjaithai Party leader has announced that the party will abstain its vote on the second reading as the party deemed the amendment was not done for the benefits of the people.—Krungthep Turakij
• The House is deliberating on the second reading of the Constitutional Amendment which seeks to return to proportional representation voting system which ruling PPRP and Opposition Pheu Thai agreed upon, but at the stake of smaller coalition Bhumjaithai and Opposition Move Forward Party.

Protests

• The police said that they are about to issue summon orders to parents of teen protestors for the charge of negligence or support teenagers to stir unrest in the Kingdom.—Krungthep Turakij
• This morning, groups of good deed practitioners (Royalists) submitted their petition letters to 15 foreign missions, including the UN, US, EU Delegation, Australia, French, Japanese and others. The petition aimed to inform international actors that there are attempts to bring children to join the violent protests and that there have been violence used against the riot police.—Siam Rath

Make sure you do not wear a grey blazer with a camera on your neck

• After former PDRC leader turned anti-establishment protestor Tanat ‘Nat’ wore grey blazer with a camera on his neck to join the protest on Sunday-a reminiscence of the late King outfits when travelling into the country, a number of figures in the entertainment complex posted the photo of the late King Bhumibol in a bid to counter the mockery.–Manager
• Sondhiya Sawasadee who has played a big part in legal actions against the protestor and opposition has filed a request to the Metropolitan Police to investigate whether Tanat has done anything illegal. And Mr Sondhiya has claimed that the activist has political agenda wearing the outfits.–Matichon
• Srisuwan Janya, Secretary-General of a political group called the Association to Protect the Thai Constitution has press charges against Tanat on several offences.–Manager

Economic

• DPM and Commerce Minister Jurin is confident that Thailand’s export could achieve its 10-11 percent growth target this year, given that July’s export surge of 20.2 percent (valued at 22.7 billion USD) had exceeded its expectation by 4 times.  This is a fifth consecutive month of export expansion, owing to robust global economic recovery, the Baht’s depreciation, rising oil prices and export promotions by the Commerce Ministry and the private sector.  July’s import expanded by 45 percent (valued at 22.5 billion USD), resulting in a trade surplus of 183 million USD.   Exports with strong growth include agricultural items and food (fruits, vegetables, rubber, tapioca products, chilled, frozen and processed chicken), work from home items, industrial items (steel) and luxury items (cars and electronic parts).   In the first 7 months of 2021, Thailand’s export grew at 16.2 percent (valued at 154 billion USD) and import by 28.7 percent (valued at 152.3 billion USD), with a trade surplus of 2.6 billion USD.  Commerce Minister Jurin expects the lockdown measures to impact the manufacturing sector in August and September.  Sources:  Thansettakij Bangkok Post
• Federation of Thai Industry (FTI) estimated that around 300,000 – 500,000 workers in more than 1,300 factories nationwide are infected COVID-19, mainly in labour-intensive industries that are crucial to export such as food, automobile parts, electronics, medical equipment and textile.  The manufacturing sector is also facing labour shortage as infected Thai and migrant workers have returned to their hometowns to receive treatment.  The Food Industrial Association added that over 400 of its member factories have seen their productivity decline by 30-50 percent, which is starting to affect their ability to fulfill export orders.  FTI therefore urged the government to quickly vaccinate factory workers and to launch the Custom Border Sandbox scheme.  The scheme will recruit only vaccinated migrant workers at the border where they will have to undergo a 14 day quarantine, after which their employers will take responsibility for transporting them to their factories.  Source:  Thansettakij
• The Bank of Thailand (BOT) expects the number of borrowers applying for debt-relief measures from financial institutions to rise in Q3 this year, in line with higher COVID-19 infections.  In July, the number of such borrowers totalled 12.52 million accounts, of which 11.31 million are consumer loan accounts, 1.17 million are from SMEs and 30,000 are corporate loan accounts.  The is a significant increase from 5 million accounts in June. Source:  Bangkok Post
• BOT reported that the Thai banking system remained resilient with high levels of capital fund, loan loss provision and liquidity to cushion economic impacts from COVID-19.  Given the BOT’s debt relief measures and relaxation of NPL classification, the commercial banking sector kept the overall NPL ratio steady at 3.09 percent (valued at 545.5 billion Baht ) in Q2 compared with 3.10 percent in Q1.  The bank’s overall loan growth was 3.7 percent in Q2, down from 3.8 percent in Q1.
• However, there is sign of increasing vulnerability, especially in consumer loan.  The Q2 consumer loans expanded at 5.7 percent, increasing from 5.3 percent in Q1.  The expansion is due to mortgage loan, which continued to grow and personal loan grew that is fuelled by an increase in welfare loans. Source:  Bank of Thailand Press Release
• Employers’ Confederation of Thai Trade and Industry (EconThai) forecasted that Thailand’s unemployment rate is likely to reach 2.5 percent in Q2, equivalent to 937,500 unemployed workers.  This is an increase from 1.96 percent in Q1, or 758,000 workers. The total workforce is estimated at 37.5 million people this year, including 500,000 new graduates.  EconThai proposed the government introduce the co-payment subsidy scheme for 6 months, where the government contributes 7,500 Baht monthly for entrepreneurs who hire new graduates.  EconThai insists their unemployment project is different from those made by state agencies such as the Labour Ministry and NESDC, which are made based on the definition of ILO.  Source:  Bangkok Post
• The extended lockdown measure had resulted in a roster of state agencies and private sector revising downward their GDP projection for 2021.  Kasikorn Research had slashed 2021 GDP forecast to a contraction of -0.5 percent; state planning agency NESDC to +0.7 to + 1.2 percent; CIMB Thai to +0.4 percent and Siam Commercial Bank to +0.9 percent.  More optimistic are World Bank that forecasted +2.2 percent; Asian Development Bank +2 percent and Krungsri Research to +1.2 percent.  Source:  TNN Thailand

Headlines summary as of 23 August 2021

News

Newly confirmed case(s)	Total Cases	Patients under severe conditions and those using ventilators	Discharged from hospital	From 1 April, totally confirmed cases (third wave)	1st dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)	3rd dose vaccine recipients (from 16 July)
17,491  (398 from prisons); (excluding ATK 901)	1,066,786 (last seven days: 146,521)	5,290/ 1,094	834,344 (+22,134)	1,066,786	20,430,028 (+157,857) BKK: 6,478,439 (+23,306)	543,968 (+1,780) BKK: 141,075 (+129)
Local transmission	From abroad	Being hospitalised/ in field-hospital/ quarantined	Confirmed cases in Bangkok	Death toll	Total vaccination (doses)	2nd dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)	Average tests in the last seven days
17,086 [15,014  (get tested in hospital) + 2,072 (active case finding)]	7 (in SQ)	195,454 [160,396 in field hospital]	246,813 (+3,472)	9,562 (+242) (last seven days: 1,700)	27,038,999 (+206,820) BKK: 8,103,174 (+29,482)	6,065,003 (+47,183) BKK: 1,483,660 (+6,047)	50,859

• The dean of prestigious medical faculty, Mahidol University who concurrently sits as an advisor to the government on COVID gave an interview is saying that the pandemic tendency in the Kingdom is showing a positive sign as there has been no spike in cases for the last two weeks. Dr Prasit Watanapa said that if there is enough vaccine and could administer vaccines as planned, the infection will soon be on decline. The inner circle of the Health administration said that mid-September will be a safe point to ease the lockdown as almost half of the population will be inoculated.–Matichon
• The head of Restaurant Association is scheduled to meet with the PM seeking assurance in the timeline for the ease of lockdown. The restaurant association chief said that within the Dark Red zones, the business saw 80 percent lost in income. The president of the Thai Hotel Association also calls for the reopening of hotel’s swimming pools to attract tourists.–Matichon

Politics

• The Lower House has approved the 2022 Budget Bill with 257 against 189 votes. The deliberation went on for 52 hours, 22 hours more than primarily agreed. The bill will then be under the Senate consideration.—Krungthep Turakij
  • The voting saw an unprecedented calls for cuts to the allocation of 8.76 billion THB for the monarchy by 47 opposition lawmakers (from Move Forward Party and the leader of Seri Ruamthai Party). The budget for royal agencies for the next fiscal year is, however, for a 2.4% cut compared to the previous year. This is the first call for reduction since all monarchy-related agencies were combined in 2017 after the succession of King Vajiralongkorn. The budget bureau had earlier explained to parliament’s budget committee that 92% of the allocated budget for the “royal agencies” is for the payroll of its 14,275 staff.–Reuters
    • After the vote, a vocal MP from the main ruling Palang Pracharat Party (PPRP) has dared the leader of Seri Ruamthai Party who was the former Police Chief to return all his Royal Declaration as the former police chief voted to cut the royal budget.– Matichon
    • Later a member from Seri Ruamthai Party wrote a petition to the House Speaker saying that he and the party leader would like to reverse their decision on voting no on the royal budget bill.–Matichon
  • Legal pundit and PPRP member Ruangkrai Leekitwattana has filed his request to the Election Commission to dissolve the Move Forward Party for its deliberation which Ruangkrai deemed as overthrowing the regime.—Prachachat Turakij
• This morning, the mother of student-led protest leader Parit ‘Penguin’ Chiwarak has submitted a petition asking for the transfer of her COVID-positive son from jail to hospital. The Justice Ministry said the ministry has publicly updated the condition of the detained protestor and will consider by today whether to transfer Parit to hospital.–ThaiPBS
• Yesterday, former PDRC leader Tanat Thanakitamnuay joined the anti-government Talu Fah Group who lost his right eye from an alleged tear gas used by riot control police last week.—Prachachat Turakij
  • Former PDRC leader and former Education Minister Nutthaphol Teepasuwan came out to criticise Tanat joining the protest dressing like the late King Bhumibol (in grey suits and had a camera on his neck). The fallen-from-grace politician said the gesture of his former comrade Tanat was beyond acceptable criticising the late King.—Krungthep Turakij
• Princess Sirivannavari gave an interview with Vogue Thailand saying that the pandemic regards no class and that she is also in living in hardship. The princess claimed that she has not received the salary for three months and that she is proud that the fashion brand SIRIVANNAVARI has not laid off any employees. The princess has called for the Thai people to keep looking on the positive side of things.–Prachatai
  • In response to her comment, anti-establishment Free Youth Movement has criticised the remarks and has alerted their supporters to the upcoming gathering.
• Tomorrow, the ‘Cheer-Lung’ [supporting Uncle Prayut]-a royalist PM supporter group-will team up with other like-minded groups to hand over their letter of petition to 15 foreign missions, including the UN, US, UK, Chinese and Australia. The petition aims to deter foreign interference in supporting the youth-led protests. There will be five ‘good-deed practitioners’ for each group to submit the letter, in accordance with the Emergency Decree regulation.—Cheer Lung
  • [Note] Earlier, the Group aimed to go to Taiwan ‘Embassy’ before changing to the Australian Embassy at 5.55pm yesterday.
• The Metropolitan Police has announced that since July where the protest has re-emerged, the police has issued 118 summon orders (16 protest leaders and 102 protestors).—Krungthep Turakij

Analysis/ opinion

• Real-estate tycoon Sansiri’s president Settha Taweesin has been regarded as top on the shortlist for PM candidate of Pheu Thai Party in the upcoming election. His frequent appearance in relatively newer media outlets have been viewed with suspicious eyes for his political ambition. Krungthep Turakij has viewed Settha as top candidate for ousted and self-exiled former PM Thaksin to gain more supports from the new-voters, the Move Forward stronghold.—Krungthep Turakij

Economic

• The Bank of Thailand (BOT) has approved additional debt aid measures and adjusted the rules in light of the prolonged lockdown restrictions in response to COVID-19 outbreak.
• SMEs – For new SME borrowers, the maximum credit line is raised from 20 million Baht to 50 million Baht per borrower. For existing SME borrowers, BOT maintains the previous rule where creditor is allowed to grant an additional credit line of 30 percent of the existing credit line (the ceiling is 150 million Baht).   As of 16 August, BOT has approved soft loans totaling 92.3 billion Baht and expects to approve 100 billion Baht in 4 months after the revised measures are implemented.
• Retail/consumer loans (credit cards, personal loans and digital personal loans) – debt assistance measures are extended from the Dec 2021 until Dec 2022.  For credit card and personal loan debtor whose monthly income is below 30,000 Baht, banks can grant the maximum credit line at no more than 2 times their monthly income.  For digital personal loans, the ceiling credit line is raised to 40,000 Baht per borrower, and debt repayment period is 12 months.
• The existing NPL classification and loan-loss reserve regulations are extended to March 31, 2022 and year-end 2023, respectively.
• BOT also extended the lowered delivery fee of 0.23 percent for financial institutions to the Financial Institution Development Fund until the end of 2022.  Sources:  Bangkok Post  Bank of Thailand Press Release  Thansettakij
• Thailand is heading for a rare current account deficit this year as the country misses out on the billions of dollars earned from tourism.  Thailand may post the first current deficit since 2013; a current account shortfall of USD10.3 billion (2 percent of GDP), by NESDC’s estimation.  Economists expect Thailand’s current account deficit will last at least until Q2 of 2022.  Add to it a budget deficit seen topping 10 percent of GDP for the 12 months through September, it’s a double blow for the Baht, which tumbled 10.3 percent in 2021 and is on course for its biggest annual drop since 2000.  Source:  Bloomberg
• Operators of 57 sugar mills are struggling to procure Covid-19 vaccines for 800,000 workers and sugar cane farmers as the virus has hit some factories and threatens to severely affect this labour-intensive industry.  Thus far, 30-40% of the 800,000 in the industry, which includes farmers under sugar cane supply contracts, have been vaccinated.  If the infection spread continues, sugar output will be affected, said Mr Chalush. The industry plays a key role in driving the economy and supporting the livelihoods of many cane farmers, he said.  Source:  Bangkok Post
• Some 3,578 tourists have departed Phuket by land since the Phuket Sandbox 7+7 Extension scheme took effect on Aug 17.  After 7 days on the 7+7 islands, tourists could proceed to other provinces, mostly to Bangkok, Surat Thani, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chiang Mai and Chon Buri provinces.
• Since 1 July, 22,810 tourists had arrived under the Phuket Sandbox scheme, while room bookings had been made for 409,390 nights throughout July-September.
• The Samui Plus program, which is now linked to Phuket Sandbox scheme, saw Koh Samui welcoming almost 400 visitors from the sandbox scheme.  They have booked nearly 3,000 room nights or an average of 9 nights per head, which is expected to earn a revenue of around 17.28 million baht.  Source:  Thai Post Bangkok Post

Headlines summary as of 20 August 2021

News

Newly confirmed case(s)	Total Cases	Patients under severe conditions and those using ventilators	Discharged from hospital	From 1 April, totally confirmed cases (third wave)	1st dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)	3rd dose vaccine recipients (from 16 July)
19,851 (325 from prisons); (excluding ATK 1,772)	1,009,710 (last seven days: 146,521)	5,388/ 1,161	795,805 (+20,478)	980,847	19,586,009 (+442,435) BKK: 6,253,345 (+64,699)	527,457(+7,853) BKK: 135,885(+1,494)
Local transmission	From abroad	Being hospitalised/ in field-hospital/ quarantined	Confirmed cases in Bangkok	Death toll	Total vaccination (doses)	2nd dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)	Average tests in the last seven days
19,516 [16,125 (get tested in hospital) + 3,391 (active case finding)]	10 (in SQ)	205,079 [159,056 in field hospital]	234,600(+4,181)	8,826 (+240) (last seven days: 1,700)	25,818,666 (+651,606) BKK: 7,799,736 (+91,884)	5,705,200 (+201,318) BKK: 1,410,506 (+25,691)	47,829

• The PM has signalled the easing of lockdown measures after 31 August. In his first public appearance after almost a month of WFH, the PM went to Chulalongkorn University Hospital to inspect the development of Thai-developed vaccines and said that there will be a consideration after the end of August to reopen the economy. The PM also called for cooperation in abiding by the health-related regulations.—Krungthep Turakij
• The Deputy PM and Public Health Minister Anutin said after a National Vaccine Committee that 30 million doses of Pfizer vaccines will be delivered to the Kingdom by the end of September. The top health official said that the Department of Disease Control has initially procured 20 million doses, but the company can secure 10 more million doses, all of which have been approved by the cabinet.—Khao Sod
• In a joint meeting between the Public Health and Foreign Ministries, as of 14 August, 356,337 foreigners or 7.27 percent of foreigners residing in Thailand have been vaccinated (107,106 have been fully vaccinated). The top ten foreign nationals who got the vaccines are from Myanmar, China, Cambodia, Laos, Japan, India, the Philippines, England, France and the US. The Health Minister said that the inoculation has now been expanded to foreign nationals in the country and will coordinate with the Consular Section, MFA to appoint the registered foreigners to get a jab in the provinces.—Matichon

Politics

• Talu Fah Group has called for the other gathering this morning from the Victory Monument and will march to Swiss (11.00am), American (1.00pm) and Chinese (3.00pm) Embassies consecutively to hand over letter about the protests in Thailand.—Thai Rath
  • The group went to the European Embassy underlining that the authority has violated the Geneva Convention, the American Embassy to point out the mismanagement of the Pfizer donated vaccines and the Chinese Embassy for the continual exports of Sinovac vaccines.
  • Talu Fah Group said that they are disappointed with the greetings from the Chinese Embassy as the security guards there asked for ID card and had the head of security guard to receive their letter.—Matichon

• The former anti-election PDRC leader Tanat ‘Nut’ who has turned ideologically to join the student-led protestors made his first virtual appearance on social media saying that his right eye has become completely blinded from the alleged riot control equipments. His real-estate tycoon family will proceed legal actions against any perpetrator and make sure that there will be no longer violent crackdown against the protestors again. Tanat said that ‘despite being blind, he has never seen things this clear’.—all media outlet
• The other drama is emerging as there was a leak document indicating that the PM has ordered to reverse the Public Health Ministry resolution to sort out Chinese-produced Antigen Test Kit and to sort out WHO-endorsed ones, instead.—Krungthep Turakij
  • The government spokesperson did not reply on the authenticity of the PM order.—Inside Thailand
  • The Rural Doctor Society which usually stands against the Public Health Ministry said that some politicians are trying reverse the PM order and went as far as threaten to revoke its support from the coalition.—Than Settakij

• The head of opposition Progressive Movement got a summon order on royal defamation charges. The lawyer to Thanathorn said that the order might be from his FB Live on vaccine administration involving the royally-owned Siam Bioscience Company.—Prachachat Turakij
  • The order came on the same day as Thanathorn was seen leaving the Kingdom to join the trailing competition in France. Thanathorn said that he is not going to ‘run away’ and that he would come back into the country to hear the charges.—Khao Sod
• Car mob leader and former Red Shirt leader Nathhawut Srikruae announced that there will be the other iconic car mob agains the PM on Sunday 29 August. This time, the activity will be nationwide.—Thai Rath
• Veteran politician Chaturon Chaisang under Pheu Thai party, announce he is setting up new political party but has delayed the announcement due to the current situation of Covid-19 outbreak.—Prachachat Turakij
• An airforce personnel who posted on his social media account criticising the riot control measures which he deemed as too violent is facing a disciplinary punishment and a probe committee.—Prachachat Turakij
• Ratchavithi Hospital announced that the 15-year-old youth who was shot in the protest earlier on has not recovered from coma condition.—Prachachat Turakij
• The Correction Department unveiled the Covid condition of the student-led protestor Parit ‘Penguin’ Chiwarak which is better than reported. The Department said that the inmate has a minor pulmonary infiltrate on his right lung and has got the Favipiravir medicine.—Matichon

Analysis/ opinion

• The set-up of new party by Chaturon Chaisang has been seen as a facade with former Red Shirt leader Natthawut Saikrua and veteran politician Pongsak Ruktapongpisal as the funding source. The new party is reportedly name ‘New Direction Party’ will be a new home for the now defunct Thai Raksachart Party members and former Red Shirt leaders who have been marginalised by the current Pheu Thai management targeting the new voters which is overlapping with the Move Forward Party.—Krungthep Turakij

Australia

• The Embassy’s DAP project providing grants to local civil society in a bid to support vulnerable communities has been shared by the official CCSA Page and in Prachachat Turakij

Economic

• The Thai Bankers Association said that some 1.89 million bank accounts with a total value of 2 trillion Baht have entered debt restructuring programs through 15 banks (as of May 2021).  These could potentially become NPLs if the lockdown is prolonged and Thailand encounters a second year of economic recession.
• Of particular concern are the SME clients, which comprise one quarter of total loan portfolio.  Their debt serviceability is affected by the current economic conditions.  And if unemployment rate continues to rise, this may affect debtors in the non-residential loan portfolio, which makes up 18 percent of total loan portfolio. 
• A number of banks are bracing for potential NPL cliff by launching Additional Tier 1 Bonds (perpetual bonds) to build up their capital cushion.  Banks foresee that the debt restructuring programs will chip away at their revenue in Q3 and Q4 2021. Thai Bankers Association is in talks with the Bank of Thailand to prepare measures for this ticking time bomb issue.  Source:  Thansettakij
• The government has launched the ‘Factory Sandbox’ program in a bid to limit the pandemic’s disruptions to the export sector.  The program covers factories with at least 500 workers across 4 manufacturing sectors: cars, electronics, food and medical equipment.  To date, the sandbox is being piloted on 387 factories in 4 provinces: Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Sakhon and Chonburi.  Participating factories must test their workers periodically and must have their own hospitel and field hospitals; must vaccinate their workers and issue Blue Certificated to assure investors; and must have in place bubble and seal measures.  The private sector suggests the government help small-scale factories and SMEs by subsidising some costs, such as the test kits.  Large-scale factories may not need much help as they have been implementing similarly strict regimen prior to the launch of the sandbox program.   Sources:  Bangkok Post Prachachart Turakij
• Finance Minister Arkhom says there is no need for the government to make additional borrowing to combat the pandemic because the existing 500-billion-Baht loan is sufficient.  His response came after the Bank of Thailand suggested the government borrow another 1 trillion Baht to stimulate the economy.  Finance Ministry will also maintain the rate of VAT collection at 7 percent for another year in light of the pandemic.  Source:  Thai Rath  Bangkok Post
• Domestic flights catered to Phuket Sandbox travellers will be allowed at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports starting from September, according to Transport Ministry.  Passengers arriving from Phuket are required to complete the 14-day sandbox program if they want to travel to Bangkok or other provinces. Foreign visitors who are unable to complete the programme but want to return home are also allowed to fly but they cannot leave the airport. Source:  Bangkok Post
• The Bank of Thailand plans to test its Retail Central Bank Digital Currency (Retail CBDC) in Q2 of 2022.  The test was designed based on BOT’s studies and survey on Retail CBDC implementation with all stakeholders, including consumers, financial institutions, merchants, the government sector and others.   Source: Bangkok Post
• The government hopes the new aviation fuel service systems at U-Tapao airport and the Eastern Aviation City project will help revive Thailand’s economy.  The government on Thursday leased state property to Global Aero Associates Co (GAA) to operate, manage and provide aviation fuel service systems at U-Tapao airport. GAA plans to increase the capacity of U-Tapao’s aviation fuel service system to support the airport’s commercial operations date of 2024.  Meanwhile, construction of the Eastern Aviation City at U-tapao airport is expected to start next year.  Source:  Bangkok Post

Headlines summary as of 18 August 2021

News

Newly confirmed case(s)	Total Cases	Patients under severe conditions and those using ventilators	Discharged from hospital	From 1 April, totally confirmed cases (third wave)	1st dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)	3rd dose vaccine recipients (from 16 July)
20,515 (248 from prisons); (excluding ATK 7,210)	968,957 (last seven days: 151,968)	5,458/ 1,155	753,119 (+22,682)	940,094	18,726,405 (+355,408) BKK: 6,082,706 (+39,149)	510,668(+9,191) BKK: 130,734(+3,841)
Local transmission	From abroad	Being hospitalised/ in field-hospital/ quarantined	Confirmed cases in Bangkok	Death toll	Total vaccination (doses)	2nd dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)	Average tests in the last seven days
20,250 [16,520 (get tested in hospital) + 3,730 (active case finding)]	17 (in SQ)	207,553 [156,002 in field hospital]	226,027 (+4,154)	8,285 (+312) (last seven days: 1,490)	24,618,749 (+518,118) BKK:7,563,907 (+70,189)	5,381,676 (+153,519) BKK: 1,350,467 (+27,199)	50,151

• During the CCSA plenary meeting on Monday, the CCSA has a resolution to make contract procuring vaccines through COVAX Facility up to 20 percent of the population (26 million doses) in 2022. The CCSA has assigned the National Vaccine Institute and the Disease Control Department to lead the negotiation and draft the contract. The CCSA has ordered agencies to make comprehensive pros and cons analysis of procuring vaccines through COVAX Facility. The results of the negotiation will be presented in the CCSA to consider.—Parchachat Turakij  
• A senior public health official told Thai Enquirer on condition of anonymity that officials inside the Ministry of Public Health are petitioning the Prayut Chan-ocha administration and the Minister of Public Health to invest in second-generation vaccines for 2022. The senior official said that even the Chulalongkorn-developed vaccines could not be much help in the new variants in 2022. The government must invest in the second generations vaccines, not more Sinovac vaccines.—Thai Enquirer
• The PM has ordered Public Health Minister to make sure that by the end of 2021, over 70 percent of the population must be inoculated and has underlined that there must be no more case of non-medical workers who got the third booster dose of Pfizer vaccines.—Thai Rath
• The PM posted on his FB defending the necessity of extending the lockdown until the end of August. The PM said that should the lockdown is fully effective, the peak of the pandemic will in early September and could consider easing lockdown measures in some activities.—Khao Sod

Politics

• Talu Fah Group has called for the other gathering this afternoon at the Democracy Monument. The organiser called for the non-violent actions after they were dispersed from their activity in Ratchaprasong intersection and National Police Headquarter.—Matichon  Krungthep Turakij

• After a harsh backlash from the public against the amnesty bill for frontline health workers and especially policy makers on the vaccine management, the cabinet has casted its magic by ‘pushing for the amnesty act via amending the current Communicable Disease Act’. The Act will  add in the clause of pandemic administration in the health emergency situation. The cabinet has assigned the Council of the State to amend the Act accordingly before getting back to the cabinet for approval. The government spokesperson defended that by amending the law, there will be no need for the use of Emergency Decree in the future.—all media outlet

• The PM has underlined in the cabinet meeting that the riot police must strictly follow the international standard in controlling and dispersing the protestors.—Prachachat Turakij
• The Metropolitan Police Chief affirmed that the sighting of SWAT unit in the violent protest site of Din Daeng was legit and said that the special force was in the area due to personnel shortage and will look after only special incidents.—Krungthep Turakij
• The protestor who has been in coma has turned out to be only 15 years old, not 20 years old as earlier implicated. The mother of the minor said he is hoping for a miracle for her only son to recover.—Khao Sod
• This Friday, the Administrative Court will make a verdict on whether the PM is guilty of being negligence on the partial relocation of former Tourist Police Chief Surachet ‘Joke’ Hakphan.—Krungthep Turakij

Analysis/ opinion

• The cabinet approval of appointing Boonchob Suttamanuswong as the secretary-general of the Labour Ministry from the general-inspector of the Natural Resources Ministry is seen as part of the ‘political deal’ of Pheu Thai-PPRP collaboration. Boonchob has been very close to Yongyuth Tiyapairat, former House speaker during the Pheu Thai-related administration who is reportedly behind opposition Pheu Chat Party. The appointment of Boonchob who has been working with the Opposition from an insignificant position to the head of Ministry under the PPRP is highly speculated as part of the much-anticipated Pheu Thai-PPRP grand coalition. The Labour Minister gave an interview, hinting that ‘anything is possible in Thai politics’.—Inside Thailand

Australia

• Australian PM made a phone call to PM Prayut discussing a wide-ranging issues, including the agreed prospective vaccine assistance from Australia, Myanmar situation, Thai students in Australia and so on.—Royal Thai Government The media headlines from major media outlets in chronological order have been:

• The PM called to Australian PM seeking vaccine assistance for Thailand.—Krungthep Turakij
  • Thai PM thanks the 2.8 million dollar donation supporting Thai public health.—Nation TV, Spring News
  • Thai PM talked with Australian PM asking for Thai students to return to study in Australia.—Daily News
  • Australian PM is ready to support Thailand on vaccines.—Siam Rath
  • Australian PM is ready to support Thailand on vaccines and agreed on the humanitarian cooperation on Myanmar.—The Standard
  • The PM made a call to Australian PM requesting vaccine assistance.—PPTV
  • The PM called to Australian PM escalating Strategic Partnership and seeking assistance to Thailand.—Thai Rath

·                     The Labour Minister said that the Deputy PM Prawit has ordered the ministry to seek more international jobs for Thai labours, including in Australia. The Ministry is seeking to supply emerging markets with the tendency to hire Thai labours; namely Australia in agricultural sector.—Royal Thai Government

Economic:

• The cabinet had approved of the APEC Ministers’ draft declaration on food security in the lead up to year 2030, which will be endorsed at the APEC Minsters’ Food Security virtual meeting on 19 August.  The cabinet noted that the measures will benefit Thailand’s food security and is in line with the BCG economic model.  Source:  Krungthep Turakij
• Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said that Thailand will be able to attract 1 million foreign tourists this year, rather than 1.2 million as originally anticipated, following the implementation of the 7+7 Phuket Sandbox extension scheme since 16 August.  TAT is also banking on some 500,000 – 700,000 Russian tourists to visit Phuket since CCSA had endorsed Sputnik V vaccine travelers to the sandbox scheme.  By October, Surat Thani and Phuket airports are expected to receive Russians flying in via chartered flights. 
• TAT is planning to invite various ambassadors based in Thailand to visit Phuket to gain first-hand exposure to the sandbox scheme, which in line with PM Prayut’s plan to reopen parts of Thailand in 120 days.   If successful, the sandbox scheme will be adapted to other islands in the Eastern region. 
• TAT expects tourism will begin to pick up in Q4 2021 until Q1 of 2022, despite the fact that Thailand welcomed only 70,000 foreign tourists from January – August this year.  Of this figure, the Phuket Sandbox scheme welcomed 21,160 tourists from 1 July-16 August. TAT will also continue pursuing travel bubble discussions with Vietnam, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea.  Source:  Krungthep Turakij   Bangkok Post
• The private sector is not surprised that the government had extended the lockdown until the end of August, given that COVID-19 infection remains high.  The Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) is calling for the government to provide more assistance measures to help affected businesses, procure more antigen test kits and expedite vaccination rollout.  TCC estimates that Thailand will suffer losses worth 800 billion – 1 trillion Baht from January and August, and if the government extends the restrictions until September, the accumulated losses are likely to exceed 1 trillion Baht.  Sources:  Krungthep Turakij newspaper, 18 August 2021,  Bangkok Post
• Finance Ministry (MoF) will link 6 delivery service platforms such as Line Man, Food Panda and Grab Food with the government’s 2 stimulus programs, Khon La Krueng and Ying Chai Ying Dai, starting from October.  The move will reduce face to face interactions as well as boost spending through the co-payment subsidy scheme Khon La Krueng and the tax rebate scheme Ying Chai Ying Dai.  Since the launch of its third phase in July 2021, Khon La Krueng had benefitted 26.7 million people with spending of 57 billion Baht, of which 29.2 billion Baht is payment contribution from consumers and the remainder is from government subsidy.  There are 467,000 participants in the Ying Chai Ying Dai scheme which generated spending of 1.25 billion Baht.  Sources:  Bangkok Post Krungthep Turakij
• Commerce Ministry revealed that the export of Thai fruits to China in the first half of 2021 expanded by +64.9 percent YoY, totaling 14.5 billion Baht in value.  Fruits that reported high export growth are pineapple (+90.94 percent, Durian (+83.56 percent) and Longan (+70.7 percent).   Commerce Ministry reiterated the need for exporters to maintain good hygiene practice to maintain Thailand’s image, while Thai Trade Commissioners in China will continue to proactively organise marketing campaigns through Thai Fruit Golden Months with major retail outlets.   Source:  Prachachart Turakij
• National oil and gas conglomerate PTT Group will maintain its new business outreach, including Electric Vehicles (EVs), over the next 5 years.  PTT expects to produce the first EV in 2023, wherein EV production is among the new businesses under PTT’s “Future Energy and Beyond” scheme.  PTT is set to make a final decision on the establishment of an EV production facility in the EEC area worth USD 1-2 billion.  PTT had earlier signed an MoU with Foxconn, a Taiwanese electronics manufacturing giant, to produce EVs and their components for the Thai market.  Source:  Bangkok Post

Headlines summary as of 17 August 2021

News

Newly confirmed case(s)	Total Cases	Patients under severe conditions and those using ventilators	Discharged from hospital	From 1 April, totally confirmed cases (third wave)	1st dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)	3rd dose vaccine recipients (from 16 July)
20,128 (272 from prisons); (excluding ATK 2,102)	948,442 (last seven days: 152,491)	5,536/ 1,169	730,437 (+20,791)	919,579	18,370,997 (+374,171)BKK:6,034,439 (+44,619)	501,477 (+15,646)BKK: 126,312 (+4,636)
Local transmission	From abroad	Being hospitalised/ in field-hospital/ quarantined	Confirmed cases in Bangkok	Death toll	Total vaccination (doses)	2nd dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)	Average tests in the last seven days
19,846 [16,349  (get tested in hospital) + 3,497 (active case finding)]	10 (in SQ)	210,032 [155,093 in field hospital]	221,873 (+4,397)	7,973 (+239) (last seven days: 1,385)	24,100,631 (+508,498)BKK:7,478,871 (+74,107)	5,228,157 (+118,681)BKK:1,318,120 (+24,852)	50,151

• Amid the supply shortage, Thailand is seeking to borrow 150,000 doses of the AstraZeneca from Bhutan.–Reuters
• The CCSA has made a resolution to extend the current lockdown measures until the end of August. The only additional relaxation is the reopening of the financial institutions in the malls.
  • The CCSA ordered isolation measures plus ATK screening for companies and organisations with more than 50 employees in the drak red zones which are still coming to work from offices on weekly basis.
  • The CCSA has ordered companies with more than 50 employees to prepare company isolation, if needed.
  • Vaccinated foreign tourists who spend seven days on Phuket will also be allowed to access seven other locations – Khao Lak, Koh Yao Yai and Yai Noi in Phangnga, Phi Phi and Railey beach in Krabi, Koh Ngai in Trang, and Koh Samui, Phangan and Tao islands in Surat Thani.—Nation Thailand
  • The CCSA will has ordered large wholesale market to occasionally test its customers with ATK.
  • The CCSA will also consider issuing Thaicovid pass allowing the fully vaccinated people to dine in air-conditioned restaurants. The same way that other countries are doing.—Prachachat Turakij
• The CCSA spokesperson said that the Thai Public Health will order additional 10 million doses of Pfizer vaccines and 12 million doses of Sinovac vaccines, claiming that the internal study has shown the four times more effectiveness of the ‘Thai cocktail’ (Sinovac + AstraZeneca) comparing to two Sinovac and two AZ jabs.–Matichon
• Thammasat University with its affiliated hospital has a resolution to import COVID vaccines in the same way the Royal Chulabhorn Institute has imported Sinopharm vaccines.—Prachachat Turakij

Politics

• Talu Fah Group has called for the other gathering this afternoon at the Ratchaprasong intersection. The organiser called for the non-violent actions.—Thai Rath
• Yesterday, the Opposition has submitted six ministers, including the PM to be on grill for the upcoming censure debate:
  • The usual debate arose between the main opposition Phau Thai Party and the second-largest Move Forward Party on the allegations of the former secretly siding with the government to drop names of the Deputy PM Prawit and Deputy Agriculture Minister Thammanat out of the list.—Krungthep Turakij
  • The secretary-general of the Move Forward Party said that the party aimed to set Deputy PM Prawit on grill, but it was the Opposition parties’ resolution not to put the name of the political juggernaut on the list and the party will comply with the resolution.—Prachachat Turakij
  • A senior opposition MP has conceded to Thai Enquirer that it is no chance that the censure debate will hurt or do anything to the government and that the current administration will likely last the full term despite its Covid-19 mismanagement. The senior figure who asked not to be named due to party policy said that the key factor lies with the coalition but “it is almost as if there is an outside hand forcing them to stay there.”—Thai Enquirer
• The Police was accused of using live bullets against two protestors, one of which is under coma condition.
  • The Rajavithi Hospital announced that the twenty-year-old make patient did not breath for 6 minutes and found a bullet in the brain stem. The patient is still in coma with the help of ventilator.—Krungthep Turakij
  • The head of the police station where there was report on police shooting at the protestor came out to deny that there was a use of live bullet and affirmed that there was only rubber bullet used.—Thai Rath   
• Student-led protest leader Parit ‘Penguin’ Chiwarak is tested Covid positive when being detained in prison. His infection has caused concerns for many as he has asthma as underlying condition.—Prachachat Turakij
• Protestor guards We Volunteer issued the statement calling for the seize of the violence use by the state to disperse the protestors.
• In a bid to step up its heavily criticised communication, The PM has approved the set-up of a crisis communication centre with the PMO Minister as the chairperson and the former PDRC leader and anti-democracy communication academia Seri Wongmontha as the editor-in-chief of the centre responsible for outlining communication strategy for the CCSA.—Krungthep Turakij
• After the campaign by animal rights group PETA, the Thai-US joint military training Cobra Gold will not involve the drinking of cobra blood-its iconic activity.—Krungthep Turakij

Economic:

• Bank of Thailand (BOT) has revised Thailand’s 2021 GDP growth forecast down to 0.7 percent from 3 percent.  As the Thai economy is dependent on tourism, BOT expects it will take 3 years to fully recover to pre-pandemic level, lagging behind the rest of Asia that will rebound in 2 years.  Recovery will be K-shape and uneven, with some sectors such as export rebounding before others, such as tourism.
• BOT advised the government to borrow another 1 trillion Baht to stimulate the economy and fuel Thailand’s economic expansion in the next 10 years.  This additional borrowing would raise Thailand’s public debt ratio to 70 percent of GDP by 2024, but it is not a concern given the country’s sound foreign reserve.  BOT also suggested the government widen its revenue collection base and consider raising value-added-tax in the future. 
• The fiscal injection should address 2 key issues, namely falling household income that is set to decrease by 2.6 trillion Baht from 2020-2022 and rising unemployment/underemployment which will tally 3.4 million people by year-end.  The BOT will also implement short and long-term debt aid measures to tackle the ballooning debt level.  Source:  Bangkok Post Khaosod Krungthep Turakij newspaper, 17 August 2021 
• Thailand is seeing an increase in the number of unemployed or barely employed, although they are not counted in the official statistics because Thailand – using International Labour Organization guidelines – doesn’t consider as unemployed a person who works at least 1 hour a week.  Also, more than half of the roughly 38 million in the Thai workforce are in the informal sector and are not included in the jobless data.  These factors keep Thailand’s official unemployment rate low, however, this masks a number of problems.  NESDC’s latest published Thai unemployment rate for Q1 2021 was 1.96 percent; a 12-year high, yet NESDC expects the rate to rise further as COVID-19 infection has surged since May.  A 2 percent unemployment rate in Thailand would be considered a ‘crisis’. 
• TDRI noted that the unreliable labour statistics continuously failed to raise an alert about Thailand’s labour issues to draw correct policy response.  Among the unaddressed issues is the revamping of Thailand’s education system, which is not teaching the skills workers will need in a digital economy.  If many more jobs are lost, it could drive young people without prospects to go back in the streets as they did in 2019 and 2020.  In fact, currently the rallies are gathering steam again.  Source:  Asia Nikkei
• CCSA has approved the implementation of the 7+7 extension plan in connection with the Phuket Sandbox scheme.  From 16 August onward, visitors at the Phuket sandbox scheme will be required to stay in Phuket for only 7 days.  From day 8-14, they can travel by boat to other designated destinations comprising Surat Thani province’s Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao; Phangnga province’s Khao Lak, Kho Yao Yao and Koh Yao Noi; and Krabi province’s Koh Phi Phi, Railay Beach and Koh Ngai.  CCSA also permitted for every sandbox area to receive tourists who are vaccinated with Sputnik V vaccine in a bid to lure Russian tourists.  Source:  Bangkok Post 
• NESDC unveiled its 2021 GDP projection for the Thai economy based on 3 scenarios: 0.7 percent, 1 percent and 1.2 percent growth.  If the lockdown remains in place until Q4 2021, the economy would expand by 0.7 percent.  If export maintains its growth momentum, and private investment and government expenditure continue to rise, the economy could grow 1 percent.  To achieve 1.2 percent growth, the government needs to contain Covid-19 infections and relax the lockdown by Q3 2021.  NESDC projected that exports could grow by 16.3 percent this year, up from 10.3 percent growth in May’s forecast, with private investment by 4.7 percent.   Source:  Bangkok Post
• Tycoon Dhanin Cheravanont, head of the conglomerate CP Group, urged the government to speed up its coronavirus recovery effort in 4 areas, namely (1) launch more COVID-19 relief measures to help those affected by COVID; (2) inoculate everyone in the country and make available different brands of vaccine; (3) improve public access to  telemedicine and 4) act now to lure international tourists ahead of the neighbouring countries.  Dhanin dismissed the rumour that his company is involved in the government’s effort import Sinovac vaccine, noting that although his cousin holds 15 percent of the company that produces Sinovac vaccine China, that person has no authority to decide on any requests from Thailand to buy the vaccines because vaccine procurement is a G2G process.  Sources:  Bangkok Post  Naew Na
• The residential market is unlikely to recover to pre-COVID levels until 2025 as the market contraction has been revised to 25-32 percent from 1.5-11 percent, driven largely by the battered economy and housing demand.  Source:  Bangkok Post